The Howler
Harrington Elementary - February 2nd, 2017
Harrington Elementary School
1540 Baffin Bay Drive
Plano TX 75075
Dear Harrington Parents,
The HARRINGTON School community was very excited to learn we achieved a 5 star rating from the Texas Education Agency in September 2016. One of those stars is based on attendance rates reaching a minimum or 96.5. Harrington typically averages a 97.5 attendance rate. You can see this is a strong %, but it is easily affected by absences which can be avoided. There is also new grading system for Texas schools and that attendance rating in domain 4 scored a B. We missed an A rating by .10%
One of the most common misunderstandings about attendance is that absences are "excused", especially if a parent requests a vacation period during regular school days. Even though such absences are often excused by the administration, the days still count as days off campus when annual attendance is reviewed by the state. Also, tardies accrue to absences with 3 tardies =equaling 1 absence day. Tardies begin at 7:45.
This school year marks a high rate of absences and tardies. We had 1,070 absences and 479 tardies since August 23, 2016 through January 31, 2017. We always adjust our tardy arrival time when there is bad weather, even rainy weather, so that we do not penalize anyone in difficult circumstances. If you arrive after 9 AM, the entire day is counted as an absence. If you have a doctor, dentist and related therapy appointments with an excuse note on the same day of service, those absences will not count in the system.
How can you help us achieve a strong recognition rating from TEA in 2016-17 regarding attendance? The most important things are getting to school on time and aligning vacations to the school calendar. Always get an excuse note at the doctor’s office and present it when you sign your child in for late arrival. Thank you for supporting the school staff! Mrs. Barnard and I are available to answer any questions you may have about state attendance policies and our implementation processes on campus.
To encourage on time arrival, we developed a Don’t Be Tardy for the Party award for a primary class and an intermediate class in recognition of strong rate of being in school and on time. We will award these 2 classes at our next 9 week’s assembly. Thank you for being supportive parents!
Sincerely,
Ann Irvine
Principal –Harrington Elementary
Parents Night Out (PNO)
Friday, February 10th, from 6:30 to 10:30 PM
Students will be supervised by school staff and there will be pizza, movies, games, friends and lots of FUN!
Pricing is $25.00 for 1 student, $40.00 for 2 students and $50.00 for 3 students. Limited registration is available right now at harringtonpta.net. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, Feb 8th or until it is full.
No Walk-ins will be accepted.
Please note: Parent's Night Out is only open to current Harrington students.
2016-2017 Yearbook Sales
Pre-orders for the 2016-17 school year are open! The current cost is $20 until 2/20/17 ($25 after). All orders are online through the Harrington yearbook website. Log in or create a new log in at http://community.pictavo.com. You will also have the option to design and purchase a Shout-Out (or Recognition Ad) to be included in the yearbook. If you have high quality images you can submit them also!
The Plano District Science Fair
Thursday, February 9th
Please save the date and consider helping us out as a judge for the 2017 PISD Science Fair. The event will be held on Thursday, February 9, at the Plano Centre from 7:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Sign up at http://tinyurl.com/PISDjudge2017.
For more information, please visit: http://k-12.pisd.edu/currInst/science/ScienceFair.html
Raising Cane's Restaurant Day
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 10:00am
Come and support Harrington by eating some awesome food! Order in the drive through or at the counter at Cane's and mention "Harrington" and we get a percentage of the total sales for the day. Tell your friends, co-workers, teammates . . . anyone who loves Cane's and would like to support our school!
Harrington Silent Auction
- Coming Up In March -
Planning is underway for the Harrington Silent Auction that starts in March 2017, which is our most significant fundraiser for the Spring. Proceeds enable PTA to provide special programs, field trips, equipment and supplies for our children. Should your family (or family business) have a contribution for the silent auction, please contact Devyn Howell at leftcf8@msn.com or Sally Pylant (waysandmeans@harringtonpta.net). Your family (or family business) will be acknowledged in the school newsletter and on our PTA web-site! You are welcome to include flyers or other promotional pieces to be shared online with your donation.
We appreciate your donations and look forward to an amazing Spring fundraiser to support our children at Harrington!
Volunteers are Always Needed!
There are several PTA positions available:
- Co-chair for Book Fair, happening on April 24 - contact Sally Pylant at waysandmeans@harringtonpta.net
- School Supply coordinator - contact Leslie Mrozek at schoolsupplies@harringtonpta.net
- Communications VP, and/or Highlights email, Website Coordinator - contact Ircka West at communications@harringtonpta.net
- Library Volunteers , Watch D.O.G.S Volunteers and Pawmart Volunteers are needed!
- 1st Grade lunch needs help, especially on Fridays.
- Kindergarten also needs your help!
Box Tops
Good Job, Huskies. Thanks to everyone who has been bringing in their box tops. Only 16 box tops separate 1st, 2nd and 3rd place! It’s anyone’s trophy at this point! Let’s see which grade will earn it this time. Remember, we must send in our box tops by the end of February to
get a check for this school year. This contest will officially end March 24th.
Please open the image above to see the current totals!
Chili Cook-off Teacher Appreciation Lunch
Tuesday, February 14
Do you love chili? This is your chance to show off your skills and win a prize! The teachers will vote for their favorites and YOU could be one of the the winners! All you have to do is bring a crockpot full of chili (preferably with a liner for easy clean-up) before 10am to the teacher lounge on Tuesday, February 14.
For any questions, email Hospitality@HarringtonPTA.net
The 7 Reasons Your Kid Needs Sleep
Getting your kid to bed early has more benefits than just a few hours of quiet time at night. New research explains how vitamin ZZZ may help children fight obesity, avoid colds, and succeed in school...Read more here: http://www.parents.com/health/healthy-happy-kids/why-your-kid-needs-sleep/
MP Kids was awarded the Diversity Service Leadership Award!!
PISD hosts an annual awards and recognition ceremony each January for PISD students, parents, and staff who exemplify the leadership qualities needed to make our world the very place it can be. The qualities of empathy and giving to the less fortunate are hallmarks of the Mission Possible Kids program at Harrington. These qualities make MP Kids a sound nominee for an MLK award.
On January 19th MP Kids won the group service award for extraordinary accomplishments of giving locally, nationally, and internationally to kids and adults in need. The service projects ranged from collecting birthday cake mixes so that homeless children could have birthday celebrations all the way to crafting pillows for child refugees in the Middle East. Way to go Mission Possible Kids!
Please stop by and view the trophy won at the MLK awards. It will be displayed temporarily at the front desk. The it will be placed with the past honors in our display case near third grade. Many thanks to PTA board member Melissa Woods and CSC teacher Jennifer Bishop for faithfully planning each MP Kids project and delivering the results to children and adults in needs.
- Counselor's Corner -
2017 Plano ISD Parent Workshops
Dear Parents, the following workshops are now being offered to those who need it:
- Building Bright Futures – Parenting & Understanding the Child with ADHD and ADD
Parenting the Strong Willed Child
Please see the attached flyers for more information!
Harrington PTA
Website: harringtonpta.net
Location: 1540 Baffin Bay Drive, Plano, TX
Phone: (469) 752-1500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarringtonPTA
Twitter: @harrington_pta