HP Post

After an unexpected delay the Panthers are heading back to school. We appreciate your flexibility during the last week. Our contractors were busy all summer, but unfortunately there were several unforeseen issues that came up. Unreinforced masonry walls and an unexpected dry well are just a few things uncovered. As safety is always the number one goal, these could not be ignored plans had to shift in order to address them. It became clear the timeline was tight and it became clear teachers would not be entering a space that was ready for them to prepare for students.

The additional days allowed the construction crews to wrap up major work and clean spaces for teachers return. Teachers entered the building on Wednesday and began readying their spaces for students.

As many of you could see on Thursday night they accomplished this work quickly and most spaces were student ready for the 6th graders return on Friday. I can confidently say that spaces will be ready for all grades on Tuesday. I can not express enough gratitude towards our staff in their can do attitudes and flexibility.

Our teachers made an effort to get ahold of all parents/guardians of Harrison Park students. The purpose of these calls was to learn more about how we can partner to support your scholar this year. If staff was unable to connect with you before school started they will continue to contact parents/guardians over the next few weeks. We look forward to working together to ensure your scholar is supported this year!

The first week of school is always busy. The first week day of school will be spent going over Harrison Park expectations and ensuring students understand what it means to be a Panther. Students do not need to bring anything but a water bottle the first day of school, Tuesday the 3rd. Here are a few quick notes for the first few days:

• All students receive free breakfast and lunch. Students are welcome to bring their own lunches as well.
• We will not assign lockers until later this week, or early next week. Students will be able to carry their backpacks throughout the day. On Monday September 16th, we will ask all students to begin using their lockers and no backpacks or bags will be allowed in classrooms.
• Locks are provided by students and their families. We do have a limited number of locks available for purchase, $5.
• Purchased supplies can be sent with your student, but it is advised they remain home until your scholar gets their locker. Unlike in Elementary school, supplies are largely student managed and not collected by teachers. Scholars are encouraged to keep supplies in their locker so they can access them throughout the year.
• A reminder that cell phones are off and away all day. A copy of the policy was sent out in our back to school mailer.
• All student will be given a binder, dividers, a pencil pouch, and highlighters on Monday September 9th. This will take place through Advisory and is part of our building wide AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) plan.

Here is a link to bus information. Please note routes and times may shift throughout the year. Here is a link: https://sites.google.com/pps.net/gt-bus-schedule// . Students taking the bus are expected to go into the cafeteria upon arrival and may not leave campus.

There is very limited supervision until 8:55 each morning. We encourage those students who are being dropped off or walking to arrive around 9:05. Doors open at 9:08. Upon entry to the building breakfast is provided. In very cold and/or rainy weather we may be able to allow students into the lobby or cafeteria, but this is dependent on available staff's ability to supervise. Scholars are allowed into the halls at 9:08.

School ends at 4:00. Those students taking the bus should head directly to the bus loading zone (in front of the building on 87th Avenue). Buses will leave by 4:08. It is expected that all students walking or biking depart by the time the buses leave. Students should be picked up by 4:10. Please note our office officially closes at 4:30.

Traffic

There have been some changes to our front parking lot. We anticipate this will change some traffic patterns. When dropping off a student using the front parking lot is okay. When picking up students after school we must keep traffic moving. If you use the parking lot for pick up, and your student is not ready to be picked up, we will ask you to either park and wait for them or to loop back around. We can not allow cars to wait in the front lot as it backs up traffic. Please refrain from parking in the handicap parking spots, and the striped lines between them, unless you have a permit.

We will be reinforcing the five minute parking, driver to remain at wheel area located directly in front of our front parking lot. We ask that no one park in this location during school hours (8:15-4:30). For everyone's safety please have your scholar exit the car along the curb and avoid stepping out directly into the street.

Some ways to avoid the after school rush are to utilize 85th Avenue, behind the school, or to arrange to pick up your student near the baseball fields. Stephens street will allow you to access 82nd Avenue or 92nd Avenue and avoid the traffic light on Division.

Please be aware as you drive near the school. We want to ensure all our Panthers are safe.

Each year we have students, and parents, request schedule changes or ask to be moved into a different elective etc. Please know scheduling is a huge puzzle and we do our best to get students into the classes of their choice. All students should have a completed schedule at this point. Over the weekend we did one last look through to ensure students had required classes.

Our goal is to balance classes as best as possible and to ensure CORE content classes (Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) are around 25. While this isn't alway possible, it is something we strive for.

This year we also have had to add a half a year of PE to all student's schedules. This is in order to meet state health/PE requirements. Our current priority for schedule adjustments is to take a look at any scholars who still may have issues, schedule students who have recently registered (we had several students register Friday), and to look at the actual number of students in classes (often we have students who have moved or who have gone elsewhere). Once this is complete we will begin to look at other requests. Students will need to be patient. Schedule change requests will likely begin around the week of the 9th. We appreciate your patience.

This year students will not be issued a Chrome Book individually. Teachers will maintain Chrome Books within their classrooms and scholars will use them as needed. We will be exploring how to check out Chrome Books to students who may not have access at home and will share out details on that in the future.