It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth Harper Quackenbush, our beloved Chemistry teacher, Outdoor Adventures founder, Garden club leader, and outstanding role model for everyone in our community. Our hearts are broken and we miss her dearly.
At New Harmony High, she was loved and admired by the students who recognized the absolute honesty and fearlessness with which she approached everything she did. Liz’s spirit will forever be preserved at New Harmony through the many projects she founded and lives she touched, including teaching Chemistry, designing a project-based Algebra curriculum, founding the Outdoor Adventures PE program and planning garden activities. As an educator she was inspired by the following quote from Point Break “This was never about the money. This was about us against the system. That system that breaks the human spirit”. That inspiration was evident in her teaching style – a blend of intelligence, compassion and tenacity that touched so many lives.
She will be deeply missed by her mother, Diane Holland, her brother Michael Quackenbush and sister-in-law Jax Quackenbush, her two nieces Redding and Sloan Quackenbush, many dear aunties and uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues, and her students.
You can donate to her memorial fund to help relieve her family of the costs associated with the sudden passing of a loved one by clicking here.
“Do we soon forget the things we cannot see? Never.”
Please join us in the celebration of her life and legacy this Saturday the 13th at Bayou Savage for a morning of tree planting from 10am – 1pm and then at New Harmony, in the moss street parking lot from 3 -7pm for music and dancing. All attendees are required to wear a mask and distance themselves. Her family encourages all guests to dress colorfully.
Please join us outdoors this Saturday to celebrate Liz’s life and planting native species to reforest Bayou Sauvage NWR. All are welcome! Bring a water bottle (and lunch if you want). Water, snacks, drinks, and sunscreen will be provided. A hat and clothes that you can get dirty are recommended! *If you plan to attend the Celebration of Liz’s Life afterwards, a change of clothes is recommended. Prepare to get muddy! This project is possible due to Common Ground Relief, who will provide trees and supplies for planting such as boots, shovels, and gloves. NOTE: Parking is limited so carpooling or drop off is recommended.
Please contact Kat Bell (504) 370-3980 or Kitty O’Connor (504) 444 – 2061 with any questions. Staff, please contact us if you are interested in helping out by supplying snacks, drinks, coolers, water, etc.
Who: Students, staff and family of New Harmony! If you are interested in attending, please fill out this form When: 10 – 1, if you are being picked up by the bus, please be ready for pick up by 9 Address: Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge 20876 Chef Menteur Hwy New Orleans, LA 70129
Exact location within Bayou Sauvage: 30°05’47.5″N 89°52’03.8″W; there is a boat launch just past this spot, which is on Route 11/ Ridgeway Blvd. on the East side of Bayou Sauvage
Liz always found time in her very busy days for everyone AND made time to appreciate nature and beauty. Please find time in your day to stop by and plant a tree in her honor. She would love to see everyone doing this!
Every student needs a parent/family member to act as a chaperone during the celebration at New Harmony for 3 – 7pm. A staff member may also sponsor a student as their official chaperone if it’s documented in advance with the school. All students must be on their way home by 7 pm at the very latest as staff will not be able to chaperone past then.
We love you forever Liz!
Good afternoon,
This a reminder that the first day on campus for 9th graders returning in person is next Tuesday 3/16. Students will attend hybrid student orientation at that time. Please make sure your student brings their Chromebooks to school with them on Tuesday. All students should attend virtual Advisory on Monday at 10 AM, per the usual Monday schedule. Have a lovely weekend!
In-person school starts at 9 a.m. Please do NOT have your students arrive to school prior to 8:30 a.m. which is when adults are on duty. School dismisses at 3:30 p.m.
If your student is a car rider, the car will NOT be permitted to enter the parking lot on Esplanade. Students need to be dropped on the Esplanade side of the school, from the street parking area (do not park in the bus lane). Any students coming from the Moss side will need to cross through the alley and come to the school through the very front Esplanade Street entrance. Adults will be directing traffic, but for safety, there is only 1 entrance for students– through the very front gate where buses drop off. All temps are taken there.
On Tuesday the 23rd we will welcome 10th and 11th graders back as well. All families have been notified via Remind and email. Please click here for more information.
Thank you and we can’t wait to see you!
We’re Hiring!
Data Manager
We are seeking a full time Data Manager for the 2021-22 school year. Click below to apply!
New Harmony is seeking a talented and passionate individual to serve as the Director of Diverse Learning (Special Education) for our high school. The Director’s primary responsibility will be to design, implement, and oversee Special Education, Section 504, and English Language Learner (ELL) programming at New Harmony High School.
Student’s in Jeff’s English III class are working on a two week creative writing partnership with 826 New Orleans called “Me In This Moment.” In this personal narrative project, students will be telling the story of one memorable moment in their lives. Writing personal narratives, particularly now, is a vehicle for healing, processing, and making meaning of our constantly evolving world. The completed project will result in a book published by 826 New Orleans. If you’d like to see an example, check out the beautiful book NHH and 826 NOLA created together last year!
Important note: if you are a parent of a junior and have not completed the publishing consent form, please do so. If we do not receive the form, we cannot include your student’s wonderful story in the book.
During session one, students heard from NY Times best-selling author Jason Reynolds (Long Way Down, All American Boys). Student’s examined an excerpt from the author’s book Ghost as a mentor text for the project.
Project workshops are being led by essayist/journalist (Lisa O’Neill). Ms. Lisa has been working with students to help shape their narratives, develop characters and vivid descriptions, and hone in on authentic and memorable dialogue.
The wonderful team at 826 New Orleans has reimagined the possibilities of writing workshops by creating virtual notebooks to accompany the sessions and guide students through each step of the process. Within these notebooks, students plan, draft, and revise their narratives while receiving feedback from the 826 team along the way.
Stay tuned to read some student stories and hear more details about the publishing of the book!
Upcoming Student Events and Opportunities
CRCL’s Future Coastal Leaders Program
CRCL’s Future Coastal Leaders Program started this week with a virtual kick-off session, and New Harmony was well represented. Eight New Harmony students and 20 youth from our coastal community embarked on a journey that will supplement their knowledge of Lousiana’s environment and coastal communities. They will also make connections with professionals who working for our coast across various career fields, which include
Outreach and Community Engagement
Science & Technology, Engineering, and Design
Law, Policy, and Economics
Resource Management
Arts and Culture
Media and Education
Students will participate in activities that include:
Virtual Coastal Flyover Tour
Green Infrastructure Design Workshop
Advocacy Training
Kayak Tour (May/June optional and COVID permitting)
Special thanks to our CRCL and the students and families participating in this program.
Youth Force NOLA Summer Opportunity
To learn more, New Harmony 11th grade students and parents be sure to:
Join the New Harmony Info Session–taking place Friday, February 19th, 2:00pm to 2:45pm. (The invitation was emailed to all 11th graders.)
Check your inbox for more information.
New Social Justice Business Venture
RELATIVE HUMANITY APPAREL
A New Harmony parent, Caroline, recently started a new business ,The Relative Humanity, which was created to communicate a drum beat for change and the evolution of human rights by signifying a human-friendly space. When you make a purchase from their store you help bring awareness to the Relative Humanity symbol and its mission of promoting a world that believes in inclusion, diversity and equity.
Fleurish Printing, who partners with New Harmony, is one of their ground members and they are doing all the screen printing for them.
