Harding Elementary Newsletter

It is hard to believe May is already here. This school year seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Though the end of the school year is full of special events, we continue to maintain high expectations, behaviorally and academically, for our students. Please share the same message with your child as we look to finish the school year strong as a Harding family.

Thank you for your continued support of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students during PSSA testing. We hope your child shares with you our daily celebration of encouraging test takers to try their best. Harding Elementary is proud of the dedication and focus we have witnessed so far. Let's keep it up!

Some important dates:

May 4th-8th: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 7th-8th: No School for K4 (Home Visits/Conferences)

May 8th: 4th and 5th Grade Soccer Tournament

May 4th-8th: PSSA Make-ups (for those who missed testing days)

May 13th: All-City Concert @ 7:00 PM (LHS Auditorium)

May 15th: 4th and 5th Grade ELD Recognition @ 10:00

May 15th: Harding's Spring Concert (in-school only)

May 18th - 21st: Harding Book Fair

May 19th: Harding Family Night @ 6:00 (Book Fair open and Art Show)

May 20th: Field Day

May 22nd: School IS IN SESSION (Snow Make-Up Day)

May 25h: No School (Memorial Day)

June 1st: K-5 Celebration @ 4:30

June 3rd: End-of-year awards (information will be sent closer to date)

June 4th: Early Dismissal at 12:00

June 4th: High School Graduation at 6:00

June 5th: Last Day of School (Dismissal at 12:00)

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Harding's office: 717-675-2138.

Thank you,

Harding Elementary Administration

Friday, May 22nd

Monday, May 25th

Thursday, June 4th at 12:00 PM

Friday, June 5th at 12:00 PM - Last Day of School

Next school year, there will be a couple changes that will impact some of our families. Please review these two important pieces of information:

- All elementary buildings will be K4-4th grade buildings. Students entering 5th grade will transition to the Intermediate School at 350 N. 8th Street. The Intermediate School has been going through extensive renovations over the past couple years to house both 5th and 6th grades.

- Elementary schools will change their instructional hours to 9:10 AM - 3:30 PM. Additional reminders and more details will be communicated. However, Harding will still offer breakfast and school doors will open at 9:00. Classes will begin dismissing at 3:30 next year.

Please use this information to help you plan for next school year.

Students who participated in our JT Dorsey Foundation Soccer Program have been practicing since January. The practice pays off with a soccer tournament between all students on Friday, May 8th beginning at 12:00. Though family and friends are not able to attend this event, you may watch it on WLHS Livestream on Friday, May 8th.

At Harding Elementary, we place a strong emphasis on safety in our school environment. It is essential that we work together to ensure that our students feel secure, especially during recess. We encourage all students to keep hands and feet to themselves while on the playground. Reinforcing these expectations at home can greatly contribute to a safe play environment. Here are a few examples of how you can promote safety at recess:

·Remind your children to respect others’ personal space

·Encourage them to use kind words and actions during play

·Discuss the importance of following playground rules

·Discuss avoiding games that include play fighting or physical touch

·Reporting incidents to adults immediately

Thank you for your support in fostering a safe and positive environment for our children.

Registration for K4 and K5 classrooms will be available online starting March 6th. Appointments will be made to begin in April. Please look for further information through flyers, postings, or through the Lebanon School District website. If your child is already enrolled in our K4 program, you DO NOT need to register your child for K5 since your child will be simply promoted to one of our K5 classrooms.

We would like to remind everyone that breakfast is served each morning from 8:35 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. This schedule helps ensure that all students have enough time to enjoy a healthy breakfast and still arrive to class on time, ready to learn. At 9:00, the breakfast door will close, and remain closed, until K4’s designated breakfast at 9:15.

- Ramp doors open at 8:35 for breakfast K5 through Fifth. K4 entry/breakfast is 9:15.

- Door C (6th Street by the light) is for First through Fifth grade.

- Doors G and I (back alley) is for K5 entry.

At Harding Elementary, we strive to stay connected with families through a variety of resources. Here are a few tips to prepare for the school year.

- Make sure phone numbers and email addresses are up to date. The forms to do this will be sent during the first week of school. You may also contact our school office to update information.

- Be sure to have the Seesaw Class app downloaded onto your smartphone (picture shown). The app can connect you to teachers and office staff. Specific class codes will be shared by teachers during the first week of school.

- Like us on Facebook

Attendance matters! Regular attendance is necessary in order for your child to grow academically and socially in school. Please make on-time attendance a top priority this school year. In the event of an illness, medical appointment, or other verified absences, please use turn a slip into the office within three days of the absence. You can drop off your note in person, contact our SAIP Coordinator Emily Carnegie at 717-280-0144, or email our attendance secretary: HD-Attendance@lebanon.k12.pa.us

Mrs. Emerich is our school counselor. She is working on building positive relationships with your child through classroom and small group lessons. Please take a moment to learn more about Mrs. Emerich, or discover mental health resources, by clicking the orange button below.

If you are picking up your child from school early, please remember a form of ID. To ensure student safety, personal identification is necessary upon pick up.

Harding's School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) program is committed to establishing a social culture within our school in which students expect and support appropriate behavior from one another. At Harding, we strive to...

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Safe

Students who show these traits are rewarded with blue tickets from teachers as recognition of their positive character traits. Each week, winners from each class are selected from the collected blue tickets to earn special prizes (see picture).

Our monthly 3:2:1 reward recognizes students who do not have 3 or more minor behavior incidents, 2 or more missing assignments, or no more than 1 major behavior incident documented for the entire month.

To remain clear with Harding's behavioral expectations, please refer to the steps our trained staff implement while handling behavioral situations.

Congratulations to Harding's Third Quarter Shining Star: K4 Paraprofessional - Miss Kreiser

Do you know someone who is Inspiring Minds, Enriching Lives, or Shaping Futures? If so, consider nominating them as a Shining STAR using the form below.

Are you looking to start a profession with the Lebanon School District. Click here to find out how to apply for open positions within the district.

Volunteering is also an option within the district. Our building is always looking for adults interested in opportunities to read to students, work within the classrooms, or chaperone field trips. If you have submitted paperwork before, please be sure clearances are up to date and on file at the district office. Please click here to begin the volunteer process.

The bulletin board is a place to promote community events, programs, and activities in Lebanon City and the close surrounding area, that may be of interest to our learning community. Activity calendars from out community partners, such as Lebtown and Macaroni Kid, are available as well. Take a look!

Power Packs Project is back! Register for your family's Power Pack of pantry staples and local items like fresh produce and milk. Sign up here.

The parent compact outlines ways in which Harding will be ensuring instruction will be held to high standards during the school year. Also, it includes ways in which parents can help support student learning at home to maximize academic growth in our students and your children.

The 2025-2026 Student Accident Insurance form will be available on our website under the parent section if you want to purchase insurance. Injuries caused by accidents at school are only covered if the student accident insurance is purchased. Otherwise the parent, through your personal insurance, is responsible. A direct link can be found here.

Email: jalbright@lebanon.k12.pa.us
Website: https://harding.lebanonsd.org/
Location: 622 Chestnut Street, Lebanon, PA, USA
Phone: (717) 675-2138
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HardingCedars