Dear Harper Family,

On behalf of the Harper Faculty and Staff, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you! I am waiting with tip-toe anticipation for the 2011/2012 school year. William R. Harper High School is continuing our celebration of 100 years of service to the Englewood Community. Therefore, as we continue to walk into this new century, I look forward to a challenging and productive school year.

Students, as we continue with our 100 years of service and education, let us carry on with preparing ourselves for the challenges of this upcoming school year. One of our biggest challenges continues to be attendance and tardies. Therefore, I humbly ask that you take a self-assessment and challenge yourself this school year to come to school EVERYDAY and ON TIME!!! Our school goal for the 2011/2012 school year is 85%! I believe that this goal is attainable if we all make a conscience effort to work individually and collectively to attain this goal.

We have made great strides academically! On the ACT, PLAN and EXPLORE, many of you and your peers have scored extremely high. This is due in part to the hard work and dedication that you have put forth with consistently coming to school, completing daily homework and meeting the challenges and high expectations that your teachers have set forth. Once again, I present a challenge to you to continue putting forth great effort academically. If you are in the number that has not put academia as a priority, consider doing this in the upcoming school year. If you have never made the Honor Roll or Principal's Scholar List, make this a priority this school year. Take time to sit with your Counselor once a quarter to make sure you are on track to graduate. Challenge your teachers to update grades on a weekly basis to ensure that you are successfully passing your classes. And finally, if you are missing credits, enroll in the various Credit Recovery programs that are being offered at Harper.

Harper High School has the privilege of being able to offer dozens of extra-curricular activities. I truly believe, there is something there for each and every one of you. Therefore, my last challenge to you for this school year is to take advantage of the various activities that Harper High School has to offer. Research has shown that the more involved students are in the school, the more they are invested and will consistently attend and finally GRADUATE!!! Remember, this is your ultimate goal...GRADUATION!!!

Harper has made tremendous gains over the past 4 years. However, we have a long road ahead of us! Let's make this school year better than the last and let's put William R. Harper High School on the map as the BEST high school, not just in Englewood, not just in the city of Chicago, but in the nation!

Take a few moments to meditate on one of my favorite excerpts from the movie, "Akeelah the Bee". What does it mean for you? How will you apply this to your life for the 2011/2012 school year?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone! And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Sincerely,

Leonetta C. Sanders, Principal