Harrisburg High School

All seniors will need to drop their final packet in the tub outside the main doors on or before Friday, May 8.  Make sure your name is on your packet and all packets need to be fastened together or in some sort of folder/envelope.  Seniors will need to come to the school on Thursday, May 14 from 8-12 to clean out lockers, turn in textbooks, turn in AR books, pick up caps and gowns, final report cards, and other end of the year items.  Please remember, we can only allow a few students in the school at a time.  You will need to wear a mask or face covering and adhere to social distancing while in the school.  Please bring something to pack your belongings in to take home.  Freshman, sophomores, and juniors will come on Tuesday, May 26 to turn in packets and clean out their lockers. Same social distancing and mask/face coverings apply.

Dear Unit 3 Parents/Guardians: Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the State of Illinois is giving extra benefits to the families who currently receive SNAP benefits. BUT Since the Harrisburg School District is considered CEP, due to the poverty levels in our town there is a benefit to the families that do not currently receive SNAP benefits. ALL FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE THIS BENEFIT! Click these links for the explanation of benefits: https://5il.co/fpti https://5il.co/fpth Click this link for the application: https://5il.co/fptg

Unit 3 Parents/Guardians/Students: Please fill out this three question survey to help us plan for future e-learning. https://forms.gle/iAenjNvY7oymVRr69 Thank you!

Information regarding spring sports and summer contact days from the the IHSA: The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for their April meeting via a video conference call on Tuesday, April 21, where the Board of Directors announced its decision to cancel all IHSA spring state tournaments. The decision to cancel the spring state tournaments comes in conjunction with Friday’s (April 17) announcement by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education that all Illinois high schools will complete the 2019-20 school term from home via e-learning. “We support the decision by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education, and given the logistics, we simply felt we could not conduct state tournaments that meet the expectations of our member schools this spring, ” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “As disappointing as it may be for students, it is the right decision for their health and safety, as well as for the health and safety of the general public, as we cope with this unprecedented pandemic.” The IHSA offers state tournaments in the following sports and activities in the spring: Girls Badminton, Boys Gymnastics, Bass Fishing, Boys & Girls Track & Field, Boys & Girls Water Polo, Girls Soccer, Boys Tennis, Boys & Girls Lacrosse, Boys Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball. The Board also determined that summer contact days are suspended for this year, unless state government and medical leaders indicate such gatherings are safe. At that time, the Board indicated a willingness to reconsider how summer contact might be conducted and whether opportunities for schools to conduct some kind of spring athletic events might occur. “Once it is determined safe to return, we will provide a detailed outline to our schools on the plan for summer contact days and possibly some kind of spring athletic events,” said Anderson. “Including if the number of days and dates that coaches can meet with athletes has been altered. At this point, though, all that is dependent upon state government and medical leaders giving the go ahead for such.” “Our thoughts right now are with all the impacted students, coaches and communities. Especially the seniors,” said Anderson. “It will be difficult for them to find a silver lining in all of this, but we stress that even if they don’t get the chance to compete again at the high school level, they are better for having been a part of their respective high school teams. By participating in high school sports and activities, they were exposed to life lessons in teamwork, leadership, and overcoming adversity that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. The latter is applicable now more than ever. We hope that we can band together and refocus all our efforts on supporting the doctors, nurses, first responders, and all the other essential personnel who are putting their health and safety on the line each day to keep us safe.” The IHSA will continue to communicate with and monitor briefings from state officials, and based on those timelines, provide updates to its member schools as it relates to potential spring participation and summer contact days. “The possibility of playing a spring sport game this summer is about closure,” said Anderson. “If we are able to offer this opportunity, no student-athlete would be restricted by having already practiced or competed with a non-school team.”

HHS students, just a reminder that you may drop off your current packet and pick up your new packet on Tuesday, April 28 from 10-1 or 3-6. We will let you clean out your locker and turn in your textbooks/AR books at a later date in May. I will communicate with you when it is closer to time. See you Tuesday.

ATTENTION............REMOTE LEARNING INFORMATION HARRISBURG, Due to the Governor's announcement today that he has suspended all in person learning for the remainder of the 19-20 school year. Harrisburg Unit 3 has changed some dates regarding our remote learning and want to make you aware. The packet your child currently has can be dropped off at your child's school on April 28th. You will be able to pick up the next packet at that time. We have set two times for the drop off old packet and pick up a new packet. These times will be from 10a.m. - 1p.m. and also from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. on April 28th. The packet you pick up on the 28th will be a month long packet and will carry us through the end of our school year. This final packet must be submitted to your child's building by May 26th. This message will be updated as questions arise or as situations change. Now I would like to address our students. You all need to know that your teachers and staff as well as your Principal, Superintendent and School Board care about each and every one of you. This decision is something that makes us very sad for all of you and us. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you back in August. Please stay safe and healthy. Seniors, this is unimaginable. You have had a portion of this year taken from you and now you are being told that it is just over. I know it is unfair, but you will overcome this and move on to greater things, because you are BULLDOG STRONG!!!! The School Board has assured me that when the ban is lifted we will have some form of Commencement ceremony for you Seniors to be honored for your accomplishments in your High School career. We will announce when the ban is lifted and we can plan a date. Mike Gauch Superintendent

Attention Unit 3 Family: Please click link or view image for more information about remaining school closure. https://5il.co/f8fy

Dear new and continuing SIC students, including high school dual enrolled students! Seniors can email advising@sic.edu if they want to set up registration for SIC summer and/or fall courses. High school students eligible for the SIC Early College Program Dual Credit can email rachel.parish@sic.edu if they want more information about summer/fall registration.

Harrisburg High School will light up Taylor Field and Jay Thompson Field Friday, April 17, in celebration of our Class of 2020 and all the essential workers. The lights will be on from 8:00-8:20pm. All are welcome to drive by and honk but please stay in your vehicles. Go Dogs!

Students, You will be able to turn in your finished packets starting Monday, April 20. Four plastic tubs labeled by grade level will be placed outside the main entrance doors. These tubs will be available for drop off all week long. When turning in your packets, please have them clipped together or in some sort of folder. Make sure your name and grade level is on the first page of every document. If you are doing your packets electronically, please continue to submit your work online to your teachers. I will send out more information next week about our next set of packets. On behalf of all the faculty at HHS, Mr. Crabb, and myself, we miss you very much. Stay healthy and safe. See you soon.

Harrisburg, During these days when NOTHING seems normal anymore.....I wanted to show you something that has always been constant in the HARRISBURG community! HARRISBURG UNIT # 3 LOVES AND CARES FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I am unsure what many of you will see when you look at this video.....Let me tell you what I see.....I see COMPASSION, EMPATHY, VOLUNTEERISM, KINDNESS, TENDER, CONCERNED, THOUGHTFUL AND LOVING INDIVIDUALS. These individuals that come together every week and spend hours preparing, bagging and delivering a LITTLE bag of food overflowing with a LOT OF LOVE! The team all agree we have FUN doing it, it brings us closer together and provides essential nutrition for our kids. During these times, we worry about our kids LOSING or REGRESSING WITH THEIR LEARNING........... I think if our students and community watch my team and what they are doing during this time, any small regression pales in comparison to the MONUMENTAL LIFE LESSON that is an unintentional consequence of my team being what they are .......GREAT PEOPLE! #THEYTHINKWE'REJUSTTEACHING #PROUDSUPERINTENDENT #LOVEMYUNIT3FAMILY #DOINGWHATISRIGHTFORKIDS Mike Gauch https://youtu.be/qEtGj4Ij24M

HARRISBURG UNIT # 3 FAMILY - We wanted to make you aware of a TIME CHANGE !!!!!!! Starting Monday April 13th - FOOD SITES WILL BEGIN PASSING OUT MEALS AT 10:30 a.m. AND STAY UNTIL 12:30 OR UNTIL THEY RUN OUT OF FOOD. TIME NOTED ABOVE IS THE ONLY CHANGE, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL CONTINUE AS IN PRIOR WEEKS. Thanks Mike Gauch

Attention Seniors: The following is a message from college and career counselor Glenn McKinstry: The Lion's Club scholarship needs to be mailed directly to: Connie Tuttle Lion's Club Scholarship 113 West Baker Street Harrisburg, IL. 62946 You will also need to mail any other scholarship you have to submit on your own.  Also, students going to SIC will not receive a letter telling them if they will receive a scholarship until May, June, or July because SIC is closed until May 1st.  You can call or text Mr. Mckinstry at 618-318-5094 for questions on scholarships and SIC.  

4-2-2020 Greetings Bulldog Nation, I hope this letter finds you safe and well at this troubling time in America and practicing social distancing. As you know the classroom portion of Drivers Education has been completed by each student which leaves the 6 hour behind the wheel portion, the final section of Drivers Education, to be completed by each student this semester. Unfortunately, this portion has been suspended at this time. The decision was made by the governor’s office due to the social distancing guidelines currently in place to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is for the safety of all involved the students, teachers and general public. We are looking forward to resuming this portion as soon as the governor’s office and Harrisburg Unit 3 district allows this to happen. For those students who have completed the Driver’s Education class and are waiting to obtain their driver’s license at this time, the Illinois Secretary of State offices and Driver Services facilities are closed until at least April 30th 2020. This means due to the Covid-19virus your student driver will not be able to obtain their drivers license before April 30th 2020. When the facilities re-open please feel free to call or email me. I will make arrangements to get your student their instruction permit application, coop form and any other necessary documents needed for an instruction permit or Driver’s license. I will update you if there are any changes. Thank you for your time and stay safe at this unprecedented time. Sincerely, Richard Dwyer HHS Drivers Education Chair 618-841-3605 rdwyer@harrisburg3.org

Unit 3 Family, We would like to take a moment to clarify some information with the packets and the calendar. The packets that were handed out yesterday and the e-learning will start today, this will take us through spring break and convene the week after spring break. As recommended to HCUSD #3, we are still following our school calendar through the remaining year. Students will not be expected to complete remote learning over spring break. Therefore, this packet or e-learning will extend past spring break and get us to the next packet which will be distributed the week of April 27th. With regard to the April 27 packet, we were advised to plan for remote learning through the rest of the school calendar in case we are not able to get back into school or have in person instruction. This is why as a district we have set April 27th for remote learning to continue. If we receive further communication contradicting this and expect in person instruction to begin on May 1, we will adjust our plans. This is strictly for planning purposes at this time. As always, we will communicate information as soon as we receive it.

Harrisburg Unit 3 Family, This situation that feels more and more like the Twilight Zone continues. I have never been involved in something like this and while we try NOT to seem surprised and to deliver messages in a "matter of fact" kind of manner....this situation is just as much a shock to myself and Unit 3 as it is to all of you. With that said, we are here for you and your children and will continue to try and serve your children as the state directs during this closure. Most of you by now have heard that Governor Pritzker extended school closures through April 30th. This means the earliest we could come back to school is May 1. He also has conveyed to schools that he wants us to continue our attempt to keep children engaged in skill retention activities, review activities and routines so to not regress and lose skills they have developed so far this year. He and the State Board asked us to create a plan for this and it be called a REMOTE LEARNING PLAN. I have attached Harrisburg Unit 3's plan. You will see it is VERY similar to what we already have in place. That is a testament to your child's teachers, administrators and Board who decided to be proactive and try to get out in front of this horrible situation. This plan just formalizes and codified in writing the plan that we have been executing. Please do not get worried that things are changing again, we are aware of the stress this has put on all of you and made the changes here as minimal as possible so you all can keep doing what you are doing with your kiddos. There are really only 3 major changes in the plan from what you are currently doing; First, the Governor has now said moving forward, that any packets or e-learning that a student is provided after March 30 (which includes the packet we passed out yesterday 3-31) should be turned in to be assessed for credit. These packets will be graded on a pass/incomplete scale and NO GRADE WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THIS WORK. The second change is more for safety purposes and is a change Harrisburg Unit 3 has decided to make for your benefit and the benefit of staff. There will be no more face to face meetings to receive or to turn in packets. We have at some buildings the on-line component, which we recommend for ALL who can access. We also have now downloaded each packet on our website, so you can go on and download and print your packet if you wish and have that capability. Finally if you cannot do either of those we ask that you call us on Monday, April 27th and provide your child's school office your name and address and request it be mailed. We ask you to only call on the 27th as the office will be working that day. The final change is on submitting packets. Over the next few days your child's building will be placing a box,tub or some other kind of drop-box outside the front doors of their building. Once you have this packet complete we would ask that you drop it off there and that box will be emptied daily. We also request that you contact your child's teacher so they know to look for the packet and to note that it was submitted for credit. I have attached the plan, I know there will be MANY questions....please do not hesitate to call my office and I will try and answer any concerns you have. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING IN THIS MATTER. Like I have said before we will get through this TOGETHER. Thanks Mike Unit 3 Remote Learning Plan: https://5il.co/ehgl

Due to the Governor’s decision yesterday to extend the quarantine, all games and practices for Harrisburg High School Athletics are Cancelled through April 30. Stay safe and healthy.

Unit # 3, We continue to get more information regarding this health pandemic. Governor Pritzker announced today that schools will remain closed through April 30. I will put an official statement out in the morning to let you know what that means for all of us. Thank you for your cooperation, Mike Gauch

Dear Parents and Students:   We want to reach out and clarify some items.  The packets that were given out on March 16th do NOT need to be turned in.  These were considered Act of God days through ISBE. Since that time-frame, we have transitioned to remote learning and the packets (either electronic or hard packet) that you will get on Tuesday, March 31st will need to be turned in the next time we distribute packets (TBD).  These packets will be given a pass/incomplete designation, not designated letter grades.   At Harrisburg High School, while we encourage you to use online resources during this time, if you do not have internet/online access, we will have packets for you to pick-up on Tuesday, March 31st between 9 AM - 12 PM and 3 PM - 6 PM.  Students/parents picking up packets will only be able to enter the hallway lobby a few at a time and will need to leave the school grounds once they have the material. We will also make the packets available for download on our website and app. We will be posting them in the next day or two. Please watch for an announcement indicating it is available for download. Stay safe and healthy. We miss the students walking in our hallways. Mr. Dewar and Mr. Crabb.  

ATTENTION UNIT 3 PARENTS AND GUARDIANS PLEASE CLICK LINK FOR NEW E-LEARNING INFO: https://5il.co/eaz4