YEAR END EDITION: JUne 2022
Dear Harrison Families,
Your children continue to amaze us with their willingness to learn, adapt to new situations and environments, and as I stated at the commencement and moving up ceremonies, to truly see the people in front of them. They begin with kindness and make our schools welcoming, vibrant places to learn. As we close this school year, I am excited to share their many achievements.
I also invite you to click the link at the end of the newsletter and watch the special performance of chorus students in grades 4-12 singing together - this is our learning community.
Hope to see your children in one of our many summer programs, I wish you a safe and relaxing summer.
Sincerely,
Superintendent of Schools
Celebrating the Class of 2022!
A week of celebrations culminated with the Harrison High School Commencement ceremony on a perfect summer evening, with family and friends gathered on the school grounds to celebrate the Class of 2022. Earlier, the District hosted Moving Up ceremonies for LMK Middle School 8th grade students and 5th grade students at Harrison Avenue Elementary School, Parsons Elementary School, Preston Elementary School, and Purchase Elementary School in the Harrison Performing Arts Center at the high school. Watch the ceremonies and view photo galleries
Seniors Recognized for Academic Honors at Awards Ceremony
Family and friends gathered at the Academic Awards Ceremony to recognize and celebrate the academic achievements of the graduating seniors. Watch the ceremony
HHS Debate Team Finishes Season with 15 Tournament Wins
This year, the Harrison High School Debate Team won 15 tournaments, including 5 tournament close-outs/ co-championships. A close-out is also a co-championship because when the last two debaters standing are both from the same school, they're considered co-champions. Team members earned a collective 13 Tournament of Champions bids, and qualified four debaters to the highly competitive competition, closed out two bid tournaments, and reached elimination rounds at nearly every tournament they competed in. In the novice division, the team posted its strongest season to date. Our debaters won nine tournaments and placed in the top 5 and/or made late elimination rounds of multiple other tournaments. Varsity achievements included four Championships and top positions at nearly every tournament competition. Varsity debater, Jessie Pein, is currently ranked among the top high school Lincoln Douglas debaters in the country.
Writers Among Us Celebrates Student Creativity
The Annual Writers Among Us celebration at Harrison High School celebrated student writing and student voice. Administrators, faculty, parents, members of the literary magazine, Imagine, and the student newspaper, the Husky Herald, attended the event. Student writers were recognized for their creativity, talent and willingness to take risks with their ideas. The ceremony included student readings from original works submitted to the high school literary magazine. Read Imagine Literary Magazine
Husky Herald Earns 1st Place Award
Husky Herald, the high school newspaper earned First Place from the American Scholastic Press Association and is among the best high school newspapers in the country. National Scholastic Press Association awards are based on an evaluation of coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership, design, photography and graphics. Read the most recent edition of the Husky Herald
HHS Symphonic Winds Are Superior!
The Harrison High School musical ensemble, Symphonic Winds earned the top ranking of Superior at the Lake Compounce High Note Music Festival. The festival provides ensembles from high schools an opportunity to perform in an evaluative setting. Two adjudicators evaluate performances and provide, written and audio commentary, and a rating. The HHS group scored at the top level!
Students Inducted into National Honor Society
Seventy-seven students were inducted into the Harrison High School Chapter of the National Honor Society in a celebration at the school’s Performing Arts Center. NHS President, Benjamin Lovinger, opened the ceremony followed by Principal Kim Beukema, who observed how the students thrived during their years at Harrison High school in spite of unexpected circumstances, and recognized the teachers who supported students’ success. Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Louis Wool, expressed confidence and pride in the NHS class of 2022 for how they have served our community in their roles as leaders. The program included ceremonial candle lightings to recognize pillars of the National Honor Society: Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character, by inductees Ariella Blackman, Jack Eiff, Lauren Davidson, and Kyangchat Kapio. The Induction Ceremony concluded with students reciting the National Honor Society oath. Watch the NHS Induction Ceremony
LMK Students Complete D.A.R.E. Program
Sixth grade students at LMK Middle School participated in the D.A.R.E. program, a school-community-police department partnership. The program, taught by School Resource Officer, Rob Budde, introduces students to "decision making for safe and healthy living." As a culminating activity, students write essays about what they learned from the class. Representatives from the District and Harrison Police Department gathered with students in the LMK Auditorium to celebrate the D.A.R.E. graduation, where students shared some of their essays. Student essay winners are pictured above with LMK Principal, Scott Fried, and School Resource Officer, Rob Budde.
Husky Day a Huge Success
Fifth Grade students from Parsons, Purchase, Harrison Avenue, and Preston Elementary Schools were welcomed to Harrison High School by members of the HHS Band for Husky Day. Husky Day is part of the District's transition to middle school program, and is designed to introduce 5th graders from across the four elementary schools to each other prior to arriving at LMK in the fall. Fifth grade students are divided into teams made up of students from each elementary school. The teams participate in icebreaker and team building activities developed by the District’s K-12 Physical Education and Health faculty and facilitated by student peer leaders from the high school. Activities are based on building student interaction using a variety of group activities, such as hula hoop challenges, obstacle courses and indoor adventure games. Students make new connections while having fun!
Third Grade Students Win Science Award
Parsons Elementary School third grader Carson Forero won first place in the Science Teachers Association of New York State Science Writing Competition; Alyssa Cerone was a runner up. The competition requires students to observe a phenomenon of their choice, produce questions related to the phenomenon, and create an investigation to learn more about their topic. The competition, open to all 3rd and 4th Graders in Westchester and the Bronx, is a great opportunity for students to showcase their science and writing abilities.
Sing a Song...Together!
