TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Juli Hackethal. Mrs. Hackethal has been an educator for 13 years and has spent the last 4 of those years in Harrisburg teaching high school Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Forensics. Mrs. Hackethal is a master teacher. She nurtures student curiosity in the subject of science with numerous opportunities for hands-on experiences, encourages students to think scientifically, and collaborates with other teachers to integrate science with other subjects. When she is not in her classroom, you’re still likely to find her on campus. Mrs. Hackethal is involved with a number of school sponsored activities. She serves on the high school Student Success Team, coaches middle school softball, sponsors high school FCA, and supervises our youth basketball program. Thank you, Mrs. H, for all that you do for our students and school. #BulldawgPride
We had an amazing afternoon at the 6th Annual Turkey Trot. Every single student did an fantastic job running a 1K at the track and then enjoyed a trip to the concession stand where Walnut & Twine was on site with their delicious muffins and hot cocoa to warm up the athletes. Congratulations to the top finishers in each age division.
K/1st Grades: Jax Pollard (1st), Finley Asher (2nd), Sullivan Campbell (3rd)
2nd Grade: Noah Hardin (1st), Jett Nichols (2nd), Weston Heinlein (3rd)
3rd Grade: James Harrison (1st), Philip Smith (2nd), Cason Nicols (3rd)
4th/5th Grades: Jase Price (1st), Emma Atkins (2nd), Carl Mueller (3rd)
Middle School: Jackie Stidham (1st), Austin Ryden (2nd), Declan Timbrook (3rd)
Middle School students were treated to a special head-to-head competition at the end of their race. Good job, Mr. Carey, you were so close! #BulldawgPride #TurkeyTrot2023
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Carmen Combs. Mrs. Combs is our District Special Services Coordinator. She has been teaching for 27 years with 25 of those years at Harrisburg.
As Special Services Coordinator, Mrs. Combs is an integral part of our instructional leadership team and collaborates daily with staff members and teachers across the district to ensure all students receive the services and resources needed to achieve their individual goals.
Mrs. Combs serves on a number of building level and district committees that directly support and advocate for her students and staff members. These committees include Academic Advisory Committee, Professional Learning Committee, Student Support Team, Instructional Support Team, CTA Salary Committee, Career Ladder Committee, CSIP Committee, and Dignity & Equity in Education Committee.
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Nicole Fritts. Mrs. Fritts has been teaching for 28 years and has spent 24 of those years at Harrisburg. Although she spends the majority of her day in the classroom teaching middle school computer science, applications, and coding, Mrs. Fritts also supports our district technology needs. In the past 24 years, schools have experienced a massive change in the types of technology that teachers and students use each day and in the infrastructure needed to support that technology. Mrs. Fritts has been an integral part of that change in our district. She has written grants, attended conferences to stay up-to-date on the latest technology, and has been a wealth of knowledge for both teachers and students. She is always willing to share her knowledge and talents with others. One of the talents she shares freely with the district is photography. If you attend almost any Harrisburg event, you will see Mrs. Fritts taking photos to share. She has captured decades of memories for our school district. In addition to all of this, Mrs. Fritts serves on our district CTA Salary Committee, Technology Committee, Career Ladder Committee, and as co-secretary of our Parents as Teachers Organization. Thank you, Mrs. Fritts, for all that you do for Harrisburg Schools. #BulldawgPride
Our Veterans Day Honor Wall was started 20 years ago to recognize the service of the Veterans of our community. We invite guests to add a brick to the wall in honor of their Veteran/s. #veteransday #BulldawgPride
Happy National Parents As Teachers Day! Today we celebrate our district PAT Coordinators, Dana Byrd and Lydia Miller, and the families that they partner with to support the educational goals of our youngest Bulldogs.
The PAT program is available to all families expecting a child or those parenting children that have not yet entered kindergarten who live in the Harrisburg R-VIII School District.
To quote Principal Gabe Burris, “Lydia and Dana provide families with many different types of resources for children birth to school age. They are specially trained in child development and can provide one-on-one family visits. They go above and beyond to plan, and recruit, families throughout the district to their group events. These events have helped many families in the district make connections and lasting relationships. Lydia and Dana make sure each one of their families has the resources they need by providing books, screenings, and toys to name a few.”
Follow the Harrisburg PAT Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/harrisburgPAT for more information about this wonderful program. #BulldawgPride
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Dr. John Golzy. Dr. Golzy teaches high school calculus, college algebra, trigonometry, and statistics. This is his second year at Harrisburg and his twenty-fifth year in education. Students say Dr. Golzy’s classes are challenging and intense, but agree that his humor and teaching style make the difficult math courses much more enjoyable. One student described arriving to class one day to find tissues on all the tables because, as Dr. Golzy told them with a smirk, “today will be crying day” because of the difficult concept they were about to tackle. Other days, he tells them to “add a smiley face” when they breeze through an easier lesson. Some favorite daily Golzy-isms are “don’t write this down” and “uh-oh, I made a mistake”. Humor, real-world application of the math concepts he is teaching, and an open-door policy for questions and extra tutoring are trademarks of Dr. Golzy’s teaching style. We are thrilled that our students have access to high quality in-person instruction in his college level courses at Harrisburg. #BulldawgPride
Dear Parents,
When attending a Harrisburg basketball game in either gym, children must remain in the gym while the game is being played. The back hallways and the HS commons are not to be used as a spot to play or hangout during the game.
Thank you for your cooperation in making our home events a better environment for all patrons and staff. The athletic department appreciates your support.
“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” ― Victor Hugo
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Meghan Sublett. 2023-24 marks Mrs. Sublett’s 20th year in education with all 20 of those years spent at Harrisburg Elementary School. As the Title 1 Reading Specialist, Mrs. Sublett administers assessments for student selection and uses the assessment data to plan instruction in reading. The foundational skills necessary for being a fluent reader are vital to student success and Mrs. Sublett is a master at finding the perfect strategy for each student. Even more amazing is her ability to make that work engaging and fun. To see evidence of this work, you need only to attend one of the Title 1 Literacy Night events or to ask one of her students about their most recent book group session.
In addition, Mrs. Sublett stays very busy outside of her classroom as the high school cheer coach and serves on a number of district committees including the Elementary Student Success Team, PBIS Team, Professional Learning Community Leadership Team, Academic Advisory Cabinet, and as a Teachers Leading Teachers Model Classroom Teacher. Thank you, Mrs. Sublett, for all that you do for our students, staff, and district each day! #BulldawgPride
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: “Music is what feelings sound like out loud.” - Georgia Cates
This week’s featured teacher is Mrs. Haydan Fearn. Mrs. Fearn has been helping Harrisburg students learn to express themselves through music for the past ten years. You need only to attend the annual Veteran’s Program, Christmas Program, or MUSART concerts to see the way Mrs. Fearn cultivates a love of vocal music in even the youngest students. It is truly magical to watch her direct her young choir of students. Mrs. Fearn also introduces her elementary students to their first concert instrument. The recorder. This introduction leads many of our students to join fifth grade band where Mrs. Fearn along with her husband Mr. Fearn will introduce our students to the world of concert and marching band. This past Saturday, under the direction of Mr. & Mrs. Fearn, our Harrisburg Marching Band added a 2nd place State trophy to their many accomplishments. Thank you, Mrs. Fearn, for instilling the love of music in our youngest Bulldogs everyday. The impact you and the Harrisburg music program have on this school and community is immeasurable. #BulldawgPride
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: Today's featured teacher is Mrs. Christy Segress. The 2023-24 school year marks the 31st year that Mrs. Segress has been an educator and her 3rd year as a Harrisburg Bulldog. As a 9-12 grade learning specialist, Mrs. Segress provides specialized educational support to individuals or groups of high school students. She spends much of her day in our high school classrooms team teaching with content teachers and providing differentiated instruction and support to students. Mrs. Segress is especially skilled at meeting students where they are in a learning process and helping them to personalize an approach to their own learning. Our teachers and students are fortunate to have access to her knowledge and skill everyday. Thank you, Mrs. Segress! #BulldawgPride
2023-24 CALENDAR UPDATE: The Board of Education, at their regular October meeting, decided to use four built-in inclement weather makeup days for the first week of school missed due to construction. The district has one remaining inclement weather day built into the calendar. Any day missed for any reason must be rescheduled as state law requires. A district must attend a minimum of 1044 hours. If we miss more than one school day, the following dates will be utilized. In calendar order and use: January 22, February 26, March 11, April 15, April 22, and April 29, with additional days to be added at the end of the calendar.
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: This week's featured teacher is Mrs. Samantha Carey. Mrs. Carey has been teaching for 13 years and has spent the last 7 of those years teaching first grade in Harrisburg. Mrs. Carey is a master at her craft. When students enter her classroom they are transported to The Land of Oz and the wonderful and amazing things that happen in those walls are not limited to the classroom theme. In those walls students become readers, problem-solvers, and creators. They learn how to work together, be a good friend, and have empathy for others. First grade is truly a magical time and Mrs. Carey is truly an exceptional teacher. In addition to her busy day with first graders, she also serves on our district Teachers Leading Teachers Committee and the Elementary Carnival Committee. Thank you Mrs. Carey for all that you do each day for your students and for your school! #BulldawgPride
The Literati Book Fair opens today in the HEMS Library! You can purchase gift cards for your students at https://efairs.literati.com/?school=harrisburg-elementary-school-harrisburg-mo.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The fall school dental clinic will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023.
Help earn cash for our school with Box Tops for Education! Download the app now and get started. It's easy!
TEACHER FEATURE TUESDAY: Today's featured teacher is Mr. Ryan Harms. Mr. Harms began his teaching career in Harrisburg eight years ago teaching elementary. He taught both third grade and fifth grade before moving to a middle school position. Regardless of the grade level he is teaching, Mr. Harms is known for his ability to engage, inspire, and excite his students with meaningful and challenging experiences. Mr. Harms also serves on the district CTA Salary Committee. Thank you for all that you do, Mr. Harms. #BulldawgPride
We are so thankful to the men and women who work tirelessly each day to ensure our buildings are clean and safe. Thank you to Blakemore Cleaning and each and every one of our team members who do this important work. We appreciate you! #BulldawgPride
Come hang out at the Literati Book Fair and get to know our students. Volunteers assist students with making wish lists and finding great books. Our fair is October 9-13. If you can help, sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FAFA729A4F4CF8-book2. Thanks for your time!
Today is National School Parent Group Day and we wouldn’t miss a chance to say thank you to the amazing group of parents and teachers who make up our Harrisburg Parent Teacher Organization. This organization supports our students and school district in so many ways throughout the year. From fundraisers to purchase new technology to supporting students with scholarships for dual credit, this team never ceases to amaze with their dedication and commitment to our students. Want to learn more about PTO? You can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/harrisburg.pto or attend a monthly meeting on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the HEMS (north campus) library or online via Zoom.
