Harrington Happenings

I hope everyone faired well during the "Blizzard of "26! At Harrington, we often say that it takes all of us, students, families, and staff to create the kind of school community our children deserve. Each day, I see that partnership in action: in classrooms, at arrival and dismissal, during school events, and in the many thoughtful conversations we share.

Today we completed our second ALICE drill of the school year as part of our ongoing commitment to school safety and preparedness.

As a reminder, ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) is a nationally recognized safety protocol designed to provide age-appropriate strategies that help staff and students respond effectively in the unlikely event of a crisis. At the elementary level, our focus remains on calm, clear communication, listening to trusted adults, and practicing safe decision-making in a structured and supportive way.

I am proud to share that our students and staff handled the drill with maturity and focus. Teachers reviewed expectations ahead of time, and we debriefed afterward to ensure students had the opportunity to ask questions and process the experience.

Our goal with drills like these is not to create fear, but to build confidence. Practicing procedures in a controlled environment allows us to respond more effectively should we ever need to implement them in a real situation.

If your child has questions at home about today’s drill, I encourage you to keep the conversation simple and reassuring.

Please feel free to reach out to me or your child’s teacher if you have any concerns.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping Harrington a safe and supportive learning environment.

Our classrooms continue to be places where collaboration, curiosity, and connection thrive.

• Students are working in flexible groups that allow them to learn with and from one another.

• Teachers are meeting regularly to review student progress and refine instruction.

• Interventionists and specialists are partnering closely with classroom teachers to ensure every learner feels supported.

When we talk about academic growth, we are also talking about confidence, belonging, and voice. Those elements are just as important as any academic milestone.

Strengthening Our School Culture

Community is built in small, consistent moments.

• Role Model assemblies that continue to recognize students who model our monthly character trait.

• Grade-level teams are fostering strong peer relationships and a sense of shared responsibility within classrooms.

• Our HPTO and parent committees are working alongside us to create meaningful experiences for students and families.

Thank you for reinforcing these same values at home. The alignment between school and family creates stability for children and strengthens our entire community.

Looking Ahead

• March 2-6, Community Read In

• March 4, HPTO Meeting

• March 11, Early Release Day

• March 16-20, Bren Bataclan Kindness through Art - Emphasizes the power of kindness through art via school wide assemblies and mural projects.

Strong communities are built on communication, trust, and mutual respect. While questions or challenges may arise from time to time, our collective focus remains steady: doing what is best for students.

Thank you for your partnership and for the trust you place in us each day. Harrington is stronger because of the families who support it.

Once again, remember to…"Stay Respectful, Stay Responsible, Stay Ready . . . . Embrace the challenges, learn from mistakes, and have fun."

Be safe! Stay well!

Rob & Karen

Hello Harrington families,

Calendar Raffle sales begin Monday, March 2 🎫

The HPTO will be conducting a Calendar Raffle to support activities at our school. Each student will receive ten calendars to sell at $10 per calendar. We have one whole month of amazing prizes, ranging from gift baskets, concert and baseball game tickets, restaurant gift cards, museum passes and memberships, and so much more! The calendar raffle is made possible by all of our generous sponsors, as all prizes were donated!

📅 Important Dates

• Packets Sent Home: This week

• Sales Begin: Monday, March 2

• All Calendars & Money Due Back: Monday, March 23

Packets include a letter to families with all the important details about our raffle, including information about student incentives and grand prizes. We have an incredible lineup of prizes totaling over $3,000, along with grand prizes totaling over $1,000! Winners will be drawn daily throughout April and announced on our HPTO Facebook page. All calendar sales are due back to school by Monday, March 23. Be sure to review the letter in your packet for complete grand prize details!

Thank you for helping make this fundraiser a success and good luck!

HPTO Monthly Meeting Wednesday, March 4 📅

Please join us Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 in the Harrington library. Please use the cafeteria entrance (door 9) on the right side of the building and take a left to head to the library. The board will be in executive session before the meeting, so we kindly ask that you wait outside the library door until 6:30pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

Glow Dance Saturday, March 28 ✨

Bring a special person to our 3rd annual Glow Dance, Saturday, March 28 from 6pm - 8pm! Tickets are $10 per student/special person. Your ticket includes admission for your student and special person, light refreshments, one free photo, and glow swag. Tickets sales will begin next week and end 3/26 at midnight or when 200 total guests are reached, whichever comes first.

***Financial concerns should never stand in the way of families participating in school events. If you are interested in this or any upcoming Harrington activities please contact Lindsay Rhames, our school counselor: albertl@chelmsford.k12.ma.us***

🎓 HPTO Scholarship information

Calling Chelmsford Families! Do you know a Chelmsford resident who is a graduating senior, attended Harrington Elementary School, and will be attending a two- or four-year college or university in Fall 2026? The Harrington PTO is awarding two $500 scholarships this spring to qualified candidates! Please help us spread the word to eligible students and families.

For more information, visit the Harrington PTO Website and click on Scholarships.

📅 Save the Date & more information to come!

Sunday, April 5 - Saturday, May 30, 2026 - Hannaford Helps Schools

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - Dine to Donate at The Establishment

Sunday, May 3, 2026 - Skate Night at Roller Kingdom

Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 8, 2026 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week

Thursday, May 28, 2026 - Celebration of the Arts & Ice Cream Social

📧 Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at harringtonpto@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you for your support!

HPTO

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UPCOMING HPTO MEETINGS

All meetings are held in person only in the Harrington Library at 6:30pm

Wednesday, March 4

Wednesday, April 8

Wednesday, May 6

Wednesday, June 10

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Contact Us: HarringtonPTO@gmail.com

Like Us: HPTO Facebook

Find Us: Harrington PTO Website OR Link Tree

Earn Box Tops for Harrington

Email: asselinr@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://harrington.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 120 Richardson Road, North Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5166
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harringtonelementarychelmsford/