September 2026

Volume 1

Dear Harrison Families,

At our annual Superintendent’s Conference Day, I reflected with our entire faculty and staff on what we make possible for students when we challenge their thinking and believe in them. Our work depends on all of us—you, our teachers, aides and assistants, administrators, Board, and entire support staff—each of whom knows and supports our students in different ways. I shared stories of students supporting each other, recognizing the contributions of our staff and finding joy in their classmates’ accomplishments.
 
Our learning is continuous and purposeful. Faculty and staff used the summer to study how to better support and challenge students, with more than 800 enrollments across 37 professional development courses. Nearly 500 students participated in our summer programs. In Reading with the Huskies, high school students led book discussions with younger readers, taking personal responsibility for helping them develop a love for books. In the Booked for Summer program, teachers invited students to read and discuss books with them. The story of our math classrooms shows students learning to explain their reasoning, collaborate, and deepen their inquiry.
 

I am grateful for your support and the profound commitment of our faculty and staff, and I am certain our students will continue to deepen their own learning and help those around them grow.

 
Sincerely,
Louis N. Wool, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
 
Follow us on Instagram @harrisonschoolsny

Learning Is the Work We Share

Students reconnected with friends, met their new teachers, and began a new year of learning across the District.

Dr. Wool Reflects on the Impact of Seeing the Promise in Every Student

The 2026–27 school year began with Superintendent of Schools Dr.  Louis Wool's annual welcome address, bringing together teachers, aides and assistants, clerical staff, school safety personnel, buildings and grounds staff, nurses and health assistants, technology staff, and administrators from across the Harrison Central School District. 

He highlighted how Harrison High School continues to exceed expectations for academic excellence at the state and international levels. These achievements, he reminded colleagues, are the outcome of a learning community working together, where every student is seen and valued. The superintendent shared stories about teachers who changed students’ lives, faculty who listen closely, challenge students to think more deeply, and most importantly, continue to believe in them when they doubt themselves.
 
He also recognized the extraordinary work of all of our support staff and the difference they make in the lives of students. He described how IB  Art student Matthew Harty honored our beloved cafeteria lady, Pina, in his IB artwork.  Dr. Wool shared reflections from graduates Ingrid Murphy and Angelina Lago, who both observed how they take great joy in celebrating the success of their classmates. Their reflections showed deep care for one another and pride in each other’s learning and accomplishments. 
 
The superintendent reminded us that the impact of a school community is measured not only by what students accomplish, but also by how people make one another feel and the relationships that help students believe in themselves. These stories bring the District’s belief in “All Means All” into the lives of our students and the people who make up our Harrison community.
 
“All the success in the world is meaningless if you do not see and care about the people in front of you,” he said. He closed with the invitation, “Live your life to see the promise and possibility in every human being,” and reminded the audience, “That is the Harrison way, and it belongs to all of us.”

A Summer of Growth and Learning

This summer, Harrison educators studied ways to strengthen instruction through professional learning connected to their classroom practice. As Lisa Mulhall, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, shared at a recent Board of Education meeting, the goal is to provide “professional development that is engaging, relevant and worth talking about.” There were more than 800 enrollments in 37 courses offered.

Teachers participated in specialized courses and content-specific institutes that allowed them to deepen their understanding, explore areas of interest, cultivate leadership, and apply new approaches to instruction directly to their classrooms. The course offerings included the ENL Institute, which focused on designing language-rich learning environments across content areas; the Writing Institute, where participants were immersed in the writing process to experience firsthand how writers learn and grow; and the Classroom Technology Institute, which focused on using technology to create and support student-centered classrooms that enhance engagement, support differentiation, and make learning more accessible to all students.

In addition to learning opportunities for teachers, thirteen student programs welcomed 495 students, creating opportunities to explore interests, build skills, and stay connected to learning throughout the summer. Academic and enrichment opportunities ranged from Bridges to Literacy, ENL Jumpstart, Literacy and Writing Academy and Reading with the Huskies, to summer courses for high school students: AP World Institute, IB Extended Essay Workshop, Foundations of PreCalculus, Math Extension 7 & 8, Science Research, and the Writing Fellows Retreat. These programs offered students opportunities to pursue their interests and strengthen their skills in preparation for the upcoming school year.
 

Summer Programs Create a Community of Readers

The Harrison Central School District’s summer reading program, Reading with the Huskies, concluded its fourth successful summer of bringing Harrison High School students together with emerging readers across the District’s four elementary schools. The program encourages elementary students to explore new places, meet memorable characters and discover new adventures through reading. As reading facilitators, Harrison High School students read a curated selection of titles and participated in training to prepare them to lead enthusiastic, engaging book discussions with students in third, fourth and fifth grades. Over the past four years, the program has not only fostered connections between elementary and high school students, but also helped spark a lasting interest in and love of literature among our youngest readers. This summer, 70 elementary students participated in the virtual book talks.
 
Booked for Summer offered students and teachers at HHS and LMK a way to connect around a shared love of reading and books. Teachers in sixth through twelfth grades selected a book they planned to read over the summer and invited students to read alongside them. Recently students and teachers came together for a meet and greet at the high school library to talk about the books they had read, share their thoughts, and connect with fellow readers.

Thinking in Action in Harrison’s Math Classrooms

Harrison’s math teachers deliberately create classroom environments where students are comfortable exploring ideas and taking intellectual risks. In Algebra I, a teacher began the school year by asking students to recall a time when they were completely absorbed in something. One student remembered playing soccer with friends. Three hours felt like just 15 minutes. Our teachers seek that depth of involvement in students’ mathematical learning. 
 
Sharing an unfinished idea requires confidence. In an International Baccalaureate (IB) mathematics class at Harrison High School, teachers asked students about the coming year: What excited them? What made them nervous? What could teachers do to help them do their best? Students recorded their responses on sticky notes, helping shape the environment in which they would learn.  Teachers design problems for students to investigate independently or together, with room to try an idea and reconsider it. Geometry students explored shapes using toothpicks and drawings, while Algebra II students shared their reasoning on whiteboards so they could examine and build on one another’s thinking. In one Precalculus lesson, the teacher deliberately held back some information to encourage students to reason together. In courses ranging from Precalculus to Multivariable Calculus, students test hypotheses and revise their reasoning. IB Mathematics also asks students to consider why the concepts they study matter.
 
At Louis M. Klein Middle School, eighth-grade Algebra I students shared observations and questions as they investigated ideas together. A seventh-grade challenge began with four sixes. Adding them makes 24. Can those same four sixes make five? Students examined how different operations changed the result and recorded their thinking. They adapted their approaches as they puzzled together and built on one another’s ideas. In sixth grade, a teacher interrupted an activity: “Highlighters down, hands up.” Before another attempt, students had three minutes to reflect on their own thinking and discuss with their groups what had worked, what hadn’t, and which strategy to try next. Together, they agreed on a plan.
 
In our elementary schools, the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) connects mathematical knowledge and skills with inquiry and critical thinking. Children’s questions play a direct role in their learning. Students investigate problems, explain their ideas, and consider classmates’ approaches, building confidence and preparing for more demanding mathematics.
 
And if you are still wondering how four sixes can make five, try it with your child. Share your ideas and enjoy figuring it out together. Your child may be the one who helps you see it.

HHS Junior Eric Myung Performs at Carnegie Hall with National Youth Orchestra 

Harrison High School Junior Eric Myung earned a seat in Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America following a highly competitive national audition process. Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together exceptional young musicians from across the country for this tuition-free program, where students spend several weeks rehearsing and learning alongside professional orchestral musicians. The experience culminates in performances at Carnegie Hall and an international concert tour, this year to Europe. Eric’s talent and dedication were evident throughout the program, where he performed on both oboe and English horn. HHS Band teacher Ms. Loertscher praised his performance at Carnegie Hall, “The ensemble was fantastic! Eric demonstrated outstanding musicianship throughout the concert, particularly during several soloistic moments on both oboe and English horn.” Congratulations to Eric on this remarkable achievement that reflects his exceptional musicianship, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

Summer Fitness Program Builds Strength, Speed & Confidence

The District’s six-week Summer Strength and Performance Program brought together 120 students from Harrison High School and LMK Middle School. District teachers and certified strength and conditioning coaches Derrick Fish and Marina Caminita led the early morning sessions. Designed for athletes of all experience levels, from beginner to advanced, the workouts combined foundational and sport-specific training, including weightlifting, sprinting, and agility exercises. Instruction emphasized proper technique, strength, mobility, and conditioning to help students develop the physical skills needed to perform safely and effectively.

Meet the Newest Members of the Harrison Learning Community

The District welcomes new administrators and teachers to the Harrison learning community. During the New Teacher Institute that took place before the start of the school year, Dr. Louis Wool and District administrators introduced our newest educators to Harrison’s instructional philosophy, practices and commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. We look forward to all they will bring to our classrooms, schools and students in the year ahead. Meet the newest members of the HCSD community.

Orientation Programs Prepare Students for Success at Harrison High School and LMK Middle School

 

Harrison’s incoming sixth and ninth grade students were introduced to their new schools at orientation sessions held at Louis M. Klein Middle School and Harrison High School. Orientation day is the final step in the District’s year-long transition programs, which are designed to support students in becoming familiar with their surroundings, asking questions, meeting teachers, and acclimating to their new environment. At orientation students met with their school counselors, received class schedules, located lockers and, guided by peer leaders, explored their new school buildings in a welcoming, relaxed setting. The District’s Director of Guidance, Kelly Malczewski, reflected on the experience, “By eliminating some of the uncertainty of the first day, orientation helps students build confidence and prepare for a successful experience at a new school.”
 

Facility Update - Summer 2026 

Bond referendum construction continues to progress steadily across the district, with significant facility improvements underway at Harrison High School and Harrison Avenue, Preston, and Purchase Elementary Schools. At Harrison High School, several major projects have recently been completed, including the new baseball/soccer field, expanded parking areas, and additional classroom space. Planning and design for the new Fitness and STEM Centers are also advancing, with groundbreaking for the Fitness Center anticipated this fall. At the elementary schools, construction is moving into important new phases. The Harrison Avenue and Preston additions are progressing with foundation and footing work, and steel installation to follow. At Purchase Elementary School, the district made substantial progress on the classroom and cafeteria expansion over the summer, and construction will continue throughout the fall. Health and safety improvements remain a priority for the district, with ongoing upgrades designed to enhance security, communication, and the district’s emergency response capabilities. Upcoming improvements will strengthen the school phone system to improve communication. Continued enhancements to lockdown procedures and protocols will ensure students and staff are prepared to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency.  Facilities Improvements Update
 

 

Follow us on Instagram @harrisonschoolsny

Newsletters