Harrisburg School District 7

New school year Our campuses are full of students and staff excited to kick off the 2022-23 school year. It is wonderful to see everyone’s smile as students move about their perspective campuses. Over the summer some areas were painted while deep cleaning took place in every building. The old furnaces in the elementary school classrooms were replaced over the summer using federal funds. The new units provide heat and air condition which is greatly appreciated as the temperatures are in the upper 90’s this week. The school district provides one-hour weekly for professional learning community (PLC) time. The Harrisburg School District will have late start every Monday. Everything will begin one hour later. There are two weeks during the school year when there is a holiday on Monday, Labor Day and Memorial Day. The late start will move to Tuesday. This is true for next week when Monday, September 5 is Labor Day holiday. We will have late start on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. If you have daycare issues and need to get to work, you may drop your child off at the elementary or middle school at the regular time. We will provide a safe place for all k-6 grade students who cannot stay home one hour. Building principals will provide staff who will oversee the K-6 grade students who arrive during the PLC time. We welcome parent involvement and I would encourage you to support the Harrisburg PTA. There are ways to support your schools through site councils and booster club. Contact the building principal if interested in supporting your son/daughter’s school.

Here is the link to join tonight's (7-11-2022) Board meeting via Zoom: https://harrisburg-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/83450211264?pwd=T1lwL25PUmd4QUNGSWx4WHZ1cWZrUT09 The meeting begins at 6:30 PM

Hello everyone, I want to provide an update for the 2022-2023 school year. Currently, the district allows one hour a week, on Wednesdays, for staff to engage in professional Learning Communities (PLC’s). The goal of these PLC’s is for staff to work together for school and learning improvement. Part of this work entailed sending staff and building principals to White River School District for an up close look at a school district whose PLC process is efficient. One of the takeaways from that trip was the time and day for PLC’s to take place. The team came back recommending we change our PLC time from an early release on Wednesdays to a late start on Mondays.This means that, on Mondays only, students will arrive at school an hour later than usual. The district understands that many of our families will have daycare challenges that will result in a late start. If you have a K-6 student you will be able to drop your student off at their respective school at the normal time on Mondays. The district will be happy to provide a safe environment for all K-6 students who arrive before school on Mondays. Building principals will provide communication on the new late start time. This hour of time is very beneficial for our teachers to discuss their instruction while examining data collected each week from agreed upon student work. The Harrisburg School Board of Directors gave us the time to improve learning and our professional practice by doing the work of a PLC, layered under the four critical questions of learning; What do we want students to learn? How will we know if they have learned? What will we do if they don’t learn? What will we do if they already know it? Each team has identified essential standards, learning targets, instructional strategies and student engagement and unit pacing. Please contact your building principal for specific details concerning late start Mondays.

There will be an executive session at the beginning (6:30 pm) of tonight's Board meeting, so if you are watching via Zoom, you will be let in after the executive session. Here is the Zoom link: https://harrisburg-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/88630879711?pwd=QXlQZzRFL2VLQzB5SmJXQTYzSWprZz09

We have heard from several of you regarding concern over graduation happening outdoors in possible rain. After a lot of discussion, the decision has been made to keep tomorrow’s graduation ceremony outside - rain or shine. At this late date there are too many moving parts to effectively navigate that change, the most significant is the fact that if we move inside we would have to limit the number of guests, and there is no equitable way to do that at this point. We purchased large tents several months ago, so tomorrow the graduates and the stage will be under cover. You are welcome to bring umbrellas or pop up canopies for your family if you so wish. Thank you for your concern, we look forward to celebrating with you tomorrow!

We will have a two hour delay today, Tuesday, December 14th.

Here is the link to join tonight's Board meeting via Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting https://harrisburg-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/81537726783?pwd=QURsV3FLMFdqdGkxMHpHOXVWVzBtQT09 You may also attend the meeting at the HS Student Resource Center at 6:30 pm.

District calendar adjustment Dear Parents and Guardians, I would like to extend a most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of you for partnering with the school staff by bringing your children to school ready to learn while following the health protocols. Last year we were one of the few districts that had an elementary school open its doors on the first day of school, and stay open throughout the year. Our middle school was also one of a very few schools to welcome students back for full in-person days. Our high school, as well, had opened its doors to part time days for all students. During this time we didn’t have a single outbreak. All of us made major sacrifices and pivots to make sure that our students were safe and getting the best education available to them. We all worked extremely hard. This year, however, has been different. At the beginning of August we were forced to adapt to new mask mandates which created much controversy in our community. As cases began to rise we had many students who were forced to quarantine and every staff member stepped up and made sure that our quarantined students still had access to their education through online learning and packets being sent home. We are now beginning to see students experiencing learning loss and struggles behaving in the classroom. Many of our staff are working much harder and longer to compensate for the loss of learning by meeting with students virtually and creating packets. Staff shortages are creating a hardship on teachers and principals as they cover classes. In many ways our staff is working longer and harder and this year is proving to be much more difficult than last year. The school board voted last night to give staff a much needed work day and an extra day off during Thanksgiving week. Many districts in our region, and across the state, are providing staff with a much needed break. At the school board meeting on November 8th, I recommended to the school board that Monday, November 22nd be a non-student contact work day and that November 23rd be a paid day off for all staff. The school board voted unanimously in favor of this recommendation. Please note your children do not come to school the week of November 22nd so your families may enjoy time with family and friends during Thanksgiving. The board and district administrators want to recognize the great work all of our staff are doing and have done the past three months. Hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and celebrate all we have to be thankful for in this school district and community.

Harrisburg School District Suicide Prevention Policy Guide When on the District site go to the More section, then choose information, then documents to find this complete guild.

Hi Everyone, Last night at the school board meeting a parent posed the question of what the district stance is on CRT. It is not part of the state standards that we teach from. Here is a link from Oregon School Boards Association, OSBA. http://www.osba.org/-/media/Files/Resources/Equity365/2021-CRT-QandA.pdf?la=en

HHS Fall Athletic Registration Register for Football, Volleyball, and Cross Country www.familyid.com All athletes must be registered on FamilyID and have a current sports physical to participate in practice. PRACTICE STARTS AUG 16TH FOR ALL SPORTS ?'s email: scott.buzzard@harrisburg.k12.or.us email sports physical's to Scott Buzzard or turn in to your coach.

Here is the Zoom link for tonight's Board meeting: https://harrisburg-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/84813845625?pwd=ZnRSVUNIN01vT3RUV09FR0tQeGprZz09 There is an executive session tonight, so the open session will begin about 6:40 pm.

If you wish to view tonight's Board meeting via Zoom, here is the link: https://harrisburg-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/85046618483?pwd=by9wNjh4VGN0eUFTUk9ySnpUN1VHdz09 There will be an executive session, so open session will begin close to 7pm.

Dear Harrisburg Community, Last week we received new information relating to students wearing masks while at school, school athletic events, and extracurricular activities. It is important to know that these new guidelines are optional and do not have to be implemented by school districts. Harrisburg School District leadership has met and decided to adopt the following change to students wearing masks: Harrisburg School District staff, at their discretion, will allow students to remove their masks during supervised outdoor activities such as outdoor PE and recess. Students will still be required to wear masks while on campus and in classrooms and will still be required to maintain social distancing at all times. Thank you for partnering with us as we complete a very challenging school year. We are in the final few weeks of school and will finish EAGLE strong.

Athletic Events for the week of May 25th-28th

Athletic events for the week of May 17th-22nd

Dear Parents and Guardians, Yesterday, Governor Brown issued a video statement on how the new CDC guidance will be implemented in Oregon. In her statement she shared, "Nothing is changing for schools this school year, and I expect education staff and students to continue to wear masks and physically distance, as outlined in our Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance." This also applies to all other individuals on school campus, including but not limited to: family members, volunteers, visitors, SROs, and other partners. I hope you understand we must follow the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance as established by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon Health Authority, OHA. ODE is currently working with OHA on guidance for next school year. Thank you for partnering with the school staff creating a safe and secure place for our children to learn and grow.

JV Softball game against Crow on Wednesday May 12th has been canceled.

Athletic Events for the week of May 11th-15th

Dear Parents and Guardians, Please take the time to participate in the latest thought exchange. Also rate other peoples thoughts after submitting your own thoughts. The main question is, " As we move away from the restrictions created by the pandemic, what can the school district do to best support students? Thank you ahead of time for participating. Here is the link: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/633204942