6th & 7th Grade Families,
As we eagerly anticipate the start of the 2024-25 school year, we are delighted to welcome you, the 6th & 7th Grade Middle School Families, to what promises to be an exciting and fulfilling year. We hope the summer break provided you with an opportunity to reconnect with friends and family and recharge your energy. We are genuinely excited for this coming school year as we start the year in a newly remodeled Harrison Middle School. The bright and inviting environment, along with the innovative design of the classrooms and facilities, will provide the foundation for our faculty and staff to implement middle school programs and activities that will foster our students' social, emotional, and academic growth. As we complete the final touches to the first phase of construction and begin the second, we will continue to work with the contractors to ensure that the construction does not negatively impact the instructional day and the building is a safe and productive environment.
Over the past summer, both faculty and administration have explored ways in which we can collaborate throughout the school year to fulfill the mission and vision of the district’s strategic plan. Using the Journey of a Highlander as a guide, we have begun to develop and outline plans focusing on the five competencies of being a Highlander: Adaptive Learner, Communication, Creative and Critical Thinking, Empathy, and Responsible Collaborator. As part of this process, science teachers have begun exploring the new STEELS standards and developed a plan to transform their curriculum to incorporate newly defined standards. We are excited to announce the newly adopted “Leader in Me” program, which is a whole-school transformation model and process that helps students and staff develop essential leadership skills. This program aims to create a dynamic school culture where everyone can thrive. The lessons from the “Leader in Me” program will be used to shape our homeroom program.
We will continue our No Cell Phone procedure to help ensure that our students are focused during the day. This will enable students to better concentrate during class and alleviate many distractions that negatively impact our students. Students are permitted to carry their cell phones, but they will be expected to keep the Cell Phones turned off and in either their locker, pockets, or purse. If you need to contact your child, you can either call the Middle School main office at 412-885-7530 or email your child using their school email, which they can access via their Chromebook.
The Middle School faculty and staff will continue to develop further opportunities for our students and families to connect with the school and the community, making the middle school years positive and memorable for all students. We look forward to working with talented students and a dedicated faculty to develop lifelong learners and responsible citizens as we start the new school year on Tuesday, September 3, 2024!
I wanted to note one correction in the Back to School Letter under Transportation to-and-from School:
- Buses will drop off and pick up students at the gym lobby entrance/exit (#1)
- Parents dropping off their students are to use the upper parking lot – Main Entrance (Entrance/Exit 12), and drop-off is from 7:50 to 8:15 AM (Parents are not to use the lower parking lot during arrival)
- Parents picking up their students are to use the upper parking lot – Main Entrance (Entrance/Exit 12), and pick up starts at 3:00 PM. (Parents are not to use the lower parking lot during dismissal)
- Students must use the Main Entrance (Exit 12) if they arrive late or are picked up for an early dismissal.
Also, below is an updated link to the school supply lists.
Click for the Grade Level School Supply lists
Additional Information
Mr. Ross
8th Grade Middle School Families,
As we eagerly anticipate the start of the 2024-25 school year, we are delighted to welcome you, the 8th Grade Middle School Families, to what promises to be an exciting and fulfilling year. We hope the summer break provided you with an opportunity to reconnect with friends and family and recharge your energy. The 8th grader students will continue to attend the High School for the 24-25 School Year. Our 8th-grade faculty and staff are genuinely excited to continue to implement middle school programs and activities that foster the social, emotional, and academic growth of our students. We will collaborate with our dedicated middle school faculty and staff to develop and promote a positive learning environment where all students can grow academically and socially.
Over the past summer, both faculty and administration have explored ways in which we can collaborate throughout the school year to fulfill the mission and vision of the district’s strategic plan. Using the Journey of a Highlander as a guide, we have begun to develop and outline plans focusing on the five competencies of being a Highlander: Adaptive Learner, Communication, Creative and Critical Thinking, Empathy, and Responsible Collaborator. As part of this process, science teachers have begun exploring the new STEELS standards and developed a plan to transform their curriculum to incorporate newly defined standards. We are excited to announce the newly adopted “Leader in Me” program, a whole-school transformation model and process that helps students and staff develop essential leadership skills. This program aims to create a dynamic school culture where everyone can thrive. The lessons from the “Leader in Me” program will be used to shape our homeroom program.
We will continue our No Cell Phone procedure to help ensure that our students are focused during the day. This will enable students to better concentrate during class and alleviate many distractions that negatively impact our students. Students are permitted to carry their cell phones, but they will be expected to keep the Cell Phones turned off and in either their locker, pockets, or purse. If you need to contact your child, you can either call the Middle School main office at 412-885-7505 or email your child using their school email, which they can access via their Chromebook.
The Middle School faculty and staff will continue to develop further opportunities for our students and families to connect with the school and the community, making the middle school years positive and memorable for all students. We look forward to working with talented students and a dedicated faculty to develop lifelong learners and responsible citizens as we start the new school year on Tuesday, September 3, 2024!
Additional Information
Mr. Ross
