Harlan Elementary School

🏈 This week's schedule for 3rd/4th grade football! See you there! 🐉

🐉 Dragon families, mark your calendars!

The beginning of a new school year is right around the corner, and we have several opportunities for students and families to get ready—including Kindergarten Jumpstart, elementary open houses, HHS orientations, Fifth Grade Jumpstart, our annual Block Party, and Sunshine School events.

📅 Important dates include:
• August 3–5: Kindergarten Jumpstart

• August 3–5: Harlan Elementary Open Houses

• August 6: HHS Freshman and Dual Credit Orientations

• August 7: Fifth Grade Jumpstart

• August 10: Community Block Party

• August 12: First day for HES, HMS, and HHS students

• August 18 & 20: Sunshine School Open Houses and Practice School

• August 26: First day for Sunshine School students

We cannot wait to welcome our students and families back. Let’s make it a great year, Dragons!
#EveryDayEveryDragon

Lace up your running shoes, grab your glow gear, and help support the Harlan Cross Country team at this fun, family-friendly fundraiser! 📅 Pre-registration deadline ends tomorrow: July 24 Registration Information: 📍 Registration forms are available at Harlan Elementary School and the Harlan Independent Schools Central Office. Completed forms and payment may be turned in at either location. For questions, please contact Erin Alred at erin.alred@harlanind.kyschools.us. We hope to see you there! 💚

Harlan Elementary is excited to welcome Britney Rowe as our new Literacy Aide! Britney is passionate about helping students grow academically, build confidence, and discover their love of learning! 🐉 Britney recently earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of the Cumberlands. She is excited to continue serving students in the Harlan community, a place that has already been an important part of her teaching journey. During her student teaching experience at Harlan Elementary, Britney worked with students in third-grade math and fourth-grade reading, where she gained valuable classroom experience and developed meaningful relationships with students and educators. Britney has always had a desire to encourage students and help them reach their full potential. She believes every child has unique abilities and deserves support, patience, and opportunities to succeed. She loves watching students grow, overcome challenges, and become the best versions of themselves. Outside of her work in education, Britney enjoys spending time with her family and is grateful for the opportunity to continue being a part of the Harlan Elementary family. She looks forward to supporting students, partnering with teachers, and making a positive difference in the lives of learners each day.🐉💚

📣 Dancing Dragons K–4 Parent Meeting! Join us on Monday, July 27 at 6:00 PM in the Harlan Elementary Auditorium. We look forward to seeing our Dancing Dragons families there! 💚🐉 For more information, contact Rachel Amburgey or Hannah Amburgey at hannah.amburgey@harlanind.kyschools.us.

🏈🐉 Calling All 3rd & 4th Grade Dragons! 🐉🏈

Football season is almost here! Join us as we kick off another exciting year of Harlan Dragons football. The first practice is Monday, July 20, and we can't wait to see our future Dragons on the field!

📍 High School Football Field
📅 Check out the flyer for all practice dates and times.
✅ Remember: All players must have an up-to-date sports physical before they can participate in practice.

Let's work hard, have fun, and make this a great season! Go Dragons! 💚🖤🏈

🏀 Elementary and Middle School Girls Basketball 🏀

Just a quick update - there will be NO elementary or middle school girls basketball practice this afternoon (Tuesday, July 14th). This includes 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 grade!! Take some time to work on your skills individually!!

🐉 You’re Invited to Our Back-to-School Block Party! 🐉

Green Dragon families, join us as we kick off the 2026–2027 school year at our annual Back-to-School Block Party on Monday, August 10, from 5:00–7:00 PM!

🏫 From 5:00–6:00 PM, K–12 students and families can visit classrooms, meet their teachers, and get ready for a great school year.

🎉 Then, enjoy free food, fun, games, a photo booth, and more as we celebrate the start of another exciting year together!

All students and families are invited. We can’t wait to welcome our Green Dragons back!

#EveryDragonEveryDay

🌟 Join us for the First Annual Glowing Back to School 5K Run/Walk! 🌟 Lace up your running shoes, grab your glow gear, and help support the Harlan Cross Country team at this fun, family-friendly fundraiser! 📅 Race Day Information 🕕 Registration: 6:00 PM (in front of Harlan High School) 🏃 Race Begins: 8:30 PM (promptly) Registration Information: 📍 Registration forms are available at Harlan Elementary School and the Harlan Independent Schools Central Office. Completed forms and payment may be turned in at either location. 📅 Pre-registration deadline: July 24 ✨ Come glow with us as we kick off the new school year! For questions, please contact Erin Alred at erin.alred@harlanind.kyschools.us. We hope to see you there for a glowing night of fun, fitness, and community support! 💚

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Cross Country is Back! 🐉💚 It’s time to lace up your running shoes! Join us for the first cross country practice of the season on Monday, July 13 at the HHS Track. 📍 Practice Times: 1st & 2nd Grade: 4:30–5:00 PM 3rd–6th Grade: 5:00–6:00 PM 7th Grade & Up: 6:00 PM ✅ Please bring: 💧 A water bottle 📋 A current sports physical We can’t wait to see both returning and new runners as we kick off another great season. Go Dragons! 🐉

HMS Cheer Presents: The Big Top Dragon Cheer Camp!! Check out the graphic for more information and join in on the fun!!

Pre-register by following this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRmJT4M1Vg6ygIMvwysaVGdMX2e9r86TvX5xV9H8JbWZR-xQ/viewform

🏃‍♀️🏀⚾ Time to Hit Pause, Dragons! 🐉💚

Just a reminder that all athletic facilities for Harlan Independent Schools will be CLOSED during the KHSAA Dead Period from June 25 to July 9, 2026.

This is the perfect time to recharge, enjoy summer adventures, and come back refreshed and ready for another great season! Go Big Green! 🐉

Please Join Us in Welcoming Emma to Harlan Elementary School! 🎉 Emma is a proud 2022 graduate of Harlan High School and a 2025 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands. She is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development. This marks Emma’s second year of teaching. During her first year, she taught K3 at Sunshine Preschool, where she developed a passion for creating engaging learning experiences and helping young children build a strong foundation for future success. Emma brings enthusiasm, dedication, and a love for education to the classroom. She is excited to join the Harlan Elementary family and looks forward to making a positive impact on her students and the school community. Please help us give Emma a warm Dragon welcome! 🐉📚🍎

Summer school has ended at Harlan Elementary School! Thank you to our amazing teachers, staff, community partners, families, and students for making these past few weeks such a success. We are grateful for your support and proud of all our Dragons accomplished this summer. Have a wonderful rest of your summer! 🐉

🏀🐉 HHS Basketball Camp is Back! 🐉🏀 Join Coach Varner and the Lady Dragons for a fun-filled day of basketball on June 17th at the HHS Gymnasium from 9:30 AM–12:30 PM! This camp is open to ALL boys and girls in Pre-K through 4th grade and will focus on: 🏀 Fundamental Skills 🏀 Ball Handling 🏀 Passing 🏀 Shooting 🏀 Live Play 🏀 Fun Games! 💲 Cost: $25 per camper Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn new skills, make friends, and have fun with Harlan Basketball! 📝 Pre-register here: https://forms.gle/NHVd7cH72a3Q3aSJ8 #HarlanDragons #LadyDragons #HHSBasketballCamp #FutureDragons 🏀💚🐉

Whitney Niday is a lifelong Harlan resident and proud wife and mother of five children who attend schools within the Harlan Independent School District. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of the Cumberlands and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Teaching with certifications in Elementary Education (P–5) and Special Education (P–12). Whitney is passionate about helping students learn, grow, and reach their full potential. She is excited to join the Harlan Independent Schools family as an educator and looks forward to making a positive impact in the lives of her students and the community she calls home.

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Harlan Cross Country Parent Meeting 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Any current, returning, or new runners in 1st–12th grade, along with their parents, are invited to attend our Cross Country Parent Meeting on Monday at 6:00 PM in the Harlan Elementary School Cafeteria. During the meeting, we will: 🏃 Hand out summer workout plans 📅 Review the season schedule 👟 Explain the sport and what to expect 📝 Discuss practice and meet information ❓ Answer any questions from athletes or parents Whether you are a veteran runner or considering cross country for the first time, we would love to see you there! Contact Coach Erin Alred at erin.alred@stu.harlanind.kyschools.us for more informations 💚 Go Big Green! 🐉💚

Calling All Future Innovators! 🤖💡⚙️

We are excited to share an amazing opportunity for our students this summer!

Rural Up STEM Explorer Camp is coming to Harlan High School, offering a FREE, hands-on experience for students entering 5th–8th grade. Campers will explore the exciting worlds of coding, robotics, engineering, and artificial intelligence through engaging activities and team-based challenges.

📅 June 15–19
⏰ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Daily
📍 Harlan High School
🍳 Breakfast & Lunch Provided
💲 FREE for all students

Students will:
✅ Learn to code with Sphero robots
✅ Explore Artificial Intelligence (AI)
✅ Solve engineering design challenges
✅ Work collaboratively and showcase creativity
✅ Build skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Space is limited, so we encourage families to register as soon as possible!

📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer or use the registration information provided to reserve your child's spot today.

#STEMExplorerCamp #FutureInnovators #GoBigGreen 🐉💚

What a fantastic couple of days at Harlan Cross Country Camp! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️💚 We wrapped up camp with a day full of games, team building, laughter, and some healthy competition. Our campers definitely brought the creativity for “Anything But a Water Bottle” Day and did not disappoint! Congratulations to Brogan Bennett and Oakley Moody for tying in our Musical Cones competition, and to Lillian Toll for dominating our version of Capture the Cone! Thank you to all of our campers and families for making this year’s camp such a success. We loved seeing everyone work hard, encourage one another, and have fun along the way. Cross Country Update: 🏃 7th–12th grade athletes have already started preseason workouts. 🏃 1st–6th grade practices will begin July 13. 🏃 We will also have several open runs for elementary students throughout June, so be on the lookout for dates and times. The future of Harlan Cross Country is bright! 💚 #GoBigGreen

🏀🐉 HHS Basketball Camp is Back! 🐉🏀 Join Coach Varner and the Lady Dragons for a fun-filled day of basketball on June 17th at the HHS Gymnasium from 9:30 AM–12:30 PM! This camp is open to ALL boys and girls in Pre-K through 4th grade and will focus on: 🏀 Fundamental Skills 🏀 Ball Handling 🏀 Passing 🏀 Shooting 🏀 Live Play 🏀 Fun Games! 💲 Cost: $25 per camper Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn new skills, make friends, and have fun with Harlan Basketball! 📝 Pre-register here: https://forms.gle/NHVd7cH72a3Q3aSJ8 #HarlanDragons #LadyDragons #HHSBasketballCamp #FutureDragons 🏀💚🐉