PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE by Jon Davis
A community that teaches, inspires, respects, celebrates, and values everybody,
Shorthorn Tales
Volume II, Issue 4
March/April
2015
Harmony Community School
3365 Schoolhouse Rd.
St. Cloud, Fl 34773
407-892-1655
It is difficult to believe that we are almost three quarters of the way through the school year. This,
of course, means FSA testing is upon us. In the past six years our students have done outstanding
on FCAT, and we expect them to do well this year taking the FSA tests. Their teachers have prepared them well and you, our parents have lent a great deal of assistance at home. I have confidence our students will do well. Our students and teachers have worked hard all year long.
As always I ask that you ensure your student

Gets plenty of rest
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Has a good breakfast
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Arrives to school on time
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Has plenty of #2 pencils
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Comes ready to do their very best
Important Dates
Testing Schedule March and April
3/2-3/7 2nd Gr. celebrates Dr. Seuss Birthday
3/3 Florida’s Birthday-All 4th grades in classrooms
3/7 & 3/14 Boot Camp FSA 3rd-8th
3/9 PTO & Sac @ 5:30pm-media center
3/10 Class & Individual Spring Pictures @ 9 am
3/11 –K-9 Demo for 5th Grade 10:30-12:30
3/12 Wax Museum in Media Center-M/S Allen & Glynn
3/2
3/3
4/2
4/3
4/6
4/7
4/13
4/14
4/15
4/16
4/20
4/21
4/22
4/23
4/24
4/27
4/28
FSA Writing Grade 4
FSA Writing Grades 5,6,7,8
FSA Reading Grades 3,4
FSA Reading Grades 3,4
FSA Math Grades 3,4
FSA Math Grades 3,4
FSA Reading Grade 5
FSA Reading Grade 5
FSA Reading Grades 6,7,8
FSA Reading Grades 6,7,8
FSA Math Grade 5
FSA Math Grade 5
FSA Math Grades 6,7,8
FSA Math Grades 6,7
FSA Math Grade 8
FCAT Science Grades 5, 8
FCAT Science Grade 5
3/13 F/T to Harmony Park Kinder, Muralles and
Moschouris @ 8:45—1pm
3/16, 17, 19 & 20 Rocks & Ropes @ PE
3/16 4th Gr. Voyager Meeting in Media Center @
6-7pm
3/18 Leadership Day 9:00-12:30pm
3/18 F/T to Harmony Park 2nd Gr. Douglas, Horn
Sensat @ 9:00am
3/19 F/T 1st Gr. SeaWorld @ 8:45—4:45
3/19 F/T to Harmony Park 2nd Gr. MacMillan
Johnson &Bo @ 9:00am
3/20 FSA Pep Rally Kickball @ 1:00pm
3/20 F/T 2nd Gr. Animal Kingdom 9:00—5pm
3/23-3/27 Spring Break
4/3 2nd Gr. Egg Hunt, MacMillan & Johnson @
1:30pm
4/10 Shorthorn Roundup @ 9;00 and 2:00 pm
4/13 PTO & SAC @ 5:30pm in media center
4/17 Immunizations for 6th Grade
4/18 Education in the Park 10:00—3pm
4/24 –St. Augustine F/T-4th Gr. 7:00am-6pm
4/30-2nd Grade F/T to the Cinema
in the Loop
From The Front Office
Have you moved or changed your telephone number since last school year? Do you need to add someone
to the authorized list to pick your child up? If so, you will need to update your contact information so we
can reach you in the event your child misses the bus, becomes ill or any other situation that may arise. No
student will be released to a person not authorized to pick your child up. You may do so by requesting a
Student Information Change Form from the Front Office. You can come in, call or send a note with your
child to request one.
Dismissal reminders:
Students must be one of the following: Car Rider, Bus Rider, Bike Rider, Day Care Bus Rider, Extended Day
or Walker. (Walkers are only for Harmony Community residents.)
The Front Office is not a daily dismissal area. See Box Below.
Early Pick Ups:
When you need to get your child out early, please send a note to let your child’s teacher know. When you
arrive to pick up your child, we will call for your child at that time. Please do not call ahead.
Change of transportation:
Please let your student know before they come to school how they will be going home. Last minute emergencies are a valid reason to call in. However, if possible, please send a note that day with your child. This
will ensure everyone knows of the change in advance.
Car Riders:
If you choose to transport your child to and from school by car, you must utilize our car rider loop. It is
not safe to ask your child to walk to a spot off campus for pick-up just to avoid the line. Your child’s safety is worth the wait. Please put your child’s car rider name tag in the window when picking your child up.
This helps speed up the car rider line.
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Music News
NO SCHOOL
3/23-3/27-Spring BreakTeacher/Student Holiday
3/30-Teacher Workday/
Student Holiday
Band and Chorus Students
Don't forget to wear your uniforms and shirts on
Leadership Day on March 18
EARLY RELEASE
Please remember that the front office is NOT a daily dismissal area.
If you plan to pick up your child early from school on (M,T,Th,F) please
make sure it is prior to 3:00pm.
On Wednesday’s prior to 2:00pm.
Please provide a note, if your student will be sent home in a different
manner for that day.
* Students will not be released through the front office after these times*
NO EARLY RELEASE ON THREE UPCOMING WEDNESDAYS IN APRIL: READ BELOW
No Early Release On Three Wednesdays During Statewide Testing - April 15, April 22, and April 29, 2015
The Osceola County School District is planning ahead for the upcoming spring administration of the Florida Standards Assessment by allowing
students to have a full day of school on the Wednesdays when the test will be administered.
As such, parents should be advised that there will be no early release of students on the following Wednesdays:
April 15, 2015
April 22, 2015
April 29, 2015
Students will be dismissed from school those days as they normally would on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Volunteers Needed
OASIS VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
If you plan to chaperone a field trip or volunteer on campus you will need
to become a registered Oasis Volunteer.
To become a registered Oasis Volunteer you must register online and receive orientation. You will not be approved unless you have met both requirements.
To register online:
http://hrcs..osceola.k21.fl.us. Under PARENT FASTLINKS, Click on OASIS
VOLUNTEERING. Follow directions exactly.
To receive orientation:
Please call Harmony Community School at 407-892-1655 or you may call 407-8704080 to attend orientation. The orientation will last about 45 minutes, and space
is limited.
All Oasis Volunteers must update their application every year after July 1st. Be
sure you have updated your application this year so you can continue to volunteer.
The Bookmark Buddies Mentoring Program at
Harmony Community School is an exciting opportunity for you to make a
difference in the life of a
child! Our third graders need
your help to practice and
improve their reading skills
before the important Florida
Standards Assessment.
Mentors meet thirty minutes
a week, one-on-one, with a third grade student
who needs that extra little push to become a successful reader and lifelong learner. All mentors
must be cleared through OASIS before starting to
work with a student. No prior tutoring experience
is necessary. All materials are provided, making
for an easy and fun volunteer experience! Meeting
dates are on Tuesday from 9:00-9:30.
If you are interested, please contact Deanna Osborne at [email protected]
Please keep in mind it takes approximately 4 to 5 weeks for new applications.
To All of Our Business Partners
and Volunteers,
HCS thanks you and appreciates all the good things you do
and for all the hours you have
shared so willingly at our
school.
You have touched the future
through the hearts of children.
HCS Administration, Faculty
and Staff
Avid News from Deanna Osborne, Avid/Reading Coach
The Ins and Outs of AVID/Leadership, was presented to 5th grade parents on Thursday the 19th of February. Each classroom presented the
organization, note-taking strategies, and learning methods, which prepare students for further education, such as college or tech school. Student-led conferences followed the demonstration. A big THANK YOU
to the parents for their support and to all the 5th grade students for a job
well done!
Dances and After School Functions for
Middle Grades—by Dorota Micale, Asst. Principal
Events and Activities on School Grounds still adhere to school and district policy.

Students stay for entire event.

Students must be picked up by parents, unless other arrangements are stated otherwise in writing.

Students cannot use cell phones during evening functions unless contacting parents to coordinate pick up/drop off.

No high school students are allowed to be present at dances or evening events.

All chaperones must be adults who are OASIS approved. Minimum of 5 chaperones. 3 of which must be
Harmony teachers or staff.

Students must be supervised at all times. They may not leave their designated area.
Student Pick up and Dismissal Procedures
Your child’s safety remains our number 1 priority.
Thank you for your cooperation to ensure every child is safe.
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Morning drop off for students anywhere on campus begins at 8:15am.
There is no supervision for your child before 8:15 am, unless they are
enrolled in extended day.
Changing the way your child goes home must be in writing.
AM drop-offs for K-2 and extended day students are in front of the cafeteria.
AM drop-offs for all 3-8 students at the covered area behind the school,
unless eating breakfast or staying with a younger sibling.
Please do NOT exit your vehicle during pick up or drop off.
Please do not text while in line for pick up.
Students exiting cars should not cross into traffic. Please ensure they are able
to exit directly onto school grounds.
Parents walking their child to class may enter through the main front office doors in
the morning. All others must follow regular drop off areas.
Minor siblings may not pick up or drop off VPK students.
Minor siblings (high school students) may only pick up a sibling early with a
notarized statement from the parent. There is a notary on campus to assist you.
Other Reminders
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
Outside food from restaurants is permitted only when a parent is eating outside with their child.
All parents must enter through the front office and sign in with a valid state ID.
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Greetings from Amanda Yontz,
Dean of Students, Science/Math Coach
Math Round-up Night was a great success. A huge Thank You to all of the
teachers, staff, student volunteers and parent volunteers whom made this a
spectacular event.
Students had a fun evening participating in events such as multiplication
square dancing, fraction frenzy, timed barrel racing, and timed roping. These
exciting rodeo and fair themed math events filled our evening with knowledge
and entertainment.
Thanks to all the families that came out to participate in this exceptionally engaging evening of math fun.
Harmony Community School is hosting our 2nd Annual Leadership Day on March 18th.
This is a day we open our doors to invited community and local leaders for a few hours and allow others
to see the amazing transformation that takes place within our school every day. Students showcase their
leadership skills and the leadership philosophy driving the culture of the school.
We look forward for others to see and learn about The Leader In Me!
Based upon selection by teachers from each grade level, students are chosen weekly for Leader of the
Week. The students are chosen as Leader of the Week by demonstrating leadership using one of the 7
Habits.
The selected Leaders of the Week are invited to morning announcements on Fridays and given a leadership pin.
We are so proud of the following leaders during the months of January and February.