Please be advised there is NO SCHOOL on Friday, November 5th due to staff professional development. We hope you enjoy your three day weekend.

Friday Open Lunch Policy- Starting November 2021

Due to limited space and the safety of our students and staff, we are changing our policy for our open lunches. Please see the information below which will start in November.

Lunch Schedule

K-2nd: 10:35 AM – 11:05 AM

3rd-5th: 11:25 AM – 11: 55 AM

  • Each grade level will have a designated day for Open Lunch (once a month) with assigned dates
    • Monday – Kindergarten
    • Tuesday – 1st Grade
    • Wednesday – 2nd & 3rd Grade
    • Thursday – 4th & 5th Grade
  • Each grade level will have a maximum of 30 visitors
    • Visitors will be able to sign up using a provided sign-up genius
    • Sign up genius will be on a first come, first serve basis
  • Visitors must arrive on time otherwise they will not be allowed to enter the cafeterias
    • K-2 visitors must arrive no later than 10:40 AM
    • 3-5 visitors must arrive no later than 11:30 AM
  • Visitors must sign in using a valid driver’s license (pictures of ID cards are not allowed)
  • We strongly suggest parents arrive BEFORE the start of lunch to ensure enough time to sign in

Click here to check out what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.

One of the questions we hear most from prospective parents interested in applying to Harmony Public Schools is “I’ve been looking at schools near me, but I don’t understand – what is the difference between a charter school and an ISD public school?” 

Public charter schools have grown exponentially in the past 25 years – both in Texas, and around the country – but we understand why many parents who grew up in a traditional independent school district setting themselves may still have questions.

That’s OK. We’ve got the answers to all of your biggest questions about charter schools.

So, what exactly is a charter school?

A charter school is a public school, and in many ways very similar to a traditional ISD school as you might think of one.

  • Charter schools do not charge tuition or application fees.
  • Charter schools accept every student who applies, as long as the school or grade level has not reached its enrollment capacity.
  • Charter school students take the same core classes and state tests (ex. STAAR) as ISD students. 
  • Charter schools are held to strict standards of financial and overall accountability by the Texas Education Agency.
  • Charter schools offer a full range of special services, including special education, English as a Second Language (ESL), Dyslexia, and 504. 

However, what makes charter schools different is what we believe makes them special. In a word, that difference is “choice.”

Way back in 1995, the Texas State Legislature decided that even though there were a lot of great schools in Texas, a one-size-fits-all approach to education might not work for all families. Each child is unique: some with special gifts, others with special challenges, and all with special dreams for their futures.

To help better serve every Texas student, the Texas public charter school system was created to allow independent, education-based nonprofit organizations called Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) to open and operate free public schools for Texas students with the promise that they would provide a new school choice in education for local Texas families.

For some charter schools, that new choice might be a curriculum that focuses on dual-language learning. For others, it might be helping students who have dropped out of the traditional school setting reclaim their path to graduation.

At Harmony Public Schools, we specialize in hands-on, project-based learning with a heavy emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), as well as advanced college preparedness and character education.


DID YOU KNOW?

Of the roughly 100 schools in Texas certified as official Texas STEM Academies be the Texas Education Agency, 23 are Harmony Public Schools high schools – more than any other school system in Texas!

Thirteen Harmony high schools have also been named among the Best STEM High Schools in the U.S. by Newsweek.


 

Who can attend a charter school?

As long as a student lives within its geographic boundaries of the school, any child can attend a Texas public charter school. However, unlike traditional ISD schools where students usually must attend whichever nearby campus they are “zoned” to, public charter school geographic boundaries are generally very large – often covering multiple communities or counties. These large geographic boundaries are another way Texas public charter schools offer Texas families a choice in their student’s education, and are unique from traditional ISDs. For example, rather than sending their child to an ISD campus near their home address, a parent may prefer for their child to attend a school near a grandparent’s home, or the parent’s place of work. Or they may prefer to send their child to a campus that specializes in a specific curriculum, like STEM, or with a higher TEA accountability rating than their neighborhood ISD school. All of these are options with Texas public charter schools.

Do public charter schools charge tuition?

Texas public charter schools are free to attend. Applying to a Texas public charter school is also free.

How do charter schools choose who gets to attend?

They don’t. Charter school students are never “cherry picked” from an applicant pool. Any student who applies to attend a charter school will be accepted, so long as they meet three basic criteria:

  1. They live within the schools geographic boundaries;
  2. They are applying to a grade taught by that specific school;
  3. Available seats are open in the grade-level to which the family is applying. At Harmony, if more students apply than there are available openings, the campus will hold a “blind” lottery to ensure fair an equal opportunity for enrollment to all new applicants.

RELATED: Learn more about Harmony Public School’s application, enrollment and lottery processes

When and how can a student apply to a charter school?

A student can apply to a charter school at any time during the school year and be accepted if space is available. However, most Texas public charter schools also offer an open enrollment period each year specifically for prospective new students. During this time, families can learn more about their charter school options and enter their name for the enrollment lottery, which is held in the event there are more applicants than available seats. For Harmony Public Schools, open enrollment runs each November 1 through February 10. 

MORE INFO: Learn more about how to apply to Harmony Public Schools.

How is a charter school funded?

As opposed to a traditional ISD school, which receives its funding primarily from the taxes local homeowners pay each year combined with additional funding from the state, charter schools receive their primary funding from the state and federal governments. Additionally, charters often receive both public and private grants to fund many of their innovative academic programs. For example, in recent years Harmony Public Schools has received grants of varying amounts from the U.S. Department of Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and the Elon Musk Foundation, among others.

Are Texas public charter schools for-profit?

No. By law, Texas public charter schools must be nonprofit entities. All funds received are used in the service of our students and school teams.

Do charter schools require uniforms?

That’s a decision that’s up to each charter school. At Harmony Public Schools, we do have a uniform policy. (Our students do get regular “free dress” days, though.)

Do charter schools offer the same types of programs and extracurricular activities as ISD schools?

Charter schools offer almost all of the same programs and extracurricular activities as ISD schools, though just like at an ISD school, the exact selection of extracurricular opportunities varies from campus-to-campus. Traditionally, charter schools specialize in offering a wide variety of academic-focused extracurriculars. For example, at Harmony Public Schools, some of our most popular extracurricular activities are our groundbreaking eSports clubs, LEGO robotics, rocketry, computer coding, and biomedicine. Our schools also compete in a wide variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football. 

What level accountability do charter schools have to maintain?

Just like traditional ISDs, Texas charter schools must remain in good academic and financial accountability with the Texas Education Agency. That includes annual inclusion in the TEA’s Financial Integrity System of Texas (FIRST) and Overall Accountability ratings. Charter schools that do not meet these standards face closure by the TEA. Finally, to help families easily understand how their charter school is performing, the TEA has created a Charter School Performance Framework (CSPF), which grades charter districts on overall academic performance and closing achievement gaps.

What other differences are there between charter schools and traditional ISD schools?

There are a few other differences between Texas public charter schools and ISDs, but most don’t impact the day-to-day campus life of our students. For example, charter school boards consist of appointed volunteers with a unique interest in education, rather than private individuals who have chosen to run for election. However, charter school board meetings are still open to the public to attend and participate.

What about …?

We couldn’t possibly share all the things that make charter schools a unique and important part of the Texas educational environment in just one article. So if you have more questions, we’d love the opportunity to tell you more. Just tell us what you want to know in our Let’s Talk family communication platform, and we’ll reach out with an answer soon!


Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.

Please be advised there will be NO tutorials this Saturday, October 16th due to our long weekend. Tutorials will resume next Saturday, October 23rd. We hope you enjoy your three day weekend!

Don’t miss great memories from the 2021-2022 school year, order your yearbook now for $25! You may purchase a yearbook online through LifeTouch or on our school website.

The price will increase to $30 starting November 16th!

Click here to purchase your yearbook online LifeTouch website – Enter code 14433922

Click here to purchase your yearbook on our school website.

Click here to see some of our staff’s favorite things!

Please join us for the Harmony Public Schools S/W District Safety Meeting on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 2:00 P.M.

Zoom Link: https://harmonytx.zoom.us/j/89698925974

 

Harmony Science Academy- Katy is preparing to host our annual Fall Festival on Friday, October 29th. Our festival will feature games and other activities for students and families. We are kindly asking each grade level to donate certain items. If your child donates any items to help our festival, they will earn a free dress pass to be determined for a later date. Please turn in all donations to your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, October 22nd.

 

  • Kindergarten- Assortment of candy
  • First Grade- Store bought baked goods (Bring baked goods the week of October 25th – 29th)
  • Second Grade- Store bought baked goods (Bring baked goods the week of October 25th – 29th)
  • Third Grade- Assortment of candy
  • Fourth Grade- miniature pumpkins/gourds
  • Fifth Grade- miniature pumpkins/gourds

Please be advised there is NO SCHOOL on Friday, October 15th due to staff professional development. We hope you have a great three day weekend.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Please join us for our upcoming District Annual Title I meeting.

During this meeting, we will review, evaluate, and develop a written Parent and Family Engagement Policy (PFE) for 2021-2022. 

Houston West District District Annual Title I Meeting  

Wednesday, October 20 for Houston West (12:30 pm-1:00 pm)

For more details, please see the invitation attached. If you plan to attend, please RSVP using the link.

Thank you!

Queridos padres:
Están cordialmente invitados a asistir a la reunión de participación de padres y familias del Título I del distrito Houston West.
Cuándo: miércoles 20 de octubre de 2021
Hora: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
La junta será virtual.
Por favor confirmen su asistencia por medio del link para que se les envíe invitación a Zoom.
La reunión será virtual.
Confirme su asistencia a través del enlace para recibir una invitación a Zoom
Forma para RSVP
Meta / Propósito: Revisar, evaluar y actualizar / desarrollar la Política de Participación de los Padres y la Familia (PFE) escritaTemas de la agenda:
I. Presentación del programa Título I
II. Revisar y evaluar la política de PFE del año pasado.
III. Juntos desarrollaremos la política y el acuerdo de PFE para este año.
IV. El plan de estudios y el rendimiento académico de la escuela V. Comentarios, preguntas y respuestas

Click here to access all of the “Parent Academy” information.

Join the ESL Department in the library for an informational evening about our ESL program on Thursday, October 7th at 5 pm!

This year every child at Harmony Public Schools is eligible to receive free lunch and breakfast each day from our child nutrition team.
However, Harmony would like to remind parents of the need to still submit one of our critical Harmony forms instead of the application normally associated with qualifying for Free & Reduced Price Meal Programs.
Each year, Harmony Public Schools is required to collect and report the socioeconomic status of each student to the Texas Education Agency for purposes of the annual state accountability ratings and for federal reporting. The data collected is used by educational agencies to determine funding which may be used for a variety of programs and educational opportunities.
Today, we are asking parents to please complete the online form “Household Income Information” in Skyward. Upon login to Skyward, this form is accessible from the main screen. If you have any questions, please contact the Child Nutrition Assistant at your child’s school.

Thursday, September 30th from 5-6 pm. Come learn about how you can help build your student(s) awareness about cyber security along with how to assist your student(s) and their mental health.

Click here to access the meeting

 

Please be advised there is NO SCHOOL on Friday, September 24th due to parent/teacher conferences. Please contact your student’s teacher to sign up for a conference.

Join us on Wednesday, September 22nd from 5:00-6:30 for our ‘Title 1 & GATE Welcome Night.’ See the flyer for more information.

Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.

 

Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott officially signed into law a new education funding bill that will allow public schools like ours to offer full virtual learning to up to 10 percent of our student body enrolled in Grades K-12.

 

Under the law, to be eligible to participate and remain in virtual learning, students must meet all of the following criteria:

 

  • Students must have passed the most recent STAAR exams (if applicable to grade level). If student did not take STAAR, NWEA grade-level proficiency is required, AND;
  • Students must have earned a “C” grade of higher in “foundation curriculum” courses taken virtually or remotely in the previous school year (ex. Math, reading), AND;
  • Students must have no more than 10% unexcused absences during the previous school year, and maintain less than 10 unexcused absences in a six-month period.

 

Recently, we asked families to log into Skyward to let us know if they prefer for their child to attend virtual learning or continue in-person learning on campus. The deadline to make your selection is Wednesday September 15, 2021. For those who select “Virtual Learning,” we will cross-checking their student records to determine their eligibility status. Those selected will be notified by their home campus soon and given further directions on how to begin online learning.

 

For those not selected for virtual learning or who wish to remain in-person learning from campus, Harmony will continue to offer its “remote conferencing” option on an as-needed basis. Under this program, students can learn from home for up to 20 instructional days if they have a pre-existing medical condition, or are forced to quarantine due to positive COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure. Additional days may be granted upon TEA approval with required documentation.

 

Harmony thanks you for your ongoing support and patience as the situation regarding virtual learning unfolded these past few weeks. Whether your student is attending virtual or in-person, we look forward to a great school year with you and your family.

– – –

 

La semana pasada, el gobernador Greg Abbott promulgó oficialmente una nueva ley de financiación de la educación que permitirá a las escuelas públicas como la nuestra ofrecer aprendizaje virtual completo para hasta el 10 por ciento de nuestros estudiantes.

 

En consecuencia, Harmony Public Schools se complace en anunciar que comenzará a ofrecer una opción de aprendizaje virtual a partir del lunes 4 de octubre para los estudiantes elegibles, según lo permitan los límites de inscripción.

 

Según la ley, para ser elegible para participar y permanecer en el aprendizaje virtual, los estudiantes deben cumplir con todos los siguientes criterios:

 

 

  • Los estudiantes deben haber aprobado los exámenes STAAR más recientes (si corresponde al nivel de grado). Si el estudiante no hizo STAAR, se requiere competencia de nivel de grado de NWEA, Y;

 

  • Los estudiantes deben haber obtenido una calificación “C” o superior en los cursos del “plan de estudios básico” hechos de forma virtual o remota en el año escolar anterior (por ejemplo, matemáticas, lectura), Y;

 

  • Los estudiantes no deben tener más del 10% de ausencias injustificadas durante el año escolar anterior y mantener menos de 10 ausencias injustificadas en un período de seis meses.

 

Recientemente, les pedimos a las familias que inicien sesión en Skyward para informarnos si prefieren que su hijo asista al aprendizaje virtual o que continúe con el aprendizaje presencial en el campus. La fecha límite para hacer su selección es el miércoles 15 de septiembre de 2021. Para aquellos que seleccionen “Aprendizaje virtual”, verificaremos sus registros de estudiantes para determinar su estado de elegibilidad. Los seleccionados serán notificados por su campus de origen pronto y se les dará más instrucciones sobre cómo comenzar el aprendizaje en línea. 

 

Para aquellos que no hayan sido seleccionados para el aprendizaje virtual o que deseen seguir aprendiendo de manera presencial desde el campus, Harmony continuará ofreciendo su opción de “conferencias remotas” según sea necesario. Bajo este programa, los estudiantes pueden aprender desde casa durante hasta 20 días de instrucción si tienen una afección médica preexistente o si se ven obligados a ponerse en cuarentena debido a un diagnóstico positivo o exposición a la COVID-19. Se pueden otorgar días adicionales con la aprobación de la TEA con la documentación requerida.

 

Gracias por su continuo apoyo y paciencia mientras se desarrolló el aprendizaje virtual estas últimas semanas. Ya sea que su estudiante asista virtual o presencialmente, esperamos tener un gran año escolar con usted y su familia.

 

Due to the inclement weather forecasted for later tonight and into tomorrow, classes will be closed for all Harmony Public Schools in the Houston S/W District on Tuesday, September 14. We hope our families stay safe and dry!

Please be advised that we will be having early dismissal today at 1:00 PM. There will be NO after school clubs or tutorials. Elite Learning is also cancelled. We are continuing to monitor the weather and will send updates regarding the remainder of the week. Please stay safe!

Just an update on how dismissal will run today. Please use the same routes as you would on a regular dismissal day.

  • HSA Katy (elementary) will dismiss at 1:00 pm
  • HSI Katy (middle/high) will dismiss at 1:43 pm
  • Sibling dismissal will run the same as a regular day but will not start dismissing until HSI releases at 1:43 pm.
    • Do not enter the dismissal line until 1:25 pm if you are waiting for siblings
  • NO clubs, tutorials, or after school Elite learning. Please make sure all students are picked up in a timely manner.

We hope this helps clears up some of the confusion but please reach out if you have any questions.

Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.

 

We understand that parents love the opportunity to have lunch with their students. This is why once a month you will be able to join your child to lunch! The open Friday this month for parents to attend lunch will be this Friday, September 10th. Please make sure to stop by the front office to sign in with your ID. No one is allowed to enter the cafeteria without first signing in at the front office. We suggest all COVID protocols are followed to help with the safety of our students and staff.  Thank you for your cooperation!

Please be advised there is NO SCHOOL for students & staff on Monday, September 6th. We hope you have a fun & safe three day weekend!

UPDATE- We regret to inform you that club registration will be postponed until Wednesday, September 8th at 9:00 AM.

Club registration will begin at 9 AM on Friday, September 3rd. Click here to access the documents about what clubs are being offered and instructions on how to sign up through RevTrak.

All clubs will begin the week of September 13th.

Click here to see what’s happening in this week’s edition of Wednesday Mail.

 

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Announcement!

In accordance with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented students, Harmony Public Schools will begin taking referrals for kindergarten and currently 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 at the front office and on the school’s website.

 

Parent GT Referral Form in English

Parent GT Referral Form in Spanish

 

The deadline for GATE referral is September 30, 2021, and G/T assessment period will take place in October. For more information about the screening and identification process, parents may contact the school’s G/T coordinator or G/T coach/teacher.

GATE (Educación para estudiantes dotados/talentosos) Anuncio

De acuerdo con el Plan Estatal de Texas para la Educación de Estudiantes Dotados / Talentosos, las Escuelas Públicas de Harmony comenzarán a recibir referencias para kindergarten y estudiantes actualmente inscritos en los grados 1-12 para la evaluación de estudiantes dotados y talentosos.

Cualquier persona interesada en el bienestar educativo de estos estudiantes puede nominarlos para dicha evaluación. Los formularios de referencia están disponibles en la oficina y en el sitio web de la escuela.

 

Forma de nominación

 

La fecha límite de referencia de GATE es el 30 de septiembre de 2021 y el período de evaluación de G / T se llevará a cabo en octubre.

Para obtener más información sobre el proceso de selección e identificación, los padres pueden comunicarse con el entrenador / maestro de GT de la escuela.

Dear Harmony Families,

Today, we would like to share some important news regarding a potential virtual learning option at your child’s school.

This weekend, a new bill to fund virtual learning in Texas public schools like Harmony cleared a major hurdle in the Texas Legislature. In its current form, schools such as Harmony Public Schools would be allowed to provide virtual learning for up to 10 percent of its student body throughout the remainder of the school year.

While the bill has not received final approval and specific details may change before being signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, it now appears very likely that schools like ours will be able to offer virtual learning in some form to students in the near future and we are looking forward to offering comprehensive virtual learning to our student population during 2021-2022 school year.

Currently, in your child’s Skyward account is a form asking your family’s interest in virtual learning. We ask that you please complete this virtual learning application form as soon as you are able. While we may not be able to accommodate every request due to potential new legal restrictions on the number of students who can participate, by understanding your preference we will be able to more quickly assign students to virtual learning should it become an option.

We will continue to share important updates with you as new information becomes available.

Thank you.

 

 

Estimadas familias de Harmony,

Hoy, no nos gustaría compartie algunas noticias importantes sobre una posible opción de aprendizaje virtual en la escuela de sus hijos. Este fin de semana, un nuevo proyecto de ley para financiar el aprendizaje virtual en escuelas públicas de Texas como Harmony eliminó un obstáculo importante en la Legislatura de Texas. En su forma actual, las Escuelas Públicas de Harmony podrían proporcionar aprendizaje virtual para hasta el 10 por ciento de su cuerpo estudiantil durante el resto del año escolar.

Aunque el proyecto no ha recibido la aprobación final y unos detalles específicos pueden cambiar antes de set convertida en lay por en gobernador, Greg Abbott, ahora parece muy probable que las escuelas como la nuestra puedan ofrecer aprendizaje virtual de alguna forma a los estudiantes en un futuro cercano y esperamos ofrecer un aprendizaje virtual integral a nuestra población estudiantil durante la escuela 2021-2022 año.

Actualmente, en la cuenta de Skyward de si hijo o hija hay un formulario que pregunta el interés de su familia en el aprendizaje virtual. Le pedimos que complete este formulario de solicitud de aprendizaje virtual tan pronto como pueda. Si bien es posible que no podamos atender todas las solicitudes debido a posibles nuevas restricciones legales sobre la cantidad de estudiantes que pueden participar, al comprender su preferencia, podremos asignar estudiantes más rápidamente al aprendizaje virtual si se convierte en una opción.

Continuaremos compartiendo actualizaciones importantes con usted a medida que haya nueva información disponible.

Gracias.