Dear HCSS Stakeholders,

We have so much to celebrate as a community. Our schools and athletic programs have truly reached new heights:

Coach Wolfe, Coach of the Year: A massive congratulations to Coach Wolfe for being recognized as Coach of the Year! 

HC Middle School Soccer : Our soccer team didn’t just play; they dominated. Bringing home the State Championship title is a testament to their hard work, grit, and teamwork.

Lakewood School : We are incredibly proud to share that Lakewood School has been officially identified as a Reward School for the State of Tennessee. This honor reflects the top-tier academic growth and achievement happening in our classrooms every day.

Between the big wins, we found plenty of time for seasonal fun and "witty" autumn antics:

The "Boo" in October: From spooky hallways to creative costumes, October was a scream! We learned that while ghosts might be scary, nothing is more frightening than a Monday morning without coffee.

Giving Thanks & Getting Stuffed: November brought us together for food and fellowship. We enjoyed the perfect recipe for Thanksgiving: a massive turkey, a side of laughter, and just enough pie to make "looking professional" in our waistbands a bit of a challenge.

Outstanding Learning: Amidst the festivities, our students stayed focused, filling these months with curiosity and academic breakthroughs.

These two months were more than just a change in the weather; they were a showcase of what happens when a community works together. We’ve built memories that will last far longer than the autumn chill.

#excellenceinHC

Leah Watkins, Director of Schools

Patriot Pre-K participated in the FCCLA Canned Food Drive. Patriot PK donated to the canned food drive. We’re thankful for little Patriots who love others!

Pre-K worked on name writing, letter recognition, and fine motor skills while making Thanksgiving turkeys. 

Our 5th graders tackled plate tectonics with an interactive Kahoot review—great discussions, great energy!

Lakewood’s Book Parade brought favorite stories off the page and into the hallways!

Students explored The Red Book, noticing details, asking questions, and building understanding together.

Students explored political, physical, and resource maps and used them to answer questions about geographic information—great thinking all around!

Teachers engaged in meaningful work around enVision’s built-in scaffolds and supports, preparing to make math accessible for all learners.

After reading Balloons Over Broadway, our 3rd graders designed their own character balloons and held a hallway parade before leaving for Thanksgiving Break — creativity on full display!

Extended Resource students prepare a Thanksgiving lunch.

The School Nutrition Team served 975 guests during our Thanksgiving feasts—nearly 3,000 students, staff, and family members in total!  After pouring their hearts into serving others, the team enjoyed a much-needed break to rest and recharge.

Lots of little Harrelson Hawks became turkeys for the day and had a Thanksgiving gathering in the MPR as classes on B hallway combined to celebrate the holiday and share their snacks.

Harrelson Beta Club organized and presented a wonderful and heartfelt Veterans Day Program on Veterans Day.  Different grade levels contributed some portion including leading the pledge, original poems, famous poems, readings, and speeches, The middle school band performed patriotic music and military songs. The program was followed by a reception for the Veterans and their families. So proud of the Beta Club and the work they put in to make the program a success. 

Harrelson 5th grade had a great day at the Dixie Performing Arts Center and saw a riveting performance of I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. The Paris Henry County Arts Council funded the tickets for the play. After the play, the Paris Moose Lodge paid for lunch at Mallards for the 5th grade students! A great day enjoying the Arts!  

Harrelson Elementary Beta attended their 1st Beta Convention at the Opryland Hotel. Calvin Smith came home with 1st in Black and White Photography and Isai Lopez came home with 3rd in 4th grade Spanish.  Both of them get to attend Nationals this summer!

Harrelson Junior High Beta Club attended the Tennessee State Convention and placed for Nationals to compete for the second year in a row. 

Landon Merrell – 1st Place in 8th Grade U.S. History and Finalist in Speech

Nathan Elliott – 3rd Place in 6th Grade Computer Science

Alora Raus – 1st Place in Recyclable Arts

Kaylee Murray, Ainsley Zurga, & Alora Raus – 3rd Place in Book Battle

We are so proud of all our Betas for representing our school with Achievement, Character, Leadership, and Service. Stronger and better every single year! 

Seventh grade students brought learning to life this week in Ms. Gordon’s science class as they explored the structure and function of plant cells. Using colorful Play-Doh, students created detailed three-dimensional plant cell models to help them visualize and better understand the roles of various organelles. As they shaped chloroplasts, vacuoles, nuclei, and more, students engaged in meaningful discussions about how each organelle supports the cell’s overall function. This hands-on activity not only reinforced key content but also sparked curiosity and creativity—transforming abstract concepts into something students could see and touch.

Pre-K students have been busy practicing name writing and identifying the letters in their names while creating festive Thanksgiving turkeys. As they glued feathers and wrote their names, they also strengthened important fine motor skills. It was a fun and meaningful way to blend creativity with early literacy development!

Our 3rd and 4th graders had a fantastic time exploring The Discovery Park of America! Students toured both the indoor and outdoor exhibits, discovering new ideas and making meaningful connections to their classroom learning.

A highlight of the trip was an engaging science lesson on potential and kinetic energy. Students worked collaboratively to design and build their own miniature roller coasters, then tested their creations using small coaster cars. This hands-on experience not only reinforced key science concepts but also encouraged problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity.

Curriculum Night for our 3rd–8th graders was a tremendous success! Students and families traveled through classrooms to participate in a variety of engaging activities—from a hands-on science lab showcase to our “Cheesy Chapters” book-tasting experience.

The evening was filled with learning, exploration, and plenty of fun. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a memorable one!

On October 24, 2025, Mrs. Berry’s class enjoyed a wonderful field trip to Peale Farms Market, where students had the opportunity to learn firsthand how pumpkins are grown. Mr. Peale shared fascinating insights about the various pumpkin seeds and explained how they develop into pumpkins of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Students were highly engaged and loved exploring the wide variety on display.

Each child selected a pumpkin to take home—a favorite part of the day for many! To top off the trip, the class stopped by Sweet Jordan’s for a special cookie treat on the way back to school. It was a fun and memorable learning experience for everyone!

Lakewood’s first grade class presented “Balloons Over Lakewood,” showcasing their creative balloon floats to fellow students and families. Each student also completed a writing piece explaining why they chose their particular float design.

The UTrust G-Force team has been busy spreading gratitude, taking time to recognize and honor the amazing efforts of our Cares team members.

The 7th-grade class participated in an informative and enjoyable campus tour of UT Martin, gaining insight into academic programs and university life.

From Pre-K to 3rd grade, students stepped into the shoes of their favorite storybook characters, bringing books to life as they paraded through the halls.

Several of our students competed in the FFA Livestock Judging event and earned an impressive 5th place in the region—an outstanding accomplishment for their very first show. We are so proud of their hard work, dedication, and strong start in FFA! A special thank-you to Ms. Moss for her guidance, support, and leadership with our team.

Grove Freshman Academy students joined in Homecoming Week activities for the first time in several years, and they showed up strong. Students participated in the full lineup of spirit-building traditions, including dress-up theme days, friendly competitions, and 5th Quarter celebrations after the home game. They also took part in Homecoming Queen voting and had representation on the Homecoming Court. It was a great step in reconnecting our freshmen to the larger school community and building pride in the Big Red tradition.  Photo on the left:  Parker James took advantage of the car smash at lunch.

Coach Butler’s STEM students engineered robotic cars and took them to the track at Patriot Stadium for test runs, combining problem-solving with hands-on application.

Homecoming Court looked a little bigger this year as freshmen joined the lineup!  Homecoming was a great way to celebrate an outstanding BIG RED football season! 

October was Breast Cancer Awareness month, and all month long you could find pink sprinkled in around campus.  Whether pink pom-poms at football games, pink-out days, or fun games at lunch sponsored by FCCLA, it was great to see our students honoring and remembering those affected!

Ag Students put their skills to work during the FFA Mum-A-Palooza! They took the reins, selling mums, helping customers, and completing purchases.

November 4th was a day of opportunity and learning for all! While seniors took the ACT, juniors visited the National Guard Armory and took the ASVAB, and Sophomores participated in the Reality Store (with help from community members) and industry tours! 

Henry Elementary School's attendance campaign is to "Show Up; Stand Out!" It includes all Henry staff and students. Congratulations to 6th grader, Emma Chapman for this winning entry! Other winners included 5th grader Kyndal Higdon,
7th grader Jaxon Jones, and 8th grader Ellie Grgic. Thanks to Parents, Guardians, and Students for a great attendance start to the year. Our chronic absenteeism is currently low, and all schools are meeting their annual measurable objectives. Continue to practice healthy habits to stay well and bring in notes for days for sick days. Attendance Matters!