Harrisburg R-VIII School District

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Susan Canote. Mrs. Canote has been teaching in Harrisburg for 7 years in our Title 1 Reading and Math Programs. The foundational skills provided by the Title 1 Programs are integral to student success and we are incredibly fortunate to have such a talented team providing instructional support to students and teachers. Along with Mrs. Meghan Sublett and Mrs. Jaimie Sublett, Mrs. Canote is part of an extraordinary teaching team that uses data and individually differentiated instruction to create lessons and learning experiences that close learning gaps, provide enrichment opportunities, and allow for growth, resilience, and success beyond the classroom for their students. Principal Gabe Burris shared the following about Mrs. Canote: “Susan goes above and beyond to help support students in reading and math. We are lucky to have her sharing her expertise with our students. When a student needs a little extra help she’s quick to lend a hand and make sure the student is able to reach their goals. Not only does she help support students, but she’s also quick to boost staff morale with treats in the teachers lounge.” Thank you, Mrs. Canote, for the many things you do for the students, staff, and community of Harrisburg R-VIII School District. #BulldawgPride

Please remember to return your library books this week.

HAPPY SCHOOL LUNCH SUPERHERO DAY! Our food services team takes such good care of our students and staff each and every day. Delicious and nutritious breakfasts, yummy hot lunches, and packaged meals for our students headed to athletics and activities...these heroes do it all! Thank you Lisa Baker, Rhonda Westendorff, Sheila Griffitt, Leona Ray, Donnie Merritt, Kim Durk, Mary Winn, and Marla Merritt! #BulldawgPride

"Leaders become great not because of their power but, because of their ability to empower others." - John Maxwell HAPPY PRINCIPALS' DAY to Mr. Burris, Mr. Wardrip, and Mr. Fisher. We deeply appreciate the way they engage, lead, and inspire the students and staff of our district each and every day. #Bulldawgpride

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: Today’s featured teacher is Mr. Brad Clemons. Mr. Clemons is finishing his 1st year as a Harrisburg Bulldog and his 19th year in education. He currently teaches Speech, 10th Grade English, Dual Credit Composition I & II, Dual Credit Public Speaking, and Dual Credit Greek Mythology Classes at Harrisburg High. Principal Kyle Fisher shares that “Mr. Clemons has done a great job during his first year at Harrisburg. He pushes his students to do their very best, and his ability to teach dual credit classes such as Public Speaking, Mythology, and Composition have been a nice addition to our high school curriculum.” Thank you Mr. Clemons for all that you do for Harrisburg Schools! #BulldawgPride

HAPPY ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY: “The exceptional administrative professional is the floor general who brings, supports, holds, and streamlines both their team and organization together.” - Ty Howard When you enter our buildings, it will be their faces that first welcome and greet you. Our administrative professionals are, without question, the heart of our buildings. We are truly grateful for the way they manage the expected and unexpected events that occur every single day of their school year. What a blessing it is to have such knowledgeable, skilled, and talented individuals in our Harrisburg School District family. Thank you Becky, Cara, Rebekah, Keely, and Ruby! #Bulldawgpride

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Carrie Edwards. Mrs. Edwards has been teaching 7th & 8th Grade Communication Arts at Harrisburg Middle School for the past four years. In addition to a full teaching schedule, Mrs. Edwards served as a junior/senior class sponsor for the 2024 senior class and is currently organizing and directing the high school play that will be performed this spring at Harrisburg High School. Mrs. Edwards also serves on our district Academic Advisory Cabinet and Equity and Diversity Work Committee. Middle School administrator Jeff Wardrip shared: “Mrs. Edwards is a top-notch educator. She makes it a point to get to know all of her students and help them in any way she can. Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, and community. Stay Golden!!” Thank you, Mrs. Edwards, for all that you do for Harrisburg School District. #BulldawgPride

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Kelley Burt. Mrs. Burt has been an educator for 20 years and has spent 19 of those years teaching 4th grade at Harrisburg Elementary. Mrs. Burt lends her considerable expertise to numerous building and district committees including the 3rd-5th Grade Professional Learning Committee, Elementary Literacy Committee, CTA Calendar Committee, and the Science Fun Night Planning Committee. Mrs. Corrine Hill shared the following about her partner teacher: “I went from being Mrs. Burt’s student teacher to her partner teacher and wouldn’t want it any other way! We’ve been through a total of 13 great years together, learning from one another and growing as teachers and as friends. We balance each other out perfectly and are such a strong team! Mrs. Burt cares for each of her students deeply and instills great intrinsic values to each student. I’m so lucky to have her next door as a teammate and friend!” Thank you, Mrs. Burt, for the many ways that you support and encourage your students and colleagues each and every day. #BulldawgPride

THE 2024-25 ACADEMIC CALENDAR has been approved by the Harrisburg R-VIII Board of Education. #BulldawgPride

Students in Mrs. Monroe’s Pre-K class visited Mrs. Ayer’s high school science classroom this morning to learn about some of the animals that live in her classroom. Students got to meet Curly the tarantula. They learned that Curly likes to eat a special kind of cockroach. They also got to meet a Brazilian Black tarantula named Mr. T who blends into his environment using camouflage. Students inspected the colony of cockroaches that live in the classroom and discussed how some animals are food sources for other animals. Students also got to meet Mrs. Ayer’s class pet Liz who is a bearded dragon. They learned about the different kinds of lights that Liz needs to live in his home in the classroom and everyone got to pet Liz and use a descriptive word for how he felt. Some popular descriptions were “rough”, “scaly”, and “scratchy”. #BulldawgPride

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mr. Devon Geisler. Mr. Geisler has been an educator for nine years and has spent the last four of those years teaching at Harrisburg High. His current course offerings include 9th grade World History, 11th grade American Government, and a Civics and Leadership elective. In addition to this full teaching schedule, Mr. Geisler also lends his talents to coaching middle school football and high school track and field. He also serves on several district Professional Development Committees. High school Principal Kyle Fisher shared the following: “Mr. Geisler has done an outstanding job here at Harrisburg. He has served on our Academic Advisory Committee and has been one of the teachers at the high school that has set up model classrooms for our Teachers Leading Teachers program. His passion for history and his enthusiasm for teaching are evident in his classroom every day.” Thank you, Mr. (Coach) Geisler for the positive impact you make in the lives of your students each and every day. #BulldawgPride

PTO Vendor Fair is Saturday, April 20th in the Harrisburg High School Commons. It will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PTO is still needing to add some vendors for this event. Please share this information with vendors that you know. Please also plan on coming to shop.

REMINDER: Join First Impact as they teach parents and students about Missouri's Graduated Driver License (GDL) Law. They will hold a FREE session for parents and their new teen drivers in the Harrisburg Elementary Library on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. We hope to see you at this informative event. You may register at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EA5A92CA3FDC16-48464282-first.

HAPPY PARAPROFESSIONAL DAY to the incredible staff of specially trained and credentialed educators who support and work with our students each and every day. Paraprofessionals are "the heartfelt heroes. Using their talents to help students discover their own. Dedicating their time and energy each day to the students in their care, and doing it all while meeting the individual needs of many." - Teresa Kwant #Bulldawgpride

PTO meeting tonight April 2nd at 6pm in the elementary/middle school library. Here is the Zoom Link Information: https://umsystem.zoom.us/j/93413693045?pwd=UTJiMFBBekZLL29yY1Q4dVBHZlZ5UT09 Meeting ID: 934 1369 3045 Passcode: 292178 One tap mobile +13052241968,,93413693045# US Thanks! Nicole Fritts PTO Co-Secretary

We are searching for volunteers to assist with our BOGO Book Fair April 22-26. If you would like to help our youngest bulldogs make wish lists and shop our book fair, please consider signing up using the included link. If you would like to help, but need a modified time slot, please reach out to Toby Class at classt@harrisburg.k12.mo.us. Thanks for helping to make our book fairs possible! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FAFA729A4F4CF8-48694631-2024

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: Today’s featured teacher is Mrs. Kimberly Eaton. When asked how long she has been in education, Mrs. Eaton replied “I have been working with children since I was 14 as a babysitter, then as a paraprofessional, then as a childcare provider and finally as a teacher. So a lot of years!” The 23-24 school year marks her 7th year teaching in Harrisburg. She has been a Learning Specialist Instructor in our Elementary and Middle School buildings and transitioned into a familiar early childhood role this school year as one of our 4 year old preschool educators. Outside of her Pre-K classroom, Mrs. Eaton volunteers her time and talents to several school and community organizations and events. She plans, coordinates, and facilitates the annual elementary Bike Rodeo event, helps each year with the elementary Carnival, and serves on our local CTA Social Committee. For the past 2 years she has served as a senior sponsor for the Senior Trip that our students take to Walt Disney World. In addition to a variety of school district activities, Mrs. Eaton is also very involved with community organizations. She is an active member of the Harrisburg Community Betterment Committee. Thank you, Mrs. Eaton, for making such a positive and enduring impact on your school district and community. #BulldawgPride

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mr. Blake Logan. Coach Logan has been an educator for 16 years and has spent the last 5 of those years as a Harrisburg Bulldog. He teaches high school Athletic Wellness & Nutrition, Lifetime Sports, Team Sports, and 7th-12th grade Strength & Conditioning classes. In addition to a full teaching schedule, Coach Logan is the head track & field coach for grades 7-12 and is an assistant JV/Varsity football coach. “Coach Logan is very passionate and wants to see all students succeed.” - HS Senior “Coach Logan has been an integral part of our strength and conditioning program that has elevated all of our student-athletes. His dedication to track and field has led to multiple district championships for both girls and boys teams, along with individual district, sectional, and state champions. He has been a major part of the success our football program has seen over the past 4 years at Harrisburg.” - Chris Ackman, Middle School Athletic Director. “Coach Logan has had a tremendous impact on our entire athletic program. His strength & conditioning program has allowed all of our athletes in the high school and the middle school the opportunity to fully maximize their potential. We are extremely lucky to have Coach Logan here at Harrisburg and our student athletes have greatly benefited from his coaching.” Kyle Fisher, High School Principal Thank you, Coach, for the many ways that you support, motivate, and lead our students at Harrisburg R-VIII. #BulldawgPride

March is School Board Appreciation Month and we are honored to recognize the men and women who have served and who currently serve on the Harrisburg R-VIII Board of Education. Thank you for your commitment to the staff, students, and families of our district. #BulldawgPride

TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Kelsey Fisher. Mrs. Fisher has been in education for 10 years and has spent all of those years as a Harrisburg Bulldog. Mrs. Fisher taught 1st grade for 8 years and has spent the last 2 years as a Preschool teacher in a three year old program and as a K-1 Learning Specialist. Mrs. Fisher has a natural ability to set firm boundaries with her students and simultaneously ensure that they feel safe, cared for, loved, and encouraged. She leads by example in the way she meets students and colleagues where they are with grace and respect. Mrs. Fisher serves on the Elementary Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Committee and on the District Harrisburg Community Teachers Association. A few of her K-1 colleagues had the following to say about the impact that Mrs. Fisher makes in their classrooms and on students every day: “Kelsey always takes time to collaborate with classroom teachers, checks in to see how we're doing, and gives extra support to students who need it. She is very helpful, kind, and flexible/works around schedules if needed. I'm so thankful that Kelsey is our K1 Learning Specialist!!” “Having Kelsey is like co-teaching. She has gotten to know our students like her own. She advocates for them just as classroom teachers do. She is there to meet students at their level and give them what they need, when they need it. I couldn’t do it without her. She’s amazing!” “Kelsey is amazing! She touches the lives of so many students each day. She is in constant motion so that she can get to as many kids as possible in one day. She gives them strategies to learn information as well as extra time to practice a skill that needs extra work. The kids are excited to see her come into the classroom. She is always willing to help wherever she can. She not only helps students, but teachers as well. She is a wonderful tutor, friend and mentor. We are very lucky to have her in our school district! Thanks for all you do Kelsey!” Thank you, Mrs. Fisher, for the many ways you are making a difference in the lives of so many in your school and community. #BulldawgPride