Harrison Park Post

Kids are getting anxious. You could feel the energy after school and they absolutely didn't want to go home. Please continue to be positive and vigilant. I know events such as Festivus and Carnival throw things off for kids, but they are the events kids will remember years from now. "Remember that one year when..." Lets make tomorrow joyous for our students and US. Your well deserved break is almost here.  We will have limited bells tomorrow. Basically we will have one at 9:15, 10:00 (for assembly release) and then again beginning at 12:10 (I believe) and as we make the major shifts for each rotation. We will not have tardies (don't tell the kids). All adults should be out in the halls supervising during any transitions. The exception would be if there is a transition during your assigned lunch or prep time. Here is a link to all things for tomorrow:  Carnvial12/22/23 I will not be sending out all staff communication again until January 1st unless there is an emergen...

Thank you for your patience with lunch today. I really left ample time for pickup. Rookie tip DO NOT GO TO COSTCO at 12:00 on a weekday. There were many lollygaggers and parking was non existent (It's the holiday's I get it). To add to the trip a was behind a car that stopped went the red lights started flashing for the train. In my world this means hit the gas so we don't get stuck behind said train. I sat behind a train for ten minutes and then on the freeway there was an accident...you know typical crazy pre-holiday frenzy stuff. I went into the lunchroom and spent time with the kids and did some perspective taking. All is well. Hopefully an extra ten minutes of lunch for those impacted helped. On to Thursday! We had 93 students absent today. About 1/3 or our kids were out for all day or at least part of the day. We shall see what tomorrow brings. We are down four subs without coverage as of 4:30 this afternoon (Wednesday). I have emailed out people about coverage for to...

I sent out an email earlier today (Tuesday) that we will proceed with January 2nd as a non-student day. I will begin working out details now. I know our day will run from 8:15-5:30 as we are supposed to have a staff meeting that day. Please plan for this to be the case. Clearly, we may make some adjustments as things fall into place. All staff are expected to attend. For those moving into new classrooms there will be an orientation on the new tech equipment in your spaces at 9:00.  We may have some parents dropping goodies off for lunch tomorrow. I do know there will be pizza that shall arrive at 12:45. BYOB (beverage people...school appropriate beverage)  I sent out invites for dance practice. While we are not mandating this, we are saying EVERYONE will get on the stage for this number. So come practice or practice by watching:  https://www.icloud.com/photos/#030eLJuFnU6FrRVo5YhpfbHAA You may hear this through the grapevine, but new tables are arriving in the cafeteria t...

I received a chart field that is good for this week only. This covers extended pay for teachers who give up their prep period to provide coverage for an unfilled position. Please note we are not holding PLCs this week in the event we need to ask people to provide coverage.  This would only be the case if you covered during both your PLC and planning time.  Teachers of 6th grade students. If you have a student of concern please be sure to update the Kid Chat spreadsheet  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1itlW-uLboDxwkCFfYYC9_hb7D2Itu3-QzPw3vXdkzok/edit#gid=0  before tomorrow.  The toy and food drive are still up and running. We are still looking for donations. Please feel free to bring items in until Thursday morning. Here is more info on Festivus. Please direct specific questions around the event to Dan. I can take scheduling questions.  Festivus Luncheon Lineup Students enter to music, g et lunch, sit by grade level and eat - 15 min Airing of Grievan...

 Monday the 18th Fire Drill @ 10:10 Tuesday the 19th No Staff Meeting Wednesday the 20th 6th Grade Kid Chat @ 8:20 (See Info Below) Lunch Provided for Staff Thursday the 21st Festivus- Alternative Schedule  Wear Ugly/Crazy Holiday Clothing &/or Pajamas Friday the 22nd Carnival- Alternative Schedule Everyone take a deep breath. Warn your family that you may be a bit grumpy this week. Let's focus on how we will get through this week with smiles on our faces. I am working to switch my mindset and find joy in little things. Case in point,  I LOVE doing lunch duty because it allows me to talk to kids and get to engage with them in a positive way (most of the time). Anyway, a group of 7th graders  generally have their stuffies out on the table. We discuss them and I move on. Friday, I noticed the stuffies had clothing on. Come to find out a few of them sewed Hamilton costumes for the stuffies and they are working to outfit the entire cast. This is awesome! I love our s...

No one will be allowed to park in the front lot tomorrow. The construction company will be hoisting a very large piece of equipment onto the roof for our new HVAC system. Remind me to get pictures! Spencer will be out of the building today (Friday). Hallway presence. We need everyone out in the halls during passing time. Please be vigilant about this and be sure to report anything to admin, Dan or the counselors if you see something that may need to be addressed.   We will not hold PLCs next week. With the exception of 6th Grade Kid Chat all other meetings for next week will be taken of everyone's plates. In speaking with people around the district I have to share with you I am THANKFUL for you all. While we do have a few people out next week due to travel etc. the majority of us are going to "slog" through the week. We will do this together and we will try to make it as joyful as possible. We are truly honored to serve with you. Please be aware that next week we may need...

Dr. Calvert and Chris Frazier did a tour with me today. Dr. Calvert asked for some specifics on moves and I just shared that with her. She will take this information to Franco, but is advocating that we have a non-student day on January 2nd. I have asked that we be given an answer by the end of this week so we can share out with our families ASAP. It sounds like Dr. Franco will make the final decision. I am hopeful. Secure the Perimeter Drill tomorrow (Thursday) @ 2:15.  https://sites.google.com/pps.net/pps-emergency-management/drills?authuser=0  . Here are the basics: Secure the Perimeter Activated when there is an unsafe situation outside the school building. Designated personnel are assigned to secure the exterior doors to the building. Students: Return and remain inside the building. Business as usual inside the classroom. Maintain Situational Awareness. Teachers: Bring everyone indoors. Ensure exterior doors are locked. Increase situational awareness. Take attendance. NOT...

Here is the form from today's meeting. We tasked grade level teams to fill this out, but if you were not present please fill out for yourself.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBHtcTkw1FTDosn4eR0AVNNxDeEPxqSQq-j3HIykBo6hNnrg/viewform?usp=sf_link . Please be sure to fill out the Kid Chat spreadsheet if you made calls home for students of concern as discussed in our meeting today. We have our first GSA meeting today. This is for 7th and 8th grade students only. We will fold in 6th graders later. Students who want to attend will need to go directly to the cafeteria at 1:20 and eat. This will have them leaving their Advisory class. Advisory teachers please jot down names of students you released and send to Michelle McMillan so we can ensure they made it to the meeting and were not simply skipping. We will provide passes in the future, but wanted kids to be able to opt in easily the first time.  Once they finish @ 1:35 they will head to the auditorium where the meet...

Whew. My kids were down and out this weekend and I felt fine. I came in this morning and began to feel queasy around 10:00. I had an appointment and then made the decision to go home and try to fight things off. I spent much of the day resting and recouping and hope to be in tomorrow. Headed to bed soon. A good reminder to use the hand sanitizer we all have laying around. Staff meeting will be in the library @ 4:00 tomorrow.   Moving boxes will arrive on Tuesday. They have planned ten boxes per room with more available for art and Science classrooms.  I will send an invite out to those impacted by the mood for an optional meeting. It will be either for Wednesday morning or Thursday morning at 8:45.  I saw some doors that are starting to take shape. I am excited to see the finished products!

Monday the 11th Food Bank Distribution- 3:15-4:45 Tuesday the 12th Staff Meeting @ 4:00 8th Grade Benson Presentation @ 11:45 Wednesday the 13th SIT @ 8:20 GSA @ 1:15 (7th/8th Only) Thursday the 14th ILT @ 8:00 Latinx Affinity Group @ 1:15 Secure the Perimeter Drill Friday the 15th  Safety Team Meeting @ 8:20 Parent Coffee @ 9:30 I hope you are finding this SOGGY weekend productive. I am definitely looking forward to some drier weather.  Thank you to the Benson Family for hosting the staff holiday get together on Friday. It is always good to unwind and have some fun! You may have seen the Christmas tree and box in the front lobby. The WEB class is holding a gift and food drive. We will be using donations for Harrison Park families in need. You are welcome to bring in items if you are able. Please be sure you have put in any absences for this week and next into Frontline. Per the contract we also ask you let us know of the use of personal days five days in advance. This should ...

I will be out at Leadership tomorrow. Regina and Spencer will both be in the building. Please feel free to email or text me with any immediate concerns.  For those participating in the culture book study it will take place tomorrow morning (Thursday) starting at 8:00 in room 130.  Dr.Calvert will be out next Wednesday to tour the building and discuss the possibility of our proposal to have students begin on January 3rd. Fingers crossed.  We are finding our student Affinity groups may require a bit more education/support. We will continue to work with other middle schools to find ways to increase participation. With that being said we had one for our students identifying as Arabic on today (Thursday). We will not hold this meeting. If students ask please send their names to Leah or Regina and we will touch base with them.  To honor the spiritual needs of our students at Harrison Park, we will offer prayer times. If students choose to participate, prayers will be ...

As we talked about at our meeting last night, please put in any absences in Frontline as soon as possible. Here is the contract language:  Personal Leave a. Each professional educator shall be entitled to three (3) days leave without loss of pay for personal business. Professional educators who commence employment after the end of the first semester shall be entitled to one (1) day of personal leave. b. Except in cases of emergency, the request for such leave shall be made one (1) week in advance in writing. Please note this is from your former contract. I will share if anything is different, but do not believe this section was changed. Anything beyond three days will likely fall into the unpaid category. As mentioned I know at least two people will be out for a day or two for medical appointments. Those would fall under medical. If you were putting in for a full week of medical documentation would need to be provided.  PFSP if you are out you would need to follow the normal p...