Show Shines Spotlight on Students

I get the privilege of sitting in and listening each week as Sideliner Sports tapes the weekly Sonic Locker Room Show – Harrisonville Wildcats edition.  The shows feature our activity participants and sponsors/coaches talking about their activity, their team or group, and being a Wildcat.  Each and every week I come away smiling as I’ve been witness to another example of our fantastic students.  The students often come in nervous to be on the show – not knowing what to expect.  However, as soon as the questions begin, our students shine.   They represent their group/team, Harrisonville High School, and our district with honor.   It’s fun to hear the joy they get from being a part of a team, their understanding of their role in this world that’s bigger than HHS, and their pride in representing the Wildcats.  They discuss the responsibility they feel toward not only their activity, but to the classroom.  They talk about priorities and time management.  It’s rare that our student guests are involved in only the activity they’re representing that day.  Our students are multi-talented, involved, and genuinely good people.   I hope everyone takes time each week to listen to the broadcasts.  The show airs live at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays on 1030 AM and is available online at www.soniclockerroom.com   Each show and the students on them are great examples of why “It’s a Great Day to be a Wildcat.”

-          Jill Filer, Director of Communications

Music Makers Make You Smile

This morning the district hosted the Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee at HHS.  We asked the Music Makers - our varsity show choir - to perform a couple of numbers as part of the morning's program.  Of course, this isn't the first time I've watched the Music Makers, but I was reminded of how much I enjoy watching them.  It's such a positive experience....you can't help but smile when they perform.  It's definitely more than the fact that the students are great singers and dancers....there's an energy with the group that is undeniable.  Their performance lifts your spirit.  I truly appreciate the work the students and Mr. Mathew put in to create such a great experience for the audience.  Thank you for helping get this Friday morning started off right!

- Jill Filer, Director of Communications

The Future is Bright

As a relatively new person living in Cass County, I was surprised and honored when asked to help with the interview process for winter homecoming at Harrisonville High School. I have been involved in many interviews, but never for King and Queen of a school. To my delight and hope, every single one of these young men and women were positive, involved, smart, and well groomed. It was a fun morning and I left Harrisonville High School with a renewed sense of excitement for the future of our country.

- Jane Wallace, Executive Director

Cass County Historical Society, Inc.

I truly appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the interview process.  The experience was outstanding for me because of one reason - the students. All of the candidates were very impressive regarding their character and service within their school and the community. I am proud to be a citizen of the Harrisonville and this experience gave me one more reason. Regardless of who is crowned King and Queen, all the candidates should be proud for being selected by their peers for this great honor. 

- Chris Deal, Director

Harrisonville Parks and Recreation

I appreciate greatly the opportunity to do interviews for Winter Homecoming.  Harrisonville is very fortunate to have such an impressive group of students.  It was a very difficult task given that each and every candidate was so tremendous.  What struck me most was that each of the candidates clearly saw in their future the obligation of assisting others in some way.   They each were concerned with making their school and their community a better place and that they saw themselves a necessary part of that.  Thank you for that opportunity.  I am sure I gained much more from the experience than the students did from the interviews. 

- Anonymous Interviewer

Thanks HES & ECC

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Harrisonville Elementary School and Harrisonville Early Childhood Center with some teachers from our school district.  The purpose of our visit was to observe the use of the Math in Focus curriculum in elementary classrooms.  The positive conversations that the teachers' lessons have sparked for the Clinton teachers regarding their triumphs, struggles and questions about Math in Focus are priceless.  After talking with some of our teachers, I have discovered that they are already reflecting and implementing essential components of the program in lessons that they gathered from Harrisonville teachers' classrooms.  I think that they were able to walk away from the HES and ECC with a clear idea of what Math in Focus looks like in a developed classroom and truly see the impact that this math series can have on students. 

Beyond the math series, they were also very impressed with classroom/behavior management and the welcoming, warm feelings that both buildings provided.  A special thanks to the teachers and administrators for allowing us to come and watch you do what you are all so wonderful at doing.  Harrisonville Schools never disappoints when it comes to true, real and useful classroom instruction.

- Annie Knox, Asst. Principal, Henry Elementary, Clinton School District

Giving Spirit

I recently received an email and pictures from an HHS graduate in the Army who is currently stationed in Afghanistan.  Before Christmas, Ms. Susie Yoder's Foods classes prepared cookies and sent them to the troops. As our graduate soldier put it, "I would like to show great appreciation not only from my self but everyone else in my squad that got to enjoy the treats. It’s little things like that over here that make your day and put a smile on your face. . . I just want to say thank you from all the guys here and myself for all of your support and all the work that got put into making and sending out that package."   In addition, the postage for the mailing was taken care of by a Sunday School Class at the United Methodist Church and the Cass County Elks Lodge.  What a great example of the giving spirit by our students, staff, & community!

 - Mr. Andy Campbell, HHS Principal

Beyond the Classroom

We have so many excellent teachers at HHS who go above and beyond for our students.  Dr. Roseann Hoffman is one such example.  She took her own personal time on a Saturday earlier this month to take a group of students to the Nuclear Power Plant in Fulton, MO.  She set up this trip and drove the students there.  They spent the entire day touring the facility and were taken out to dinner by their host.  The students who went had a great experience and learned a lot about the real world application of what they are learning in school.

 - Mr. Andy Campbell, HHS Principal

Impressive Performance

I had the opportunity to accompany high school students to a production at the New Theatre, a theatre where guests enjoy dinner and a show.  The group included students in the Drama Club and FCCLA (Family, Career, & Community Leaders of America).  After the first act, our server approached Drama Club sponsor Mrs. Snowden and said, “The servers here always get nervous and sometimes dread it when we hear that a high school group is coming.”  He went on to say that our group had proven them wrong.  He told her that our students were well behaved and respectful as a group and he wanted her to know.  It was no surprise to me that our students dressed and behaved in manner that we would expect of Wildcats.  However, it’s wonderful when other people notice it too.  I know the students had a good time and enjoyed the day and I did too.  Special thanks to Mrs. Snowden and FCCLA sponsor Mrs. Yoder for making this day happen for our students. 

-       Dr. Bryan McDonald, Superintedent