Dear Harrison Families,

I hope this message finds everyone having an amazing 2023-2024 school year at Harrison School! It has been a special year for all our staff, and we appreciate your support in making Harrison the truly special place it is. We will miss your children and look forward to their return in the new school year. Hopefully, they will have spent quality time with family and friends, making great memories!

A special thank you to the PTA for providing a school-wide pizza party yesterday! We celebrated indoors due to the heat, but it was fun nonetheless.

Report Cards are available on the parent portal today. If you are having trouble accessing your report card please see if you have any technology fines and pay that first. If you are having issues doing that, please contact the Technology Department at 973-535-8000 ext. 2941. 

The 5th graders showed great sportsmanship in the teacher vs. students volleyball game. Thank you to Mr. Mattia and Mrs. San Juan for organizing the event! Even though the 5th graders lost, they had a great time with their friends, and the whole school cheered them on. It was a wonderful day of school spirit and fun!

A special thank you to all the 5th-grade committee parents who supported our fundraising events all year long. The end-of-year events were fun and provided a perfect send-off for the 5th graders and their families.

I often get asked what students can do during the summer to keep up with their skills and be ready for the next year. It's important to remember that enjoying camps, vacations, and events is essential to developing the whole child. In addition, it's important to keep up with reading! Here are some suggestions:

• Go to the Livingston Public Library. They have summer programs for kids.
• Read our Summer Reading Website for additional tips.
• Utilize your child’s Chromebook to use educational subscriptions. 
• Write postcards and journal the fun things you do!
• Play games after dinner!

All of these activities are great for keeping students engaged and fresh with their skills over the summer. Tell your kids that Mr. Garcia and their teachers will be proud if they keep up with all the things they can do to be the best students they can be.

Another thank you to our Equity Team for working with our parents and teachers throughout the year. This month, we recognized Pride Month, and I appreciate the valuable discussions parents and teachers had to support our work as a district and school. Please see the read-alouds we shared this year at each grade level. Autism Acceptance. Jewish Heritage. AAPI Month and Pride Month. 

Our Clap Out for 5th graders was a huge success! Thank you for making this special for our students. Thank you to the PTA for also supporting the ice cream on the last day; it made the day special!

As we look forward to next year, please be on the lookout for emails from the PTA and me with dates and information as we start the new school year. Enjoy every moment with your family and friends, and whatever the summer brings you!

Daniel Garcia
"We all belong. We fly together."