Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.
Please be advised that there is NO SCHOOL for students on Friday, October 9th due to staff professional development. We hope you have a great three day weekend.
Click here to see the breakfast & lunch for October.
(TEXAS) – On the eve of National Principals Month, the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $27.8 million Teacher and School Leader Incentive grant to Harmony Public Schools to train, equip, and retain top-level school leaders at its campuses across the state.
This project will strengthen and evolve Harmony’s existing Human Capital Management System, developed through a previous Department of Education grant project (Teacher Incentive Fund, 2016), to more explicitly focus on strengthening instructional leadership by better positioning and supporting current and rising principals and instructional leadership teams to excel and remain in their roles—especially in high-need schools. Harmony has 50 schools designated as high-needs throughout the state.
The project design draws on proven research showing that strong instructional leadership improves educator effectiveness, which, in turn, accelerates growth in student outcomes.
“Great schools require great leadership,” said Harmony CEO Fatih Ay. “That’s why one of our highest priorities at Harmony Public Schools is to equip our principals and other school leaders with the tools they need to build cultures of achievement, character, and community at their campuses.”
Harmony was one of only 13 school systems in the country to receive the DOE grant and the largest of three Texas recipients.
“Great teachers deserve to be treated as the professionals they are and to be compensated accordingly,” U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a statement Wednesday, September 1. “All too often, though, they lack access to relevant professional development courses and are compensated on a step-scale ladder that treats them like cogs in a machine instead of as individuals with unique talents and interests. We’ve challenged today’s awardees to rethink all of that, and they have risen to the challenge.”
The new funding brings the total amount awarded to Harmony by the Department of Education within the past few years to $92.5 million.
- In 2012, the DOE awarded Harmony a $30 million Race to the Top grant to support locally developed plans to personalize and deepen student learning, directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and prepare every student to succeed in college and their careers.
- In 2016, the DOE awarded Harmony a $26.7 million Teacher Incentive Fund grant to develop a merit-based system for rewarding its highest-performing teachers. (The system, known as H-STEP, was foundational in Harmony being named to the Texas Education Agency’s inaugural class of Teacher Incentive Allotment districts in Fall 2020.)
- In 2018, the DOE awarded Harmony an $8 million Education Innovation Research grant to build upon Harmony’s project-based learning STEM model for Grade 6-12 students by introducing similar curricula to students in Grade K-5, and by creating a system of support and professional development for elementary school teachers.
Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving PreK-Grade 12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Greater Houston, DFW, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Lubbock, Odessa, Bryan, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley. Harmony’s curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning, and college readiness. In 2020, Harmony hadall 23 high school campuses named among the Best High Schools in America by U.S. News and World Report, 13 named to the Best STEM High Schools in America by Newsweek, and earned two National School of Character recognitions from Character.org.
Harmony Public Schools is currently accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year for both students and team members.
About Harmony Public Schools
Harmony Public Schools are 58 high performing PreK-12 college preparatory charter schools throughout Texas. Harmony blends the highest standards and expectations, with a rigorous math- and science-centered curriculum and dedicated and engaged teachers and families to cultivate excellence and prepare students to succeed in college, careers and life. At Harmony Public Schools, we believe every child can succeed, and we are committed to helping them realize their full potential. To learn more about Harmony Public Schools and our 58 campuses across Texas, please visit: www.harmonytx.org, and follow us on Twitter at @HarmonyEdu and ‘Like’ us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HarmonyTexas.
Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.
Join the ESL Department for an informational evening about our ESL program.
Click here to register for this event.
Have you registered for your schoology parent access yet? If not, follow the below steps and request your access code from your student’s teacher.
Click here to read our Annual AHERA Notification to Parents, Teachers and Staff.
Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.
All online instruction will continue today, Wednesday, September 23rd. However, our campus will remain closed to students and visitors.
Join us for a virtual event where you will learn about your rights as a parent. The meeting will be September 30th at 6:00 pm. If you would like to join, please click here.
Please be advised that our campus will be closed today due to weather. Please have your students continue to do their virtual learning from home.
Reading skills are foundational to educational success for all students.
Encouraging students to read more improves their skills and promotes a love of reading they can continue throughout their educational years and into adulthood.
That’s why Harmony Public Schools is hosting a fall Reading Challenge for all students in all campuses.
Join your classmates from across your campus and across the state from Monday, October 5, 2020 though Sunday, January 3, 2021 as together we show our love for reading and discover new and exciting ideas, authors, and stories through our favorite books.
Along the way, we’ll recognize our top readers and campuses each month, share favorite book picks, and ask for your reviews on some of your favorite reads.
The reading challenges by grade are:
Kindergarten – Grade 2
20 Books
Grade 3-5
10 Novels
3 Fiction
3 Nonfiction
1 Poetry
3 Student Choice
Grade 6-8
11 Novels
4 Fiction
4 Nonfiction
1 Poetry
2 Student Choice
Grade 9-12
12 Novels
4 Fiction
4 Nonfiction
1 Poetry
3 Student Choice
Share your favorite reads on social media by tagging Harmony and using the hashtag #HarmonyReads.
Please be advised that starting Monday, September 21st, our curbside meal service will continue to be every Monday & Wednesday; however the times are now from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.
Click here to check out what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.
Students will be MAP testing next week. Click here to read more information about it.
Please be advised that we are having a half day of school on Friday, September 4th. All classes will end at 12:00 pm. There is also no school on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. We hope you and your family have a safe and relaxing weekend. Virtual classes resume on Tuesday, September 8th.
Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.
In accordance with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented students, Harmony Public Schools will begin taking referrals for kindergarten and newly- enrolled students in grades 1-12 for gifted and talented screening. Anyone interested in the educational welfare of these students may refer them for assessment. Referral forms are available on the school’s website. Read more
Please be advised that all virtual classes will resume again tomorrow, August 28th.
Please be advised that all virtual classes will be cancelled for Wednesday & Thursday, August 26th & 27th. There will be a decision made on Thursday, August 27th if classes will resume on Friday, August 28th. Please note that we will NOT be serving breakfast or lunch Wednesday, August 26th. We hope you and your family stays safe!
Please be advised that ZOOM is currently down and we are working with them to get it up and running as soon as possible. Please continue to check your emails for further updates from your student’s teacher. Thank you for your understanding.
Click here to access the menus for breakfast and lunch. Please be advised that the menus are subject to change.
Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.
If you were not able to pick up your student’s consumables this week, staff members will be on campus Saturday, August 15th between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM to pass them out. Please stay in your car and a staff member will bring them out to you.
Click here to see how to create your School Cafe account or apply for free or reduced lunch.
Please be advised that all of our returning students will have their previous eligibility for the first 30 days.
Dear Parent or Guardian,
During the school closure last spring and over the summer months, Harmony offered meals to all
children ages 18 and under in the community. Meals were distributed at select schools at no charge.
The last distribution day will be the week of August 10 th and will include meals through August 16 th .
Online school begins on August 17 th , and with the start of a new school year begins meal service under
the National School Lunch Program. Just as if meals were served on site, all students will be charged
for meals according to their eligibility of free, reduced, or paid. For students of paid eligibility,
breakfast cost $1.75 and lunch is $3.30. For students of reduced price eligibility, breakfast cost $0.30
and lunch is $0.40. Parents are encouraged to submit an application for free or reduced price meals by
going to www.schoolcafe.com and setting up a parent account. Paper applications may also be picked
up from the school on meal distribution days. Once a student is approved for free or reduced price
meals, they will remain that eligibility for the rest of the school year and the first 30 days of the next.
Parents are encouraged to reapply whenever there is a loss of income or new participation in
SNAP/TANF.
Your child’s school will distribute meals on Monday & Wednesday between 8:00 AM-10:00 AM. Meals
will only be provided to students who are enrolled at that school. If you have children enrolled in
multiple Harmony schools, you will need to visit each campus to pick up meals. For every day in the
distribution cycle, your child may choose which days they would like a breakfast and/or lunch meal. A
choice of milk is available, but they are not required to take it. If your child has special dietary needs,
visit the school website to download the Special Dietary Accommodations form and have it completed
and signed by a licensed medical authority.
Listed below are the meal distribution procedures. If you have any questions, contact the Child
Nutrition Assistant: Mrs. Rosal Dikov, 832-437-3926, rdikov@harmonytx.org
MEAL DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURES
- Parents or guardians may only pick up meals for children in their guardianship.
- At the designated date and time, parents will approach the pickup zone and wait for cafeteria
staff to approach the driver side window. Students are not required to be in the vehicle. - If parents/students walk to the distribution site, follow school staff instructions to pick up meals
at the designated table. Please maintain 6 foot social distance from others in line and school
staff. Masks must be worn at all times. - When a parent or guardian arrives to pick up a meal without a child, they will need to present
one of the following items:- Official Letter/email from school listing children enrolled at the campus
- Student ID number
- Student ID cards
- The parent will roll down their window (masks are required), or approach the table when called, and cafeteria staff will maintain appropriate social distance. The parent will tell the cafeteria staff the their child’s ID number, show the ID card, or show the official letter/email for each child who attends that school.
- Once enrollment is verified, the student or parent may select their meals. Only one breakfast and one lunch may be selected from each day offered. Each meal will be charged to the students meal account based on eligibility.
- The student/parent may select one milk for each meal purchased. Selections include white milk, chocolate milk, or no milk. Milks will be placed in a bag and tied closed.
- The parent will open their trunk and the bags of meals and milk will be placed in their trunk.
- If they have walked to the distribution site, they will approach the table when called and pick up their meals. Tables will be sanitized between uses.
If you have any questions regarding meal distribution, please contact Mrs. Rosal Dikov, 832-437-3926,
rdikov@harmonytx.org.
Click here to access the menus for breakfast and lunch. Please be advised that the menus are subject to change.
Join us “virtually” August 13th for a short orientation & meet the teacher! Below is the schedule. Please be on the lookout for an email from your student’s teacher on how to join the meeting.
9:00-9:50 AM Kindergarten
10:00-10:50 AM 1st Grade
11:00-11:50 AM 2nd Grade
LUNCH
1:00-1:50 PM 3rd Grade
2:00-2:50 PM 4th Grade
3:00-3:50 PM 5th Grade
A full orientation will be held on Monday, August 17th at 9:00 AM with your student’s teacher. This session will consist of the teacher showing parents how to use all of the applications your student will be using. Academics will be held in the afternoon on the 17th.