HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 27, 2003

1060 Harrison Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Administrative office - 579-2000Superintendent: Vic Meyers

On the Web - www.harrison. k12.co.us

BOUNDARIES: South of downtown Colorado Springs. A detailed map of the district is available on its Web site.

THIS SCHOOL YEAR: Harrison School District 2 will be opening Soaring Eagles Elementary School this fall, and Fox Meadow Middle School will be completed for the 2004-05 school year. Both are beautiful facilities with new approaches and programs to attract and retain students. The district is improving programs for gifted students and will have two elementary school sites and one middle school site starting this fall. The district will be implementing the Turnleaf Data Mining System, using embedded staff development, and providing instructional resource teachers, among other things. With a loss in revenue because of the State Finance Act, the district has adjusted its budget parameters to maintain class sizes, one of the district's priorities. Nonsalary expenditures have been cut about 8 percent. This addresses the Board of Education's commitment to its long-term philosophy of no reduction in staff. The Board of Education and staff continue to stand behind the district's philosophy of serving the needs of the whole child - they are more than just a score.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Aug. 18

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:

Sept. 1 - Labor Day

Oct. 13 - Columbus Day

Nov. 11 - Veterans Day

Nov. 26-28 - Thanksgiving break

Dec. 22-Jan. 2 - Winter break

Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. holiday

Feb. 16 - Presidents Day

March 22-26 - Spring Break

STAFF DAYS/STAFF DEVELOPMENT: Aug. 13-15, Sept. 26, Oct. 17, Jan. 5, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, March 12, May 24

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: May 21

APPROVED CLASS SIZE: Kindergarten, 20 students; grades 1-8, 24 students; grades 9-12, 26 students.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKERS: An English Language Development program is offered for non-native English speakers. For information on K-12 programs, contact Carol Pollard, the program coordinator, 579-2986.

CHOICE PROCESS: Students who wish to attend a school other than their neighborhood school may do so if space is available. Applications are available in schools and the district office.

TRANSPORTATION POLICY: Busing is provided for elementary school students who live more than one straight mile from their neighborhood school and for middle and high school students who live more than 11/ 2 straight miles from their neighborhood school. For information, contact the Transportation Center, 579-4900.

SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS: Most students with special needs attend their neighborhood schools and are enrolled in typical classes for most of the day. Various specialists are available on an as-needed basis. Parents of students with special needs should first contact their neighborhood school. For general information on available services, call 579-3240 or visit the district's Web site, www.harrison.k12.co.us.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH PROGRAM: Lunch prices are 95 cents for elementary school students and $1.25 for middle school and high school students. Cost of milk is 35 cents for white or chocolate. Breakfast programs are available at all district schools. Breakfast prices are 50 cents for elementary school students and 60 cents for middle school and high school students. Families who meet certain income guidelines may qualify for free and reduced-price meals. Applications are available at each school.

DAY CARE: Before- and after-school day care is offered at eight elementary schools - Bricker, Centennial, Chamberlin, Giberson, Pikes Peak, Soaring Eagles, Stratmoor Hills and Stratton Meadows. For information, contact Robin Smith, day-care supervisor, 579-2141. Day- care registration will take place at each of the eight sites from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11.

ATHLETICS INFORMATION: Contact your school for forms and practice schedules. For information, call Kirk Sullivan, Sierra High School athletic director, 579-2540, or Butch Thorpe, Harrison High School athletic director, 579-2367.

REGISTRATION: New students, including kindergartners, must provide a birth certificate (original or certified copy), immunization record, Social Security card, two names and telephone numbers for emergency contacts and proof of address, such as a utility bill or lease. If applicable, the student must provide the name and address of previous school attended, previous school transcripts, guardianship paperwork and, if the student is married, a marriage certificate. Registration times and dates vary. All registration activities take place at the school.

For the convenience of Harrison School District 2 parents, the district offers Centralized Registration at the Administrative Office every summer. All students can be registered for the upcoming school year at this time. Registration was held June 16-July 25. For more information on next summer's Centralized Registration, contact Student Services, 579-2061 in the spring.