FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2026
Three houses steal victory from the jaws of defeat
HARLAN, Ky. – On Sept. 18 at Harlan High School, house teams Griffin, Pegasus, Phoenix and Sphinx competed in pickleball and quick recall. All teams secured wins – Phoenix and Pegasus exchanged victories in their pickleball rounds while Sphinx and Griffin traded off in quick recall.
House Sphinx maintains a narrow lead with 3,568 points, followed by Pegasus with 3,542, Phoenix with 3,534 and Griffin holding 3,507.
Despite the drop in rank, Sphynx and Griffin house leaders remain hopeful. “No matter how hard the competition is, always stay resilient,” said Sphinx House Leader Megan Rodriguez.
Harlan High School is split evenly into four separate houses. Students can earn points for their house and we have house competitions. Research shows that participation in these activities helps sharpen brain function, focus and classroom readiness.
For more information, contact Principal Mike Bolton at mike.bolton@harlanind.kyschools.us.
🏐 VOLLEYBALL GAMEDAY!! 🏐
The Lady Dragons are on the road this evening as they are traveling to OBI!! JV action will begin at 6:00 PM, with Varsity to follow!! Let's go, Ladies!! #GOBIGGREEN #DragonAdvantage
The Lady Dragons are on the road this evening as they are traveling to OBI!! JV action will begin at 6:00 PM, with Varsity to follow!! Let's go, Ladies!! #GOBIGGREEN #DragonAdvantage
🏈 GAME DAY, HARLAN! 🐉
Friday night football is at home again this week! The Harlan Green Dragons welcome the visiting Berea Pirates tonight for another night under the lights! 🏈
📍 Harlan High School
🏈 Harlan Green Dragons vs. Berea Pirates
⏰ Kickoff: 7:30 PM
Come out, fill the stands, and CHEER LOUD for our Green Dragons! Let’s show our team the support of the entire Harlan community!
💚🐉 GOOD LUCK, GREEN DRAGONS!
#GoBigGreen
📸 Thanks to junior Carson Osborne for the game day graphic.
Friday night football is at home again this week! The Harlan Green Dragons welcome the visiting Berea Pirates tonight for another night under the lights! 🏈
📍 Harlan High School
🏈 Harlan Green Dragons vs. Berea Pirates
⏰ Kickoff: 7:30 PM
Come out, fill the stands, and CHEER LOUD for our Green Dragons! Let’s show our team the support of the entire Harlan community!
💚🐉 GOOD LUCK, GREEN DRAGONS!
#GoBigGreen
📸 Thanks to junior Carson Osborne for the game day graphic.
Mrs. Varner’s 2nd graders have been busy exploring the different landforms and bodies of water found around our world! 🌍
Students had the opportunity to create their own models of mountains and observe how rivers flow around and through land. Through hands-on learning, they were able to see how land and water interact and make connections to what they’ve been learning in class.
🇺🇸📜 Constitution Day = Escape Room Day! 🔐
Ms. Maggard’s Civics classes paused their current unit to celebrate this historic day by analyzing primary sources from our Founding Fathers, cracking codes, and racing to escape! 🧠🔎
Some escaped just as the bell rang… others are still locked up! 😂🔐
So proud of these students for collaborating, thinking critically, and putting their Civics skills to work! ❤️
🐉 Reminder! Dragon Disciples meets every Friday morning at 7:25 AM in the elementary library! 💚
All 1st–4th graders are welcome to join!
🏈🐉 GAMEDAY!! 🐉🏈
The Harlan Middle School Green Dragons are back under the lights tonight as they take on the Pineville Mountain Lions at Joe Gilley!!
💚 3/4 Grade - 6:00 PM
💚 5/6 Grade - Kicks off after the 3/4 game
💚 7/8 Grade - Action to follow
Come out, pack the stands, and LET’S GO DRAGONS! 🐉💚🖤 EVERY DAY. EVERY DRAGON.
The Harlan Middle School Green Dragons are back under the lights tonight as they take on the Pineville Mountain Lions at Joe Gilley!!
💚 3/4 Grade - 6:00 PM
💚 5/6 Grade - Kicks off after the 3/4 game
💚 7/8 Grade - Action to follow
Come out, pack the stands, and LET’S GO DRAGONS! 🐉💚🖤 EVERY DAY. EVERY DRAGON.
🏈 GAME DAY! 🏈
Come out and support our Harlan Elementary 3rd & 4th Grade Dragons as they take on Pineville at home tonight! 🐉💚🖤
📅 Thursday, September 17
⏰ Kickoff at 6:00 PM
🏈 Dragons vs. Mountain Lions
Come cheer on our Dragons! 💚🐉🏈
Just a reminder that Harlan High School Open House is tomorrow from 3:30–5:30 p.m. Parents and guardians may visit with their child’s teachers during this time.
#DragonAdvantage
Give students the room and watch what happens.🇺🇸
That's what this week looked like in Ms. Maggard's Civics classes. Students set their chairs in a circle, brought their annotated Declarations of Independence, and ran the conversation themselves — no hand-raising, no lecture, just kids talking to kids about a 250-year-old text.
Using the Harkness circle method, they took turns pushing each other's thinking: building on a point, pushing back on one, asking a question that made someone go back to the text for proof. More than a few walked in with one take and walked out with a different one, because somebody in the circle made a case they couldn't argue with.
Here's what stood out most — nobody left with the same theme. Each student is carrying their own idea into their blackout poetry project: liberty, grievance, consent, courage, hypocrisy, hope. One document, read closely by a whole room of students, and it means something a little different to each of them. That's the Harkness circle doing exactly what it's supposed to do — putting the thinking in students' hands instead of handing them a conclusion.
Real questioning and discussion, student-led from start to finish.
So proud of what these kids brought to the table this week. 👏
#CivicsClass #StudentVoice #WeThePeople
⛳🐉 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT DAY! 🐉⛳
It’s tournament time for our Green Dragon Golf Team! Today, our Dragons will take on the course at Wasioto Winds in Pineville as they compete in the Conference Tournament! 🏆
We’re wishing all of our golfers the very best today!
Good luck, Dragons! We’re cheering you on!
🐉⛳ GO BIG GREEN! ⛳🐉
It’s tournament time for our Green Dragon Golf Team! Today, our Dragons will take on the course at Wasioto Winds in Pineville as they compete in the Conference Tournament! 🏆
We’re wishing all of our golfers the very best today!
Good luck, Dragons! We’re cheering you on!
🐉⛳ GO BIG GREEN! ⛳🐉
🏀 HMS Girls Basketball GAMEDAY + 8th Grade Night!! 🏀
The HMS Lady Dragons are back at home tonight as they welcome the Lynn Camp Lady Cats!! Tonight is a BIG one because it’s 8TH GRADE NIGHT!! 🎉💚 The festivities are as follows:
🏀 5/6 Grade Game - 6:00 PM
🎉 8th Grade Night - Following the 5/6 Game
🏀 7/8 Grade Game - Following 8th Grade Night
The HMS Lady Dragons are back at home tonight as they welcome the Lynn Camp Lady Cats!! Tonight is a BIG one because it’s 8TH GRADE NIGHT!! 🎉💚 The festivities are as follows:
🏀 5/6 Grade Game - 6:00 PM
🎉 8th Grade Night - Following the 5/6 Game
🏀 7/8 Grade Game - Following 8th Grade Night
🏐💚 DISTRICT GAMEDAY 💚🏐
The Harlan Lady Dragons are ready for a BIG night of volleyball as they take on the Harlan County Lady Bears in district play! After 3 STRAIGHT WINS, Harlan is riding some serious momentum and ready to keep it rolling tonight!
🏐 JV - 6:00 PM
🏐Varsity - Following JV
📍 JACES
Let’s Go, Lady Dragons!! 💚🖤🤍
The Harlan Lady Dragons are ready for a BIG night of volleyball as they take on the Harlan County Lady Bears in district play! After 3 STRAIGHT WINS, Harlan is riding some serious momentum and ready to keep it rolling tonight!
🏐 JV - 6:00 PM
🏐Varsity - Following JV
📍 JACES
Let’s Go, Lady Dragons!! 💚🖤🤍
🏈 5/6 Grade Football Game!! 🏈
Tonight the 5/6 Grade Dragons will travel to Cumberland to take on the Skins!! Kick off is slated for 6:00 PM. Make the trip to Cumberland to support these players and their coaches!! GO BIG GREEN!! #FamilyofDragons #DragonAdvantage #BuiltDifferent
💚 Huge shout out to Mr. Dakota Saylor's Mass Media Class for creating this graphic for tonight!!
Tonight the 5/6 Grade Dragons will travel to Cumberland to take on the Skins!! Kick off is slated for 6:00 PM. Make the trip to Cumberland to support these players and their coaches!! GO BIG GREEN!! #FamilyofDragons #DragonAdvantage #BuiltDifferent
💚 Huge shout out to Mr. Dakota Saylor's Mass Media Class for creating this graphic for tonight!!
🏐 VOLLEYBALL GAMEDAY!! 🏐
The Harlan High School Lady Dragons are back on their home court tonight as they welcome the Lynn Camp Wildcats!! 🐉💚 GO BIG GREEN! 💚🐉
🔥 JV: 6:00 PM
🔥 Varsity: Following JV
📍 Harlan High School
The Harlan High School Lady Dragons are back on their home court tonight as they welcome the Lynn Camp Wildcats!! 🐉💚 GO BIG GREEN! 💚🐉
🔥 JV: 6:00 PM
🔥 Varsity: Following JV
📍 Harlan High School
🐉💚 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES — WE HOPE TO SEE YOU! 💚🐉
Harlan Elementary families, please join us for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, September 15, from 4:00–6:00 PM! 📚✏️
⏰ PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS! Conferences will be held from 4:00–6:00 PM.
We encourage all parents and guardians to stop by, pick up your child’s midterm, and connect with your child’s teacher. This is a great opportunity to discuss progress, celebrate successes, ask questions, and talk about how we can continue working together to support your child. 💚
🌟 BONUS POINTS! 🌟
Students who have a parent/guardian sign in AND pick up their midterm will receive 10 BONUS POINTS to use on their next test or quiz in the class subject of their choice! 💯
Can’t attend Tuesday evening? We still want to connect with you! If you need to speak with your child’s teacher(s), please contact them through ParentSquare to schedule a conference during their planning time or after school.
📅 Tuesday, September 15
⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Harlan Elementary
Strong communication between home and school makes a difference! Thank you for partnering with us to help our Dragons learn, grow, and succeed. 💚🖤
It’s always a great day to be a Dragon! 🐉
Harlan Elementary families, please join us for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, September 15, from 4:00–6:00 PM! 📚✏️
⏰ PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS! Conferences will be held from 4:00–6:00 PM.
We encourage all parents and guardians to stop by, pick up your child’s midterm, and connect with your child’s teacher. This is a great opportunity to discuss progress, celebrate successes, ask questions, and talk about how we can continue working together to support your child. 💚
🌟 BONUS POINTS! 🌟
Students who have a parent/guardian sign in AND pick up their midterm will receive 10 BONUS POINTS to use on their next test or quiz in the class subject of their choice! 💯
Can’t attend Tuesday evening? We still want to connect with you! If you need to speak with your child’s teacher(s), please contact them through ParentSquare to schedule a conference during their planning time or after school.
📅 Tuesday, September 15
⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Harlan Elementary
Strong communication between home and school makes a difference! Thank you for partnering with us to help our Dragons learn, grow, and succeed. 💚🖤
It’s always a great day to be a Dragon! 🐉
🐉💚 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES — WE HOPE TO SEE YOU! 💚🐉
Harlan Elementary families, please join us for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, September 15, from 4:00–6:00 PM! 📚✏️
⏰ PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS! Conferences will be held from 4:00–7:00 PM.
We encourage all parents and guardians to stop by, pick up your child’s midterm, and take a few minutes to connect with your child’s teacher. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate successes, ask questions, and learn how we can continue working together to support your child. 💚
🎉 AND THERE’S A BONUS FOR OUR STUDENTS!
Any student who has a parent/guardian sign in AND pick up their midterm will receive 10 BONUS POINTS to use on their next test or quiz in the class subject of their choice! ⭐️💯
We understand that schedules can be busy! If you are unable to attend Tuesday evening but need to speak with your child’s teacher(s), please contact them through ParentSquare to schedule a conference during your child’s teacher’s planning time or after school. We want every family to have the opportunity to connect with us.
Strong communication between home and school makes a difference, and we appreciate our families partnering with us to help our Dragons succeed! 🏠🤝🏫
📅 Tuesday, September 15
⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Harlan Elementary School
We hope to see you there! 💚🖤🐉
It’s always a great day to be a Dragon!
🏐 GAMEDAY!! 🏐
The Harlan Lady Dragons are hitting the road tonight and heading to Lynn Camp for a big night of volleyball! 💚🐉
🔥 Harlan Green Dragons vs. Lynn Camp Wildcats
📍 Lynn Camp High School
⏰ JV - 5:00 PM
🏐 Varsity - Following
GO BIG GREEN! 💚
The Harlan Lady Dragons are hitting the road tonight and heading to Lynn Camp for a big night of volleyball! 💚🐉
🔥 Harlan Green Dragons vs. Lynn Camp Wildcats
📍 Lynn Camp High School
⏰ JV - 5:00 PM
🏐 Varsity - Following
GO BIG GREEN! 💚
Good luck to our HMS Golf Team as they are competing today at the Winchester Country Club for the Middle School State Qualifier!! Go Big Green!! #DragonAdvantage
🎶🐉 Good luck to the Harlan Marching Band as they compete at Madison Southern High School! 💚🖤
Take the field with confidence and let your Dragon pride shine! 🎵
