Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Junior High

The Harper Bulletin

Harper Junior High School Bulletin  

January 12 - January 16, 2026

On This Day in History

• On January 5th, 1933 construction of the Golden gate Bridge in San Francisco began. The project cost more than $35 million ($523 million in 2019 dollars) and was completed ahead of schedule and $1.3 million under budget (equivalent to $24.2 million today).

• Kate McKinnon (born January 6, 1984) is an American actress and comedian widely known as a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live (2012–present). She has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and six for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2016 and 2017.

• On January 7, 1789, in the first U.S. presidential election, Americans voted for electors who, a month later, chose George Washington to be the nation's first president.

• Stephen William Hawking (8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018) was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death. Hawking achieved commercial success with several works of popular science in which he discussed his theories and cosmology in general. He lived with a motor neurone disease (MND; also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for over 50 years.

• Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974, when he became the only president to resign the office. Nixon had previously served as a Republican U.S. representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961.

 

 

Student News

 

Football Meeting at Lunch

Hey Huskies, are you interested in playing football next year! There will be an informational meeting at Lunch on Wednesday, January 14th. Coaches will be there to answer all your questions. 

 

Winter Wonderland Dance

Get ready to groove at the Winter Wonderland Dance! January 30thth from 6pm to 8pm. Tickets will be on sale soon.

Activities: 

• Video Games

• Arts and crafts

• Cookie decorating

• Movies

• Ping pong 

• Corn hole

• 9 square in the air

• Snowball fight

• Photo booth

• Snack Bar

 

Spanish Evaluations for Placement Next Year

¿Te preguntas qué clase de español tomar el año que viene? Si puedes leer este anuncio y nunca has tomado una clase de español, y vas a tomar español el año que viene, y no sabes en qué nivel inscribirte, entonces puedes recibir ayuda de los maestros de español de Harper el miércoles, el 21 de febrero, antes de la escuela. Llega entre las 8:40 y las 9:20 para una evaluación breve.  E-35

  

Wondering what Spanish class to take next year? If you can read this announcement and have never taken a Spanish class, and are taking Spanish next year, and do not know what level to sign up for, then you can get help from Harper's Spanish teachers on Wednesday, February 21, before school.  Arrive between 8:40 and 9:20 for a short evaluation.  E-35

 

Math Club 

The next Harper Math Club meeting is on ...

MONDAY January 26th

After School from 3:30 to 4:30pm in room F38 (Mrs. Rocha's room)

Hosted by Davis Senior Math Club students

 

Attendance

Hey Huskies, remember when you arrive at school late you need to sign in at the office even if you arrive during passing period or Lunch. If you are leaving school early, you must sign out in the office before leaving school. 

 

 

 

Davis Parent University (DPU)

Reserve FREE Tickets Now! Davis Parent University (DPU) Hosts Jacob Ward on Jan 8, 7 PM

Is your brain ready to talk AI?  Are you eager for guidance as a high school student, parent, or educator?  Let’s separate our anxiety from all that is AI and talk about how we can understand its risks and amplify the best parts of being human.  Please join Davis Parent University (DPU) on Thursday, January 8 at 7 PM at Brunelle for a fireside chat (new format!) between Jacob Ward, award-winning technology journalist and former NBC news correspondent, and Pamela Wu, Director of News and Media Relations for UC Davis Health.  Jake welcomes high school students to attend!  

Jake is the author of The Loop: How AI Is Creating a World Without Choices and How We Can Fight Back.  Check out Jake’s quick video about his event HERE.  For more information about Jake and for FREE tickets, please visit davisparentuniversity.com.  You can also watch a recording of DPU’s recent event with Dr. Tovah Klein here.  Listen, laugh, and learn with DPU!

Screen Addictions: NavigatingFamily Challenges

PEP Talk Wednesday, January, 21, 6:00pm to 7:00pm

For many children and teens, the use of screens mimics patterns of drug addiction, making it difficult for them to be without their devices close at hand. When parents attempt to limit screen use, they may encounter addictive behavior that includes lying, stealing, pleading, threatening and erupting in anger. This PEP Talk will discuss the growing prevalence of screen addictions and strategies parents can use to address these issues and live more harmoniously. 

Click HERE to register

Questions? Contact Annette Preciado, [email protected]

 

 

 

Upcoming Dates 

Here is what is coming up at Harper:

• Wednesday 1/7 - PTO meeting 7-8:30 pm online - This is a great opportunity to hear about what is happening at Harper. Look for an email from PTO coming soon or visit https://www.harperjrhighpto.com/ for the meeting link
• Monday 1/19 - No School for Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
• Tuesday 1/20 - Incoming 7th Parent Night (5:15 English, 6:30 Spanish)
• Thursday 1/22 - Last Day of Semester 1
• Friday 1/23 - Junior High Teacher Work Day - No school for all Junior High students - High Schools and Elementary schools are in session 
• Monday 1/26 - Semester 2 Begins
• Tuesday 1/27 - Incoming 8th/9th Parent Night (5pm English, 6:30 Spanish)
• Friday 1/30 6-8pm - Harper Winter Dance
• Friday 2/6 - First Friday with the Principal - Join us during 1st period (from 8:20-9:20) in the Harper Den (room K63) every first Friday of the month for coffee and a social hour to connect with Principal Sluis and Vice Principal Nero along with other Harper families and staff.  We would love to hear more from parents about our Harper climate and check in about what is on top for you as junior high parents.

 

 

 

Athletics