Dear Harmony School of Exploration Parents,
I am happy to welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year!
I would like to thank you for your support, patience, and understanding as we, as a learning community, responded to the unexpected pandemic that forced us to go through a new and challenging teaching and learning phase. I am very proud of the way our teachers, staff, students, and parents, handled the demands and challenges we faced as we strived to protect everyone and continued to educate and feed our students and their families during such a critical time.
As we begin our new school year our first few weeks of school will start via distance learning. Harmony School of Exploration is committed to bringing home high-quality learning that will keep our students engaged and be able to close the learning gaps. We recognize that in these trying times our children need support from both the home and school.
As you may know, we will be implementing three new platforms, Schoology, EDpuzzle and Nearpod. All platforms will support our distance learning model starting on August 17, 2020. All students are required to participate in the learning of new material, continued standard pacing, interactive lessons, graded assignments, and assessments. Daily attendance will be mandatory for each student per state requirement.
I understand that distance learning can never replace in-person instruction and with that in mind know our teachers are going through rigorous training to provide the best distance learning possible and for our students to continue learning in developmentally appropriate ways. We have created schedules for our students to participate in synchronous (live) learning sessions, small group instruction, engage in software hours, and built-in office hours with teachers when permissible.
Please make sure to have the following ready for your student before August 17, 2020:
o Make sure your student’s skyward account is activated
o Make sure you have your student’s teacher's email address (Available in Skyward)
o Make sure you have internet access, a laptop/chrome book or computer to which your student has access. (If not please fill out our technology survey posted on our school website so the school can provide one)
You are not alone in this, we are here to help you to the best of our ability. If along the way you have any questions or stumble upon an issue with distance learning or social-emotional learning please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or our Deans of Academics, Elvia Rimer erimer@harmonytx.org or Dean of Student Tameka Germany tgermany@harmonytx.org. Should you have any other questions our front office staff will be happy to assist you.
General Questions, Registration, and Applications:
Ms. Ham (832) 831-7406 or yham@harmonytx.org
General Questions, Lunch Applications
Ms. Cruz: (832) 831-7406 or summer.cruz@harmonytx.org
Immunizations, Allergies, Medical Records, and Health Documentation:
Mrs. Garcia: (832) 831-7406 or erikanatalia.garcia@harmonytx.org
General Questions, Attendance:
Mrs. Guerrero: (832) 831-7406 or alejandra.guerrero@harmonytx.org
General Questions, Home Visits and Engagement:
Ms. Allen: (832) 831-7406 or natalie.allen@harmonytx.org
Chromebook distribution to students will begin starting from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm on Wednesday, August 12 for the last names A-K and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm on Thursday, August 13th for the last names L-Z .
Meet the teacher online will take a place on Wednesday, August 12th from 5:00-6:00 and your teacher will email you the Zoom meeting link.
I encourage all of our parents to frequently visit our school web-page https://hehouston.harmonytx.org/ and follow our Facebook page for up to date and accurate information.
Please know that decisions are made daily that are in the best interest of our students and staff to ensure their safety and leave you with peace of mind. With that said, as more details arise, we will provide you with updates via school messenger, our website and our Facebook page. In preparation for a successful start, our Recorded Orientation Information is shared on our media resources. Keep an eye on our website - more details coming soon!
We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children will achieve their highest potential. As your partner, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities as we strive to have remain a successful school. I am truly honored to serve as the principal of HS-Exploration. It is a privilege to be a part of a community where teachers, students and parents care for each other and strive to build positive relationships that support academic and social growth.
Warm Regards,
Sibel Cankurt, Principal
scankurt@harmonytx.org
