Harrisburg Middle School

Update from Mike Gauch Harrisburg Unit # 3 Superintendent Harrisburg Community, I wanted to provide an update regarding our district and the Health scare that is dominating our lives currently. The Governor announced today that as of 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21st thru Tuesday, April 7th that Illinois will be under a “STAY HOME ORDER”. He also announced that our schools would remain closed until at least April 8th and they will re-evaluate the situation at that time. We will provide you information regarding what the district is going to do in regards to our e- learning program as well as packets for those of you with NO internet access. We provided a 2 week packet which will get us through March 27th. I will meet with my administrative staff over the weekend and consult with our teaching staff and provide updates through next week (March 23rdthru March 27th). The Governor is allowing us to continue to provide our food service to the community due to the fact we are providing “ESSENTIAL SERVICE” to our community. The district WILL continue this service to our families with some minor changes. I will be placing announcements out this weekend on our District APP, all social media sites and through our all call system to discuss these minor changes as we move forward in this situation. Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation in this matter and we will continue to provide updates as they evolve. Thank You Mike

3-19-2020 Harrisburg Unit # 3 Family THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT WILL NOT IMPACT OUR MEALS PROGRAM AT THIS TIME......... MEALS WILL STILL BE DELIVERED AS NORMAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In an effort to adhere to the "social distancing" recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control, Unit # 3 will no longer accept foot traffic through the day in their building offices or the Unit Office. There will be staff there to conduct business remotely by phone and/or email each day.We will attempt to answer your questions or find a solution for any issue you have remotely. Should you need paperwork or other items we will work with you to schedule a pick up at one of our locations. Again, we will still be here to handle business, but will have doors locked and will not allow entry to any of the buildings until further notice. Please understand this is a decision that will cause some delays in resolving issues, but we will do our best to provide you the service you need. Call your child's building first and if you cannot reach anyone there please call the Unit Office and we will do our best to assist you. Thank you, Mike Gauch

Parents/Guardians/Students Harrisburg Community - Harrisburg Unit # 3 schools will have someone in offices at each building and the Unit office to assist you with concerns or questions throughout this closure. In an attempt to limit the opportunity for the transmission of any health related problems, we ask that you first call the district and attempt to conduct any business you may have by phone. We will do everything in our power to be able to address your concerns on that call. Should you be in need of a form, paper or any other document we can take that information on the phone and use email to transmit to IF POSSIBLE. This will avoid you having to travel outside your home for something we can take care of on the phone or by email. Should we not be able to handle the issue by phone, we would ask you to come in so we could get you any information or documents you need for you or your child. Please refer to the Meal Plan Document as we start serving meals today in several locations noted on that document. My staff and I are very appreciative and humbled by the outpouring of support from our families and community members. This is a very stressful time for everyone and to have the kind words we heard throughout the day yesterday was why Harrisburg is HOME! We truly care for your children as well and want them back in our buildings as soon as it is deemed to be the safest solution for them. Thank you again for your cooperation and we will continue to update you as this situation evolves. Thank you, Mike Gauch Superintendent

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT MIKE GAUCH The School Board WILL have their monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to conduct essential business that we must accomplish. HOWEVER, we are asking that unless you have direct business as stated on the agenda that you NOT attend the meeting as to limit the amount of people in attendance due to the health concerns we are dealing with as a nation. Those of you that are regular attendees as the HEA and other groups, please limit your group to only one representative attend the meeting. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Parents, We have attached our district's information regarding a meal plan during this closure. Please call the unit office with any questions you have. The district will be serving meals for free Monday - Friday during this entire closure period. Thank You, Mike Gauch View Image or Click Link: https://5il.co/dqcr

NOTICE TO ALL HARRISBURG STUDENTS AND PARENTS FROM MIKE GAUCH SUPERINTENDENT:

Parents I have received some information from the state that will assist us and guide the district during this closure. My administrative team will meet tomorrow and break these documents down and see how they will relate to our students and staff. We will get this information out to you sometime Monday regarding meals starting Tuesday for students, as well as any updates that may need clarified through the closure. I will also be involved in a town hall phone call tomorrow afternoon with all Superintendents and the Illinois State Board where I will ask questions about the process we are starting on Monday. Finally. the State will be providing a webinar with further guidance for the closure on Tuesday afternoon and my entire administrative team has signed up to be a part of that. We will be in the unit office to all listen together and try and improve our plan or gain clarification from the state as we move forward. We are still moving forward with our plan to be able to open up e-learning online Tuesday as well as having learning packets at your child's school from 2-4 on Monday. This situation is still changing hourly and I will keep you all informed as information comes in that we believe is important to convey. Thank you again for your patience and understanding that this is out of the district's control and we just have to do what we can to make the best of the situation for our children. Thank You Mike Gauch Superintendent

Harrisburg Unit # 3 is dedicated to ensure the safety of all students as we try and navigate this unchartered territory that is the coronavirus WHILE THERE ARE STILL NO DOCUMENTED OR CONFIRMED CASES OF THIS VIRUS IN OUR DISTRICT OR EVEN IN THE AREA. We remain in contact with our local health department as well as the Illinois State Board allowing these experts to guide us through this issue. We are preparing e-learning plans/suggestions in case the state or district determines it is in the best interest of our children to shut down in response to this public health issue. This situation is changing by the hour and we are constantly monitoring these developments to make the best decisions for our students and our community. We continue to put out periodic announcements as things progress today and through the weekend. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Respectfully, Mike Gauch

Spring Picture Day is Tomorrow!!! Dress code applies. Select the background and your child is ready to go!

Spring Picture Day is Wednesday, March 11. All students will get their picture taken. Dress code applies. No money due now - Students need to pick from six different backgrounds.

Glow Dance 2020

Since school was not in session on Friday, the final day of yearbook sales has been extended to Monday, Feb. 10 at HMS.

Yearbooks go on sale again tomorrow! Don't miss out!

Annie performances tonight and tomorrow - extra credit available in Mrs. Irvin’s Literature classes.

We work with the Community Prevention Resources agency to provide messages regarding the risks of underage drinking to the families of our students. Please take this confidential survey and help us continue to provide this free service. https://forms.gle/CRNdtuPFoxHDmqB57

Due to a quality issue at the photo lab, Lifetouch has decided to reprint the fall picture packages at no cost to you. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused with your original picture order. Packets are being sent home today, Tuesday, January 7.

House Competition-Dodgeball

House competition-Tug-o-War

House competitions!

8th grade Annual Christmas Karaoke!