January 2025 - Volume 4


Dear Harrison Families,
 

The latest edition of HCSD Highlights features an exceptional array of student, faculty and staff accomplishments.

  • Senior Reese Potash was named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar.
  • Four Science Research students advanced to the Upstate Competition of the Junior Science & Humanities Symposium.
  • The DECA Business Club will send 50 students to the state competition.
  • Junior Samantha Rabin won the Best Delegate Award at the Yale Model Congress.
  • HHS Students Attend Statewide Theater Conference.
  • Four HHS students won medals at Concorso di Poesia, an Italian poetry competition.
  • Our Cheerleaders finished first in the regional tournament and will compete in nationals.

The group meeting space at the Middle School project, approved in the bond referendum, is complete. Our maintenance staff built almost the entire structure. We are so proud and grateful for their dedication and expertise! They set a standard for others to follow. 

We are excited to share these achievements with our community!

Sincerely,

Louis N. Wool, Ed.D. 

Superintendent of Schools


HHS Senior Reese Potash Named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar

Reese Potash, a senior at Harrison High School, is a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar, one of only 17 students in Westchester and 300 nationally.

 
Harrison High School senior Reese Potash was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar and is among 300 students nationally and 17 in Westchester recognized for original science research. Reese was selected from almost 2,500 applications received across 33 states, Washington D.C., Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Switzerland. Scholars are selected based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking, and promise as scientists. 
 
Reese conducted her research, Lack of School Engagement as a Mediator between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Juvenile Offending, as part of Harrison High School’s Science Research Program. In addition to science research at HHS,  Reese is Captain of the Debate Team, Founder/President of the Philosophy Club, Secretary of the Gender in Arts and Media Study Group, and a Peer Leader; she also volunteers with several community organizations including Riley’s Way Foundation and the Birthday Giving Program.  Reese plans to major in political science on the pre-law track and minor in psychology at college and is excited to continue exploring the interdisciplinary relationship between law/criminal justice and psychology. 
 
To be considered for the Regeneron competition, students conduct an original research project, collect and analyze comprehensive data and submit their work for evaluation by a panel of judges. Students also complete an application explaining the reasoning behind their study, academic background and interest in science. 
 

READ MORE about Reese and her research.


Harrison High School DECA Business Club Members Heading to State Competition

The Harrison High School DECA Business Club team performed at a high level at the Regional DECA competition. This year the level of competition increased compared to prior years. As DECA programs continue to grow, the number of students and schools competing also has increased. There were more than 20 schools from Westchester, Rockland, Orange, and Sullivan counties, along with several schools from the Albany area represented at the regional conference. Nearly 600 students competed at Rockland Community College on January 8th.  The top 5 students or teams in each category qualify for the next level of competition, the New York State competition which will be held in Rochester, NY in March. This year Harrison will be sending close to 50 students to the New York State competition.  
DECA Co-President, Addison Valente, reflected on the DECA competition experience:   “Regionals is a great experience that allows students to get a feel for a real-world business dilemma and having to present a solution, developing problem-solving skills and practicing how to express your ideas in a formal manor…Competing at has taught me a lot about professional settings and how to apply what I learn at school into a real-life scenario.” 

HHS Model Congress Competes at Yale; Samantha Rabin Named Best Delegate

The Harrison High School Model Congress Team competed at the Yale University conference in December. Student delegates prepared, debated, presented, and amended legislation targeting current issues. Each delegate was assigned a committee that focused on specific practices, roles, and government functions, including Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, and Intelligence. Samantha Rabin, who competed in the Education and the Workforce Committee, earned the "Best Delegate Award," presented to the individual who excels in all aspects of committee participation – presentation, policy development, coalition building, and strategic thinking.


Harrison High School Students Earn Medals at Italian Poetry Competition

Italian students earned awards at Concorso di Poesia. (L-R) HHS Italian Teacher Ms. Jackubowski 

 
Four Harrison High School students earned medals in their categories for Poetry Recitation at the Teachers' Association Concorso di Poesia (poetry contest) held at New York University's Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo Center for Italian Studies.  Students from public and private schools in the tri-state selected and memorized a poem in Italian, which they recited in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. Each contestant was judged on pronunciation, length and difficulty of poem, theatrics, and intonation.  Awards were presented at each grade level. In the 10th grade level, Laura Novak placed first and received a gold medal and Kinga Kozyra received the third-place bronze medal. In 9th grade level, Nora Pepushaj won the second-place silver medal, and Ulrich Novak won the third-place bronze medal.    

HHS Students Advance to Compete at Upstate Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

Sophia Bondikov, Ohtaro Tanaka, Liam Azar, and Valeria Torres, will compete in the Upstate Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). JSHS promotes research and experimentation at the high school level and supports student interest in science, technology, engineering and math. The four Harrison High School science research students will present their original STEM research in a forum that includes students from New York State and STEM professionals. The competition provides students a chance to earn the opportunity to compete at the national level.


Husky Cheer Team Takes First Place at Regional Tournament 

The HHS Cheer Team for took 1st place in the Small Varsity Game Day Division at the UCA Garden State Competition - a significant achievement, especially for scoring a full 3 points ahead of the 2nd place team.  The team advances to compete at the the UCA Nationals in February. 

 

HHS Students Attend Statewide Theater Conference

Harrison High School student actors, singers, dancers and technicians attended the New York State Theater Education Association (NYSTEA) conference to participate in a weekend filled with more than 100 in technical theater, acting, dance and voice workshops facilitated by college professors and other theater professionals. The conference provided an opportunity for our students to experience a variety of live performances, learn about all aspects of theater and share interests with other similarly-minded students across New York State. 


Facilities Update: Professional Development/Meeting Space Completed

Construction of the large group meeting/professional development space at LMK (included in the approved bond) is complete! The new space already has hosted professional development sessions for teachers and will be the new location for Board of Education meetings. Many thanks to our building maintenance team for a job well done!


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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