Harmony Science & Engineering Fair (H-SEF) is an annual science fair that brings together middle and high school students across the Harmony network who have engaged in advanced research projects all year long. Majority of H-SEF finalists are award winners in their regional science fairs within their local communities. H-SEF aims to promote STEM through advanced research among secondary students and increase their interest and motivation to pursue STEM careers.
H-SEF 2022 will be in person at the Harmony Public Schools Central Office in Houston and it is open to all Harmony middle and high school students.
Below you will find H-SEF rules and guidelines along with the event timeline.
Harmony School of Technology is sharing this information about the district and your child’s campus with you as part of its obligations under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA).
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2022/01/federal-report-card.png195291aysetashttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngaysetas2022-01-13 08:42:432022-01-13 08:42:432021 School Federal Report Card
On Monday, Jan 17th, there will be no school observing Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. Celebrated each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. The school reopens and classes resume on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2022/01/MLK-day-no-school.png497882aysetashttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngaysetas2022-01-13 08:23:382022-01-13 08:23:38No School on Monday, January 17th, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Are you interested in participating in an after-school club?
Technology clubs and organizations are a great way to meet new friends and to create greater Technology! Harmony School of Technology staff members hosts several student clubs!
If you see a club listed you are interested in, please visit or email the club sponsor for more information about the club.
To register for the Spring Semester After School Clubs you need to go to the school website. There, under the parent tab, you will see REVTRAK. You need to complete all of your club payments through REVTRAK.
Students can join only one club with the waiver form, and when these forms are filled out, students must provide all the necessary proof. The after-school club committee will meet and go through all waiver forms for their approval.
As soon as you complete your club selection form and make your payments, you will be able to be attending your weekly club meetings.
ALL Clubs are from 3:30 pm-5 pm unless otherwise specified! Students need to be picked up by 5 pm.
Please note, if new clubs become available, we will inform parents and students at that time.
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2021/09/after-school-clubs.png263309aysetashttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngaysetas2022-01-13 08:21:132022-01-13 09:58:41HST Spring 2022 After School Clubs
As we have done in the past, students have the opportunity to earn positive behavior points. Students can earn positive behavior points by showing respect, responsibility, readiness to learn, and achievement. Examples may include completing assignments and turning them in on time, having all material ready, participating in class, and following classroom rules.
You may access students’ PBA (Positive Behavior) points by using Skyward.
Click on PBA (Positive Behavior) icon found in the bottom row on the right side to see how many points the student has earned.
Use the catalog and order form along with your PBA points to purchase the items that you would like that are found in the school newsletter. You may place your order at any time during the school year.
You may spend all or some of your points at any time, or you may choose to save them. It is your choice.
In accordance with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented students, Harmony Public Schools will begin taking referrals for all interested students in grades K-12 for Gifted and Talented (G/T) screening.
Anyone interested in the educational welfare of these students may nominate them for assessment. Students in grades 1 & up who were tested in Fall 2021 are not eligible to test in Spring 2022. Referral forms are available at the front office and on the school’s website (see below).
The referral forms must be returned or emailed to the front office by January 31, 2022. The Spring GT testing window is set by the campus in February or March. Campuses may elect to use NWEA MAP scores as a prescreening criterion for GT Testing.
For more information about the screening and identification process, parents may contact the school’s GT Coach/teacher.
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De acuerdo con el Plan Estatal de Texas para la Educación de Estudiantes Dotados / Talentosos, Harmony Public Schools comenzará a tomar referencias para todos los estudiantes interesados en los grados K-12 para la evaluación de estudiantes dotados y talentosos.
Cualquier persona interesada en el bienestar educativo de estos estudiantes puede nominarlos para dicha evaluación. Los estudiantes en los grados 2 y superiores que fueron evaluados en el otoño de 2020 no son elegibles para la prueba en la primavera de 2021. Los formularios de referencia están disponibles en la oficina y en el sitio web de la escuela.
Los formularios de referencia deben devolverse a la oficina de la escuela antes del lunes 31 de enero del 2022.
Para obtener más información sobre el proceso de selección e identificación, los padres pueden comunicarse con el entrenador / maestro de GT de la escuela.
During this time off from school from December 20, 2021, to January 3, 2022, for Winter break, we want to express our gratitude for everyone who has helped keep our students safe, healthy, connected, and learning. We thank:
● Our students and families who are persevering through hard times.
● Our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming place where students can learn.
● Our administrators who have pulled double duty and filled in for their colleagues.
● Our many, many healers and helpers – the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.
May these days off be restful and healing.
● We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on January 4, 2022.
● If traveling out of the country, please check the travel advisories for re-entry criteria.
● As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.
Thank you for partnering with us to help your child learn, thrive, and succeed.
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2021/12/Happy-Holidays.png217445aysetashttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngaysetas2021-12-13 15:50:242021-12-13 15:50:24Winter Break Letter
During this time of year each January, we ask families to complete a simple, online Re-Enrollment process, letting us know they’ll be joining us for another great year of learning and fun next school year, which starts in August 2022.
This simple step allows us to make sure each current student’s spot at Harmony is reserved for the following school year, and assess how many new student seats we have available for other applicants.
Re-Enrollment at Harmony Public Schools runs January 4-28, 2022. Look for more details in your email inbox, via Skyward, or on our Facebook page soon.
In the meantime, check out these 6 things families need to know about Re-Enrollment at Harmony Public Schools.
#1 – When is Re-Enrollment season?
For the 2022-2023 school year, re-enrollment will be January 4-28, 2022.
#2 – How do I apply for Re-Enrollment?
The preferred method for re-enrollment is through the student’s online Skyward account. (A link to Skyward can be found at the top of your campus homepage or you can simply click here.). Parents without internet and/or Skyward access may also request a paper re-enrollment option from their child’s campus.
#3 – What is the difference between Re-Enrollment and Open Enrollment?
Re-enrollment is intended for current Harmony students planning to stay at their current campus the following school year, or who will naturally feed upward to a new campus (e. from elementary to nearby middle school). Open Enrollment is for new students, or current students who wish to change Harmony campuses for personal reasons (ex. transferring to a campus closer to home).
#4 – If a student plans to stay at the same school next year, are they automatically guaranteed re-enrollment if they complete the re-enrollment process before the deadline?
Yes, so long as their family completes the re-enrollment process.
#5 – What happens if a parent does not submit their re-enrollment information before the deadline?
If a parent misses the deadline to complete the re-enrollment process, then the student will lose his/her reserved space for next school year and must apply during Open Enrollment, held November 1-February 10 each school year. To apply, visit www.HarmonyTX.org/Apply.
#6 – What does a Harmony parent need to do if they would like to stay with Harmony, but transfer to a different campus for the next school year?
If a parent would like to change Harmony campuses for the following school year, they must submit an application for the desired school at www.HarmonyTX.org/Apply.
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2021/12/updated-square-reenroll.png788940John Boydhttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngJohn Boyd2021-12-10 14:42:002021-12-10 08:46:07Re-enrollment is January 4-28 for 2022-23 at Harmony Public Schools
Harmony School of Technology will be closed Nov. 22-26 for Thanksgiving Break. HST wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. The school will resume for students and staff on Monday, Nov. 29.
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2021/11/Thanksgiving-Break-no-school.png242495aysetashttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngaysetas2021-11-19 13:09:522021-11-19 13:10:27Thanksgiving Break-No School Nov 22-26
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2022/01/TutorMe-English-1-1.png788940John Boydhttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngJohn Boyd2021-11-15 20:54:152022-01-25 08:54:35Harmony offers free online tutoring for all students through TutorMe
HST is holding a new type of Fundraiser. It is called SchoolStore.com. If your child takes this information home, what you need to do is sign up by sending out emails to your family and friends. They in turn will shop online at more than 500 sites and our school will get a percentage of the purchase. Your child will return the empty envelope with a prize code written on it and gets a free Fitness Band! More prizes will be given if the emails result in sales. It takes a few minutes of your time and maybe a purchase online to participate. Thank you in advance and happy shopping!
One of the questions we hear most from prospective parents interested in applying to Harmony Public Schools is “I’ve been looking at schools near me, but I don’t understand – what is the difference between a charter school and an ISD public school?”
Public charter schools have grown exponentially in the past 25 years – both in Texas, and around the country – but we understand why many parents who grew up in a traditional independent school district setting themselves may still have questions.
That’s OK. We’ve got the answers to all of your biggest questions about charter schools.
So, what exactly is a charter school?
A charter school is a public school, and in many ways very similar to a traditional ISD school as you might think of one.
Charter schools do not charge tuition or application fees.
Charter schools accept every student who applies, as long as the school or grade level has not reached its enrollment capacity.
Charter school students take the same core classes and state tests (ex. STAAR) as ISD students.
Charter schools offer a full range of special services, including special education, English as a Second Language (ESL), Dyslexia, and 504.
However, what makes charter schools different is what we believe makes them special. In a word, that difference is “choice.”
Way back in 1995, the Texas State Legislature decided that even though there were a lot of great schools in Texas, a one-size-fits-all approach to education might not work for all families. Each child is unique: some with special gifts, others with special challenges, and all with special dreams for their futures.
To help better serve every Texas student, the Texas public charter school system was created to allow independent, education-based nonprofit organizations called Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) to open and operate free public schools for Texas students with the promise that they would provide a new school choice in education for local Texas families.
For some charter schools, that new choice might be a curriculum that focuses on dual-language learning. For others, it might be helping students who have dropped out of the traditional school setting reclaim their path to graduation.
Of the roughly 100 schools in Texas certified as official Texas STEM Academies be the Texas Education Agency, 23 are Harmony Public Schools high schools – more than any other school system in Texas!
As long as a student lives within its geographic boundaries of the school, any child can attend a Texas public charter school. However, unlike traditional ISD schools where students usually must attend whichever nearby campus they are “zoned” to, public charter school geographic boundaries are generally very large – often covering multiple communities or counties. These large geographic boundaries are another way Texas public charter schools offer Texas families a choice in their student’s education, and are unique from traditional ISDs. For example, rather than sending their child to an ISD campus near their home address, a parent may prefer for their child to attend a school near a grandparent’s home, or the parent’s place of work. Or they may prefer to send their child to a campus that specializes in a specific curriculum, like STEM, or with a higher TEA accountability rating than their neighborhood ISD school. All of these are options with Texas public charter schools.
They don’t. Charter school students are never “cherry picked” from an applicant pool. Any student who applies to attend a charter school will be accepted, so long as they meet three basic criteria:
They live within the schools geographic boundaries;
They are applying to a grade taught by that specific school;
Available seats are open in the grade-level to which the family is applying. At Harmony, if more students apply than there are available openings, the campus will hold a “blind” lottery to ensure fair an equal opportunity for enrollment to all new applicants.
When and how can a student apply to a charter school?
A student can apply to a charter school at any time during the school year and be accepted if space is available. However, most Texas public charter schools also offer an open enrollment period each year specifically for prospective new students. During this time, families can learn more about their charter school options and enter their name for the enrollment lottery, which is held in the event there are more applicants than available seats. For Harmony Public Schools, open enrollment runs each November 1 through February 10.
As opposed to a traditional ISD school, which receives its funding primarily from the taxes local homeowners pay each year combined with additional funding from the state, charter schools receive their primary funding from the state and federal governments. Additionally, charters often receive both public and private grants to fund many of their innovative academic programs. For example, in recent years Harmony Public Schools has received grants of varying amounts from the U.S. Department of Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and the Elon Musk Foundation, among others.
Are Texas public charter schools for-profit?
No. By law, Texas public charter schools must be nonprofit entities. All funds received are used in the service of our students and school teams.
Do charter schools require uniforms?
That’s a decision that’s up to each charter school. At Harmony Public Schools, we do have a uniform policy. (Our students do get regular “free dress” days, though.)
Do charter schools offer the same types of programs and extracurricular activities as ISD schools?
Charter schools offer almost all of the same programs and extracurricular activities as ISD schools, though just like at an ISD school, the exact selection of extracurricular opportunities varies from campus-to-campus. Traditionally, charter schools specialize in offering a wide variety of academic-focused extracurriculars. For example, at Harmony Public Schools, some of our most popular extracurricular activities are our groundbreaking eSports clubs, LEGO robotics, rocketry, computer coding, and biomedicine. Our schools also compete in a wide variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football.
What level accountability do charter schools have to maintain?
Just like traditional ISDs, Texas charter schools must remain in good academic and financial accountability with the Texas Education Agency. That includes annual inclusion in the TEA’s Financial Integrity System of Texas (FIRST) and Overall Accountability ratings. Charter schools that do not meet these standards face closure by the TEA. Finally, to help families easily understand how their charter school is performing, the TEA has created a Charter School Performance Framework (CSPF), which grades charter districts on overall academic performance and closing achievement gaps.
What other differences are there between charter schools and traditional ISD schools?
There are a few other differences between Texas public charter schools and ISDs, but most don’t impact the day-to-day campus life of our students. For example, charter school boards consist of appointed volunteers with a unique interest in education, rather than private individuals who have chosen to run for election. However, charter school board meetings are still open to the public to attend and participate.
What about …?
We couldn’t possibly share all the things that make charter schools a unique and important part of the Texas educational environment in just one article. So if you have more questions, we’d love the opportunity to tell you more. Just tell us what you want to know in our Let’s Talk family communication platform, and we’ll reach out with an answer soon!
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2022/03/WORDPRESS-Charter-School-Facts-Wordpress.png880880John Boydhttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngJohn Boyd2021-10-26 16:52:312022-03-28 14:41:55What is a charter school? The difference between ISD schools and Texas public charter schools
Red Ribbon Week(October 25-29) is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program. To represent our pledge to live drug-free and honor the sacrifice of all who have lost their lives in the fight against drugs, HST will celebrate Red Ribbon Week with special dress-up days.
Monday:Proud to Be Drug-Free! Wear Red to Help Kickoff Red Ribbon Week
Tuesday:Team Up Against Bullying and Using Drugs! Wear Your Favorite Team Shirt or Jersey with jeans.
Wednesday:Twin Day. Double Up and Say No to Drugs
Thursday:Scare Drugs Away! Wear Crazy Socks and Crazy Hair with Uniforms.
Friday:Think Pink Day! In Honor of October Being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Wear As Much Pink as Possible.
Please make sure to follow the Harmony school free dress code rules.
Jeans must be free of holes, tears, or tight pants
Clothing must not have any inappropriate wording, logos, messages, or advertising
No shorts, skin-tight, or legging dresses, or skirts may be worn
All dresses must have sleeves and be knee-length
No low cut or midriff-baring, or backless blouses.
No jeggings, tights, or skinny style pants
Failure to follow the dress code will result in parents being called to bring a change of clothes or pick up a child if they violate the dress code.
If you need any additional information regarding rules for free dress please reference page 25 of the student handbook.
We will be celebrating our Hispanic Heritage and sharing our culture and traditions with the rest of the Harmony Family.
Estaremos celebrando nuestra herencia hispana y compartiendo nuestra cultura y tradiciones con el resto de la familia Harmony.
We would like to set up stands or booths to represent as many Hispanic countries as possible. Every stand or booth needs to be hosted by at least one family. More than one family can host a booth.
Nos gustaria representar tantos paises hispanos como sea posible. Cada pais necesita tener una familia anfitriona. Puede haber mas de una familia anfitirona por pais.
Please sign up for as many items as possible. Even if you are not available to attend, you may cooperate by donating some of the items needed for the event.
Por favor, apuntese como voluntario para todo lo que le sea posible. Aun si no le es posible asistir, puede participar donando algunos de los articulos que estamos necesitando o platillos.
We would love to have a DJ or some sort of live music or entertainment. If you or someone you know can help, please let us know.
Nos encantaria tener un DJ o musica/entretenimiento en vivo. Si usted o alguien que conozca puede colaborar con esto, por favor, avisenos.
Thanks in advance for your great support!
Gracias de antemano por su apoyo!
This year every child at Harmony Public Schools is eligible to receive free lunch and breakfast each day from our child nutrition team.
However, Harmony would like to remind parents of the need to still submit one of our critical Harmony forms instead of the application normally associated with qualifying for Free & Reduced Price Meal Programs.
Each year, Harmony Public Schools is required to collect and report the socioeconomic status of each student to the Texas Education Agency for purposes of the annual state accountability ratings and for federal reporting. The data collected is used by educational agencies to determine funding which may be used for a variety of programs and educational opportunities.
Today, we are asking parents to please complete the online form “Household Income Information” in Skyward. Upon login to Skyward, this form is accessible from the main screen. If you have any questions, please contact the Child Nutrition Assistant at your child’s school.
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2021/09/Important-Parent-Request.png788940John Boydhttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngJohn Boyd2021-09-28 10:41:482021-09-28 10:41:48An important request for parents of Harmony Public Schools students
After the weather-related cancelations, HST cheer tryouts will now be held on Friday, September 17, 2021. Please contact Mrs. Guidry for more information.
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott officially signed into law a new education funding bill that will allow public schools like ours to offer full virtual learning to up to 10 percent of our student body enrolled in Grades K-12.
Under the law, to be eligible to participate and remain in virtual learning, students must meet all of the following criteria:
Students must have passed the most recent STAAR exams (if applicable to grade level). If student did not take STAAR, NWEA grade-level proficiency is required, AND;
Students must have earned a “C” grade of higher in “foundation curriculum” courses taken virtually or remotely in the previous school year (ex. Math, reading), AND;
Students must have no more than 10% unexcused absences during the previous school year, and maintain less than 10 unexcused absences in a six-month period.
Recently, we asked families to log into Skyward to let us know if they prefer for their child to attend virtual learning or continue in-person learning on campus. The deadline to make your selection is Wednesday September 15, 2021. For those who select “Virtual Learning,” we will cross-checking their student records to determine their eligibility status. Those selected will be notified by their home campus soon and given further directions on how to begin online learning.
For those not selected for virtual learning or who wish to remain in-person learning from campus, Harmony will continue to offer its “remote conferencing” option on an as-needed basis. Under this program, students can learn from home for up to 20 instructional days if they have a pre-existing medical condition, or are forced to quarantine due to positive COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure. Additional days may be granted upon TEA approval with required documentation.
Harmony thanks you for your ongoing support and patience as the situation regarding virtual learning unfolded these past few weeks. Whether your student is attending virtual or in-person, we look forward to a great school year with you and your family.
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La semana pasada, el gobernador Greg Abbott promulgó oficialmente una nueva ley de financiación de la educación que permitirá a las escuelas públicas como la nuestra ofrecer aprendizaje virtual completo para hasta el 10 por ciento de nuestros estudiantes.
En consecuencia, Harmony Public Schools se complace en anunciar que comenzará a ofrecer una opción de aprendizaje virtual a partir del lunes 4 de octubre para los estudiantes elegibles, según lo permitan los límites de inscripción.
Según la ley, para ser elegible para participar y permanecer en el aprendizaje virtual, los estudiantes deben cumplir con todos los siguientes criterios:
Los estudiantes deben haber aprobado los exámenes STAAR más recientes (si corresponde al nivel de grado). Si el estudiante no hizo STAAR, se requiere competencia de nivel de grado de NWEA, Y;
Los estudiantes deben haber obtenido una calificación “C” o superior en los cursos del “plan de estudios básico” hechos de forma virtual o remota en el año escolar anterior (por ejemplo, matemáticas, lectura), Y;
Los estudiantes no deben tener más del 10% de ausencias injustificadas durante el año escolar anterior y mantener menos de 10 ausencias injustificadas en un período de seis meses.
Recientemente, les pedimos a las familias que inicien sesión en Skyward para informarnos si prefieren que su hijo asista al aprendizaje virtual o que continúe con el aprendizaje presencial en el campus. La fecha límite para hacer su selección es el miércoles 15 de septiembre de 2021. Para aquellos que seleccionen “Aprendizaje virtual”, verificaremos sus registros de estudiantes para determinar su estado de elegibilidad. Los seleccionados serán notificados por su campus de origen pronto y se les dará más instrucciones sobre cómo comenzar el aprendizaje en línea.
Para aquellos que no hayan sido seleccionados para el aprendizaje virtual o que deseen seguir aprendiendo de manera presencial desde el campus, Harmony continuará ofreciendo su opción de “conferencias remotas” según sea necesario. Bajo este programa, los estudiantes pueden aprender desde casa durante hasta 20 días de instrucción si tienen una afección médica preexistente o si se ven obligados a ponerse en cuarentena debido a un diagnóstico positivo o exposición a la COVID-19. Se pueden otorgar días adicionales con la aprobación de la TEA con la documentación requerida.
Gracias por su continuo apoyo y paciencia mientras se desarrolló el aprendizaje virtual estas últimas semanas. Ya sea que su estudiante asista virtual o presencialmente, esperamos tener un gran año escolar con usted y su familia.
https://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2021/09/Wordpress-Virtual-Learning.png940940John Boydhttps://campus.harmonytx.org/hsthouston-new/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2019/12/HS-Technology-Houston-300x163.pngJohn Boyd2021-09-13 13:30:072021-09-13 13:30:07Harmony Public Schools offering virtual learning option for 2021-22 school year
Due to inclement weather with Tropical Storm Nicholas, all after-school clubs and extracurricular activities are canceled today, Monday, Sept 13. In addition, in-person and virtual classes are canceled on Tuesday, September 14. All Harmony Houston North offices and schools will be closed on Tuesday, September 14.
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