Click here for The Blackhawk Beat-  This week's edition-  Main Page-  Archived Newsletters

It has been a strong week at Harwood marked by full schedules in athletics, fine arts, and academics. Dress-up days continue next week, and students will see added opportunities to show gratitude on campus (please see flyer in the newsletter). Exemptions will be posted, final exams run Thursday and Friday, and Friday ends with a 12:30 p.m. early release. **Pajama Day will be FREE as a holiday treat**

HAC or Home Access Center is another helpful tools to be informed about what is happening in your student's classes.

We also want to make all families aware that IDs are mandatory. Replacements are $3 for the ID and $1 for the lanyard. Students are expected to wear a white (7th), orange (8th), or black lanyard (9th). Cash can be paid to the front office! 

Celebrating a Great Week!

It has been a great week at Harwood. 

• Spelling Bee Winners- Nearly thirty contenders stepped into the spotlight at Harwood, each aiming for the title of top speller. The competition tightened round after round until only two stood unshaken.Aadishree Shakya, 7th grade, claimed the championship after a tense final stretch. Close behind, also from 7th grade, was the impressive runner-up, Moksha Bhatt. Aadishree will go on to compete against the entire district for a chance to advance. 

• 7th to 8th grade Course selections - Counselors met with 7th graders in their Texas History classes to review 8th grade course selection. Students will bring home their course selection form.  Please review it with your student, choose classes, sign, and return it to their Texas History teacher by Friday, December 12.

If your student is absent, they may pick up a form in the Counseling Office.

More info, including the presentation and Junior High Academic Guide, can be found here:
🔗 https://sites.google.com/hebisd.edu/harwoodjuniorhigh/incoming-8th-grade

• Band Concert- The concert delivered a clear demonstration of disciplined practice and controlled execution from every ensemble involved. Each group moved through its selections with precision, showing measurable growth in tone, balance, and ensemble awareness.

Acknowledgment goes to Mr. Bellville for directing the program with steady leadership and to Assistant Director Mr. Hernandez for the support that shaped the performance’s cohesion. Recognition also extends to our student teacher, Mr. Hicks, whose work with the students contributed to the overall readiness displayed on stage.

• GT Night- Ninth-grade GT students spent the evening in the library on Tuesday night showing their families the AI projects they’ve been building. Each student explained their their and what they learned along the way. Families moved through the displays, asked questions, and saw the range of ideas students explored. 

• 8th Grade Boys Basketball- Our B Team rolled to another strong win last night, defeating the Hurst Red Raiders 51-25. Pierre Bondele led the way with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds, while anchoring the defense and setting the tone on both ends of the floor. The group played disciplined, unselfish basketball and controlled the game from start to finish.

The B Team tips off their tournament tonight at Richland MS with a matchup against North Ridge. Let’s carry the momentum.

Go Hawks!

• 8th Grade Girls Basketball- 

Your 8th grade girls basketball team dominated last week against North Ridge, with both teams winning by 15.

The B team won 33-18. Leading scorers were Gutirerrz with 8 points, Worsham with 7 points, and Torrengano with 5 points. Outstanding defensive players were Diaz, Osman, and Sharp.

The A team won 41-26. Leading scorers were Taylor with 16 points, Loya with 12 points, and Donaldson with 5 points.  Outstanding defensive players were James, Jackson, and Grahn.

___________

Your 8th girls basketball had two dominating wins last week against Hurst last week.

The B team won 38-1. Leading scorers were Arielle Gutierrez with 15 points, Jaylyn Worsham with 7 points, and Deliya Torrengano, Jessica Segreti, and Aj'ah Bendy with 4 points. Outstanding players were Sophia Brooks, Mia Hernandez, Brooklyn Sharp, and Meggan Tordorov.

The A team won 40-4. Leading scorers were Aryana Taylor with 12, Ruby Loya with 10 points, and Harleigh Grahn with 8 points. Outstanding players were Lauren Skjeret and Eva Mancilla.

• Band and Choir Tour- Our amazing band and choir toured the elementary schools this week making children all over Euless and Bedford merry and bright! 

• Soccer Season- 

Albion vs. Euless

Albion opened its season with a strong 3–0 victory over Euless. While the win was impressive, Coach A noted there’s still room to sharpen skills and tighten teamwork as the competitive season approaches. A solid start with big potential ahead!

BlackHawks vs. Hurst

Your BlackHawks faced Hurst and delivered an excellent performance, sticking to Coach Megan's game plan from start to finish. They controlled the field for most of the match, and the game wrapped up in a hard-fought 1–1 draw. A great showing of discipline, teamwork, and effort.

Players of the Week

A special shoutout goes to two standout athletes who showed exceptional grit and determination:

• Iker R  from Albion

• Josiel C  from the BlackHawks

Both teams return to practice on Monday and Tuesday as they prepare for another round of scrimmages next Wednesday. Keep working hard, BlackHawks, we’re proud of you!

• Boys Basketball - The Harwood Blackhawk B Team rolled to a 33–14 win with high energy and strong defense. The Blackhawks controlled the boards 34–25 and attacked the basket for efficient scoring, outmatching the Hurst Raiders from start to finish.

Players of the Game:

• Alonso Smith-Preecs: 14 points

• Liam Robertson: 10 rebounds

• Braydon Howard: 6 steals

A strong, all-around team effort.

Harwood’s 7th Grade A Team set the tone from the opening play, controlling the pace with stifling defense and relentless work on the boards to secure a 64–35 win and move to 2–0 on the season.

Players of the Game:

• Jackson McCormick: 9 rebounds and strong finishes at the rim

• Mason Hill: Team-high +19

• Andrew Jackson: Well-contested finishes and a +23

Well done, boys.

• Girls Basketball - The 7th grade girls B basketball team came out strong and never looked back in their win against Hurst on Monday. With tough defense, smart passing, and excellent teamwork, they controlled the game from start to finish. Leading scorers of the game were Aadishree Shakya, Blair Candelaria and Adriana Roberts. Other outstanding players of the game were Kristen Carlson, Sofia Guadamuz and Madyson Pruitt.

Congratulations to the 7th grade A girls basketball team on an impressive win! The girls played with great intensity, moved the ball well, and made key plays when it mattered most. Leading scorers of the game were Makiah Shields, Winona Sika and Harper Brown. Other outstanding players were Landry Tribble and Zoe Fuentes.

• Boys Cross Country- Your 7th and 8th grade Blackhawk Boys Cross Country team finished a great season this past Tuesday. First and foremost, Coach Rabbitt wants to give another round of praise to each and every athlete who participated in a meet or was simply there for practice, showing up day after day. These boys for the past month have had practice at 7am in the freezing cold running two miles. There's not a whole lot of people who do that willingly and they showed great spirit each time on the course. After four meets, we've sadly come to a close in another chapter of Harwood Cross Country. Whether you placed or not, the main thing to take away is seeing the growth you've had in yourself throughout the season. Coach Rabbitt is immensely proud and looks forward to seeing your ribbons throughout the school year!  

• Wrestling - Our Trinity Trojan Wrestling season is already off to an impressive start, and several Harwood students are bringing home medals from recent JV tournaments. Congratulations to the following athletes:

Easton Lewis – 3rd place at Eaton Tournament

Emily Jimenez – 3rd place at Martin Tournament

Samuel Pardee – 3rd place at Eaton Tournament

Valerie Valdez – 2nd place at Martin Tournament

Parker Bye – 3rd place at Eaton Tournament, and another 3rd place at Eaton Tournament

Jewel Silva – 2nd place at Eaton and 2nd place at Martin
Great job, wrestlers!

Next Week

• Our festive days begin! Students are welcome to join in on the fun! See the flyer below!

• Buddy the Elf will be hiding around campus for the next two weeks! Enter the right password, answer the question and treat from the North Pole! 

• Final Exam Schedule- 

JUNIOR HIGH EXAM EXEMPTIONS

Next week, students will take final exams on Thursday and Friday. They will take periods 1-4 on Thursday and periods 5-7 on Friday. Exemptions will be posted by ID number on the front office and on the cafeteria windows. 

Attendance Requirements

• 0–2 absences: 2 exemptions
• 3–4 absences: 1 exemption
• 5 or more absences: no exemptions

• An absence is defined as being in class for fewer than 26 minutes.
• Any absence of one period or more counts as an absence for the day and applies to exemption eligibility.
• Tardies count toward absences; four tardies equal one absence.
• The following do not count against exemptions when proper documentation is provided:
– School-sponsored activities
– Religious holy day observances
– Funerals
• No other exceptions apply.

Discipline Requirements

• Students lose all exam exemptions if they receive:
– Off-campus suspension (OSS)
– Placement in an alternative education program (DAEP or JJAEP)

Grade Requirements

• A minimum grade of 80 in the class is required to use an exemption.

Additional Guidelines

• Students will take all final exams as scheduled.

• After completing an exam, students may decide whether they would like to use an eligible exemption; this decision does not need to be made before testing.

• Exemptions may not be used for courses with Industry-Based Certifications or projects lasting one week or longer.

• Students must be enrolled for at least 15 weeks of the semester to qualify.

• Exemption passes must be used in the semester earned and presented at the time of testing.

• Junior high students in trimester courses follow High School Exam Exemption Guidelines for that course. 

Updates and information

• Please see the safety guidelines for the car line. 

• HAC or Home Access Center is another helpful tools to be informed about what is happening in your student's classes.

https://www.hebisd.edu/.../home-access-center-online-grades  

• Are you tired of finding out about things after they happened, only to hear that it was on the announcements at school and canvas? Here are the instructions to have observer access to your student's canvas account. Weekly announcements are posted on the dashboard. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EqcgXz6bWeDUkXhuSx1dJnxtvlZmxckM/view?usp=sharing 

• We also want to make all families aware that IDs are mandatory. Replacements are $3 for the ID and $1 for the lanyard. Students are expected to wear a white (7th), orange (8th), or black lanyard (9th). Cash can be paid to the front office! 

• Outside fast food must be eaten in the office unless the parent would like to eat in the cafeteria with their student.

Clubs in Action

• Yearbook Club – Mondays, 8:00 AM (H103)

• Creative Writing Club - Mondays, 3:45-4:45 pm (H118)

• Art Club – Mondays after school until 5:00 pm (Art Room)

• Book Club – 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 3:40–4:15 pm (H119)

• Dance Club – Wednesdays, 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM 

• Student Council – 2nd Wednesday of the Month, 8:00 am (H103)

• Thespian Club – Thursdays, 7:30–8:10 am (G102)

• NJHS – 1st Thursdays, 8:00 am (H103)

• Chess Club-  Thursdays, 3:40 - 4:45 (C100) 

• HJH Dance Club- Wednesdays, 3:45-4:30

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Beginning January 2026, all HEB ISD bus riders should have and use a SMART Tag each time they ride.

While all students are expected to use their SMART Tag, this requirement will be actively enforced for secondary students (grades 7–12). Students who do not present a valid SMART Tag may be denied bus service, including for athletics, band, and CTE shuttles.

HEB ISD provides a free SMART Tag to every student. Replacement SMART Tags can be purchased at your student’s campus front office.

Thank you for helping us keep transportation safe, efficient, and accountable for all riders.

For questions, please contact HEB ISD Transportation at 817-399-2441.

Ongoing Reminders

• Replacement IDs $3, Lanyards $1.00
  
  

• Students may not leave campus in the mornings.
  
  

• Drop-off/pick-up: Please pull all the way to the gym; front entrance reserved for buses.
  
  

• Wednesdays = College Day / Thursdays = Spirit Day.
  
  

• Volunteer Fridays: Volunteers must be cleared through the district VIPS. 

• Support our teachers by preparing classroom materials (copies, sorting, etc.).

• 👉 Sign up here
  
  

🙌 Thank you for your support and partnership in making this year a success!

– Dr. Ramirez