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October 2024 - Volume 2

Dear Harrison Families,
 
This edition of HCSD Highlights reflects the many ways our faculty and staff bring the imagination, creativity and possibility alive within each of your children. Please take a moment to marvel at all they have achieved.
 
I am most pleased to recognize LMK School Resource Officer Robbie Budde, who was named the 2024 New York State School Resource Officer of the Year.  Officer Budde is an integral member of our LMK community and exemplifies what it means to “see the students in front of us.” His unique connection with students is undeniable.
 

Finally, supported by the recent bond referendum, the District began facility work designed to ensure the safety and success of our students. The work began during the summer, and an opportunity to monitor on-going progress can be found on this dedicated facilities improvement webpage.

Please enjoy these resources to better understand our extraordinary school district.

Sincerely,

Louis N. Wool, Ed.D. 

Superintendent of Schools

Officer Robbie Budde - 2024 NYS SRO of the Year

Congratulations to LMK School Resource Officer Robbie Budde, who was named the 2024 John F Cataldi Jr. New York State School Resource Officer of the Year.  The award recognizes SRO officers for “extraordinary commitment and dedication to the youth of their school community as well as New York State.”  Officer Budde has served as the School Resource Officer at LMK Middle School since 2019. He also teaches the DARE course to 6th-grade students and partners with the administration in all school safety initiatives.

However, Officer Budde’s role at LMK is so much more. He is an integral part of the LMK community—a mentor, a role model, a confidant, and a friend. As a DARE Officer, he is patient and thoughtful, empowering students in his classroom to use and understand the skills to make healthy and safe choices.  LMK Principal Scott Fried reflects, “Officer Budde’s role as a mentor is not just a duty, but a passion that he fulfills with utmost dedication.”
 
Officer Budde’s impact and spirit are felt in every corner of LMK—in the cafeteria at lunchtime, at modified sports games, at science fairs, concerts, and musical performances. As he walks the LMK hallways, there is a constant refrain, “ Hey, Officer Robbie!” He responds with his ever-present smile, addressing every student by name. His connection to and love for his students is undeniable.
 
During his opening address to faculty and staff, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Louis Wool described Officer Budde as “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever met, with a love that is something special to see and experience…Robbie Budde cares about others and has developed authentic relationships with the students at LMK.”
Congratulations, Officer Robbie, on this much-deserved recognition!

Nine HHS Seniors Named National Merit Scholars, Two Are Semifinalists

Harrison High School seniors were recognized for their outstanding ability and potential for academic success in college based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT test by the National Merit Scholarship Program.  Julianna Blackman and Ezra Burghouts are among fewer than 1% of the nation’s graduating seniors nationwide named semifinalists. They advance to the finalist round and compete for National Merit Scholarships. Seven additional seniors were named Commended Students for their exceptional academic promise: Farrah Frandson, Ryo Ide, Shun Ide, Joseph McGurk, Olivia Naporano, Gianfranco Tammaro, and Parker Yates.

HHS Debate Team Starts Season with 3 Wins; 3 All American Awards; Holds all Top 10 Rankings in NY

The Harrison High School Debate Team is off to another solid start to the competitive season, placing at the top of national tournaments,  earning recognition from the National Speech & Debate Association, and holding all of the top 10 rankings of Lincoln-Douglas debaters in New York.
 

Three senior debaters received the National Speech & Debate Association’s Academic All American award, recognizing “academic rigor, competitive speech and debate success, and personal excellence.” Congratulations to seniors Jack Borman, Reese Potash, and Brooke Schiano-Gonzalez for earning this distinguished award, which places them among the top 2% of debaters in the nation.

So far this season, the team has accumulated three tournament wins and 9 qualifying bids to the Tournament of Champions (TOC). Jack Borman won the National Speech and Debate Season Opener, placing 1st out of 250 entries nation-wide; Flynn Williams won the Lexington JV Round Robin; and Atharv Gandhi won the NYCFL Fall tournament. Additionally, Reese Potash reached semifinals (the top 4) of the Valley national championship in Iowa and the Bronx national championship in New York. Brooke, Reese, Jack Borman, Jack Gessner, and Flynn have all earned bids to compete at the TOC. Team members have won multiple speaker awards, including top speaker honors for Brooke at Valley and Reese at Greenhill’s national championship in Dallas.  

Jack Gessner is currently ranked #3 nationally in Lincoln-Douglas debate by the National Speech & Debate Association; Jack Borman is ranked #4; Reese is ranked #8; and Andrew Gaffin is ranked #15. In New York, all of the top 10 Lincoln-Douglas debaters are from Harrison: Jack Gessner - #1, Jack Borman - #2, Reese - #3, Andrew - #4, Brooke - #5, Adeena Naeem - #6, Samantha Ramirez - #7, Jouseline Alvarez - #8, Flynn Williams - #9, Beverly Kang - #10.

Tenure Ceremony Celebrates Expertise, Dedication of Faculty & Administrators​

Family, friends, and colleagues gathered at the District’s annual tenure celebration in the Performing Arts Center at Harrison High School.  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Louis Wool welcomed the attendees and honorees and shared that the celebration of tenure is one of his favorite events because it recognizes educators' hard work and dedication to our students. 

Earning tenure in Harrison involves evaluation and observation from multiple perspectives and recognizes professionals who bring the district’s core values to life in their classrooms. Each tenure recipient was recognized individually by their school’s principal. Congratulations to the 2024 tenure recipients! Administrators: Lisa Mulhall, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction; Tim Whipple, Assistant Superintendent of Business; Danny Gonzalez, Assistant Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics.  Preston: Juilia Alberico, Krysten Yee; Harrison Avenue: Caren Baruch-Feldman, Nicholas Pickel; Parsons: Danielle Duarte; Purchase: Jenna Grossman, Christine Profaci; LMK Middle School: Kyle Indorf; Harrison High School: Anthony Della Penna, Herberto Espinosa, Derrick Fish, Natalie Hancock, Emily Hart, Shantae Mahecha.

HEF Fundraiser Celebrates 30 Years

Members of the Harrison community gathered at Harrison Meadows to support the Harrison Educational Foundation and celebrate its 30th anniversary. HEF supports programs in all six of the district’s schools. HEF has helped to fund projects including classroom libraries, 3-D printers, technology and fitness equipment,  smartboards, and the HPAC at Harrison High School, in addition to  grants for grade-level and classroom learning.

District Begins Facility Work Approved in Bond Referendum

Last November, Harrison residents approved a bond to improve safety and infrastructure and increase instructional space in all six schools to meet unprecedented enrollment growth.  Work began this summer and will continue until all projects are completed. The district’s Facilities Update webpage will regularly post updates to inform the community about the projects' progress. Visit the Facilities Update webpage.

Information and Announcements

CrisisGo App for Parents:  As part of an ongoing effort to enhance communication with parents and improve school safety, parents are encouraged to download the CrisisGo app, which will provide you with timely and reliable information in the event of a school emergency, such as an evacuation or an unscheduled early dismissal.  Please click here to download the free CrisisGo app and subscribe to one or more schools to receive school safety alert messages.  

Bus Transportation: To reduce traffic congestion during drop-off and dismissal, parents/guardians of eligible students are encouraged to use the bus transportation provided by the District.  To learn more about bus transportation for eligible students, click here.

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