✨ Unplugged, Connected, and Learning Hand-on at Harrison Public Schools! ✨

Take a look inside our classrooms! 📚✏️ The Harrison Public School District is making a deliberate push to reduce screen time and bring learning back to life with real books, pencils, and face-to-face connection.

Why the shift? Because we believe in:

Real Books & Pencils: Turning physical pages and writing by hand builds deeper comprehension, focus, and memory retention.

Active Thinking: Moving away from passive screen scrolling and moving toward active problem-solving and creativity.

Social Skills: Giving kids the space to collaborate, talk, laugh, and learn together in person.

From building tactile projects to sharing a great story with a classmate, our students are discovering the joy of being fully engaged in the room. A huge shoutout to our amazing teachers who make these hands-on experiences possible every single day! 👋❤️

Check out these smiling, focused faces—proof that when we turn the screens off, the real learning turns on! 💡

#HarrisonProud #HandsOnLearning #ScreenTimeReduction
about 7 hours ago, Harrison Schools
A young boy with glasses and a blue shirt smiles brightly at the camera while sitting at a wooden desk, holding a pencil and writing in a lined notebook.
Two young girls leaning over a wooden table, happily collaborating and turning the pages of an open physical binder and workbook together during a lesson.
A female teacher leaning in next to a young boy at a school desk, gently guiding his hand as he writes with a pencil in his notebook.
A young girl with her hair in twin pigtails sits at a school desk, using her finger to track her place as she writes with a pencil in a notebook.
Three school boys sitting at long wooden classroom desks, deeply focused on reading physical paperback books during a quiet study session.
wo young girls in a classroom working together on a hands-on project, looking down attentively at a colorful fabric box patterned with sunflowers on a grey table.
A group of four students collaborating at a classroom table. A boy in a yellow shirt shows a small homemade cardboard project to a girl in a grey shirt, while another girl and boy interact in the background.
A group of elementary school students sitting cross-legged on a checkered rug, listening attentively to their teacher who is speaking at the front of the classroom.

At the August Board of Education meeting there were several recognitions and presentations including:

HomeGrown Stories creators, Stephanie Benton, Becca Jackson, Lily Burns, the Burns family, and Madelyn Sutton were present to be recognized as a team and especially Lily Burns for being the first student presenter at the National Ag in the Classroom conference in Rhode Island in June. The district is thankful for the leadership provided by the teachers and administrators and Lily for representing the school and our community at this conference.

HMS FBLA members, Bellah Burns and Paisley Taylor, were recognized for receiving First Place in the NATION at the FBLA National Leadership Conference this summer for their presentation on Annual Chapter Activities. This event category is focused on community impact, project management, and chapter leadership. The girls also shared their national award winning presentation with the board during the meeting.

Molly Thurman, HMS Middle School teacher, was recognized for her recent honors. First, she was selected as the Arkansas Business Educator New Teacher of the Year which recognizes exceptional educators who demonstrate outstanding instructional quality, innovative classroom practices, and a deep commitment to preparing students for future career and success. She was also recognized as the Arkansas Business Educator District VI Representative of the Year in recognition of her leadership, dedicated services, and contributions to the association and fellow business educators across the state.

Marisa Keylon was recognized for her board service since 2016. Marisa received her master board member designation in December of 2021. She resigned her board member role at tonight's meeting to move out of state. The district will miss Ms. Keylon's strong advocacy for students, staff, the district, and our community.

Mrs. Debbie Wilson, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, shared the Annual Report to the Public with the board highlighting the past year's achievements. She also shared with the board the District's plan that is being implemented to reduce student screen time and limit mobile device usage in school.

1 day ago, Susan Gilley
Debbie Wilson speaking on screen time reduction.
Marisa Keylon receiving her board recognition for service award.
Molly Thurman receiving recognition for her state awards.
Bellah and Paisley sharing their National award-winning presentation.
HMS students, staff, and admin receiving recognition for National award.
Lily Burns sharing her experience of being the first student presenter at the National Ag in the Classroom conference in Rhode Island.
The Wheels Don't Turn Without Gina Souers! 🚌✨

Today, we want to recognize the absolute mastermind behind our bus garage! For 23 incredible years, Gina has worked tirelessly to keep Harrison buses moving safely and smoothly.

Drop a 💙 or a comment below to say thank you to Gina for everything she does for our students, drivers, and families!

#HarrisonGoblins #StaffSpotlight #TransportationHero
2 days ago, Harrison Schools
Staff Spotlight graphic for Gina Souers with a blue and yellow Harrison School District theme. On the right, a circular frame features a photo of Gina, a smiling woman with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair wearing a white lace top. Below her photo, a white banner reads "GINA SOUERS -TRANSPORTATION-". On the left, bold yellow and white text reads "STAFF Spotlight," followed by a paragraph recognizing Gina's 23 years of dedication keeping the buses safe, mapping routes, and helping parents. The Harrison Goblins mascot logo sits in the bottom left corner against a blue background with abstract yellow geometric circles.
Reminder: The Harrison School Board of Education meeting will be live-streamed tonight at 6:30 PM. You can view the agenda on our website or watch live at the following link: https://hpsgobs.org/BOEAug2026
2 days ago, Susan Gilley
live stream picture placeholder
🍎 Big Smiles on Day ONE of After-School! 🎒✨

Today kicked off our after-school program for ALL Harrison Public School students! We know this program is a total lifesaver for parents, and we love providing it at no cost. Our students had a blast fueling up on snacks, getting homework help, playing games, and spreading kindness by making cards for local nursing homes. Check out a few snapshots of our students learning, playing, and giving back!

3 days ago, Harrison Schools
Three boys stand around a school table participating in a fun cup-stacking challenge. One boy wears a bright green lightning-bolt hoodie, while the others carefully balance a growing structure of red plastic cups.
A female teacher with blonde hair and glasses sits at a wooden table, gently guiding and talking to a student with wavy blonde hair. They both hold pencils as they work through a lesson together in a bright classroom.
A smiling young girl with long strawberry-blonde hair and freckles holds up a purple grape juice box during snack time. In the background, a boy wearing a red shirt smiles for the camera while holding a small snack cracker.
A close-up view from above of a young boy with short brown hair laying on the carpet. He is using a yellow marker to carefully write "Happy Birthday I LOVE you" in bright colors on a large white piece of paper.
A young girl with long blonde hair and glasses sits at a gray desk, wearing a blue and pink tie-dye shirt. She is focused on writing a kind message with a colored pencil on a small index card. Several colored pencils are lined up neatly on the table in front of her.
Harrison High School Band Performs at New Main Street Bridge Ribbon Cutting 💙💛
The Harrison High School Band had the fantastic opportunity to play at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the New Main Street Bridge! Under a perfect sunny sky, our student-musicians brought the energy and the tunes to help celebrate this major milestone for our city.

We are incredibly proud of these talented students for representing Harrison Public Schools so well. Thank you to city leaders for inviting us to be a part of this historic day, and great job to our band members and directors! 💙📢

#HarrisonGoblins #GoblinPride #MainStreetBridge #RibbonCutting #CommunityStrong
6 days ago, Harrison Schools
Members of the Harrison High School band playing their instruments on a concrete bridge during a sunny day. Students in matching blue t-shirts and khakis are actively playing trumpets, saxophones, and flutes, while the band director conducts from the left side of the frame.
A wide shot of the Harrison High School pep band standing on a newly paved concrete bridge under a clear blue sky. The students, wearing matching blue t-shirts and khaki shorts, are holding instruments and waving enthusiastically toward the camera. A band director in a blue shirt and khaki pants stands facing them with his arm raised.
A close-up shot of the Harrison High School pep band performing on a wide concrete road. The student musicians are wearing matching blue shirts and khaki shorts while playing saxophones, clarinets, and brass instruments. The band director stands on the left, conducting the ensemble under a bright, sunny sky.
💡 Big Thanks to Entergy! ⚡
A huge thank you to the crew from Entergy of Harrison for stepping out to welcome our students at Skyline Heights Elementary this morning! We love seeing our community partners helping us kick off the school day with such great energy.

🏆 We are also incredibly proud to celebrate our very own Ava Likes, the 2026 Entergy of Arkansas Junior Lineman Rodeo Champion! Way to go, Ava!

Thank you, Entergy, for your amazing support of our schools and community! 💙💛
8 days ago, Harrison Schools
ive Entergy workers stand in a row on a school driveway under a large black banner suspended between two utility bucket trucks that reads, "Welcome Back Students."
.A young man wearing an Entergy long-sleeve shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap leans down on a school sidewalk to offer a friendly high-five to a smiling young girl wearing a pink outfit and a backpack.
A line of cars during a school morning drop-off, with two Entergy utility bucket trucks parked in the background and a worker assisting near a vehicle door.
A man in a baseball cap and t-shirt greets a young school girl with a colorful Minnie Mouse backpack as she walks along the school sidewalk.
man stands by the open door of a white pickup truck, helping a young school girl gather her backpack and things during morning drop-off.
A smiling young girl with glasses and a striped yellow outfit stands proudly next to a white Entergy truck featuring a large poster that reads: "Home of the 2026 Entergy of Arkansas Junior Lineman Rodeo Champion Ava Likes."

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the practice field last night for the Harrison Band End of Summer Friends & Family Performance!

Our students absolutely shined as they gave us an incredible first look at their 2026 production, Eye See You! 👁️🎷 All of their summer hard work and dedication were on full display.

Thank you to the amazing families and Goblin fans who brought out lawn chairs and packed the sidelines to cheer them on. We can't wait for an unforgettable season ahead!🎶

#HarrisonBand #EyeSeeYou2026 #GoblinPride

8 days ago, Harrison Schools
A high-angle, wide shot of the full marching band spread out in formation on the practice field during the sunset performance. Front ensemble instruments are lined up in the foreground, color guard members hold blue flags in the center, and brass and woodwind players are lined up across the field.
high-angle view looking down at the marching band front ensemble (pit) percussionists set up with marimbas and xylophones on the grass field. A long line of color guard members stretches straight back into the distance under a bright sunset sky.
A wide outdoor shot of the Harrison Band students and a crowd of family members gathered on a grassy practice field under a clear blue sky. In the background, a white water tower with "Home of the Goblins" and a mascot logo stands tall beyond the trees.
Two band students walking across a grass field at sunset. The student in the foreground is carrying a large, black Pearl marching bass drum on his back, silhouetted against a vibrant orange and yellow sunset sky.
A woman holding a saxophone and a young girl standing next to her on the grass field, both bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. Other event attendees and equipment stands are visible in the background.
Two young boys standing on the grass field and smiling while talking to each other. One boy wears a dark athletic t-shirt and shorts, while the other wears a white short-sleeved button-down shirt, shorts, and a brown flat cap. Black equipment carts are parked in the background.

No-Cost After-School Program – Open to ALL Harrison Students!


Looking for a safe, fun, and enriching environment for your child after the school bell rings? Join us for Harrison Public Schools' NO COST After-School Program! Learn, grow, and make great memories with us every week. After School Programming is back for the 26-27 school year!

Programming will begin on Monday, August 17, at three convenient locations

Forest Heights Elementary (K-4),

Skyline Heights Elementary (K-4), and

Harrison Middle School (5-12).

To enroll online, visit https://hpsgobs.org/AfterSchool27

Program Schedule:
Monday – Thursday: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Early Release Wednesdays: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Fun & Enriching Daily Activities:
STEM Challenges
Homework Helper Time
Whole Group Games
Guest Speakers
Arts & Crafts
...and much more!

Contact Information & Site Coordinators:
Forest Heights Elementary: Amanda Dupre — adupre@hps.k12.ar.us
Skyline Heights Elementary: Alicia Morris — amorris@hps.k12.ar.us
Harrison Middle School: Staci Tucker — stucker@hps.k12.ar.us

Come join us after school—we can’t wait to see you there!

8 days ago, Susan Gilley
after school programming announcement

Welcome Back, Goblins!
The energy across the Harrison School District was absolutely amazing this morning for the first day of school! From high-fives at the doors and big smiles from our staff and SROs, to our bus drivers and cafeteria teams ready to roll, day one is off to a spectacular start.

Thank you to our incredible community for making this morning so special. Let’s make it a fantastic year! 🌟

#FirstDayOfSchool

10 days ago, Harrison Schools
A young female student with a backpack high-fives a male school administrator in a white shirt and tie outside a school brick entryway on a sunny morning.
A young female student with a backpack high-fives a male school administrator in a white shirt and tie outside a school brick entryway on a sunny morning.
A young boy wearing a backpack high-fives a female staff member in a red top at a school drop-off line, while a female police officer smiles in the background.
A student carrying a backpack walks along the sidewalk next to a line of yellow school buses parked in front of a grassy hill.
High school cheerleaders in blue uniforms stand in a line greeting and welcoming a row of student-athletes outside the school entrance.
A male staff member in a plaid shirt and khaki pants opens the back passenger door of a black SUV to assist a student in the school drop-off line.
Smiling cafeteria staff members stand behind the serving counter in a clean, commercial school kitchen, preparing to serve meals to students.
The energy across the Harrison School District was absolutely wonderful this morning for the first day of school! From high-fives at the doors and big smiles from our staff and SROs, to our bus drivers and cafeteria teams ready to roll, day one is off to a spectacular start. Thank you to our incredible community for making this morning so special. Let’s make it a fantastic year! 🌟
Harrison Schools extends a sincere thank you to Weichert, REALTORS® - Market Edge for providing a delicious, freshly grilled lunch for our entire staff yesterday during our back-to-school professional development session.

Preparing for a successful school year takes hard work and dedication, and we are deeply grateful for community partners who take the time to support and encourage our educators and support staff.

Thank you, Weichert Realtors, for your generous hospitality and commitment to the Harrison Schools family!
13 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
An outdoor setup in a parking lot where representatives from Weichert, REALTORS® - Market Edge, dressed in matching yellow shirts, serve lunch to Harrison Schools staff. The area features a large mobile smoker grill, a yellow pop-up tent, and tables covered in yellow tablecloths filled with stacked boxed meals. A banner displayed across the main table reads "Weichert REALTORS Market Edge - Thank You TEACHERS!"

Welcome back, Harrison Public Schools faculty and staff! 🍎

We had an excellent start to our year this morning during our Back-to-School Professional Development in the Performing Arts Center. The program opened with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by our choir, followed by welcoming remarks and a vision for the year ahead from Mrs. Debbie Wilson and Dr. Stewart Pratt. 🎙️

A special thank you to the Harrison Public Schools Foundation Board, who joined us to present grants to several of our teachers. We look forward to seeing these innovative project proposals come to life in our classrooms this year. 💡

Thank you to all of our educators and staff for your ongoing dedication to our students. Here is to an outstanding school year ahead! ✨

14 days ago, Harrison Schools
Harrison choir students are singing the National Anthem for the school district back to school pd. The American flag hangs in the backdrop.
A wide, elevated side angle of the Performing Arts Center auditorium filled with Harrison staff members standing at their seats during the morning program.
View from the back of the auditorium showing rows of Harrison School District staff seated and looking toward the stage. A speaker stands at the podium beneath a large screen reading "Harrison Public Schools."
Wide shot of the stage at the Harrison Performing Arts Center. Members of the Harrison Public Schools Foundation board stand in a line on stage, smiling and applauding next to a podium. A projector screen displays the "Harrison Public Schools Foundation" logo.
Six female Harrison School District teachers stand side-by-side on the auditorium stage, proudly holding up the official Harrison Public Schools Foundation grant certificates they received for their classroom projects.
A close-up shot of five smiling female teachers sitting together in a row of auditorium seats, looking up at the camera before the presentations begin.
Teachers in the PAC watching a presentation. Six teachers are standing up to be recognized for thier achievments.
Four male Harrison School District staff members sit in a row of blue auditorium seats, smiling for the camera. They are wearing matching bright blue polo shirts embroidered with the "Harrison Public Schools" logo and nametags, sitting alongside other staff members in the audience before the presentation begins.
Getting ready for a great school year!

Harrison teachers and staff are busy training, planning, and preparing to welcome students back on Monday, August 10. This morning, Kevin Kaeser, Emily Barrett, and Debbie Wilson presented tech and curriculum updates to our elementary teachers at the Professional Development Center.

We’re counting down the days until the classrooms are full again!
15 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
A presenter stands on the left side of a classroom speaking to a seated audience of teachers with open laptops. A large projector screen displays a slide titled "K–4 Report Card Updates" showing a sample report card graphic with the Harrison Schools mascot.
A presenter in a dark blue polo shirt stands at the front of a room speaking to teachers. Behind him, a projection screen reads "Aristotle K12: Keeping Our Students Safe & On Task" with icons representing web safety and monitoring.
Welcome Back to our Teachers and Staff!

Today marks Day 1 for our incredible teachers and staff! 💙✨

Our teams are hard at work on their campuses today—diving into meetings, collaborating, and getting everything ready for an amazing school year. We have a big week of prep ahead, and we can’t wait to fill these halls with energy, learning, and big smiles when our students return on August 10!

To our teachers and staff: Thank you for your dedication, your heart, and all the hard work you put into making Harrison Schools a great place to learn and grow. Let’s make this year the best one yet!

Please drop a message in the comments below to wish our staff a fantastic first day back!
17 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
A framed sign sitting on a blue tablecloth reads "welcome BACK TO SCHOOL TEACHERS" in colorful lettering with a pencil illustration and colorful banner flags at the top. In front of the sign are several small, clear plastic treat bags containing candy bars. Each bag is sealed with a colorful gift tag styled like a chalkboard that says "WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!" flanked by red apples.
A group of teachers and school staff sitting at long cafeteria tables during an indoor training session or meeting, with laptops, clipboards, and notebooks open in front of them.
A large room filled with educators and staff seated at round cafeteria tables, working in groups with paperwork and laptops. A presenter stands near the wall on the left holding papers, while two wall-mounted TV monitors display presentation slides titled "Our Next Play." Bright sunlight filters in through large windows on the right.
An audience of educators sitting at long tables, viewed from behind, watching a presenter stand before a large projector screen. The screen shows a Canva presentation slide labeled "Handbook" covering topics like duty schedules, staff information, and cafeteria procedures. An Arkansas state flag hangs near a stage doorway on the right.
A wide room filled with teachers and school staff seated along long rows of folding tables, actively working on laptops and taking notes. Windows line the left wall, showing outdoor school buildings, while cardboard boxes and school equipment are stacked in the background on the right.

Ready to get registered? You don’t have to wait!

At Harrison Public Schools, we offer open registration. Families can stop by any school office during regular business hours to register their child/children for the upcoming school year—no waiting for the first day of school required!

While anyone on our team can assist you, here are the main friendly faces ready to help at each building:

Harrison Preschool: Jenny Cowling

Harrison Kindergarten: Connie Clark

Skyline Heights Elementary: Jenny Curtis

Forest Heights Elementary: Sheila Morrison

Harrison Middle School: Robyn Bradford

Harrison High School: Amy Petersen

Beat the first-day rush—come on in during regular hours and get registered today. We can’t wait to welcome your students!

20 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
Graphic graphic featuring the word "Welcome" in large gold and blue letters, followed by the text: "Ready to get registered? You don't have to wait!" Below, a hand types on a laptop displaying a Harrison Public Schools registration form. Gold text in the corner reads: "We can't wait to see you."
Thank you to our wonderful local partners at Arvest Bank for stopping by the Harrison Schools administration office today!

They dropped off a delicious sampler cheesecake along with a sweet message: "Hope your school year is a piece of cake!"

We are so grateful for Arvest’s continued support and community care as we gear up for a fantastic upcoming school year. Community partners like you truly help make Harrison Schools a great place to learn and grow.

Thank you, Arvest Bank, for making our day a little sweeter and helping us start the year on such a high note!
21 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
Three people standing together indoors smiling for the camera. On the left is a man in a beige plaid blazer and tan trousers. In the center, a woman wearing a white top with pink vertical stripes holds a round, multi-flavor cheesecake in a clear plastic container. On the right, a woman in a blue floral dress holds a sign that reads, "Hope your school year is a piece of cake!" with an Arvest logo at the bottom.

Back-To-School Vaccine Clinic Announcement

Attention Harrison School District families!

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, the Boone County Health Unit is hosting a Back to School Vaccine Clinic to help make sure your students are up-to-date on their required immunizations.

Clinic Details

Dates: August 4th and August 18th
Time: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Boone County Health Unit, 1622 Campus Drive, Harrison, AR 72650
Appointments & Info: Please call 870-743-5244 to schedule an appointment or for more information.

Website: healthy.arkansas.gov Please reach out to the health unit directly to schedule your appointment!

24 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
Back to School Vaccine Clinic flyer featuring diverse, smiling school children in front of a yellow school bus. Text indicates clinic dates as August 4th and 18th from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm at the Boone County Health Unit, located at 1622 Campus Drive, Harrison, AR 72650. Includes instructions to call 870-743-5244 for appointments or information, displays the website healthy.arkansas.gov, and features the Arkansas Department of Health logo.
The start of the 2026-2027 school is approaching quickly!
We are counting down to August 10th and can't wait to see our students!

Fill in the blank: My student will be in _____ grade this year!

Drop their grade in the comments below! 👇
24 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
Promotional graphic for Harrison Public Schools, featuring the district logo at the top in blue and gold on a white brick wall. In the center, a classroom whiteboard is framed with black metal. Hand-written style text in black reads, 'School starts August 10!'. Below it, in blue, the interactive prompt reads, 'My student will be in...' followed by a line of dots and '...GRADE'. At the bottom of the board, black text instructs, 'Drop their grade below!' with a pointing hand emoji.
How to Access Our Website and Mobile App

As we prepare for the start of school on August 10th, we want to make sure all families have a direct connection to Harrison Public Schools. The district website and mobile app are your primary resources for staff directories, meal menus, building announcements, and important updates throughout the year.

Accessing Our District Website

Visit us anytime on your computer, tablet, or smartphone at: https://www.harrisongoblins.org/

Downloading the Harrison Goblins Mobile App

The mobile app is free and custom-built for our school community. On the app, you can read the latest district announcements, view upcoming events, locate staff contact information, and receive real-time updates directly on your phone.

Use the direct links below to download the app for your device:

Apple / iOS Users: https://hpsgobs.org/AppleApp

Android Users: https://hpsgobs.org/AndroidApp

Important Tip: After downloading the app, please make sure to allow push notifications when prompted. This ensures you receive immediate alerts for school closures, schedule updates, and campus emergency notifications.

Thank you for staying connected with Harrison Public Schools!
24 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
Promotional graphic for Harrison Public Schools encouraging families to download the mobile app. Features screens of the app showing district feed, events, and menus, with text reading "Don’t forget! Download the Harrison Public Schools mobile app! hpsgobs.org/download — It's all things Harrison Schools in your pocket!"
Harrison Public Schools: 2026–2027 Academic Calendar

As we approach the beginning of the school year on August 10th, we want to ensure all district families have convenient access to the 2026–2027 academic calendar. You can view and download the full calendar on our district website here: https://hpsgobs.org/202627

Important Note for Families:
For the most accurate and up-to-date information—including building-specific schedules, Open House details, and campus announcements—we encourage you to check the official Harrison Public Schools App or visit our district website.

Stay tuned for our next post, where we will share quick step-by-step instructions on how to download and set up the app on your phone.

Thank you for your continued partnership, and we look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday, August 10th.
24 days ago, Harrison Public Schools
Graphic for Harrison Public Schools featuring the district logo in large blue and gold lettering at the top left over a textured blue background. Below the logo is a tilted image of the 2026–2027 Harrison School District Academic Calendar PDF, displaying month-by-month calendars alongside color-coded key dates, student dismissal schedules, professional development days, and quarter breakdowns.