Following the little boy born in the manger.....

This will be the last Hallow until after New Year’s.  My family to yours – the best of holidays and all blessings upon the entire Harrisburg School community.  Your warmth and continued support and sincere interest in my family reflects the good will you display always.  Thank you.

Victory doesn’t have to vanquish.  The highest form of win is a self-win, a defeat of the obstacles that prevented growth and development.   Victory can be, but is rarely freedom.  Most victories come at the expense of another.  Competition is an actual bondage, a lust for the power and rush of rising above another.  It drives many to cheat, to lose sight of the inner values they hold dear.  It is base and primal, this urge we have to gain and insert our will over another.  For me, one so involved in athletics for almost 50 years, there is a constant tug and struggle with the reality of the games that mimic our life, and what they could mean, but what they really do.  Watching the complete overemphasis we have placed on status, and this continual focus on seeing ourselves only in comparison to our perception of being better than another – while at the same time carrying a heart that revels in individual heightening, the quest for self-actualization – it is quite a tension.  This time of year, when the little boy was born under the star, and he tread the earth never once winning a victory at the cost or harm of another, I wonder at our hypocrisy. What would the Son think of our infatuation and fanaticism with holding others hostage by exploiting their weaknesses.  How does He view our greedy pursuits and adoration for being “on top”?  What does He think of our envy, jealousy and petty bickering over the small little things that always seem to be about “getting mine”.  Does He wonder if we are actually devolving with our need to destroy and destruct rather than use this wonderful gift of thinking to create and construct?  What happened to the altruism He granted us?  What happened to the trust and faith He asked of us?  He was born under that star, he walked a path to show us what could be if we never made a choice that did not involve first thinking of our fellow man.  That we must regard humility as our first virtue.  That we shall always place everyone above ourselves.  When we extinguish the hunger to be better than someone else and only focus on cultivating the gifts we have been given, then everyone wins.  For our children, we must set individual expectations, and help them try for those goals without caring what anyone else’s goals are.  We have to stop wishing our child was like that one next door, or crowing about our child being better than the one next door.  We just have to be our best and keep trying to be our best and have the will to make ourselves know that was His way.  To give all we have to all we know – but to give, not to take.  Be willing to walk this world in two pairs of shoes – one pair, the shoes of whomever your savior is.  The other pair – whomever you may be talking to at that moment.  Live your life trying to walk in their shoes.  And instead of trying to beat them, how about trying to help them and understand them?  My hope for the world – that we learn to define success not in ranking how much better we are than others, but how much good we have done for others.  Good will and peace.    Not just for Christmas time – for always.

America is the greatest civilization of all time.  None has achieved what we have.  Innovation, creativity, charity and standing for values and freedoms so many desire.  The opulence of our daily lives is a dream to two-thirds of the world.  Cell phones, cars, televisions, computers - for the majority of this world, these things we take for granted are just fantasy as they work to simply have food, water and a shelter from the elements.  Yet we complain - as our stomachs grow and our clothes slip from fashion - we whine when we can't have the next big thing.  When our televisions don't carry the Nebraska game.  When our cell service goes in and out.  When it is 69 degrees instead of 72.  I know we live in the moment, and lamenting and wanting more drives ambition that improves the human condition.  But come on??  Sending all of our high school graduates into the Peace Corp, to go serve in Africa or Asia or South America - in places where one meal a day is a luxury, where a pair of shoes better last for two to three years, where clean water comes from the sky, where Dominos doesn't deliver....maybe we need a humility and reality check.  We are spoiled.  All of us.  I had occasion to watch some of our students working at the Banquet, helping serve meals.  Yes - these people are in dire straits, out of work, and certainly in need.  But over half carried a cell phone?  At least a third drove to the banquet in their own car??  I have been in homes that supposedly were lower socioeconomic and financially challenged.  With the exception of the flat screen and the play station and the overstuffed furniture and computer, of course.  When did these things become necessity??  Where did sacrifice go?

.......I ask these things as our new governor-elect ponders a 10 percent cut to education and even more cuts to health care and social services.  His plan is that the economy will recover to put more revenue in the state coffers at some point.  How does that happen?  People need to spend more.  He is unwilling to ask the general population to make sacrifices for those in need of physical and mental health and schools.  But he is willing to spout the rhetoric to spend on televisions, and cell phones, and computers and new clothes, so that we actually pay more tax, subtly,  to the state to fund education and other needs.  This is his plan.   Don't save. Spend.  Keep us in slavery with no direct plan to fund the most necessary program and best in the history of the world - our education system.   Even though 60 communities in our state have already independently opted out of the tax plan to save their schools.  He, and his minion, do not have the courage to ask the population for a revenue-increasing plan to keep education solvent and progressing.  Teachers in this state have been 51st in salary for 37 straight years.  And if that is not enough, they are falling further behind number 50.  Here is the scenario - schools today try to serve not only the academic needs, but the physical and social needs as per community desire.  Those students that schools continue to try and assist in other than academic pursuits will now be a huge burden as class sizes increase, a result of having to cut staff.  When those students become too much of a burden, they will be sent into Corrections or Social Services as those programs will not have the cost of the private settings that will cost a district dollars.  When these students are sent into the state system, the state will have to figure out how to pay - even though both of these state systems are also being cut.  So where do these students finally end up?  In prison, which ends up costing the taxpayers over 50K per year?  So you tell me, right now we invest around 5K per year per student.  How ridiculous and obvious to not spend what it takes at the beginning - 5-6K per year to adequately fund education rather than pay the 50K per year for who knows how long later? This is Oliver Twist, South Dakota-style.  Then, when these felons are released on society, with the obscene and almost non-existent rehab in our correctional facilities, another burden to us either on the welfare rolls, the unemployment rolls or private charities.  Then, likely back in prison at some time.  Here is the gist:  Education is an INVESTMENT, not an EXPENSE.  Our population in South Dakota, with 60 communities already knowing this both consciously and intuitively, are ready, Governor-elect, to back any plan that properly funds education.  Why aren't you?  You are a genuine and good man.  But what agenda could you possibly have, other than re-election, in not doing the right thing for our kids?  At the very least, comment on how you can simply dismiss the law.  The law says education will rise by cost of living or 3 percent, whichever is least.  That is the LAW.  Perhaps the schools should begin to disregard laws as the legislature has?  I can think of at least five or six things that are unfunded mandates we could dismiss.   We can all sacrifice things - the American people have shown they are willing to do that for the good of all.  How about you ask the good people of South Dakota to invest in our kids?  You may be surprised at the answer, Governor-elect.  Look at what 60 communities already have said.  One more local tidbit - look at the last poll on this blog - 87 percent of our respondents said education was underfunded.  Not one said it was over-funded.  

In relation to the above projected cuts of 5 to 10 percent, these are the effected items at Harrisburg High so far:

-A new schedule will not be in place for second semester.  However, we will work on a schedule for the fall that has no economic impact on the school.  Due to class sizes, we will have to limit study halls next year.

-All staff salaries will freeze.  

-Professional development will be unlikely.  Although we may be able to purchase computers for all, our staff will not be trained in their proper use.  

-An alternative school to serve special segments of our population will be unlikely - but may take some form next year.

- New courses in American Sign Language - No, sorry.

-A new course in Athletic Training - No, sorry.  

-Class sizes at around 23 per section.  Likely not - class sizes will begin to reach maximum for our rooms - 27-28.

--Stay tuned - there will be more ideas to save money.

The interesting sidelight is that our capital outlay fund, which our Board and Superintendent have kept to a minimal levy on our district's taxpayers, will be healthy.  So we can get desks and books and buildings and likely computers - we just can't pay or provide new needed teachers or programs.   Ironic that the most important needs will be the least funded.

Let's celebrate the good things. Despite the financial news, we have and will continue to be captivated by our incredible students and staff.  We had implemented a consequence for student irresponsibility of bringing student ID's to lunch.  On Tuesday last week, all 439 students present brought their ID's.  How amazing is that??  Our extra help sessions have assisted 60 students to improve grades.  We are down to 22 students requiring extra help.  We had 27 students score in the top 20 percent on their PSAT tests.  One student was in the top 2 percent.   FFA, FCCLA, Oral Interp., Debate, School Newspaper, Chorus, Band and all of our athletics are having excellent success with healthy numbers of participants and great leadership.  And on Friday, our staff and students earned a new record in donations for the Children's Miracle Network and coat collection.   This is an exciting and fantastic place for our students to grow.  We are so fortunate.

Look for the Hallow after the new year - I know 2011 will be a great one - have the very best of all Christmases:

Monday, Dec. 20 - 7:00 6-12 Vocal Concert - Large Auditorium

Tuesday, Dec. 21 - 4:45 - Boys' Basketball at Madison

                               6:00 - Wrestling at home vs. Lennox

Wednesday - Dec. 22 - 1:05 Early Release

Dec. 23-26 - No Events Scheduled

Dec. 27 - 11:00 AM - Varsity Wrestling at Lincoln

Dec. 28 - 11:00 AM - Varsity Wrestling at Lincoln

Dec. 30 - Re-Scheduled Girls' Basketball at Winner

Jan. 3 - School Resumes

A teacher's smile....not just for the season...

Smile.  ‘Tis the season.  Did you know:    When someone smiles it is universally known as an expression of happiness which is recognized by almost all cultures.     When a person studies laughter they are known as a ‘gelotologist’.     There are over 18 different types of smiles that are used in a variety of social situations. For instance, people can use a smile to say a hello, and they can also use a different type of smile to show their understanding of a particular situation.   A frown uses more muscles to contract and expand then a smile does.    A smile is one of the most used human facial expressions. Smiles can use between 5 to all 53 muscles.  Smiling releases endorphins and makes us feel better, even when you fake a smile you can feel better.  A person that smiles more is deemed to be more pleasant, sincere, attractive and more sociable then a non-smiling person.  We are born with the ability to smile, it is not something that we copy. For instance, even blind babies are able to smile.   Humans are able to differentiate between a real smile and a fake smile by seeing the difference in a persons eyes when they smile.  Newborns tend to have more preference for a person with a smile then a person that is not smiling….. I have been accused, and sometimes with great aplomb of being both pollyannish and utopic.   I very much like that.  A search for a perfect world and one where people do the right thing, because it is the right thing….guilty as charged.  My deepest feelings of faith, raised a Christian, lead me to believe that the only way I can do my savior’s work, is to believe in the good in people and trust them even when that trust is trampled.  I love the stories of the old testament, but they really only set up the greatest story ever in the new testament.  Turn the other cheek.  Sacrifice all for the good of all.  Love is the answer.   Teachers lead this life precisely, they can only succeed when they believe that there are really no bad children, simply children in bad situations.  That they must forgive, not just every day, but every moment.  That they must take seriously all skepticism, yet somehow maintain their ideals for a better world for every student.  I walk these halls at Harrisburg…I see the smiles….they come with a price…to stand on principle and philosophy that for most seems only to arrive for everyone during this time of  year.  Peace on Earth.  Good will to all men.  Teachers believe this every day.  Why doesn’t everyone?

  Live this way all the time and watch how our children watch us.  Be the change you wish.

SSR ended the second segment last week.  Basically, the program obligates each student to read an average of five pages per day – or perhaps 15 minutes for an average reader.  According to teacher reports, we had around a 99 percent completion rate. There is a reason for this obligation. Reading is not just an academic skill, it is the main thought process through which all cognitive processed develop.  Over and over again, studies have shown that those who read well are better able to problem-solve and make successful decisions for life.  In every facet of life, the skill of reading fluency will activate higher levels of achievement.  I hope you will all be models and motivators in MAKING your son or daughter READ.  We are doing our part here, I can assure you.  As time passes, students will continue to be asked to READ, READ and READ. 

Any parents still interested in the Parent/Principal Community Connection(PPCC) committee can certainly still attend.  The last meeting of the semester will be Wednesday, Dec. 15th at 7:00 in the high school commons.  We have had very few parents attend - if anyone out there has a better time, location, etc. - I am more than willing to change to see the most parents.

Extra Help sessions have drastically reduced poor academic performance.  From a high of 95 students to last Friday's 25(which means over 430 students were performing at least to minimal expectations), or roughly 95 percent of our students are making the effort.  That is outstanding.  When you couple these facts with the high expectations set by our staff, it is certain progress toward successful futures is sustained.  Congratulations to all parents whose diligence with their sons and daughters is paying off.

The schedule will change next semester.  Periods four and five will be lunch periods and there will be five lunches.  Immediately following will be a one-half hour period for SSR/Student Achievement/TAP. This will be common for all so students will be able to see teachers at that time.  Periodically, half of the teachers will meet for Professional Learning Community focus and discussion.  Study Halls remain.  All classes, with the exception of some obsolete programming and hardware classes remain(they have been replaced with more contemporary offerings.)  More credits for School-to-Work and Business will begin next semester.  These changes will take place on January 10th and students' schedules will reflect the changes after registration in a couple of weeks.  The flexibility of this schedule is a response to consistency, growth and more opportunity for our students.

Music now chimes in where bells used to be.  Thanks to a student council purchase, music signals the end of each period.  At the four-minute mark - the music ends indicating to students they have 45 seconds or so to get to class.   The bell rings to start the next session.  Student council will take requests for school-appropriate music to play throughout the day.  There are some classrooms we are still adjusting volume, etc.

A reminder again that the Sioux Valley News will now be publishing our school paper every two weeks as they are unable to gain enough advertising to publish weekly.  If you are interested in advertising in the News, please call them.  We wish to have a local, published community forum tied to the school.  That will not happen without support of the business community.

This week at Harrisburg High...

Monday - FFA state leadership in Pierre
          7:00 PM - Grades 5, 9-12 Holiday Band Concert
Tuesday -  7:30 AM  -  Alt. School Committee Meeting
                 4:00 - Novice Interpretation - Sioux Falls
                 5:00 - Girl's Basketball at West Central
                 5:00 - Wrestling at Brookings
                 7:00 - Liberty Elementary Concert
Wednesday - Christmas at the Capitol
Thursday - 2:30 - Junior Meeting - Capstone
                  5:00 - Wrestling at Tri-Valley
Friday - 4:00 - Basketball Doubleheader at Vermillion
Saturday - Debate at CFC
                11:00 - Wrestling at Yankton
                 2:00 - Free Elks Hoop Shoot - Ages 9-13 - at High School Gym(pre-register required)
                2:30 - Girls Basketball at Winner
                5:00 - Boys Basketball at Sioux Falls Christian

Briefly...over the holiday...

Abbreviated Hallow this week, with just a few items.

Mid-terms were posted on Wednesday.  If there is any problem with viewing grades and progress, please notify the office at 743-2567.  Extra Help sessions will continue this week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and throughout December.  There are now 22 and one-half days left in the semester.

Oral Interpretation participants from Harrisburg performed extremely well two weeks ago.  Our team tied for for first with Tea for the region crown and in five of six competitions, Harrisburg members will be competing at state in Aberdeen this weekend.

Semester tests, the summative evaluations of each semester-long course are at the discretion of each teacher.  Please make certain students are checking in with instructors to clarify when, what and how these evaluations will be administered.  Teachers' assessment plans are posted on their websites.  There is NO change in schedule this year for semester test week.  Classes will meet as usual and it is the teacher's decision to select the appropriated assessment for each course.

winter is closing in.  Two things, first - a letter from Superintendent Holbeck was sent to all of you and is posted on the high school website in regard to school closing procedures.  Second, please remind students to take all precautions as the weather turns for their safety.  This includes dressing appropriately, having a survival kit in the car, and driving with the environment in mind.

Eight years ago, about this time, my daughter(shown in the picture below) was born.  Sitting with her and listening to her read last night, I tried to trace the pathway and history of those eight years...tried to reflect and wonder why I am so lucky to get to do this.  The day she was born, leaving my wife at the hospital for just a second to rush my son to daycare and skipping out of basketball practice, I showed up in the delivery room just as my new daughter was taking her first breaths.  She was so beautiful(they both were), I couldn't imagine a happier moment.  But as she grows, it only gets better - watching her incredible depth of curiosity, chasing butterflies in our back yard, wrestling and laughing with the dog, constructing little worlds in boxes and cartons and paper towers, standing on her bed singing with her guitar and Hannah outfit, painting rocks and learning how to swim, teetering on her new bike, batting and catching a ball, whispering with her friends, dressing her babies and cradling them, talking endlessly from 7:30 to 8:30 every night, jumping in my lap and holding on at the scary part, and asking me questions I can't answer...snoring softly on my shoulder, rolling over with a smile every morning when I kiss her resting cheek good-bye in the dark early hours...there's my daughter, in the water - everything she knows, I taught her...is there anything at all better than being a dad?  No.  Cherish this parenting time.  People keep telling me, "just wait until she gets to be (insert the age),  then you will find out"... I am still waiting - it just keeps getting better...just wish it wouldn't go so fast...please relish and revere every parent moment...it is our most important job, and the most significant legacy we will leave....Events at Harrisburg High this week...

Monday -     5:45 - Dance Committee Meeting - High School

                    Boys' Basketball Begins

Tuesday -   7:00  AM - FFA Parliamentary Practice

                     4:00 - After School Novice Debate

                      Quiz Bowl Team at Mitchell

Wednesday - 7:00  AM - FFA Parliamentary Practice

Thursday    -  7:00   AM - FFA Parliamentary Practice

                       7:00 PM -  Elementary Christmas Concert - Large Auditorium

Friday   -     7:00  AM - FFA Parliamentary Practice

                     State Oral Interp. at Aberdeen

Saturday - State Oral Interp. at Aberdeen

                    9:00 AM - Wrestling - At SF Roosevelt

                 FCCLA - "Christmas in the Kingdom"  - babysitting service - 1-5 PM - email Mrs. Kern

                    for more details at  Tracy.Kern@k12.sd.us.  Cost is $10.  Ages 3-8

                 7:00 PM - Tiger Nation Christmas Radio Show - featuring Mr. Jeff Gould and the All-State

                    singers - $5 advance tickets, $8 at the door.  Large Auditorium.

                  6:00- Staff Winter Carnival - Sioux Falls Convention Center

Sunday - FFA State Leadership in Pierre

We have overcome so much to get here, to this place, at this time...ambition can still lead, but contentment must satisfy the soul of our relationships.  

                 

Thanks to all of you...

Pancian.  Thankojan.  Danken.  Thought.  Kindly thought, favor, gratitude…. Early derivation of thanks and thank you.  To appreciate.  To recognize.  To credit.  To merit. To value.  To give worth.  Perhaps to deserve, to earn, to warrant.  To respect.  To esteem.  To treasure.  To cherish.  To regard. 

I hope this holiday gives all pause to really, sincerely show action of the words above.  We have so much.  We are so blessed.  Much of the civility for which we do and can live, comes from the simple, but genuine thanking of those around us, and for all we have.  Our perspective changes mightily when we realize the time we have is limited, the spectrum of our impact minute, and the course of our history finite.  Use the time wisely to make others know how esteemed they are in your life.  Reward the little things.  Make significant those you love.  My personal thanks to all of you.  Have a great Thanksgiving.

Many new things are in discussion stages and in the next weeks or months, you will hear further details.   I will make sure you are apprised as they become confirmed.  Here are a few snippets:

*Schedule for high school - our schedule, for many reasons, will change either in the spring or next fall.  Mr. Rollinger and I have collected input from staff and will meet this week, relay our information to staff once more and make a decision next week on our direction.  Some implications are smoother and less congested lunch, common study hall, staff common time for development(PLC's - Professional Learning Communities), more TAP and SSR time.

*Alternative School for high school students in need of another setting is on the table.  A committee will be meeting after Thanksgiving to move forward with criteria for selection of students, dynamics of the setting, etc.

*Laptops for every student, some times called "one-to-one".  There is evidence that if used appropriately, this tool can be of great utility to staff and students.

*Student portfolios as a capstone and proof of academic growth will begin with this year's freshman.  Seniors are beginning the process with senior projects, juniors will have increased responsibility and sophomores will be the bridge to a full-fledged senior experience that continues momentum into graduation.

*Project-based Learning(PBL) will continue to be examined.  Eight teachers are currently involved in all different stages and degrees of using this contemporary and relevant approach to instruction.

*Personal Learning Plans(PLP's) that students will electronically create to map a pathway to graduation that serves future pursuits.

*Work-release credits for those who choose this program.  Students will now have some minimal obligations, but will receive a credit for their time in the business world. 

All of these ideas mesh with a new vision and goals connected to students becoming independent decision-makers.  As these changes move forward, they will be directly related to students choosing their route to success and staff helping guide and facilitate this movement toward sound and thoughtful goals. Stay tuned.

School newspapers are a labor of love and perseverance - Mrs. Sylvia Kroger and her staff do a terrific job of keeping up.  Unfortunately, the Harrisburg setting, close to Sioux Falls without much business in our actual city, and with the giant Argus monopolizing advertising and publication, it is difficult to find a venue for getting our news out.  We are trying.  Our relationship with the Sioux Valley News has been OK, but our difficulty is in selling the advertising to have our insert each week.   So, we are compromising somewhat.  We are going to an insert once every two weeks and will also publish a school newspaper in-house each month.  We will try some other things in the future, but for now, we hope this will serve community needs.  As I have asked before, if subscriptions from our community could go up(they are only $20 for a year) or if we could see an increase in advertising, we actually could grow this paper.  But until then, we are at the mercy of economics.  If anyone has any suggestions, I am open to them.  Schools of our size, Madison, Garretson, Elk Point, Vermillion - they all have newspapers devoted entirely to them.  My understanding is the Argus has basically squeezed any attempted paper in our town out of business and then just makes the decision not to cover us much.  We really need this communication device.  I know Mr. Holbeck has gone to great lengths to try to lure a paper to our city, but to no avail.  A good example of the gap this lack of a paper creates was our Veteran's Day program last week.  It was fantastic, but very poorly attended by our community.  In the past week I have fielded some minor complaints of those not realizing we were having a program.  A paper would take care of this.  Even though it was in the Argus Leader, it does not meet our local needs.  

Not much more to say this week.  The leaves finally fall and activities end and begin in the never-ending cycle of American education.  Mr. Rich Schneider's(our middle school principal) father passed away this past week.  Attending the funeral in Farmer, a town of around ten people near Mitchell, there was much time to sit in the tiny, packed church and reflect on important things.  My mind kept returning to two things, that I had to get out to see my father and try not to miss any chance to spend time with him before he goes on.  And second, Alli Catherine Foreman, the newest Tiger in the district, just born to Mrs. Foreman.  One goes, one takes the place.  It all makes sense, but let's not miss the important parts.  Hug your children right now.  That's the important part.  Events coming up in the next two weeks at Harrisburg High School:

Monday -  7:00 - FFA Parliamentary Practice

                  3:00- FFA Officer's Meeting

                 Girls' Basketball begins

                 6:30 - Board meeting - Liberty

Tuesday - 7:00 - FFA Parliamentary Practice

                4:00 - After School Novice Debate

Wednesday -    7:30 AM - Staff Meeting

                       1:05 - Early Release

                       MID-TERMS POSTED BY 11:59 PM

Thursday - Friday - Thanksgiving Vacation

Monday -     6:30 - Dance Committee Meeting - High School
                    Boys' Basketball Begins

Tuesday -   7:00 - FFA Parliamentary Practice

                     4:00 - After School Novice Debate

                      Quiz Bowl Team at Mitchell

Wednesday - 7:00 - FFA Parliamentary Practice

Thursday    -  7:00 - FFA Parliamentary Practice

Friday   -     7:00 - FFA Parliamentary Practice

                     State Oral Interp. at Aberdeen

Saturday - State Oral Interp. at Aberdeen

                    9:00 AM - Wrestling - At SF Roosevelt

Special thanks-giving, a week early...

Please be proud this week of your teachers and staff during American Education Week.  Actually, every week should be American Education Week, thankful for those who toil in the world’s most important profession.   A teacher, as a reflective decision-maker, encounters and lives in such a unique world of awesome burden and just as awesome reward.  A world that requires that they be both teacher and student simultaneously, that is so personal yet must be so professional, that is so unpredictable yet demands foresight and precision, that commands imperative focus and imposes change.  The very best teachers never feel as if they have done enough, are good enough, because they seek a perfection they cannot achieve.  They are some of the biggest risk-takers, knowing that each choice they make can change a life in an instant, yet willing to stand up and fearlessly face that challenge.  As a society, we must have a critical trust of our teachers, yet they know and expect that their accountability is the only way to maintain that trust.  In Harrisburg, we are so fortunate to have this human treasure trove of people resource that persistently and with all good will, changes our world for the better every day.    Tell a teacher thank you for bearing this onus with grace and wisdom, vigor and zeal.

Technology, like it, love it, leave it...whatever, it is part of us, and even more a part of our children.  Even though there are times we long for the days of savoring a long, handwritten letter of month-long news...of actually jumping up and running to the phone instead of looking at the read out to see who is calling before answering...of actually walking next door to talk to our neighbors...of waiting anxiously for a loved one's return instead of holding a cell phone to our ear for a half hour to listen to a turn-by-turn account of how far away they were...of guessing which way was south and what color house to make that left turn other than following our GPS or mapquest guide....it is what it is and we have to move forward.  As a good education friend and colleague said to me recently, "We are doing a great job of getting these kids ready for the 90's."  At Harrisburg High, we hope in the near future to obtain a laptop for every student.  On Friday of this week, our visionary superintendent, Mr. Holbeck has requested a gathering of the region's administrators and technology coordinators to take a look at moving forward with better services for all of our schools by working with local resources.  Our teachers and students are clamoring to have more opportunity to utilize hand held devices and access to the best information possible.  On-line coursework has outstanding chances of assisting the preparation of our graduates.  Evaluation, critical thinking, communication can all be enhanced with better use of the contemporary tools available.  It is perhaps even more significant for South Dakota, a rural state that can be more connected and find a better economic niche when we can virtually be everywhere.  Our students are ready, our teachers our ready...time for us to start educating for today and for tomorrow.

Veteran's Day has come and gone, however, the wars of today and the past war's memories do not go away.  Please keep all veteran's in your thoughts and prayers.  Thursday, a poignant program presented to the high school and community members was a fitting remembrance.  Thanks to all who participated and especially Mrs. Gould, Mr. Groon, Mrs. Rebnord and the National Honor Society and the Student Council for their work.  Next year, we will find a way to personally invite even more community members.  Our respectful student body were terrific in responding to the program and I am sure the few that showed up from the community enjoyed and were touched by our students' work.  During the day, I know of at least one complaint from the community in regard to school in session on this holiday.  However, for us, with 450 students paying homage to our veteran's rather than shopping...or sleeping...or hunting...or cruising Minnesota...seems to me this was the right thing to do.  If you doubt it, come to the program next year.

Babies, babies...everywhere babies.  With a fairly young staff at the high school, the instance of new Tigers being born is becoming commonplace.  Some baby news:  our new librarian, Mrs. Emily Olson had a daughter, Harper, a couple weeks ago;  Mrs. Foreman is about to have her baby soon;  Dr. McKee and wife have had some complications in the past week and his wife has had to be given bed rest until ready for birth;  also upcoming births for Mrs. VanDerSanden, Mrs. Wachal, Mrs. Dunn and Mr. LeLoux and his wife.  Another place and time to keep all of these families interests in your hearts as they grow with anticipation and new life!!!

Extra Help sessions will begin this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.   Any student recommended by teachers directly or through poor grades will be notified to spend time after school or Saturday to address the difficulty.  Please support this academic quest.  Mid-term grades will be posted on the portal the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.   

The annual Thanksgiving feast for senior citizens was held last Thursday.  Around 40 citizens attended. It was well-received by all.  The student council assisted and served, the Harrisburg Choir provided some entertainment and our kitchen and maintenance staffs set-up, decorated and created a fantastic meal.  Thanks to all who contributed.

Dance Committee will meet in the high school office at 5:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 16.  I have had no other communication from interested participants other than those first contacted.  Let me know if you would like to serve.

Christmas specials are in my Sunday paper????  How can that be?  Another holiday season looms - remember what all this is really about - family and friends and telling each what they mean to us.  Do that, right now....Events upcoming at Harrisburg High:

Monday - 3:15 - Wrestling Practice begins

                4:00 - Quiz Bowl at Tri-Valley

Tuesday - 8:00 AM - Region 1A Oral Interpretation Contests

                 5:30 - Dance Committee -  Office

Wednesday - 7:30 PM - Tiger Nation Meeting

Thursday - Extra Help - 3:00 PM

                  7:00 PM - Variety Show

Friday - 3:00 - Extra Help

           Debate at Mitchell

Saturday - 8:00 AM - Extra Help

             Debate at Mitchell

Monday - Girls' Basketball Practice begins

Tuesday - 4:00 - Novice Debate

Wednesday - Mid-Terms

                      1:00 Release for Thanksgiving

  Success can only be individually defined - according to an individual's idea of potential and careful evaluation of the work done to reach that potential.

An IEP for EVERY student....

PL-94-142 was the the public law written in the late 70's creating rights for children with exceptionalities, more commonly known as special education.  Transformation.  Our society, unlike many still around the world, made a conscious decision to serve EVERY student in the best way possible, placing EVERY student with needs in the least restrictive environment(once called "mainstreaming" - now called "inclusion") and adapting and modifying to meet EVERY student need.  This has led to great and positive self-examination of every aspect of schools, from the complex nature of how the brain works in relation to learning, to how high we place our drinking fountains.  It has been very good.  This week, I had the opportunity to observe and spend time in and around students who have been identified on the spectrum of needing special assistance.  What struck me most, was the very dignified, respectful and upbeat  atmosphere our teachers create in relation to these students.  The dynamic, when both individuals are acutely aware and sensitive to EVERY student need, is much different than the "herding" mentality and system commonplace amongst the 'normal' population.  Instead of survival of the fittest and choral instruction, there is one-to-one differentiation with specific and targeted strategy that will affect the most change on the learning episode.  Instead of time-based and efficiency-weighted control of student attack, there is self-motivation with gentle prodding and guided discovery.  Instead of the gamesmanship some of our very best students know how to play simply to attain a top mark or grade, there is true relevance and growth measured in individually created expectation.  Instead of high stakes competition between students, there is no comparison of student-to-student, only focus on attaining skill and growth expansion at the pace needed to gain depth and meaning of learning.  WHY can't this be for EVERY student?  Why isn't EVERY room similar to a special resource room?  On average, and these statistics are a bit skewed due to the heavy dedication of resources to students with severe disabilities - but on average we spend in South Dakota, a little over $4900 more per student with special needs.  Basically double our average for each "normal" student. Smaller classes, more intensity of examination, relevant testing based on individual norms rather than national norms lead to more expense.  We do things much differently.  Could we raise the resource needed in South Dakota to do this same thing for EVERY student?  Of course, we could - but we won't.  We don't have the will at this time to commit.  And, in South Dakota, with test scores rising or at least being competitive with other states, there will be no gnashing of teeth on the political front.  We think we are doing OK and we are.   So, we are left to try and find strategy that can allow teachers to individualize in larger settings with less resource.  And we are trying.  We purposefully try to match standards with development and trim the quantity to laser loci on the quality.  We ask teachers to organize the setting so they may spend time personally addressing EVERY need.  We work on assessment that will be prescriptive in finding out where a student is to help them get where they want and need to go.  We use the technology to view knowledge as a vehicle to build the skills of critical thinking, dissemination, collaboration and cooperation, creativity and communication.  We ask teachers to do all these things and they are.  At the same time, we stimulate students to move to independence.  We ask them to take responsibility, accountability for their growth.  These are all good things.  But we have a mountain to climb.  I have the pleasure of being a part of IEP creation(Individualized Education Programs) that are written for each student who cross a certain threshold and are then identified as in need of special support.  Generally, there are 6-12 people around a table, concentrating on the strengths and weaknesses of a student.  The unbelievable power of this dynamic, 6-12 professionals absorbed with finding the very best way of delivering education to ONE student.  And this is re-visted at least yearly.  Can you imagine the power if we did this for EVERY student.  But per chance, I dream....can we get there?  We will try.

Grinding, the dance craze in this country, I assume inspired by the sexual overtones of almost every aspect of our society, is a problem at high school dances across the country.  At our homecoming dance, I was remiss in not addressing this problem with more force and concern.  Some students were offended at the level to which this teen-age gyration took, and rightfully so.  With this in mind, there will be a parent committee meeting on Nov. 16th at 5:30 in the high school commons.  We will discuss proper protocol for high school dances and begin setting policy.  I will have other regional school policy that has been successful and allow the committee to design expectations.  This will be presented to the student council for review and then submitted to the Board for approval to the student handbook.  If any parent is interested to serve on this committee, please email.

Building, building, building.  If you drive the borders of our district, it is amazing the incredible growth. With that, of course, means more students.  With that, means...building, building, building.  While a member of the district, I have heard comments from time-to-time regarding all the building.  Some not so positive.  But I guess I have to ask?  Where are we going to put them?  We are full now, especially in our elementary.  Our middle school is close to bursting at the seams.  And we are apparently in a recession?  What happens when we come out the other side?  Even more explosive growth.  I am not an expert on school finance, but there are a couple of things I know.  The levy in the Harrisburg School District has remained flat for almost or maybe a decade.  That is pretty amazing.  Have taxes gone up?  It depends on where you live, but if they have, it has been the ASSESSMENT of the property due to enhanced building and value, not because the district has asked for more.  Second, Harrisburg is second in the state in per cost per pupil.  In other words, the money Harrisburg Schools do get, they use very wisely.  Our actual per pupil spending is the second lowest in the state.  So - make sure and give kudos to Mr. Holbeck and the Board.  They are extremely good money managers and visionary in their outlook.  The simple fact is, we are going to outgrow buildings for some time and we are going to have to build.  And when we do, it behooves us to do it right.  As a little aside, with the students we have in our district at this time here are the projected numbers in 9-12 at the high school for the next 10 years:

2011-12 - 505, 2012-13 - 575, 2013-14 - 623, 2014-15 - 684, 2015-16 - 762, 2016-17 - 806, 2017-18 - 910, 2018-19 - 968, 2019-20 - 1019.    These numbers are without any further migration of any other students to our district.  Should we increase by 20-30 in the middle school grades in the next three years, we would be at around 800 in the fall of 2014.  If that is the case, we would be at capacity at the high school.  Stay tuned, this is an exciting ride.

Flu has been confirmed in South Dakota.  I hope you have been able to have your sons and daughters immunized.  As it gets colder and everyone spends more time indoors, more chance to pass the dreaded germs.  Last year, in my previous location, we were missing 25-30 percent of our students during a three-week span and we normally had a 98 percent attendance rate.  One of my very good friends, Ethan Superintendent Terry Mathis, only 49-years-old, died of complications of the flu.  Please take it seriously.   Missing time from school is bad enough - but it hits home when it takes a life.  If you ever have questions, please call our school nurse, Diane Holland.

Veteran's Day special reminder.  First, this is a week of remembrance and prayer and thought for our soldiers over seas.  With the economy, elections, all the other stuff...we seem to have pushed the wars we are involved in from our mind.  Please keep our soldiers in your thoughts not just this week, but always.  You may already know, but a simple tradition we have begun is to say the Pledge of Allegiance at the high school each morning.  Very simple, but at least keeps our country and our soldiers in our mind for a moment.  Thursday is our tribute to veterans in the large theater at 10:00 AM.  We hope you all can make it.  Senior citizens meal will be served at the high school commons at noon.

Almost Turkey time - do stop time by slowing it down and reading with your kids, go stand and look at the sky, turn the TV off and talk, dance with your family, have a long, slow meal...time is all we really have...this week at Harrisburg High:

Monday - 4:00 - District 3 FFA Leadership
                 6:30 - Board Meeting - Liberty library
Tuesday - 4:00 After School Novice Debate at Sioux Falls
                         Quiz Bowl at West Central
                7:00 - HAWAIIAN NIGHT - Region 4A Volleyball Championship
                            At Harrisburg Gym - vs. Elk Point/Jefferson
Wednesday - 7:30 AM - Bloodmobile
                      1:05 - Early Release - Staff in-service
Thursday -  10:00 AM - Veteran's Day Program - Large Theater
                   Noon -  Senior Citizen's Meal - Commons
                   2:25 - SSR
                   6:00 - Elementary Concert - Large Theater
Friday - 7:30 - 11A state Football championship - Dakota Dome - Vermillion
Saturday - 7:00 - Night at the Improv - Free admission - Little Theater

..character is found...when all else...is lost.

Fake it 'till you make it....

"S chadenfreude"  refers to the pleasure a person may derive from the misfortune of others. In our historical quest to survive, it is easy to discern the loss of another was our gain.  As well, in a competitive, capitalistic society such as ours, there is no “zero-sum”, after all, when one wins or gains wealth, it has to come at the expense of another.  Like many of the other deadly related sins of Pride, Greed, Sloth, etc. – this one is mostly repressed as we have become sentient rather than survivalist creatures, but those more primal instincts do creep in to our demeanor if allowed.  I mention this human condition as in the past few weeks there have been occasions to point out to students the basis of inappropriate actions connected to envy or jealousy or shadenfreude and how that negative energy affects all.  Jason Garworth at the National Institute of Neurology however, reveals much optimism for humanity, as it appears doing good also makes us feel good.  While harboring some of the above emotional depravity, although there may be an initial burst of comfort, it does not last and generally makes us feel worse than prior to.  In other words, altruism actually leads to lasting and permanent memory and peace of spirit.  He goes on to say that it does challenge our instinct and we may have to force the action to move past the more basic patterns.  So, we as adults, likely have to lead, coax and even mandate generosity of action to our children.  But in the long run, they will gain more and create habits that last a lifetime.  Every gesture of kindness, of good will – whether forced or not, changes our children for the better and forever.  Do not relent in modeling and expecting our children to give more than they receive.  Be vigilant in requiring patience and courtesy and kindness, whether stilted or insincere or not.
              It will become common. It will be self-fulfilling.  It will be a life of worth.

Parent-teacher conferences were terrific.  Although no count was taken, it appears this was one of the most well-attended in some time.  A tribute to our parents' willingness to be a part and a sound symbol resonating to each of our students of the importance of their education.   Attendance is one measure, but more than that, the quality of the conversations I observed were so focused on positive growth and student learning.  The strength of the triad of student/parent/teacher cannot be over-emphasized.  In Harrisburg, this essential form is alive and well.

Student teachers will be invading in the spring.  We will likely have three.  There is always a little sense of unease in assigning college students the burden of such a crucial task.   However, this apprenticeship is necessary and a part of giving back to the profession.  In good situations, the two teachers in the room provide even more leadership, creativity and attention to student needs.  I interview the student teachers to discern their readiness, request that they visit their cooperating teachers' room as often as possible prior to the internship and their is constant communication between the university supervisor and the cooperating teacher.  All of these proactive events should address any concerns.  And, I have set an informal limit on the number of student teachers in our building at one time(4), the number of times in a five-year period that a staff member may have a student teacher(1),  and the protocols for allowing a student teacher to ply their trade at Harrisburg.  It is certainly a compliment to our district that so many wish to complete their undergraduate training at Harrisburg.  In each interview, the first thing the candidate offers is how much they wish to be here as our teachers have established themselves as some of the best in our region.  That is nice to hear consistently.  Unfortunately, we cannot possibly honor all the requests and I will be vigilant in making certain we do not overload the system, and provide less than the best for all of our students.

Senior projects continue to trickle in to my office and as usual, the impressive display by our students of going farther than expected, continues.  Seniors still have until November 12th to submit their project proposal.  They will do research connected with their project in the form of a paper and present their work and research in the spring.  This is the beginning of a full-fledged Senior Capstone Experience that will be a validation of their entire educational trek in the Harrisburg School District.  The end result, verification that our graduates have received every tool possible to succeed later.

Veteran's Day, November 11th, should be a day of great reflection.  To that end, the National Honor Society with help from the Student Council will have a Veteran's Day program beginning at 10:00 in the large theater at the high school.  We hope all community members who can will attend.  At noon, the annual community feed, free of charge will take place in the high school commons.  Those that wish to, can certainly come to the program and stay until the noon meal.

Because our school newspaper and society in general shower enough publicity and accolade on our activities, I shy away from writing much on this blog in that regard.  As a former coach and active member of athletics and music and drama, I know the value and tremendous influence these extracurriculars have for our students, so I do not want anyone to misinterpret, I am not only a supporter but have been a participant all of my life.  In fact, I did not miss one of my father's basketball practices from the time I was three years old until I graduated from high school.  I have been a coach for 25 years and played the sax and drums, acted in plays and was a member of FBLA(Future Business Leaders of America) as well as the school newspaper in high school and college.  All of these activities had impact on my life in constructive and affirmative ways.  So, although I rarely make mention, I advocate membership in all organizations.  There are times I wish our algebra and English classes received the same attention as our football team, however, I know that is not in our nature.   So I applaud the extracurriculars here today.  And these extras here at Harrisburg have given us much affirmation this fall.  Volleyball and football have both had stellar seasons.  Football is now two games from the Dome, volleyball heads into the districts as the second seed.  Cross Country boys finished third at state and won the region, golf was second at the region and fifth at state.  Both boys' and girls' soccer teams won the consolation round at state in Mitchell.  We have won three conference championships in the five fall sports - boys' cross country, football and volleyball.  Our soccer team received the "Fair Play" award at the state soccer tournament for superior sportsmanship on and off the field.  Our FFA organization had four members who earned the American Degree, the highest degree conferred upon an FFA member and three members finished in the top four in the country in their contest categories in Indianapolis.  Our FFA chapter received the three-star award, again the highest award possible.  Our marching band performed at Chester and Sioux Falls and our All State Chorus members just returned from Rapid City.   Debate has 31 members, including 22 freshman and will begin competition this week with formal competition.  Oral Interpretation has had terrific success this fall with 20 competitors and many firsts and seconds in the seven competitions they have attended.  Our Improv group has performed three times this fall and has been invited to neighboring schools.  Student Council continues to astound with their charity of time and effort and our school newspaper churns out a weekly publication with professionalism and creativity.


How does all this happen?   Certainly, great amounts of credit to the advisors and the parents of all the participants.  But there is one commonality in all of these endeavors.  Behind the scenes, our activities director, Mr. Scott VanDerMillen.  This is one of those, "You won't know how lucky you are until he is gone" scenario.  The incredible organization, the attention to detail, the willingness to work and work and work for the good of the students and staff...we have the very best AD I have ever known.  His insight, his compassion for our students and his wise approach to every delicate situation are above and beyond that of the common AD.  His humor is endearing, his care for all he leads is apparent in every action, and his affection for the entire Harrisburg community obvious.  I have known  Coach V. for around ten years.  It was my good fortune to work on the school board in Mitchell when Coach V. was hired.  At his interview, the first thing he said, as he moved from his wheelchair to one of the chairs in the Mitchell library was, "OK - you can see I am in a wheelchair, so we can get past that..." His whole life he has been getting past that.  He was a member of championship basketball teams at Southwest State.  He litigated against the state of Iowa to allow him to play football on his high school team..and won.  He grew up on a farm where his parents simply told him to get the chores done, so he did.  He was a fantastic coach in Corning, Iowa - his office was on the second floor in an old building that had no handicap accessibility - no matter, he just climbed the stairs himself every day.  Nothing has ever stopped him.  Nothing ever will.  His courage is evident in everything he has achieved, but he would never refer to his physical obstacles as an obstacle - he only sees everything in life as opportunity.  He wants no credit or assistance and definitively no sympathy - he sees no reason for any of that.  But he is deserved of our praise and our deep admiration, for one who has persevered, succeeded and only asks that all have the same focus as he.  That we do the very best we can with what we have.  He is the ultimate example of that very thing.  We get his best all the time.  Thanks Coach VanDerMillen - you are a Harrisburg treasure.

How did it become November??? Our world goes so fast. Like all of you I am sure, we lament the loss of time...hug the kids, play a board game, do whatever it takes to slow this all down and enjoy your children...here are the events upcoming at Harrisburg High School - 

Monday, Nov. 1 - 6:30 - Football vs. Little Wound, State football quarterfinals - home

Tuesday - Nov. 2 - Election Day - VOTE

Wednesday - Nov. 3 - No activities scheduled

Thursday - Nov. 4 - 8:30 AM -  FFA at Brookings

                                  SSR - 2:25

                                6:00 - District volleyball at Viborg vs. Tea - first round

Friday - Nov. 5 - 4:00 - Debate at Sioux Falls

                            District Volleyball - Time and Place TBA - if Viborg/Hurley loses, Harrisburg will 

                              host the second round

                             SSR - 2:25

Saturday - Nov. 6 - 8:00 AM - Debate at Sioux Falls

                                Harrisburg will be the host site for a semifinal football playoff game Saturday night 
                                 against the Canton C-Hawks.  
                                   Kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m.
                                   Gates will open at 6:00 p.m.
                                   Harrisburg Activity Passes will not be accepted.

                          Ticket Prices are as follows:  ADULTS $5 – STUDENTS - $3

                              The game will have a radio broadcast from KELO 1320 AM.

PS - Sorry for the lateness of this post - some technical problems 

Sticks and Stones.....

Bullying is in the national spotlight and rightfully so.  Most of you who read my pathetic pennings in this forum grew up as I, "Sticks and Stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me."  Our parents, for the most part, saw the insensitivity, sarcasm and unkindness in these verbal barrages, but bought into it as a sort of "rite of passage."  Something that would toughen us up for the long haul to maturity.  Something that would help us build defense mechanisms for later and the hard, cruel world.  Seems logical.  Seems as if it makes sense.  But the world has changed and we know more about child psychology and sociology than ever before.  We have the results of years of study of the damage insidious bullying, with words, can cause. “Being bullied is not just an unpleasant rite of passage through childhood,” said Duane Alexander, M.D., director of the NICHD. “It’s a public health problem that merits attention. People who were bullied as children are more likely to suffer from depression and low self esteem, well into adulthood, and the bullies themselves are more likely to engage in criminal behavior later in life.” 
Some of you reading this will immediately look at our own experience and proclaim, "Hey, I went through it and look how I turned out?"  And maybe, you have healed.  Maybe other things in your life have been able to replace the shame and guilt of those years that you were under the terror of another.  Or, maybe you were very lucky and it never happened to you.  But, disregarding the evidence of what it does to people short and long term would be criminal of us.  Pair that with the ability of bullies now to offend and disparage with the social media and this is an issue we just cannot dismiss anymore as "Sticks and Stones..".  We have to be conscious of it, we have to be active in finding ways to help the perpetrators understand the hurt they create.  Want some real facts about bullying in our country?  Here they are and they are eye-opening:

77 percent of students say they have been bullied at least once in the past year

35 percent of students say they have been bullied in the last month

22 percent of students say they have been depressed enough to think of hurting themselves due to constant harassment

86% of students said, “other kids picking on them, making fun of them or bullying them” causes teenagers to turn to lethal violence in the schools.

Bullying statistics shows that those who bully and are bullied appear to be at greatest risk of experiencing the following: loneliness; trouble making friends; lack of success in school; and involvement in problem behaviors such as smoking and drinking.

54% said witnessing physical abuse at home can lead to violence in school.

According to bullying statistics , one out of every 10 students who drops out of school does so because of repeated bullying.

Harassment and bullying have been linked to 75 percent of school-shooting incidents.


These are national statistics, however, they are statistics that must lead us to a proactivity in dealing with this problem.

But there are slippery difficulties in attacking this.  First, defining what exactly bullying is has many obstacles.  When we identified bullying strictly as physical, it was easy.  We cannot do that any more.  Here is as good a definition as any:

"Bullying involves a desire to hurt + hurtful action + a power imbalance + (typically) repetition + an unjust use of power + evident enjoyment by the aggressor and a sense of being oppressed on the part of the victim."

How can this definition help ? In the first place, it warns us against a too simplistic a view of what bullying is. We will be less inclined to think that to counter bullying we must believe in the perfectibility of the human race. Christianity has tried for thousands of years to correct our aberrant and distasteful behavior and yet the prisons and papers are full of our frailties.  Secondly, it helps us to focus upon a sub-category of aggressive behavior which almost everyone abhors: the unjust use of force by more powerful persons or groups. We should remind ourselves that what appears "justified" is constantly shifting. If we are to understand and help we need to be cautious in appraising just where differences in power lie. The imbalances may be subtle. Finally, it suggests that we should monitor the emotional reactions of the perpetrator and remember that they can change; and also tune in to the feelings of being oppressed that victims invariably feel, often, but not always, with strong justification.

So - we have a definition with caveats that warn to be fluid and evaluate both the situation and the players in any bullying event.   Now what?  Our difficulty in school is both systematic and logistic.  Where do most of the events take place?  Here are the stats for a high school-aged student:

Overall bullying - 41 percent through social media, 29 percent outside of school, 30 percent in school.

    Social media - 72 percent through face book or other social network accounts, 22 percent through text or cell phone, 8 percent other.

   Outside of school - 68 percent at social functions directly for high school students, 23 percent at retail and restaurants, 9 percent other.

   At school - 75 percent outside the classroom, 25 percent within the classroom.

        Outside the classroom identified as hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, locker room, etc.

So now we know what it is and where it happens - now what?  With the above statistics in tow, there are several things that have been done and can be done. 

1.  Policy - We have a bullying policy that was adopted by the school board this past summer. I have attached our adopted policy in the column to the right of the blog. It allows a hierarchy of discipline and protects all students.  The language is as explicit as it can be with the difficulty of defining and locating the event.  At the high school, we use the discipline matrix and our discretion to deal with and mete out consequences.

2.  Education - We have had one TAP seminar in relation to bullying and will continue to refresh both staff and students on this issue.  Next week, I will address the entire student body.  In the future, I plan to adopt with the help of our counselors, some programming that consistently and appropriately helps lead students to kind and "Golden Rule" choices.

3.  Parental intervention - above, you can see that 70 percent of bullying occurs outside of school.  If that is the case, we have to rely upon parents to help regulate, identify and correct behaviors.  You can also see that a large percentage of bullying is now occurring through cyberspace.  I have had this conversation with parents and on several occasions the response has been, "I am treading on their privacy."  I am perplexed?  I will only speak for myself, but my children will either divulge every bit of information I wish to have whenever I wish, or the will have not access or technology to use.  We HAVE to monitor what is going on in these communications.  The safety of your sons and daughters is at stake along with the issue of bullying.  Just watch 15 minutes of, "To Catch a Predator" some time.  If you don't know what is going on in your son's and daughter's cyber-lives, you don't know them at all. 

4.  Persistence.   Staff have to be aware and deal with these issues.  Even absorbing parental criticism when the acts may seem trivial.  Students who observe bullying occurring and do not assist the victim or report it are buying into the culture. Students have to either handle it, walk away, or report it.  Certainly, we hope students have enough esteem to not allow a bully's words to have affect on them - but if it is not the case, it has to be reported.  Immediately.  If it is texted or emailed, it has to be printed and given to a teacher or administrator or a parent.  Allowing it to go on and on without dealing or notifying will only make it worse later on.

 I have to say, with these issues - harassment, particular - because it is sometimes hard to detect or define, raising the level of consciousness can have the effect of making "everything" an issue of bullying.  So be it.  Is it better to have a tormented student react in a tragic way that deeply affects all we do forever - or is it better to take seriously even those small incidents that may be very borderline in effect and take up some part of a day to fix?    At Harrisburg High School, we will take each and every case seriously and do our best not only to protect and assist victims, but to show perpetrators the error of their ways and attempt to move them to more positive futures.   

But it can't be done without all of you out there.  We will do our part.  But please examine what really is going on as objectively as you can.  Don't lose the prism of love and affection you look through regarding your sons and daughters.  It is natural to defend and advocate for them.  But any level of discomfort another is feeling because of the words, intonations, gossip, rumor-spread, etc. - will be dealt with here as bullying.  We are very simply a no-bullying zone.   Talk to your sons and daughters about it.  Raise their level of awareness.  We have well-intentioned people with big hearts.  No one wants to see a student attending Harrisburg High School with dread, with fear, intimidated.  No one would wish that on any student.  It will take all of us to make that so.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held in the High School Commons beginning at 2:00 PM until 8:30 PM on Thursday evening.  I hope you will all be able to attend.

Veteran's day is November 11th.  Freedom comes at a cost.  A sacrifice of youth, a sacrifice of time and innocence…and tragically, a sacrifice of life.  It is only right that we celebrate and honor those sacrifices.   Our engagements around the world, have preserved and created freedoms for millions..  We pay our debt, and we pay our respect with humility on November 11th.   Harrisburg High will  hope that this humble thanks lingers with us every day of our lives, and continues to be and inspires us to the righteous acts modeled by those we honor on Veteran's Day.    A long-standing Harrisburg tradition will be paired with what is hoped will be a traditional event is scheduled for Harrisburg High School, November 11^th.    A Veteran’s Day program featuring Mr. Clarence Kooistra will begin at 10:00 AM in the large theater.  Mr. Kooistra, a veteran marine of the Vietnam War and a Garretson teacher of 35 years will be the keynote speaker.   The high school band, choir, trumpeters and much more will be included in the 45-minute program honoring our country’s heroes.

      At noon, in the high school commons, the traditional pre-Thanksgiving meal for citizen citizens will be held at noon.  Turkey and all the fixin’s will be free of charge to any Harrisburg District resident senior citizen.  The senior high choir will perform also.

       The Veteran’s Day program is open to the public.  Doors will open to the theater at 9:00 AM.

As play-offs begin in volleyball and football, remember that passes will not be honored.  These events are sponsored by the SDHSAA and all attendees will have to purchase a ticket.  Tuesday night, adults are $5 and Kids are $3.  Kick off is at 6:30 vs. Vermillion.   The game will also be on 1230 AM and 1570 AM radio.

Students who are using the NovaNet system of curriculum delivery will not receive quarter grades.  As this system is for credits upon completion, when completed they will receive semester grades only.  Students at the CTE academy will receive quarter grades.  Grades will be finalized on Wednesday this week.

Another plea to remind all drivers to pay special attention in and around our school.  As I mentioned earlier, we have asked the local police to patrol whenever possible and we will not hesitate to take numbers of offending autos and pass on to the local authorities.  It has happened a few times already.  Please take care.  An automobile can be a weapon.  Don't use it that way.

Remember that the Sioux Valley News covers our high school with a two-page insert each week.  If you desire a subscription, please get in touch with them.  They are always looking for advertisers as well.

Events this week at Harrisburg High School:

Monday - BEGINNING OF A NEW QUARTER

                   Red Ribbon Week - Drug and Alcohol Awareness

                   4:15 - 9th football at Sioux Falls Washington(end of season)

                   5:00 Volleyball - Vermillion - Home

                   6:30 - Board Meeting  -  Liberty Library

Tuesday -  8:10 - ASVAB testing - all juniors - gymnasium

                   12:30 - All School Assembly - Red Ribbon Week

                   4:00 - After School Novice Interp. at Sioux Falls

                   6:30 - Football playoffs vs. Vermillion - Home - No passes accepted

Wednesday - 8:30- All State Chorus performance - large theater - open to the public

Thursday - Early Release - 1:05

                    Parent-Teacher Conferences - 2:00-8:30 - High School Commons

Friday - No Classes

               SDHSAA All State Chorus and Orchestra - Aberdeen

Saturday - SDHSAA All State Chorus and Orchestra - Aberdeen(can be seen on public TV)

                   9:00 - Oral Interpretation - Yankton

Sunday - Halloween!!!

"Beware those things that disturb direction, the path away must be recovered and that time spent is lost indeed."