Welcome to the Huskies Talk Newsletter! Each week you’ll find updates from our classrooms, highlights of student achievements, upcoming events, community news, and important announcements—all in one place to keep you connected with Harrison Hills.

Harrison Central has been buzzing with Thanksgiving spirit as students took part in a variety of festive activities throughout the week. Classrooms enjoyed a fun and colorful balloon parade, bringing smiles and excitement as students showcased their creativity.

Students also took time to reflect on gratitude by writing what they were most thankful for on paper leaves and adding them to Mrs. Patterson’s Thankful Tree, creating a beautiful display of appreciation.

In addition, students wrote heartfelt letters of thanks to staff members, sharing messages that brightened the day of teachers and support staff across the building.

It has been a wonderful week of celebration, creativity, and gratitude — a true reminder of how much we have to be thankful for at Harrison Central. We are officially on Fall Break — see everyone on December 1!

As we continue our partnership with WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital, we want to share an important update regarding the clinic services available on our campus. Beginning November 10, 2025, the Harrison Hills City School District Clinic will operate under temporary modified hours while WVU Medicine works to fill the provider position previously held by Shannon Prost. We are grateful for Shannon’s dedicated service to our students and staff, and we appreciate your patience as WVU Medicine transitions coverage. Please see the flyer below for details on updated clinic hours and provider availability.

Harrison Central Elementary is proud to recognize our November Students of the Month! These students were selected by their teachers for demonstrating outstanding effort, positive attitudes, kindness toward others, and a strong commitment to the Huskies Way.

Each honoree sets a wonderful example for their classmates, and we are proud to celebrate their hard work and leadership throughout the school.

Congratulations to all of our November Students of the Month! Keep up the great work, Huskies!

We’re kicking off a little holiday fun as we count down to winter break! From December 4th–19th, students and staff are invited to join in on our 12 Days of Christmas dress-up days. Each day has its own theme — from red and green spirit wear, sparkles, Christmas socks, and tropical “vacation” outfits, all the way to flannel, festive holiday attire, and pajama day to wrap things up.

Check out the flyer for the full list of themes and get ready for a festive December!

Preschool students recently filled their class Kindness Jar and earned a special celebration — one made even more meaningful thanks to help from our 7th graders. Mrs. Burgey and her seventh grade class joined in to support the event, with each preschooler paired with an older student as a mentor.

Students worked together to complete relay races and navigate fun obstacle courses, with several seventh graders also helping run stations throughout the gym. The celebration was a wonderful example of kindness in action and a great opportunity for cross-grade collaboration.

Both groups had a fantastic time, and we are proud to see our Huskies lifting one another up and spreading kindness throughout the building.

The PTO is bringing Santa’s Workshop to town December 8–12. Students will visit the workshop during their Art special, where they’ll have the opportunity to shop for small gifts for family and friends.

Families who wish to sponsor a child may send a check made out to the PTO with “Christmas Child” written in the memo line.

We’re excited to welcome this festive tradition and thank our PTO for making it possible!

Mrs. VanCamp’s 6th grade art students have been hard at work bringing creativity, color, and school spirit to life through a special papier-mâché project. Each student designed and created a large papier-mâché initial or letter—personalized with patterns, textures, and bright colors—that is now proudly displayed throughout our campus.

Papier-mâché is a hands-on art technique that combines paper and adhesive to build lightweight, durable sculptures. Students learned how to form structure, apply layers for strength, and add painted designs to make each piece uniquely their own. The process allowed students to explore three-dimensional art, practice patience and craftsmanship, and express their personalities through their final designs.

These vibrant initials have already added a fun, artistic touch to our hallways, and we’re proud of the creativity our 6th graders have shown. Make sure to look for their work the next time you visit campus!

Our 4th graders recently took part in an engaging, hands-on activity that helped them better understand the events leading up to the American Revolution. Students stepped into the roles of King, Parliament, tax collectors, and colonists as they experienced “unfair taxation” in real time.

Through this simulation, students gained firsthand insight into how American colonists felt under the rule of King George III—and why the colonies ultimately united to fight for independence. It was a memorable and meaningful way to deepen their understanding of this important moment in history!

Our Grades 3–6 Math Skills Leaderboard for the month has officially wrapped up, and we are excited to recognize our top-performing students! The leaderboard tracks how many new math skills students become proficient in each month, encouraging growth, practice, and friendly competition across grade levels.

Congratulations to our individual winners:

We also celebrated the homeroom with the highest average of math skills mastered for the month—Mrs. Moss’s homeroom earned the top spot!

Students used pool noodles to practice rhythm patterns and follow along with a movement video, turning the room into a fun, energetic learning space. They stayed engaged, kept the beat, and showed great coordination throughout the activity. It was a wonderful blend of music, movement, and excitement!

Harrison Central High School proudly recognizes sophomore Emerson Wood as our Student of the Month. Emerson was selected by teachers and administration for his outstanding academic performance, natural leadership, and the positive attitude he brings to our school community each day.

With an impressive 4.1 GPA, Emerson currently ranks second in his class. He is a well-rounded and highly involved student, especially within the arts. Emerson is a dedicated member of the theatre department, serving as both a light technician and the president of Thespian Society Troupe 1690. Whether he’s behind the scenes running lights or helping classmates prepare for performances, his reliability, enthusiasm, and professionalism stand out.

Beyond the stage, Emerson is also a baseball player, an active volunteer who helps film school events for the HC-TV livestream team, and a regular helper in the IT department, where he continues to build his technology and problem-solving skills.

Emerson’s favorite class is Art with Mr. Lackner, where his creativity has earned him two first-place ribbons and one second-place ribbon at local art festivals.

Known for his strong work ethic, kindness, and steady enthusiasm, Emerson truly exemplifies the Huskies Way in everything he does. Looking ahead, he plans to attend Cornell University to continue pursuing his academic and artistic goals.

Harrison Central congratulates Emerson on this well-deserved honor and thanks him for being a shining example of leadership, creativity, and excellence both in and out of the classroom.

Mark your calendars — the Harrison Central Theatre Department is thrilled to present this year’s spring musical, Matilda, on March 20, 21, and 22! Based on the beloved Roald Dahl story, Matilda is a high-energy production filled with wit, heart, and unforgettable music.

Students have already begun preparing for the show, and audiences can look forward to standout performances, creative choreography, and the signature Huskies Theatre magic that brings our stage to life each spring.

More information about tickets and showtimes will be shared as the dates get closer. For now, be sure to save the date — you won’t want to miss this year’s musical adventure!

Our first-ever Huskies Harvest Community Thanksgiving Dinner was a great success. Families, students, and community members enjoyed a warm meal prepared by our outstanding Food Service Department.

A special thank-you to our seniors — Wyland Blake, Jacob Quito, Samuel Siragusano, and Johnathan Wissman — along with the HC Bowling Team, for volunteering their time to help make the evening run smoothly. We also appreciate Board Vice President Eddie Banks for opening the event with a thoughtful message.

It was a meaningful start to a new Harrison Central tradition.

Our entire school community took time to learn about, honor, and thank the veterans who have served our country. Students and staff engaged in meaningful activities and conversations that highlighted the importance of service, sacrifice, and supporting those who have protected our freedoms.

During our Veterans Day program, Board Member Kristen Willis shared a thoughtful keynote message about the many ways we can uplift veterans and strengthen our community.

As part of their Senior Service Learning Project, Ethan Carpenter, Logan Milliken, and Colten Rutter donated six benches to Sally Buffalo Park in memory and in honor of local veterans. Their final bench was presented during the program to Dirk Harkins, recognizing his tireless work and continued dedication to supporting veterans across Harrison County.

Our Academic Challenge team kicked off their season this week with strong showings against both Indian Creek and Buckeye Local. Harrison Central won two of three rounds against Indian Creek with scores of 40–23 and 39–27, followed by a close loss in the final round. The team also put up an impressive fight against Buckeye Local, winning Round 2 with a score of 40–28 and falling just short in the other two rounds.

The team is grateful for the generous donations that have helped provide meals before competitions—your support means so much to our students as they travel and compete. If you would like to help sponsor a pre-match meal this season, please contact our coach, Heidi Shaw.

We’re proud of our Academic Challenge team’s hard work and look forward to an exciting season ahead!

Our weekly Huskies Talk Newsletter is made possible with the assistance of Mrs. Hawthorne’s Publishing Class.