Harlan High School

Harlan Independent is incredibly proud to celebrate one of our own, Nashayla Harris! What an incredible accomplishment! Nashayla was recently named the Midwest Youth of the Year Runner-Up, placing her among the Top 10 Youth of the Year finalists in the nation. As Kentucky's Youth of the Year, she traveled to Chicago where she shared her inspiring story before corporate executives, Boys & Girls Club leaders, and supporters from across the country. She represented Harlan Independent, our community, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia with confidence, grace, and authenticity. Her achievement reflects her resilience, leadership, determination, and the bright future that lies ahead. We are honored to celebrate Nashayla's success alongside our valued partners at Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia. Together, we have had the privilege of watching her grow into an outstanding young leader who continues to make our community proud. Kateena Haynes, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia, shared: "Watching Nashayla represent Kentucky on the regional stage was one of the proudest moments in our Club’s history. Being named Midwest Youth of the Year Runner-Up is an incredible accomplishment, but even more inspiring is the leader she has become. Nashayla reminds us what is possible when young people are given opportunity, encouragement, and someone who believes in them. We couldn’t be more proud, and I have no doubt this is only the beginning of her story." Nashayla noted, “Being part of the Boys & Girls Club has been a life-changing experience for me. Through the Youth of the Year program, I have had the opportunity to travel, meet new people, hear inspiring stories, and share my own. The most rewarding part of this journey has been building relationships and using my voice to inspire others. I have learned that it is not just about winning, but about making a difference and never giving up. This experience has helped me grow from a timid young girl into a confident leader. The Boys & Girls Club has given me opportunities to speak publicly, advocate for what I believe in, and discover my passion for helping others. Because of this journey, I hope to pursue a career in advocacy and continue making a positive impact.” Kendra Calhoun, Chief Operations Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia, added: "I've had the privilege of watching Nashayla grow since she first walked through our Club doors at just 6 years old. Seeing her become a confident leader and advocate for young people has been one of the greatest joys of my career. To watch her stand on that regional stage and share her story with such courage was incredibly special. She is proof of what's possible when a community comes together to invest in a child, and I know this is only the beginning of her leadership journey." Adding to this incredible accomplishment, Nashayla was the youngest competitor in the regional competition and will have the opportunity to compete again next year. Congratulations, Nashayla! Your Harlan Independent family, your Boys & Girls Club family, and your entire community are cheering you on every step of the way. We can't wait to see what you accomplish next! #HarlanIndependent #DragonPride #YouthOfTheYear #KentuckyProud #BGCAppalachia

📅Mark your calendars, HHS Orientation Day is almost here! 🐉 HHS Freshmen Orientation Thursday, August 6 5:30–7:30 PM For incoming freshmen 🐉 HHS Dual Credit Orientation Thursday, August 6 4:00–5:00 PM For all juniors and seniors interested in taking dual credit classes and their parents. We look forward to seeing you on Orientation Day!

🏃‍♀️🏀⚾ 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! 🐉

🎓 Attention Harlan High School Seniors! 🎓 Class of 2026 Senior Banners are now available for pickup in the Harlan High School office. Please stop by during regular office hours to pick up your banner and celebrate this exciting milestone! 🐉

⛳ GOLF SEASON IS ALMOST HERE! 🏌️‍♂️

Calling all boys and girls in Grades 5–12 who are interested in playing golf this season!

📅 Team Meeting: Friday, June 19
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: HHS Baseball Field

⛳ All interested players are encouraged to attend!

Good luck to Harlan’s own Izack Saylor as he travels to Greensboro, North Carolina to compete at the Adidas Track Nationals tomorrow! Izack has earned the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in high school track and field and will be representing Harlan in the high jump competition. We are incredibly proud of his hard work and commitment to excellence. Join us in wishing Izack the very best as he competes against some of the nation’s top athletes. 💚🐉🖤

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Garret Begley to the Harlan Independent family! Garret is a proud Harlan graduate whose connection to the district began at just four years old as a student at Sunshine Preschool. During his time at Harlan, he participated in both football and baseball and now has the opportunity to give back by helping coach both sports. Garret will be joining our team as a Special Education teacher and is excited to begin serving students in the same school system that helped shape him. He shared that it is an honor to teach and coach at Harlan, and he cannot wait to get started. Welcome home, Garret! We are excited to have you as part of the Green Dragon family! 🐉💚

🏀🐉 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 🏀💚🐉

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ 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! 🐉💚

🏀💚 LADY DRAGONS BASKETBALL IS BACK! 💚🏀

The Harlan Lady Dragons will be in action today as they host a day of summer scrimmages at Harlan High School!

📅 Today
📍 Harlan High School

🏀 Harlan vs. Rye Cove — 3:00 PM
🏀 Harlan vs. Letcher County Central — 4:40 PM

Come out and get your first look at this year's Lady Dragons as they hit the floor and continue preparing for the upcoming season. Your support means everything to our players and coaches!
#GoBigGreen🐉

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 🐉💚

🐉🐉🐉 Please join us in welcoming the newest member of the Harlan Middle School family, Ms. Emma Vonder Haar! Emma will be joining Harlan Independent this fall as our new 7th Grade ELA Teacher. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Emma recently graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she studied American Studies, Government, and Environmental Studies. She also had the opportunity to study abroad in Ecuador during her time in college. Emma’s love of reading began in elementary school when she discovered the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and she is excited to help foster that same passion for reading in her students. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys exploring Kentucky, cheering on her favorite college sports teams, visiting museums, and hiking. This summer, Emma will be teaching summer school in Estill County through Teach For America before making her move to Harlan. She is excited to become part of the Green Dragon family, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our school community! Welcome to Harlan, Ms. Vonder Haar! 💚🐉 #FamilyOfDragons #MoreThanASchool #GoBigGreen

🐉🐉🐉 Please join us in welcoming the newest addition to the Harlan High School family, Mr. Dakota Saylor! Mr. Saylor will be joining HHS as our ELA/ Journalism Teacher. Dakota, a Harlan native, is a proud graduate of Berea College and the University of the Cumberlands. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Broadcast Journalism and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Dakota brings more than six years of experience in broadcast journalism and content creation to the classroom, and we are excited to have him join the Green Dragon family. Welcome to HHS, Mr. Saylor! 💚🐉 #FamilyOfDragons #MoreThanASchool #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

☀️ Looking for an exciting and FREE summer opportunity for your child? ☀️ The Harlan Teen Club is offering two incredible hands-on summer camps for students entering 5th–12th grade! 🌊 June 1–4: Ocean X STEAM Camp Explore aquatic ecosystems, tackle environmental challenges, and discover how technology helps scientists protect our oceans. 🦇 June 8–11: CaveQuest Dive into the fascinating world of caves, geology, and underground ecosystems through interactive investigations and creative challenges. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided daily 🕘 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 💚 Completely FREE! Don’t miss this opportunity for learning, adventure, and fun this summer! 📲 Register today: https://www.bgcappalachia.club/htc-summer-camp

🔥 Time to hit the court, Green Dragons! 🐉 🏀 Join us for the Harlan Green Dragons Basketball Camp on June 8–9 from 10:00 am to 1:00pm at the Harlan High School Gym! Open to students in grades 3–8. Come sharpen your skills, compete, build confidence, and bring the fire! 💚 📍 Harlan High School Gym 📅 June 8–9 💲 $40 Train. Compete. Get Better. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebXyqgZwTcmM5qZ1gYcZ3MPEbOi6UdT5YqQ3nkNusxvPTBZw/viewform?usp=publish-editor #GoBigGreen #HarlanDragons #DragonBasketball #BringTheFire #FutureDragons

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Harlan Cross Country Skills Camp is coming up! This camp will help students build endurance, learn proper running techniques, and improve strength and speed through games and skill-building activities. Rising 1st–8th-grade students are welcome to join the fun! 📅 June 1 & 2 ⏰ 10:00 AM–12:30 PM 📍 HHS Football Field/Track 🎉 June 1: Silly Sock Day 💦 June 2: “Anything but a Water Bottle” Day On the second day, campers will participate in races, and certificates will be awarded to the top boy and girl finishers! Cost is $40 per student, and additional siblings are $30 each. Water filling stations and popsicles will be provided. Campers will also receive a drawstring bag and water bottle for attending. Register here: https://forms.gle/hPYRJuE1ax8LPAVo6 Come out and have some fun! Go Big Green! 💚

⚠️ GAME TIME UPDATE ⚠️

Green Dragon fans: tonight’s 13th Region Tournament Semi-Final game has been moved up.

🕠 NEW TIME: 5:30 PM

Make plans to get there early, wear your green, and bring the energy as the Dragons battle for a spot in the Region Championship game.

GO DRAGONS!
#FamilyOfDragons #GoBigGreen 🐉

⚾️ 🐉 GREEN DRAGON GAMEDAY - 13TH REGION TOURNAMENT 🐉 ⚾️

The Green Dragons are back under the lights tonight with a trip to the 13th Region Championship game on the line.

🏆 13th Region Tournament – Semi-Finals
🐉 Harlan Green Dragons vs. Whitley County Colonels
📍 North Laurel High School
🕕 First Pitch: 6:00 PM

Family of Dragons… we need you tonight. Wear your green, bring your voices, and help cheer the Green Dragons one step closer to a region title.

GO BIG GREEN!
#FamilyOfDragons #GoBigGreen 🐉

Weather update about tonight's game from the tournament directors at North Laurel: