- Harmon Elementary School
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
FAQs
Here you'll find the answers to many of your most common questions about our school.
-
Does Harmon Elementary have a student council?
Yes. It is the governing body of the school and plans some student activities. Student council is an organization through which the students may express their opinions and assist in the functions of the school. The council tries to promote leadership and initiative. A president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and historian of the student body are elected to carry on student activities during the school year. Grade level representatives are appointed to the council.
-
How can I become a volunteer at my child’s school?
Volunteers are not only welcome, but very important to our teaching staff. All volunteers must have an information packet on file. If you want to volunteer exclusively in your child’s classroom, you will not need to have a fingerprint clearance card on file. To volunteer at the school but not directly supervised by your student's teacher, you must have a fingerprint clearance card. See the front office if you have any questions.
Volunteers must sign the volunteer log at the front desk.
Volunteers during school hours are not allowed to have young children accompany them. This policy ensures safety, minimizes classroom interruptions, and promotes full concentration of students, teachers, and volunteers/visitors on the learning activity. Volunteer policy is subject to change. -
How can I get a message or item to my child?
If you have an important message for your child, please leave the message with our front office staff, and they will deliver it. With a full campus, it is important that you make arrangements for pick-up with your child before they leave for school. If on occasion, you need to alert your student of a change of plan, please call early enough in the day that the message can be given to your student without interrupting class. There is no guarantee that your student will get the message if you call during the last 15 minutes of the day. If you are dropping off items such as your child's instrument, homework, or lunch, please leave the item at the front office, and we will allow your child to pick it up at an appropriate time.
-
How can I make my child’s birthday special?
Teachers and administrators are important role models and are encouraged to practice healthy eating behaviors and be physically active. The district recognizes that occasional celebrations are a tradition at school. Staff and parents alike are encouraged to support a healthy environment throughout the district. Anyone wishing to supply food or beverage for a celebration should:
Support a healthy environment by purchasing from a commercial source. Due to concerns regarding food allergies, no home-baked/prepared products are allowed.
Buy individually wrapped items to avoid bare hand contact with the food. If the items are not individually wrapped, an adult wearing disposable gloves, must serve the food.
If you would like to honor your child’s special day with something other than food, you might consider:- Donating a book to your child’s teacher’s classroom library in honor of your child with his/her name inside.
- Donating a piece of recess equipment (balls, jump ropes, etc.) to your child’s class.
- Providing each student in your child’s class with a colorful pencil or eraser.
All student birthday celebrations need to be arranged with your child’s teacher at least three days in advance.
Send any of the following to honor your child's special day:- Donate a book to the school or classroom library with your child's name inside.
- Have your child bring their favorite book to share and the teacher or child will read it to the class.
- Donate a ball or jump rope (new or used) to the classroom for recess.
- Provide each student in class with a colorful pencil, stickers, or eraser.
Please make prior arrangements with your student's teacher.
- Donating a book to your child’s teacher’s classroom library in honor of your child with his/her name inside.
-
How can I update my contact information?
Log in to your ParentVUE and make changes to phone numbers, add or delete emergency contacts. If your address has changed, upload new proof of residency or bring a copy to the office.
-
How do I enroll my child in the before and after school program?
Applications and more information are available at the J.O. Combs district office, by calling (480) 987-5310, or online through our registration tab. -
How much does breakfast and lunch cost? How can I pay online?
Elementary School Lunch - $2.65
Reduced Student Lunch - $0.40
Adult Lunch - $3.15
Adult Breakfast - $1.75
Student Breakfast - $1.25
Student Reduced Breakfast - $0.30
Milk - $0.50
Parents - Pay for school lunches online. First, call (480) 987-5312 to get started. You will need a secure student ID to add your student. This is a great way to manage your student's account even if you do not wish to add funds online.
You must fill out a new lunch application for free and reduced meals every school year. -
Is physical education offered at Harmon?
Yes. Parents need to closely monitor their student’s weekly schedule for P.E. days. Proper footwear must be worn. Students should not wear sandals, flip-flops, or other open-toed shoes. If a student must be excused for medical reasons, they must present a signed note to the P.E. teacher or health assistant from his or her parent/guardian.
-
May I call my child’s teacher?
Our instructional staff is generally not available to take phone calls or respond to e-mails during the school day. You are always welcome to leave a message for your child’s teacher with the front office or to leave a message on his/her voicemail. Teachers strive to respond to all messages within 24 hours. You can send an email at any time. Please see our Staff Directory page for email addresses.
-
May I visit my child at school?
The district welcomes adult visitors. Parents who wish to schedule classroom observations should make an appointment with their child’s teacher at least 24 hours in advance. In order to preserve the integrity of the learning environment, the principal may limit observations in frequency and length. The principal may accompany the classroom observer.
We require all visitors to the school campus to first sign in at the office and provide picture identification to receive a visitor’s badge. -
May my child ride a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter to school?
We permit students to ride bicycles, skateboards, and scooters to school, but students must store these items in the bike racks at the front of the school. Students should always have a lock or a method of securing these types of items. Students who ride these items to school must remember that they are not to ride them on school property, and that they need to walk them to the bike racks once they reach the campus.
-
May my primary age student walk to or from school?
Primary grade students (grades K-2) should always be accompanied by an adult or older sibling when walking to and from school.
-
What are the school hours for Harmon Elementary?
School hours for grades K-6 are 8:15 am to 3:05 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesday, they are 8:15 am to 1:00 pm.For safety reasons, students are not to be on campus before 7:50 am. There is no supervision. If you need to bring your students before this time, there is a before-school program, Combs Kidz. Applications are available at the J.O. Combs district office, by calling (480) 987-5310, or online in our registration tab. -
What are the school hours for kindergarten students?
Kindergarten students attend the same hours as all of our other students. We offer full-day kindergarten at no charge.
If your kindergarten student does not use the bus, please pick him/her up from the classroom at the regular dismissal time.
-
What if I need to pick up my student early from school?
Parents who will be signing their child out from school early will need to come into the school’s front office and sign their children out. Keep in mind that the last 15 minutes of class time is not only busy for the front office, but the classroom is wrapping up the day with homework assignments, binder checks, etc. Please be considerate in your planning for pick-up and avoid the last 15 minutes of the day. We apologize for the inconvenience, but for the benefit of your child, the front office will not take phone requests to have students called up to wait for parents to arrive.