Harlan Independent Schools is gathering information from students, families, educators, and community members to support our work in developing a district Portrait of a Learner. Built on a strong tradition of academic success, this effort will help guide how we prepare Harlan studentsânot just for graduation, but for life beyond our classrooms. The Portrait of a Learner will define the skills, mindsets, and experiences we believe every Dragon should develop to be confident, capable, and future-ready.
Your voice matters in this process. We invite you to take a few moments to complete this short survey and help shape the future of Harlan Independent Schools. The survey will be open through December 31st.
bit.ly/HarlanIndSurvey
Our Districtwide Christmas Program will take place at 9:00 a.m. in the High School Gymnasium on Friday, December 19th. Any visitor who wishes to attend must enter through the Middle School Atrium doors on the Central Street side to sign in and obtain a visitor's pass. This will be the only entrance available for visitors attending the program.
Harlan Independent Schools wishes all our students, families, and staff a wonderful Thanksgiving. Weâre grateful for each of you and the community that makes our district so special. đđ #EveryDayEveryDragon #FamilyofDragons
Donât miss your chance to capture and remember all the moments that made this school year unforgettable! A limited number of Harlan High School yearbooks will be ordered, so be sure to secure yours early by pre-ordering.
đ Pre-Order Price (before Dec. 31): $60
đ After Jan. 1: $65
Want to reserve your copy now?
A $25 deposit will hold your book!
Deposits must be made in person at HMS or HHS.
Payment can be cash or check (checks payable to HHS Journalism).
Prefer to order online?
Simply scan the QR code below to place your order!
Get yours before theyâre gone! You wonât want to miss this yearâs memories!
#familyofdragons đ #BlackDiamond
đşđ¸ Veterans Day Program â New Date Announced đşđ¸
Harlan High Schoolâs Veterans Day Program has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 13, at 9:30 AM in the gymnasium.
We invite all parents, families, and community members to join us as we honor and celebrate the brave men and women who have served our country. This special ceremony is one of our favorite traditions, and we look forward to sharing it with our school and community.
đ New Date: Thursday, November 13
â° Time: 9:30 AM
đ Location: Harlan High School Gym
đď¸ Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice. We are grateful every day.
#VeteransDay #HarlanHighSchool #HonorAndRespect #FamilyofDragons
đşđ¸ Harlan High School Veterans Day Program đşđ¸
Harlan High School will proudly host our annual Veterans Day Program on Monday, November 11, at 9:30 AM in the gymnasium. We invite all students, families, and community members to join us as we honor the brave men and women who have served our country.
If you have a veteran in your family that you would like to be recognized during the ceremony, please complete the Google Form linked below by November 8th. We want to honor as many heroes as possible, and your participation helps make this event meaningful.
đ Date: Monday, November 11
â° Time: 9:30 AM
đ Location: Harlan High School Gym
đď¸ Thank you to all who have served â we are grateful.
#VeteransDay #HarlanHighSchool #FamilyofDragons
đ Google Form Link: https://forms.gle/fdeJzKxoS59G275U7
At Harlan Independent Schools, weâre committed to making sure every student and family has access to the support they needâstarting with healthy meals. Weâve created a new page on our district website to connect families with local food resources and support programs across our community.
If your familyâor someone you knowâcould benefit from food assistance or meal services, visit our website to explore available options. Together, we can make sure every Dragon has what they need to thrive! đ
đ https://www.harlan-ind.k12.ky.us/page/community-resources
#FamilyOfDragons #EveryDayEveryDragon #HarlanIndependent
â¨Superintendent Jennifer Parsons provided coffee for all Harlan Independent employees this morning as a small gesture of appreciation.
Itâs just one way to say thank you for the dedication, preparation, and hard work our staff pour into making Harlan Independent a great place to learn and work every single day. đđ
#EveryDayEveryDragon #FamilyofDragons #NationalCoffeeDay
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 arenât available.
đŚđ§ Whoâs 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.
đ Need to Apply?
If your student hasnât received SNAP, KTAP, or Kinship Care since July 1, 2024, youâll need to apply starting October 1, 2024 at:
https://KYSEBT.ky.gov/ or through https://kynect.ky.gov/benefits/
đł How Benefits Are Received:
If youâre already receiving benefits, SEBT will be added to your existing EBT card. Otherwise, a new card will be mailed to you.
đ What Can You Buy?
Almost any grocery itemâexcept 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.
đ¸ What an incredible time we had yesterday at the Harlan Independent Schools campus-wide block party! đ 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. đđ
Our first day of school for Elementary, Middle, and High School is TOMORROW, Wednesday, August 6th! We canât wait to welcome all of our students back. Letâs make it a great year! #EveryDayEveryDragon
đ˘ Important Policy Updates for the 2025â26 School Year at Harlan Independent Schools! đ
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, âat 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,â during which âall 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.â
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 devicesâincluding but not limited to cell phones, AirPods, earbuds, smartwatches, camera-equipped glasses, etc.âmust 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.
Green Dragon families, we are excited to kick off the 2025-2026 school year with our annual Back-to-School Block Party on Monday, August 4th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM!
From 5:00â6:00 PM, all of our amazing K-12 teachers will be in their classrooms to welcome students and parents. Itâs a great time to meet your childâs teacher, check out their classroom, and get ready for a strong start.
After that, stick around for food, fun, and games as we celebrate the beginning of another incredible year together.
We can't wait to see everyone back on campus! Letâs make this year our best one yet!
#FamilyofDragons #EveryDayEveryDragon #MorethanaSchool
We're gearing up for an exciting new school year at Harlan Independent, and we've got several important events to help students and families get a strong start! From Kindergarten Jumpstart to our Back-to-School Block Party, there's something for everyone as we count down to the first day of school.
Be sure to check out the flyer below for all the key datesâincluding 5th Grade Open House, Freshmen Orientation, and Sunshine Preschool Open House!
Stay tuned as we will be sharing more details about each event over the next few weeks.
Letâs make 2025-2026 the best year yet! #FamilyofDragons #EveryDayEveryDragon đ
