Dear Harding Families,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! Welcome back to returning students and families, and welcome to Harding for those who are new! I hope you have had a wonderful summer break filled with time for fun, adventures, and rest with family and friends. I am excited to join the Harding community this school year. I have spent time getting to know the staff, and I already feel so welcomed. I feel fortunate to be joining such a talented and dedicated group of educators in service of your children. I look forward to meeting you and our students in person soon.
This school year will undoubtedly be a great one! We will continue to build upon the strengths of our community to ensure the success of all of our students. I am committed to collaborating with you, our teachers, and staff to help our students reach their full potential and to support their evolving needs. I have learned quickly that Harding is truly a special place. Thank you in advance for your trust, support, partnership, and ongoing communication.
Teachers and school staff have been working hard to get their classrooms ready to welcome your children on the first day of school. Please join me in welcoming the following new staff members to our Harding community:
- Jada Jones-Carter, new to 3rd
- MaryJane Venegas, 4th
- Matthew Jones, 5th Math/Science
- Anayancy Zuniga, Bay Area Community Resources Coordinator
- Tim Castillo, CEC paraprofessional
- …and thank you Helen Kang for stepping into 6th grade Math/Science!
Please see below for important information and important upcoming dates that will be helpful as we get closer to the first day of school.
The office will be closed on Monday, August 14, 2023 to allow our staff to complete final preparations for the first day of school.
Class Lists:
Class lists will be posted on August 14, 2023 on the Fairmount windows by 2:30 pm for TK and K, and at 4 pm for grades 1-6. There will be no class changes.
PowerSchool:
If you are a returning family, please complete your annual forms on PowerSchool. The login link is here. If you are new to Harding, you likely do not have your Powerschool login, yet. We will provide it to you when your child comes to school. Please plan to complete those forms within the first couple of days of school, they are very important! If you need a password reset, please email nancy.razo@wccusd.net or linda.hom@wccusd.net.
Bell Schedule, Drop-off, Pick-up:
The Bell Schedule and drop-off/pick-up procedures can be found here. Note that there is no stopping for car riders/car drop-off at the Fairmount gate. Car drop-off must be in the white zone on Ashbury-no exceptions-this is a safety issue. Alternatively, you may park on the street a couple blocks away and walk your student(s) to school. Students and families walking to school can enter school through either the Ashbury or Fairmount Avenue gates. TK parents/guardians may walk their students to their classrooms for the first 2 weeks of the school year only (8/15-8/29), until 8:45 am. TK-3rd grade will dismiss on Ashbury, and 4th-6th grade will dismiss at the Fairmount gate. Older siblings will walk around the block to meet their younger siblings on Ashbury and inform the classroom teacher. Please respect our neighbors and community-do not park in or block driveways. Thank you for your cooperation.
First Day of School and Minimum Days:
Please note that the first day of school, August 15, is a minimum day. Every Wednesday, beginning August 16th, is a minimum day. On minimum days, TK-K dismissal is at 2 pm; 1st-6th grade dismissal is at 2:05 pm. Drop-off/pick-up procedures remain the same as regular school days. Please see the Bell Schedule for drop-off/pick-up procedures (and the section directly above).
Attendance:
Please inform your child’s teacher and Linda Hom, our attendance clerk, if your child will be absent. Ms. Hom’s email address is linda.hom@wccusd.net. If your child has a fever of 100.4 or higher, vomits, or has diarrhea, they must remain out of school for 24 hours after their symptoms stop. This is a county health code and not a school specific policy. We do not have the flexibility to make exceptions.
Medications/Inhalers:
Please let the front office know about any health related issues and if your child needs to take medication(s) or use an inhaler during the school day. We will ensure that all forms are completed, medication is stored safely, and that we are positioned to appropriately support your child’s medical/health needs.
Volunteering:
We love and appreciate our volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering on campus or on study trips, please begin the process by going to WCCUSD’s Volunteer Management. If you already have your district volunteer badge (nice work!) make sure to make an appointment with the teacher to volunteer in class, or with Ms. Bell if volunteering at lunch or recess. When volunteering, remember to be mindful of student confidentiality.
Communication:
Please be aware that the expected communication protocol is for parents to always contact their child’s teacher with any concerns first. The teacher’s contract actually requires that they have the first chance to solve an issue before it comes to administration. If the teacher is unable to address your concern, at that point you should reach out to me. I will not be able to address your concern unless you have communicated with the teacher about it first.
Important Dates:
- August 14: TK-K: Meet the Teacher and Walk Through the Classroom, 3 – 3:30 pm
- August 15: First Day of School (yay!) – Minimum Day
- August 16: Minimum Day
- September 5: Back to School Night – 3rd-6th – NO MINIMUM DAY
- September 7: Back to School Night – TK-K – NO MINIMUM DAY
- September 8: Harding ONLY Minimum Day
- October 18: Picture Day
Again, thank you for your continued partnership. Together, I know we will make this a fantastic year filled with lots of learning and joy for our students. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions or concerns.
In partnership,
Indira Bell
Principal
indira.bell@wccusd.net
510-231-1413
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