Harrisburg High School

2020 HHS Graduation is tomorrow at 11 am Saline County Fairgrounds. Students arrive at 9:45 am and parents can arrive at 10:15. WEBQ will be broadcasting/streaming on the radio and Hart's Music will be videoing so bring your devices.

Just a reminder that Harrisburg High School's 2020 drive thru/drive in graduation ceremony is set for Saturday, June 6 11:00 am at the Saline County Fairgrounds. Students please arrive in cap and gowns at 9:45. If you need a vehicle to drive in the graduation, please let me know as soon as possible. Parents, please arrive at the fairgrounds no earlier than 10:15. I hope everyone enjoys this special occasion.

Graduation Map of Fairgrounds

Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony The recommendations below must be employed for a drive-in ceremony to be held: -Harrisburg High School has handed out all caps and gowns, so all graduates can arrive in their vehicles dressed in caps and gowns. If a graduating student needs a vehicle provided, please email me as soon as possible so I can get that arranged.  Students will need to arrive at 9:45 am and park in their designated rows in the northeast parking lot.  Last name beginning with A-C will be Row 1, D-H Row 2, I-O Row 3, P-S Row 4, and T-Z Row 5.   -There may be no person-to-person contact during the ceremony. Administration may not hand students diplomas, or any other items, or shake graduates’ hands.  -High school personnel will be present to ensure students remain at least six feet apart at all times and mark safe walking pathways for students exiting cars.  -Parents, please do not get out of your vehicle to try to take pictures. Harrisburg High School will provide someone to take multiple pictures of all individual graduates and provide the photos free of charge to families in order to reduce concern of missing these important moments.  -Students will walk across a stage and pose for a picture individually.  -Only staff and a limited number of students may be outside of their cars.  Sitting on flatbed trailers or sitting in the bed if a truck will not be permitted.  -Parents will be in their vehicles, and parked in the parking lot in front of the stage.  Parents may start arriving at 10:15 am. Extended family members will be parked in the lots behind the parents.  The ceremony will be broadcasted by WEBQ radio station, so that everyone will be able to listen, even if they are unable to make it to the ceremony.  -The graduation will start at 11:00, so it might be warm.  We understand that your vehicle might need to be left running to provide air conditioning, but please be considerate of the graduation ceremony. Only staff and a limited number of students may be outside of their cars.  -Restroom facilities and refreshments will NOT be available.  -Facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities and provide all necessary accommodations for students with special needs.  -We are trying to set expectations, policies, and guidelines in advance to ensure overall health and safety of everyone.

Class of 2020 and parents, The HHS Graduation Ceremony has been officially set for Saturday, June 6 at 11:00.  This event will take place at the Saline County Fairgrounds to allow for a "drive thru" type ceremony.  Specific details, guidelines, and parking instructions will be posted over the next couple of days.  Again, congratulations to the HHS Class of 2020.

Driver education students, Bulldog Nation I am back with another update regarding Driver’s Education this time this is for all students who have completed BOTH classroom and the behind the wheel portion of Driver’s Education. I will be passing out the needed paper work to obtain your Driver’s License once the Illinois Secreary of State reopens all Drivers license facilities at a date yet to be determined. I will be in my classroom on Tuesday May 26th from 1:30 PM-5:00 PM and also again on June 8th from 1:30PM -5:00 PM. Again please do not contact me via Facebook due to the fact I do not have a Facebook account and HHS Staff must contact me with your questions. You can contact me at 618-841-3605. Thank you for your time. Continue to stay Bulldog Strong! Mr. Richard Dwyer

Click link for IDPH and Illinois State Board of Education Guidance for Graduation Ceremonies: https://5il.co/gbdf

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING SENIOR GRADUATION The Graduation Ceremony will look similar to a DRIVE - IN Movie. 1. The date of the ceremony is yet to be determined. 2. All spectators will be required to stay in their vehicle the entire ceremony. Anyone that exits their vehicle for any reason will be forced to leave with NO EXCEPTIONS. This is necessary for us to abide by all guidelines. 3. We will be using the Saline County Fairgrounds for the event 4. WEBQ will be broadcasting the ceremony live so you can listen in your car or roll down windows and listen to the sound system 5. Mr.and Mrs. Hart will also live stream the event....those details will be provided at the same time as the date of the scheduled event. 6. All speeches will be given as scheduled 7. Seniors will be lined up in a designated area by staff and will drive their vehicle to the stage, exit their vehicle, walk up on stage and receive their diploma. (we will provide a vehicle for those students who do not have one). 8. They will then get back in their car and follow the route in their vehicle to the pavilion where they will be able to take a picture, get back in their car and exit the pavilion This is NOT a perfect graduation ceremony, it is not what we want, it is not ideal......but it does allow us to honor our Seniors. We ask that you help us KEEP THE FOCUS on them and adhere to all the rules and guidelines we ask be followed. We encourage you to come, sit in your car and listen to the ceremony on WEBQ. Honk when we would normally clap and show these Seniors we care. I will be putting out the IDPH guidelines in another message and will let you know a date for the ceremony as soon as we can get a grip on the weather. Please call the High School if you have any questions. Thank you for your support and SENIORS.....I AM VERY HAPPY WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!!! Mike

Attention Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen: Just a reminder that your packets are due no later than May 26, however if you finish early, tubs will be placed outside the main entrance to drop them off starting today. Make sure your name is on every document. You will be able to come to the school on May 26 to clean out lockers and turn in textbooks/AR books. Social distancing guidelines and face masks are required to enter the school. The schedule for May 26 is as follows: Juniors- 9-10 Sophomores- 11-12 Freshman- 1-2

Attention all Harrisburg senior spring athletes: reminder to bring all school uniforms and equipment to turn in on Thursday, May 14 from 8am-12 noon at the high school.

Attention Seniors: Just a reminder, that seniors will need to come to the school on Thursday, May 14 from 8-12 to clean out lockers, clean out PE 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. 

5-11-20 Bulldog Nation I promise you an update as soon as I received one from the State of Illinois and we finally got some good news and it is as follows; I will be contacting each student personally from 2nd Semester Driver’s Education and any student from 1st Semester Driver’s Education that have not been able to obtain their white slip in the upcoming days. There will be more information to follow in the personal notification. Unfortunately, there is no new information regarding the Illinois Secretary of State offices and Drivers Services facilities re-opening any earlier than June 2, 2020 for those who are still waiting to obtain their Driver’s License. There is also no new information from the State of Illinois Secretary of State office or the Illinois Governor’s office regarding completion of the 6 hours of Behind the wheel Driving. Please be assured I will update you if there are other changes that come down from Springfield and the State of Illinois. Please do not respond to the HHS Facebook Post because I personally do not have Facebook and Mrs. Winter has to contact me regarding each posts. Thank you. Stay #Bulldogstrong!!! Sincerely, Richard Dwyer HHS Drivers Education Chair

5-4-2020 Greetings Bulldog Nation, I hope this update still finds you safe and well at this troubling time America and still practicing social distancing. This is just an update from the letter dated 4-2-2020 that can be found on the school website and Facebook Page. The tentative date for the Governor to allow the Illinois Secretary of State offices and Drivers Services facilities to re-open now is at the earliest date of June 2,2020. This means that your student will not be able to obtain a Illinois Driver’s License or a White slip until this date at the earliest. In regards to completing the 6 hour behind the wheel portion of Drivers Education that many students still need to complete the Governor’s office and the Illinois State Board of Education has not released a tentative date to resume this portion of the Driver’s Education Class. As soon as a date is released I can assure you that the behind the wheel portion will resume in the following order oldest child to youngest child by birth date. You can be assured I will update you if there are any changes. Sincerely, Richard Dwyer HHS Drivers Education Chair

All Harrisburg High School Spring sport athletes will turn in their uniforms and school equipment at the high school on the following dates: Seniors: Thursday May 14 8 am-12 noon Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshman: Tuesday May 26, times TBA. We will only allow a certain number of athletes in the school at a time. You will need to wear a mask or face covering and social distancing will be followed.

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