December 2024 - Volume 3
December’s HCSD Highlights share inspiring and varied student accomplishments. At this time of year, performances embody the energy of the holiday season, evident in our schools and students during this significant, festive, and joyous time.
Observing your children's character and efforts to support one another and, most importantly, those in need is inspiring. These acts of kindness and generosity are as significant as their outstanding academic, athletic, and artistic accomplishments. During the past several weeks, HCSD students have hosted food drives, collected toys, written cards to hospitalized children, visited the Harrison Senior Center, sang at the town tree lighting, spent time with community veterans, and performed at the annual Veterans Day Parade.
Once a Husky, always a Husky. Alumni giving back to HHS is always poignant and powerful. Member’s of last year's senior class returned to advise current seniors on the college admissions process.
Our students continue to excel in every part of their learning experiences.
- High School junior Chase Ende was named a finalist in the National STEM Festival competition, which recognizes the talents of high school student scientists.
- Twenty-six Student musicians from HHS were selected to perform at the Area All-State Festival, and Mary Grace Crozier was chosen to perform with the All-State Chorus. Two groups of student actors qualified for the Hudson Valley One Act Competition, and their works received five awards.
The Board of Education and I are grateful for your ongoing support and the gift of your children, the greatest gift to us all. We, like you, take pride in all they accomplish. The new year is filled with the promise of all they will achieve and teach us.
Sincerely,
Superintendent of Schools
HCSD Students Bring Joy to the World Around Them
The HHS Marching Band performed at the West Harrison Veterans Day Ceremony and proudly represented the district honoring our local veterans. The town event coordinators extended their gratitude, “The band’s presence really adds to the pageantry and tradition of the day. We are all so very grateful.”
The HHS student club, Youth Volunteers of Harrison, hosted a food drive at DeCicco’s Market, and thanks to the generosity of so many members of the Harrison community, assembled 45 food baskets for Thanksgiving and boxes of additional food for the Harrison Food Pantry. The LMK Service Club also held a Thanksgiving food drive and donated many baskets to the food pantry. Both service clubs at HHS and LMK collected hundreds of toys for the holidays and donated them to Toys for Tots.
Service and community also are an integral to the Harrison Avenue, Parsons, Preston and Purchase Elementary School communities, especially during the holidays.
Harrison Avenue School students collected wrapping paper for the Harrison Holiday Project, worked with students from Harrison High School to collected and donated change to the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, and the Service Club will write holiday cards for children at the hospital.
Parsons School students also joined in the festivities and sang at the town’s tree lighting ceremony, Kindergarten Students visited the Senior Center to sing and share holiday carols, and fifth grade students did the same at Town Hall. Students in the Service Club wrote and delivered Holiday/Thank You cards to town offices and organizations.
Students at Preston School met with veterans from Harrison, learned about their experiences serving our country, and honored them by performing songs representing each branch of the military and presenting the veterans with thank you cards.
At Purchase School the Caring Kids Service Club will make holiday cards for children in the Make a Wish program, fifth grade students held a school-wide sock drive for the Sharing Shelf, and are wrapping and donating Hygiene kits.
We are proud of our students who are thoughtful, engaged members of our community.
Recent Grads Give Back: Alumni Day at HHS Offers Seniors a Glimpse at College Life Through the Eyes of Recent Graduates
HHS Junior Chase Ende Named National STEM Festival Finalist
26 HHS Students Perform at Area All State Festival; Mary Grace Crozier Earns All-State Honors
HHS Student Actors Win Five Awards at Competition
HHS Students Get Inside Look at Sports Business
Harrison High School business students were among 1,500 students from the tristate area who attended the annual NY Jets Sports in Business Day, an event held at MetLife Stadium. Students attended sessions facilitated by professionals in the sports industry and learned about various aspects of running a sports team, including sponsorships, endorsements, sales, and building relationships. The day also included a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility, including a chance to see the stadium from the perspective of an NFL player – on the field! This opportunity provided students with a real world perspective on the business curriculum they are studying. The event gave students much to consider as they think about their post high school plans. One 9th grade shared his take-away from the experience, “It was interesting to hear the different experiences and pathways people took to get to their position within the Jets organization.”
Superintendent’s Conference Day: Learning Opportunities for Faculty & Staff
Superintendent’s Conference Day on November 5th was filled with many outstanding professional development learning opportunities for all district faculty and staff. The district’s dedicated professionals at all grade levels worked to improve opportunities for students at sessions facilitated by district administrators and faculty. Dr. Wool reflected on the day, “What is most impressive is the commitment to becoming and understanding how to be more effective educators.”
Facilities Update
Construction of the large group meeting/professional development space at LMK (included in the approved bond) is progressing thanks to the district’s skilled building maintenance staff!
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.
