Harmony Happenings
Nov 10
We need your help to keep our students and Harmony community safe. As our lives become more and more demanding, it can be easy to get distracted or lose focus when dropping off and picking up students from school. From construction zones and changing traffic patterns to sudden stops with traffic, we must remain alert, especially in school zones. This past week, an unfortunate incident took place that could have been avoided. While our accident took place after dismissal, with an empty parking lot, it is a reminder that we need to remain aware whenever children can be present.
To ensure all of our students, staff and community remain as safe as possible near our schools, please ensure you are driving with the utmost care and attention, especially in and around our school. Our children are counting on us to look out for them.
As a reminder:
Slow down - follow the designated speed limits in school zones.
Stay alert - watch for students in crosswalks, at drop-offs and pick-ups, and pay attention to students who may unexpectedly cross the street.
Avoid distractions - put phones down and focus on your surroundings.
Be patient - a few extra minutes can make the difference in keeping everyone safe.
Park and Walk - I always encourage parents to park away from the school and walk to pick and drop off. It can often be quicker than going through the parking lot.
Follow designated driving rules - The “No Left Turn” sign along Ellsworth is a big one. It keeps the flow of traffic moving. Parking is permitted along the Kiss N Go lane where the driveway is expanded along the north side of the parking lot.
Thank you for ensuring our students and all of us remain safe throughout the day. Please continue to drive safely and responsibly.
Harmony Ridge's Thanksgiving Support Drive
Harmony Ridge is here to help. Recognizing the hardships faced by military families on furlough and those whose SNAP benefits have been stopped due to the government shutdown, our staff and community are collecting Thanksgiving items for those in need.
How to Request Support
If you or your family need assistance this holiday season, please fill out our Google Form to make a request:
English: https://bit.ly/HRTDEnglish
Spanish: https://bit.ly/HRTDSpanish
Deadline
Requests must be returned by Friday, November 7th, 2025.
Important Note: We will do our absolute best to honor late responses, but they can only be fulfilled if we have leftover items after the initial requests are met.
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Calling on everyone to help
We are gratefully accepting donations of non-perishable food items, grocery store gift cards, and essential Thanksgiving dinner ingredients. In order to not have too much of one item and none of another, we will be breaking up items by grade level See below for requested items.
KG - Mac & Cheese, Hot Chocolate packets, marshmallows.
1st - Cereal, Boxed Oatmeal packets
2nd - Peanut Butter, Jelly
3rd - canned Chicken, Canned Tuna, Granola Bars, Corn muffin mix
4th - Applesauce, canned corn/green beans, peas, yams
5th- Dry Pasta (Spaghetti/Linguini/Rotini), stuffing
6th - Jars of Spaghetti sauce & alfredo sauce
7th - Cans of soup (cream of mushroom), boxes of crackers
8th - Rice, Beans (cans or bags of pinto or black beans)
Don't have time to shop? Monetary donations (Cash, checks (made out to Harmony Ridge), or gift cards) will be accepted.
Drop off food donations at the front of the building through November 24th. Please give Cash, check, or gift cards to the front office or April.
Please contact April Banaitis at albanaitis@aurorak12.org with questions.
We appreciate your generosity and look forward to working together to support our military families and our families impacted by SNAP this holiday season!
If you are a veteran, please send in a photo of you and your student (it can be any veteran, not just a parent), we would like to showcase these pictures at our event and on our hallway monitors. Send photos to albanaitis@aurorak12.org
External Community Resources:
Plentiful: An app families can download to locate the nearest food bank in their area code. https://www.plentifulapp.com/
Food Justice of Northwest Aurora: 2025 government shutdown impact on Colorado Nutrition Programs . https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y1djbe47yZyEpIj1GTBvNoOZ4_X7RpHhsTXTw2TuqFk/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0#heading=h.6v3dbxqgx986
211: Colorado 211: Call 2-1-1 or (866) 760-6489
Feeding Colorado: Helps families locate the nearest pantry. https://feedingcolorado.org/find-food/
Center For Resilience: If you need food assistance, the guide below will help to connect you with local food assistance programs and local support organizations. https://feedingcolorado.org/find-food/
https://www.crscounseling.com/food-assistance-resources/
Hunger Free Colorado: Food Resource Hotline: (855) 855-4626
Helping You Navigate Your Benefits | Adams County, CO: Basic needs resources provided by Adams County.
Community Fridges: Families can enter their area code and find a community fridge. https://denvercommunityfridges.com/locations/
Aurora Interfaith Community Services: Offers food pantry appointments Monday-Thursday. This service is by appointment only. https://www.aurorainterfaith.org/
Project Worthmore: Offers produce to families Monday and Wednesday. Families must register first. https://projectworthmore.org/
Village Exchange Center: Offers weekly food distributions. Families can access more details via the Plentiful app. https://villageexchangecenter.org/programs/food-pantry
Catholic Charities- Little Flower- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Valid ID and current address are required to receive food. https://ccdenver.org/food/
Food Banks and Pantries in Adams County
Food Bank of the Rockies Mobile Pantry Locations https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zB_rBcyObc_Ilw20YGkeBqa1HjhDtu-y/view
Food Bank of the Rockies Evergreen Boxes: Free groceries for adults 60+ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cvMWaP4VfQpttGcg2DTLQVXFQSQM6YIx/view
Doodle for Google Art Contest!
Here’s an exciting optional art opportunity for all students — the Doodle for Google Contest! Each year, Google invites students across the country to design their own version of the Google logo based on a special theme.
This year’s theme is “My Super Power Is…” What’s something that makes you special, unique, or powerful? Show it through your art! You can use any materials you like — markers, paint, collage, digital tools — it’s up to you!
How to Enter:
Download the official entry form at https://doodles.google.com/d4g/
OR stop by the art room to pick one up from Mrs. Blackhart.Fill out your entry form completely, including your artist statement.
You can submit your doodle online through the website, or if you’d like Mrs. Blackhart to submit it for you, please bring your finished art and form to the art room by December 1, 2025.
Contest Deadline: December 3, 2025
Why participate?
Winners can earn scholarships, tech prizes, and even have their artwork featured on the Google homepage! But most importantly — it’s a fun way to share your creativity with the world.
Hello, Raptors! I’m Mrs. Blackhart, the art teacher at Harmony Ridge P-8, and I’m excited to offer an after-school Spring Art Club for our most creative students!
Grades 1–3: Fun, hands-on projects to explore creativity.
Grades 4–6: Projects that build skills and allow students to experiment with new techniques.
Each group will meet for five sessions after school (2:45–3:45 PM). Students may have a snack in the art room and get settled from 2:30–2:45.
The club is limited to 20 students per group, and students should be available for all sessions so they don’t miss out on the amazing creations we’ll be making!
This form is for interest only and will close on December 7, 2025. Filling out this form does not guarantee a spot—more information will follow via email.
Let’s get creative! 🎨✨
Google Form: https://forms.gle/kLyxgTdU6LebAs3V6
Click here for this weeks Raptor Report
Attention Middle School Families: Our first middle school dance is coming up! It will be on Friday November 14th from 5:30-7pm for ELIGIBLE middle school students (grades 6th-8th). We are in need of LOTS of help from parents. If we do not get enough parents signed up, we will have to cancel the dance. PLEASE SIGN UP HERE! If you have any questions, please reach out to Katie Waters at kwaters@aurorak12.org
