Harlan Middle School is throwing an 80s Themed Back-to-School Dance on Thursday, September 5th in the Elementary School Gym! 💿🕺
🎟 Tickets: $10.00
Tickets go on sale Monday in the office!
Your ticket includes:
🌮 A walking taco
🍰 A snack cake
🥤 A drink
👕 Entry into the 80s Costume Contest
🔥 House Competition Bonus! 🔥
The House with the most points on August 29th will get discounted tickets to the dance! Don’t miss your chance to earn points and help your house!
💡 Break out your neon, leg warmers, and big hair — it’s time to party like it’s the 80s at HMS!
🏀 The Lady Dragons never stop!! ⛹️♀️ This morning they are traveling to Williamsburg to take on the Lady Jackets. Tip-off will begin for the 3/4 grade team at 11 AM with 5/6 and 7/8 grade action to follow!! We wish you the best of luck, ladies!! #GOBIGGREEN #FamilyofDragons
🏀 Best of luck to our Lady Dragons as they are heading to Pineville this evening to take on the Lady Lions!! 🏀 Tip-off is slated for 5:00 PM for the 3/4 grade team, with 5/6 and 7/8 grade games to follow!! Let's go, Green!! #FamilyofDragons
1st place: Barbourville
2nd place: Harlan Independent
3rd place (tie): Harlan County & Bell County
4th place; Clay County
5th place: Corbin
Also, congratulations to senior Baylor Varner for placing 5th amongst the individual scorers! #GoBigGreen 🐉
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SEBT) program helps reduce hunger and food insecurity by providing eligible school-aged children with benefits to buy groceries during the summer months when school meals aren’t available.
👦👧 Who’s Automatically Eligible?
If students are currently enrolled in SNAP, KTAP, Kinship Care, or certain income-based forms of Medicaid for at least one month since July 1, 2024, they should already be enrolled. However, kids not enrolled in these programs from households with incomes at or below the 185% poverty level are eligible but need to apply.
📝 Need to Apply?
If your student hasn’t received SNAP, KTAP, or Kinship Care since July 1, 2024, you’ll need to apply starting October 1, 2024 at:
https://KYSEBT.ky.gov/ or through https://kynect.ky.gov/benefits/
💳 How Benefits Are Received:
If you’re already receiving benefits, SEBT will be added to your existing EBT card. Otherwise, a new card will be mailed to you.
🛒 What Can You Buy?
Almost any grocery item—except hot, ready-to-eat foods. SEBT does not cover tobacco, alcohol, pet food, or non-food items.
Visit the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dfs/pages/sebt.aspx) for more info!
Reminder for after-school pick up. Kindergarten pick up is the the purple line on Mound St. 1st and 2nd grade is the green line, Clover St., 3rd & 4th grade is the red line, you enter off of KY38. If your child has a sibling in 3rd or 4th grade, they will be picked up outback in the red line of traffic. Your child should have brought home a paper with their name on it in large print. Please place this paper on your dashboard in order to make identifying your vehicle easier and quicker. Thank you for being patient with us!
If you are picking up a middle/high school student, please do not enter downtown until after 3:05.
📸 What an incredible time we had yesterday at the Harlan Independent Schools campus-wide block party! 🎒 Families had the chance to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and get excited for the year ahead. From games and music to food and fun, it was the perfect way to kick off the new school year and celebrate our amazing #FamilyofDragons. 🐉💚
Our first day of school for Elementary, Middle, and High School is TOMORROW, Wednesday, August 6th! We can’t wait to welcome all of our students back. Let’s make it a great year! #EveryDayEveryDragon
📢 Important Policy Updates for the 2025–26 School Year at Harlan Independent Schools! 🐉
As we gear up for a new school year, please take a moment to review a few important policy changes:
District Staff/Student Communication
Beginning June 27, 2025, SB 181 requires that all school communication with students occur only through approved platforms including ParentSquare, district email, GoGuardian, Google Workspace, and Infinite Campus. Communication through texting, personal emails, and social media will no longer be allowed.
As a result of new Kentucky legislation, Harlan Middle/High School has made the following policy changes for the 2025-2026 school year.
Moment of Silence or Reflection
In accordance to KY Senate Bill 19, “at the commencement of the first class of each day in all public schools, there shall be a moment of silence or reflection of at least one (1) minute, but not to exceed two (2) minutes in duration,” during which “all pupils remain seated and silent and make no distracting display so that each pupil may, in the exercise of his or her individual choice, meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity which does not interfere with, distract from, or impede other pupils' exercise of individual choice.”
Personal Electronic Devices
In response to KY House Bill 208, and in an effort to maximize student engagement during instructional time while limiting distractions throughout the day, all personal electronic devices—including but not limited to cell phones, AirPods, earbuds, smartwatches, camera-equipped glasses, etc.—must remain turned off and out of sight from the start of the school day until the end of the school day. Parents may contact the office to leave messages for students as needed. Students will be permitted to use office phones in cases of emergency.
