Dear Harmony Staff, Students, Families and Community:

I'd like to begin this month by recognizing our exceptional school leaders for National Principals Month. As you know, principals play a vital role in shaping the educational experiences of our students, and their leadership is crucial to the success of our schools.

Our principals are not just administrators; they are visionaries, mentors, and advocates for our students and staff. They navigate the daily challenges of running a school while fostering a positive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. Their dedication to academic excellence, social-emotional learning, and community engagement makes a profound difference in the lives of our children.

This month, let us take the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the hard work and commitment of our principals. Whether it’s their innovative approaches to teaching, their unwavering support for teachers, or their ability to connect with students and families, their impact is felt in every corner of our schools.

I encourage each of our families to reach out to your child's principal this month. Share your appreciation, acknowledge their efforts, and let them know how they have influenced your school community. Your words of encouragement can mean the world.

Thank you to all our principals for your tireless work and dedication. Together, let’s continue to support and uplift our school leaders as they guide us toward a brighter future for our students!

Harun Karan

Area Superintendent | Secondary

Harmony Public Schools-North Texas

2024-2025 ACADEMIC CALENDARS

Dallas/Fort Worth Academic Calendar

Waco Academic Calendar

DISTRICT NEWS & INFORMATION

"STEM is More" Store Now Open!

Parents, students, and staff, here's your chance to show your pride and support for Harmony Public Schools' STEM initiatives! Our "STEM is More" store is now open and offers a variety of t-shirts that let you rep your favorite clubs and interests.

Choose your color, size, and club logo, and wear your t-shirt with pride to demonstrate that "STEM is More" at Harmony. Shop now and be a part of the movement!

Harmony Joins Communities for Fall Fun

Fall is officially here, and that means festival season! Whether it's a pumpkin patch, Hispanic Heritage Festival, community picnic or national night out event, there's definitely something for everyone. And Harmony is joining in on the fun! So, if you see us out in the community in the coming weeks, be sure to stop by, say hi and try your luck at winning some Harmony swag!

Open Enrollment for NEW Students Begins Next Month

Harmony's annual Open Enrollment season officially gets underway next month. Each November, we open applications for new students to attend the upcoming school year. As a current part of the Harmony family, however, you won't have to let us know you are re-enrolling until January.

In the meantime, if you know of a family that might be interested in enrolling their child(ren) at Harmony, be sure to let them know! They can find out more about what makes Harmony Public Schools a great educational choice at HarmonyTX.org/Apply.

SchoolLinks--Academic and Career planning Made Easy

Our College and Career Department is excited to share an amazing program we use to support your student’s journey toward college and career success—SchooLinks!

Implemented across grades 6-12, SchooLinks provides comprehensive tools that guide students through every step of their academic and career planning, and we want to make sure you’re connected, too.

Here’s how SchooLinks benefits your student:

College Search and Exploration: SchooLinks allows students to explore a wide array of colleges and universities, helping them find the perfect fit based on their interests and goals.
Application Tracking: Students can track their college applications, ensuring they never miss a deadline or forget an important document.
Electronic Submission of College Materials: With SchooLinks, students can electronically send transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other materials directly to colleges, simplifying the application process.
Curriculum Planning: SchooLinks helps students align their high school courses with their college and career goals, making sure they’re on the right track.
Career Assessments: Through personalized assessments, SchooLinks helps students discover their strengths and potential career paths, providing them with valuable insights into their future.
Scholarship Search: Students can easily search for and apply to scholarships, helping them find opportunities to finance their education.

We encourage you to get connected by creating a Guardian account on SchooLinks. This will give you insight into your student’s progress and allow you to support them every step of the way. A step-by-step guide on how to create the account can be found here.

Stay engaged, informed, and excited about your student’s future with SchooLinks!

SECONDARY SHOUTOUTS

Recognizing Our Harmony Community!

Let’s come together to celebrate the incredible individuals who make our secondary district a vibrant and supportive place for everyone!

Whether it’s a student who goes above and beyond, a teacher who inspires with their passion, a staff member who lends a helping hand, or a parent who tirelessly supports our initiatives, each of us knows someone deserving of a shoutout.

Just submit your shoutout here and we'll publish it in future editions of Connection.

Your words of appreciation can uplift spirits and foster a culture of gratitude within our community, so let’s take a moment to recognize those who make a difference in our lives!

Notification of Sampling for Lead in Drinking Water

We are sharing information with you about our participation in a program that helps us test for lead in the drinking water at all Harmony Public School campuses in the North Texas District. This program is provided by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program (LTSCC). We anticipate collecting drinking water samples within the next 45 days. For more information about the sources of lead and health effects of lead please visit the EPA’s Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water web page. Results will be available on TCEQ’s LTSCC Program webpage at texasleadtesting.org.

SAFETY REMINDERS & UPDATES

Hoax Threats Prompt FBI to Relaunch Campaign

As you may already be aware, Harmony and school districts across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and the nation saw an increase last month in social media hoaxes suggesting potential campus threats. While none of those threats were substantiated, we understand the uncertainty incidents like this can create and the misinformation that can result from them.

In response to the series of hoaxes, the FBI has re-launched their Think Before You Post social media campaign explaining the consequences of posting or sharing fake threats. In the coming weeks, you may see Harmony share this campaign on its social media channels.

We also ask you to continue to remind your children about the importance of responsible social media use and the serious consequences of spreading false information. Students who make or share such threats, even as a joke, face serious disciplinary or legal action.

Please know Harmony takes campus security seriously. Every threat is thoroughly investigated by our administration and law enforcement partners. We appreciate your continued support as we work to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all of our students.

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

HSA-Dallas High Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

The HSA-Dallas High PTO and its RoboTigers put on an amazing Hispanic Heritage Celebration to close out the month of September. Staff, students and their families experienced great food, good music and some fantastic performances. Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique voices and experiences of Hispanic/Latino Americans and recognize their history, journeys, and achievements.

HSA-Carrollton Students Benefit from Police Partners

Many thanks to the Carrollton Texas Police Department's Officer Stoval who, last month, visited HSA-Carrollton students enrolled in the Law Enforcement I course. Officer Stoval discussed events that happened on 9/11 as well as ethics in the police department. He also did a safety check while on our campus. Harmony appreciates our law enforcement partners and all they do for our communities!

HSA-Euless National Merit Scholars

HSA-Euless celebrates three of its seniors -- Lance S., Sumayyah J., and Ramy S. -- who have been recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars! This incredible achievement places them among the top students nationwide, and it’s a testament to their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence. Congratulations, scholars!

HSI-Dallas Celebrates Attendance Awareness Month

Students across Harmony celebrated the importance of attending school throughout the month of September, which is Attendance Awareness Month.

At HSI-Dallas, students showed their commitment to being present and engaged in their learning by wearing bright colors to school.

Attendance Awareness Month is a time for individuals and organizations to learn about attendance issues, absenteeism, and the effects attendance can have on academic performance and success. After all, good attendance leads to a bright future!

Hands-On Physics Fun at HSE-Dallas

HSE-Dallas juniors recently dove deep into their Physics lessons with the 'Constant Velocity Car Experiment.' They had an exciting time measuring distance using constant-velocity cars, putting their understanding of motion and velocity to the test. It’s amazing to see our students apply their knowledge in such interactive and engaging ways! Keep up the great work, juniors!

HSI-Garland Celebrates Character Honors

As part of becoming a National School of Character, HSI-Garland had the chance to submit a video to Character.org for their Class of 2024 Digital Yearbook. The yearbook celebrates National Character winners across the country.

Each year, Character.org certifies schools and districts at the state level that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development, which the organization says has a positive effect on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate.

Watch the video and join us as we celebrate this incredible achievement and learn more about the programs and initiatives that make our school a beacon of excellence in character education!

HSI-Fort Worth Students Find Rhythm in Poetry

Students in Mr. McBeth's 8th grade English class recently engaged in a detailed analysis of Sherman Alexie’s poem "The Powwow at the End of the World." The poem, which touches on themes of Native American identity, colonization, and cultural resilience, sparked rigorous discussion and thoughtful interpretation. Students worked collaboratively in groups to identify and break down various literary devices, including imagery, repetition, and symbolism. Throughout the lesson, students praised one another for their contributions, fostering a supportive and positive learning environment. Excellent way to work together, scholars!

HSI-Waco Finds Learning Fun with Food

Students in Ms. Martinez's biology class recently had a blast making cell models out of food! From candy to watermelons, they turned snacks into science. Lessons are better retained with hands-on, and this definitely was a memorable one!

COMMUNICATIONS CORNER

Harmony Student Successes Mentioned in Local Community Newspapers

Suburban Dallas community newspaper, Focus Daily News, recently carried the story of HSA-Dallas High senior Victor Soberanis being accepted into the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ Rising Leaders Initiative. You can read the story here.

And the Garland Texan community newspaper recently gave a shout out to HSI-Garland students -- Sufyan Ismail and Midhun R. Vemireddy -- named as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Read the story here.

Congratulations to our scholars!