Important Dates
Wednesday 2 November
- Year 8 Boxing Excursion
- 2023 Preschool Information Session 9:15am
- 2023 Kindergarten Information Session 4:00pm
Friday 4 November
- Secondary North Girls Basketball Gala Day
- P&C Family Movie Night - 6:00pm, Gym
Monday 7 November
- Year 1/2 Royal Australian Mint Excursion (1/2JH, 1/2TP, 1/2EB, 1/2JM and LSU-YK)
Tuesday 8 November - Friday 18 November
- Harrison Book Fair 8:00am-9:00am and 3:00pm-4:30pm
Friday 11 November
- ACT Secondary & College Boys Softball Carnival
Monday 14 November
- Year 5-10 Band Crescendo Concert - 1:50pm
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Tuesday 15 November
- 9:45am 2023 Kindergarten Orientation Session 1
Wednesday 16 November
- French Restaurant Excursion
- Year 8 Boxing Excursion
Thursday 17 November
- 9:45am 2023 Kindergarten Orientation Session 2
Tuesday 22 November
- 9:45am 2023 Kindergarten Orientation Session
Wednesday 23 November
Thursday 24 November
- Year 3/4 End of Year Celebration @ Tidbinbilla
- 9:45am 2023 Kindergarten Orientation Session
Monday 28 November
- Staff Planning Day (pupil free day)
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 Principal's Message
Hello students, parents, and carers!
Term 4 is well underway, and I am pleased to report that we have not had the same staffing disruptions so far. Staff and students are getting on with the job, and we are enjoying a generally calm and productive school environment.
Last year many of our students contributed their ideas for the design of a mural to support our recognition of our First Nations' history, culture and knowledge, and the significance of the country Harrison School sits on. The idea came from our Year 8 student Savannah Taylor, and with the support of staff including our Indigenous Liaison Officer Anita Sutherland, local Wiradjuri man Eddie Longford was commissioned to paint the mural based on our student's designs. It was recently completed, and looks amazing. Next time you visit, you can see it on the library wall.
Pictured Left to Right: Anita Sutherland, Savannah Taylor, Eddie Longford, Ben Davies
Support and expectations for students in years 7-10
This week we addressed the wellbeing support options and behavioural expectations with all year 7-10 groups. We have a wide range of support available including a youth worker, a school psychologist, executive teachers of wellbeing/student services and year coordinators. Students can self-refer to these services by visiting Student Services and requesting an appointment.
Additionally, to enable a caring learning environment we require all students to adhere to our Harrison School positive behaviour for learning expectations. We reminded our senior students of these in assemblies last week. It will help us maintain consistent approaches at home and school if you can please familiarise yourselves with these expectations. We will be strongly emphasising them over the coming weeks.
- We are all respectful, responsible learners – we acknowledge these positive behaviours
- Phones in bags and on silent in all learning areas – do this before entering the classroom
- We are in the right place at the right time - to exit a class teacher must issue a pink slip
- Be nice, talk kindly to others and follow teachers’ instructions.
- Respect the school environment – no graffiti, damage, loitering in toilets and put rubbish in the numerous bins provided.
Please note that external school activities and end of year events are included in these expectations and meeting these expectations is a condition of attendance.
From time-to-time some will not meet these expectations. In these instances, we give students the opportunity relearn via counselling and restorative processes. Where we have identified behaviours impacting safety, staff will follow up with students and carers as a matter of high priority.
We welcome the support of parents and carers support in these efforts.
Curriculum
All of our teachers are currently engaged in collaborative work mapping a pre-school to year 10 curriculum outline, often referred to as a "Scope and Sequence". This work interprets the very crowded Australian Curriculum and determines which knowledge and skills are most important for our students in our local context to know and do, and the order in which they are best learned. This is vital work as it will support consistent and focussed learning progress from year to year for students.
As part of this work we have re-organised our senior school learning structures and electives to improve equity and learning outcomes, and better prepare students for college and beyond. Year 7-10 students and families will be advised of the timetable, course options and electives process in week 5. Elective choices for year 7-8 languages and year 9-10 courses will be made at school in the SEL lesson on Wednesday 16th of November.
Uniform
Families are reminded that we expect all of our students to wear the appropriate school uniform every day. As you know, we are transitioning to a new uniform (uniform policy), and whilst it is acceptable for students to wear the old uniform in the interim, it is not acceptable for students to wear clothing that is not consistent with our uniform policy. This includes track suit pants and jackets/hoodies, which should be navy.
Family Movie Night this Friday!
The P&C will be running a Family Movie Night Fundraiser on the evening of Friday 4 November, this week. This event is open for all students and their families from P-10. The evening will be held in our school Gym, commencing at 6:00pm until 8:30pm. The movie being shown is Hotel Transylvania 4 - Transformania. In order to attend the event, you must pre-purchase tickets via this link: https://harrisonuniformshop.square.site/movie-night-hotel-transylvania-transformania.
If you would like to help out on the night please register as a volunteer using this link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040e48a4ad22abf58-movie.
There will be food stalls and lots of fun to be had, we'd love to see you there!
2023 Intentions
We have started planning for 2023 and ask that you inform us of your intentions as soon as possible. If your child WILL NOT be attending Harrison School in 2023, we ask that you please complete this online form. Please complete a separate form for each child that is not returning to Harrison School in 2023.
If your child is continuing at Harrison School in 2023, no further action is required - you do not need to complete the online form.
Safety Notices
Mushrooms
The Education Directorate has received reports of children ingesting mushrooms found in the playground, which can be very dangerous. Please find linked an urgent Safety Alert containing advice about what to do if mushrooms are found on school grounds and information about the symptoms of mushroom poisoning.
Flash flooding
As Canberra continues to experience above average rainfall, the risk of flash flooding in our waterways has been amplified. It is timely that we remind children and young people of the dangers associated with playing in or around stormwater. Please find linked a Safety Alert outlining the risks and providing some useful water safety resources.
If you require assistance, please phone our friendly front office team on (02) 6142 2200.
As always, please stay in touch with us via info@harrison.edu.act.au
Best regards,
Andy Mison
Executive Principal
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 Kindergarten Health Check
If your child was absent on the day Kindergarten Health Checks were on, please call 5124 9977 to book a Catch Up Clinic Appointment.
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Library News
Chief Minister's Reading Challenge
Congratulations to all the students who successfully completed the challenge this year. 
We are very pleased as Harrison won three categories - Preschool - Year 2, Years 3 – 4 and Years 5 – 6.
We have received book vouchers from Paperchain Manuka for our efforts and we are excited to purchase new books for our library for all the students to enjoy!
Overdue Books
We still have many outstanding books from last term. If your child has received an overdue note could you please help them look for the books and return them as soon as possible. Thank you for support with this.
Book Fair - Week 5 and 6 Tuesday 8th November – Friday 18th November 2022
Our school is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair starting Tuesday 8th November- Friday 18th November 2022 in our library.
You and your child will have the opportunity to explore a huge range of affordable books featuring characters and subjects kids love and want to read about. From newly released books and bestsellers to award-winning titles and perennial favourites.
This is also a great way for you to learn about and discuss your child's interests and every book sold benefits our school, adding resources to our library and classrooms.
Scholastic Book Fairs help us show students the wonder of reading. After all, when kids choose their own books, they will be more excited to read, and they will naturally read more!
Read With Your Pet Photo Competition!
Enter your favourite photo for your chance to win a prize during Book Fair 2022. Print an A4 copy and enter.
Entries close Week 4.
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Harrison School Board
Please join me in congratulating the following members on their official appointment to the Harrison School Board.
- Kristen Vellar – Staff representative
- Liam Cook – Student representative
- Phoenix Hartono – Student representative
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Lunch Clubs
- Action Tae Kwon-Do will be running a lunchtime club on Wednesday's, starting next week (week 3). For more information about the club and how to register your child contact:
- Play - The Dance Agency will be running a lunchtime club on Monday's, starting next week (week 3). For more information about the club and how to register your child contact:
- Chess Club – Monday lunchtime in the library. For more information about the club and how to register your child contact:
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9/10 Girls Rugby - Brumbies Gala Day
For the first time in Harrison School history we fielded our first Girls Rugby Union team last week. The girls competed in the Brumbies 10 a-side gala day that was held at Southwell Park, Lyneham. The majority of the team participated in a special Brumbies clinic, coached by the Brumbies development coordinators that ran over six weeks learning the key basics and concepts of rugby. New to the concept of tackling, the girls showed great courage and determination to tackle hard in all of their games, with Serafina, Amity, Grace and Ivy making some strong tackles to prevent our opposition from easily scoring.
The whole team made great efforts in both attacking and defending. Special mention goes to our try scorers Lauren and Kiyann who showed great speed to break through the opposition line to score. they were set up by the rest of the team who were able to pass and catch the ball quickly.
The girls played three games, unfortunately losing two and winning our last game against Telopea. It was clear to see that the girls continued to improve throughout the day. Special mention goes out to our assistant coach Jasmin Funnell and the team from the Brumbies Josh, Pete and Rhianna who continued to coach and train the girls both in the clinic and on the day. Overall it was an awesome day! We look forward to next year where we can further expand our girls rugby team to the year 7/8 group.
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7/8 Girls Touch Football
The Harrison Year 7-8 Girls’ touch side competed in the tournament at Deakin Playing Fields on 21 October.
Over the five matches played, results improved dramatically as the players got used to the pace of the game and the trying wet, greasy conditions. Our first match saw us go down to Canberra High, the eventual tournament winners. Our next game was much closer, and in a tight encounter, we lost to Belconnen High. This was followed by our best result - a draw with Kaleen. We then came up against SFX, where we were unlucky to lose in a tight, well-fought, and even match. The day concluded when we were pitted against the Lyneham High School Year 7-8 boys’ team. Fatigue was now starting to set in, but Harrison put in a valiant performance and the final score gave victory to Lyneham.
Thanks to all the players for their efforts and for representing Harrison School in such a sporting, determined and respectful manner.
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Carpark Safety
Carpark Safety during Drop off and Pick up Times
The school has recently received complaints from the community regarding student safety in our school carpark during drop off and pick up times. We would like to remind families that during school drop off, students are to only exit the car once the car has come to a complete stop and is parked in a designated car park. There have been reports of some close incidents where students are exiting the car at the crossing and stepping out in front of other moving cars traveling through the car park. Student safety is our number one priority, and we need your help to reinforce this while dropping off and picking up your child/ren.
Vehicle Speeds in the Carpark
We remind drivers to slow down when traveling through the school carpark. Cars are to travel at 10km or slower. We appreciate your continued support to keep each other safe.
Disabled Car Parks
We would like to remind families not to park in disabled car spaces unless permitted to do so. There have been some instances this year where cars are using these parking spaces without a permit to park there. This prevents our families who require these parking spaces from using them. Harrison is an inclusive school and we seek your support to enable access for all students.
Student Arrival Times
Students are not permitted to be on school grounds any earlier than 8:30am. Before school duties, the front office/s, and our duty of care does not commence until 8:30am, daily. There have been a number of students arriving to school before this time, and are unsupervised. We would like to remind families that we do have a before and after school care program, run by OSHClub which commences at 7:00am daily. OSHClub can be contacted here if you wish to enquire about booking in your child/ren.
Bikes and Scooters on School Grounds
We ask for your support to remind your child/ren that when entering school grounds, students are to walk their bikes and scooters. Students are not permitted to ride these while on school grounds. We appreciate your support in keeping each other safe while at school.
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Australian Sports Camps
Australian Sports Camps runs 3-day sports camps for primary aged children in the school holidays. The camps welcome children aged 5 to 15 of all skill levels to join them for fun, skill-building sports programs over the holidays. Find more information on their website at https://australiansportscamps.com 
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School Attendance Reminders
Absent Students
If your child/ren are absent from school for any reason, you can explain their absence via 1 of the 3 options below:
- Email the school via Harrison.Absences@ed.act.edu.au
- Reply to the SMS you receive from the school (usually around 10:30am) including your child’s FIRST and LAST NAME and their homeroom class.
- Call the school on (02) 6142 2200
If you have multiple children away on the same day, please send a separate SMS for each child.
Late Arrivals
UNEXPLAINED
If students are arriving late to school without a parent/carer present, they will be marked as 'late arrival - unexplained'. You will receive a late arrival notification SMS from the school which you can respond to including your child’s FIRST and LAST NAME and their homeroom class to change the late arrival from 'unexplained' to 'explained'. If you have multiple children late on the same day, please send a separate SMS for each child.
EXPLAINED
If students are arriving late to school with a parent/carer present, they will be marked as 'late arrival - explained', and therefore you will not receive a late arrival notification SMS from the school.
A child will be classified as late from 9:10am onwards, therefore if your child arrives after this time please guide them through the main front gates to ensure they are signed in before going to class. This ensures the safety of our students.
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Awards: well done everyone!
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Harrison Awards P-6 students
- Noah M
- Aiden B
- Sophia T
- Kara H
- Alexia N
- Archer P
- Aditi C
- Silas A
- Madina W
- Maissa W
- Mysha S
- Leo S
- Arya J
- Hugh R
- Jaden C
- Sanjay A
- Liyanjo L
- Sunyul K
- Hudson M
- Liam C
- Riley B
- Cassie F
- Ayanna T
- Sreeja M
- Zac M
- Andy V
- Olivia J (x2)
- Zoya A
- Manuka W
- Calix C
- Isobel M
- Gio Y
- Edie M
- Marshall B
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- Chloe H
- Liam C
- Mysha S
- Aariz N
- Yasin Y
- Isatu M
- Maya P
- Addison S
- Moein B
- Brielle W
- Anca N
- Yousif A
- Pranika S
- Annalisa M
- Charlotte S
- Leo C
- Prayan F
- Aasiya Y
- Taein K
- Lachlan P
- Ansharah A
- Aayan N
- Alexandra D
- Jyoti B
- Jessica T
- Prisha K (x2)
- Emma H
- Owen B
- Aria N
- Maya P
- Taiki K
- Shreeyut D
- Cooper R
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