harbor country day school viewbook

Family

Friends

Futures

“I love my school.

I wish everyone could go here.”

— L o w e r S c h o o l s t u d e n t

4 F a m i ly, F r i e n d s a n d F u t u r e s

The Heart of Harbor

2 0 a c a d e m i c s Early Childhood Lower School Upper School

2 6 t e c h n o l o g y For Learning, For Connecting

2 8 F o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s t u d y A Distinguishing Difference

3 0 t h e a r t s Encouraging Self-Expression

3 2 c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e Engaging Character Education with Community

3 4 a d m i s s i o n s Come Visit

Thank you for expressing interest in Harbor Country Day. The decision to apply to an

independent school is not to be taken lightly. Therefore, I hope you find the following

pages informative and helpful in gaining a greater understanding of who we are.

At first glance you will notice our elegant school-home, Tulip Knoll. It is an historic North

Shore mansion once owned by the famous philanthropist, Alice McLean. You will find a

welcoming front hall like that of a country estate, and classrooms that were once bedrooms,

with fireplaces and ornate woodwork. Our comfortable historic surroundings influence

learning directly: they help create an environment like that of a home, where students

feel safe and secure. Within these surroundings, you will feel the palpable energy of many

individuals working together as a community. As you probe deeper and look more closely,

you will notice students performing at an academic level only possible with a talented and

dedicated faculty, a challenging and broad curriculum and an approach that both stretches

our most capable students and supports those who are in need. You will find technology

such as laptops, SMART Boards, wireless connections, advanced calculators, a computer

lab and access to state-of-the-art learning software.

Our program is integrated, allowing for in-depth study of related subjects at the same time

in various classrooms. While fifth grade students are reading historical fiction in English,

they may be studying the same time period in social studies and learning the music and

art of the same era. We differentiate our instruction at every opportunity, allowing us to

teach to individual skills and talents; based on continual assessment, teachers can monitor

individual progress with ease, allowing assessment to drive instruction.

Harbor Country Day is small enough to pay attention to details, teach to the individual

and foster a sense of independence in our students. Opportunities for leadership abound.

Yet we are large enough for every student to find his or her voice and acquire confidence

among supportive peers. Our motto, Sine Labore Nihil (Without Work, Nothing), underlines

that hard work is the key to achievement. Teachers and students alike, we enjoy our work

in our small community, and we have plenty of fun along the way. That explains the

smiling faces you will find throughout this book.

Please read on and learn more about our school. You will discover what we mean as we

showcase Family, Friends and Futures.

—Christopher C. Pryor, Head of School

“ We’re all together, even when there’s

no school.”

— P r e s c h o o l S t u d e n t

“ We’re a family here. That makes it easier

to focus on learning.”

— U p p e r S c h o o l S t u d e n t

“ It’s a continuously rewarding experience

having my children here. We always know

how they are doing in school, and that

makes it easier to help them do better.”

— L o w e r S c h o o l P a r e n t

4

We believe schools and families are

partners in every child’s journey

toward a full and complete education,

partners who share such values as

integrity, honesty, citizenship and

hard work.

Family

7

“We know our students in class, on the playing field, on stage, in

the gym. We know them as complete individuals, and we

have the opportunity to teach to their unique strengths and talents.

We all work hard at Harbor … but we all work together.”

— L o w e r S c h o o l Te a c h e r

As partners in your children’s personal

development and academic success, we

also share your hopes for them: that they will

grow confident and self-assured; that their

unique talents will find room for expression;

that tradition and honor will instill character

to guide them through life’s many challenges;

that intellectual curiosity will blossom into

academic success.

That’s why we strive to create a welcoming

environment for every student, every day.

We know that a family environment is more

conducive to learning—and learning is the

essential goal of every child’s experience

at Harbor.

The campus itself features Tulip Knoll,

an historic Long Island mansion of stately

rooms filled both with character and with the

latest educational technology. Its hallways are

lined with colorful artwork and its grounds and

playing fields still evoke gracious memories.

It is a perfect backdrop to each child’s

educational exploration.

In small classes with caring teachers and

at campus events for the whole family, the

Harbor community is so close-knit that

learning becomes a natural activity.

left: students are greeted by the head of school with

a handshake each morning as they arrive at school.

“It’s as if we had a family of 175

wonderful people to help raise

our child, and we’ve seen her blossom

over the years. The school’s

academic program is second to

none, and that Harbor

family feeling

really makes this place special.”

— L o w e r S c h o o l p a r e n t

8

“ We want the youngest ones to feel they are

part of the school from the very beginning.”

— P r e s c h o o l t e a c h e r

“ My teacher is always there for me when

I need her help.”

— L o w e r S c h o o l S t u d e n t

“ My favorite thing about Harbor is that your

friends try to understand you. We learn how

to cooperate and respect each other, which

makes even the hardest classes seem easier.”


11

In a friendly atmosphere of support

and collaboration, Harbor students

develop the self-assurance essential to

intellectual risk-taking. They question

and explore differing points of view,

practice and refine academic skills

and, ultimately, develop a collegial

respect for one another’s ideas as they

gain confidence in their own.

Friends

“Here, I always feel like I have someone to talk to.

It’s easy to get to know many different kinds of people because

classes are small. And when my class work seems too hard,

I know I can ask my teachers for help—and get it.”


At Harbor, students don’t just grow up

together, they learn together. Every day

and every class is an exercise in collaboration,

exploration and sharing. To encourage a

sense of community, we build in numerous

opportunities for the whole school to come

together. For example, each week we hold an

all-school meeting, when any student can speak

before the assembled school community—from

the Upper School soccer captain announcing a

big win to a Nursery School student describing

her birthday cake.

Clubs, athletics, field trips, assemblies, commu-

nity service projects and other activities help

students get to know one another as more than

classmates. They gain confidence as individuals

because they learn to respect others and to be

respected for who they are. In such an atmosphere,

a deeper sense of camaraderie develops.

Every Harbor graduate is prepared to enter

secondary school as a confident, well-spoken

student, open to a diversity of people and

ideas. Just as important, he or she graduates

with a rich appreciation of the enduring value

of friendship.

13

a F t e r s c h o o l c l u b s

Art Club

Builders Club (co-sponsored by Kiwanis Club)

Cheerleaders Club

Chess Club

Drama Club

K-Kids Club (co-sponsored by Kiwanis Club)

left: team sports teach teamwork and sportsmanship:

harbor hawks interscholastic athletes in grades Five

through eight compete against teams from neighboring

schools in soccer, basketball and lacrosse.

“This is an excellent school, and I

know I’ll do well when I go on to

secondary school. But to me, school is

all about the friends you make.

I’ve known lots of kids here since

kindergarten, and I already

know we’ll be

friends for life.”


14

“ What I love about my school is that I’m

learning Spanish and French—at the

same time.”

— L o w e r S c h o o l S t u d e n t

“ When people ask me about Harbor, I

tell them this is a fun place where I am

learning a lot.”

— K i n d e r g a r t e n S t u d e n t

“ With all the writing, computer skills and

language study here, we’re way ahead of

what they’re doing in other schools. I can’t

wait for what comes next.”


16

Committed to academic excellence

at every grade level, we offer an

integrated curriculum that prepares

graduates for success at the most

rigorous secondary schools in

the country.

Futures

19

“By teaching critical thinking and

problem-solving skills, we develop citizens and

lifelong learners who can confidently face

future complex challenges.”

—Christopher C. Pryor, Head of School

The school’s motto sums up our attitude

toward academics: Sine Labore Nihil

(Without Work, Nothing). We work hard—faculty

and students—toward the goal of exceptional

academic preparation for whatever challenge

lies ahead.

Our traditional academic program is augmented

by state-of-the-art computer technology and

led by passionate, dedicated educators who

understand that each child is unique. In small

classes, they can differentiate their teaching to

make the most of individual learning styles.

They teach to each student’s strengths and

interests, challenge them to strive for more and

fuel their innate love of discovery and learning.

Our integrated curriculum reinforces skills

across subjects and throughout the grades,

gradually supplementing lessons learned from

one subject to the next, and from year to year.

By the time students graduate from Harbor,

they are well prepared for success at any

secondary school in the country.

2 0

e a r ly c h i l d h o o d

Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten

Our youngest students enjoy an enriching

and individualized introduction to learning

through observing, investigating, creating,

manipulating, discovering, speaking Spanish

and playing imaginatively.

A hands-on, multisensory approach to teaching,

a curriculum that emphasizes fun and discovery

and a team of compassionate, state-certified

classroom teachers assisted by a teaching

assistant in each classroom distinguish the

Harbor approach to early childhood education.

Unlike many Nursery and Pre-K programs, ours

prepares our youngest students for success in

our accelerated kindergarten program.

Academics

l o w e r s c h o o l

Grades One through Four

The Lower School focuses on making the

transition from learning to read to reading to

learn. Students learn to reason soundly and

to speak effectively in public.

Courses in science, math and social studies

and regularly scheduled classes in music, art,

computer, physical education and library

complete the core curriculum. Spanish

language studies continue until third grade,

when language studies switch to French.

in the Preschool, classroom curriculum is enriched with

regularly-schedule physical education, Kindermusik and

library, all overseen by certified teachers.

arrive early, stay late: before and after school programs

accommodate busy family schedules and are great

opportunities for making new friends and getting help

with homework.

22

u P P e r s c h o o lGrades Five through Eight

The middle school years represent a critical

moment of opportunity in a child’s education.

Designed to challenge their growing intellects

and channel their abundant energy, the

Upper School features individualized student

advising, increasing levels of personal freedom

and departmentalized classes in a program

that helps each student grow academically,

personally and socially.

Featuring many advanced courses in mathematics

and English as well as two foreign languages,

the curriculum is complemented by overnight

field trips that teach cooperation and enrich

classroom experiences. Upper School is a time

to learn leadership; students run the Student

Council and participate in valuable community

service projects, interscholastic athletics and

musical productions. They learn citizenship,

responsibility and self-confidence.

Our Upper School students are proud of their

school and of their accomplishments. They

should be. Confident and poised, they are

prepared for success at the most competitive

secondary schools.

next stop, wall street: the newsday stock market fifth grade

team consistently places among the top long island teams.

23

Friends and mentors: every upper school student is assigned

an advisor to serve as a personal advocate. beyond academics,

these mentors help students navigate the social and ethical

questions all young adolescents face.

s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s a t t e n d e d — a sampling

• Chaminade College Preparatory• Friends Academy• Hotchkiss School• Lawrenceville School• Peddie School• Phillips Academy Andover• Phillips Exeter Academy• Portledge School• Smithtown High School, East and West• St. Anthony’s High School• St. George’s School• Stony Brook School• Ward Melville High School• Westminster School

s c h o o l t r i P s

• Broadway• Frost Valley YMCA Camp• Gettysburg• Local trips to farms, orchards and beaches• Metropolitan Museum of Art• Museum of Natural History• Wilderness Adventure Trip• Williamsburg

“It’s any educator’s dream

to be able to teach in small

classes, to really be able to

customize learning

in a safe and nurturing

environment.

Welcome to my life!”

— U p p e r S c h o o l t e a c h e r

25

26

Computer and information technology

permeate the Harbor learning environ-

ment. High-tech SMART Boards arrayed

throughout the school allow teachers to display,

retrieve and share lessons with students in

media-rich ways that embrace a wide range of

learning styles and model collaborative learning.

TechnologyTeachers use interactive multimedia technology

to teach everything from art and music to

geometry and language study. School-wide

wireless networking capabilities, a school laptop

program and Harbor community websites keep

students, parents and teachers continuously in

touch with one another, enhancing the closeness

of the school community.

Harbor students gain proficiency with a wide

array of computer technology that students

in other schools often do not even get the

chance to use.

above: students collaborate on writing exercises using one

of harbor’s many smart boards. lessons can become the

basis for homework assignments when the teacher saves

and e-mails them to students’ home computers.

2 7

c o n n e c t i n g h a r b o r a n d h o m e

Our website links parents, students and faculty

in a continuous loop of academic and personal

improvement and growth. Class websites

include individual folders for students. Safe

and carefully monitored course management

and social networking systems allow students

to communicate with teachers, parents, each

other and anyone else in the school commu-

nity. Harbor website and Internet resources

makes possible everything from online class

“discussions” at any hour of the day to school-

wide podcasts and presentations by virtually

any member of the school community.

2 1 s t c e n t u r y c h a l K b o a r d

Learning takes a giant step forward with

Harbor’s school-wide system of networked

SMART Boards, which allow teachers to access

Internet resources and media rich presenta-

tions, conduct collaborative exercises in the

class and save and share such activities with

students for further work. One exciting

example: an English class develops a topic

sentence and its supporting ideas together.

The teacher writes this on the SMART Board

and later e-mails it to each student as a

paragraph writing assignment online. Individu-

al writing samples are subsequently shared and

critiqued in class via SMART Board.

t e c h n o l o g y a t s c h o o l — a sampling

• Laptop program and wireless network

• Spreadsheet and modeling programs in math

• Word processing for writing and English

• Multimedia presentations

• Internet skills integrated into student research projects

• Graphic arts programs teach visual aesthetics

• Music software used for composition

• Digital photography

• Voice recording in language study

• Podcasting

• Student blogs

28

Foreign Language Study

It is a truism of foreign language study that the

earlier it begins, the easier it is for students

to progress naturally. At Harbor, language study

begins in kindergarten with conversational

Spanish. As students acquire basic spoken

language skills, they also learn about the people

and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

In third grade, students switch to the study of

French, again emphasizing culture and conversa-

tion. Then, in fifth grade, they take both Spanish

and French. At the end of the fifth grade year,

they choose one language for intensive study in

Upper School. The result of such intensive study

is that Harbor students typically begin secondary

school one to two years ahead of their classmates

in foreign language proficiency. Thus they

have completed their secondary school foreign

language requirement early, allowing for further,

in-depth language study.

Ici, nous parlons français. harbor upper school students

consistently take highest honors in the national Grand

Concours, a voluntary test of French language mastery.

29

upper school students are prepared to enter secondary

school in second year honors or third year French or

spanish language classes.

technology supports language study as students practice

foreign language pronunciation and computer skills

using digital voice recording technology. e-mail and smart

board technology provide daily opportunities for honing

written proficiency.

spanish students explore language, culture, food and

favorite video games with e-mail pen pals in spanish-

speaking countries.

upper school students attend theatrical productions in

spanish, such as an adaptation of the great 17th century

spanish novel, Don Quixote.

3 0

The fine and performing arts programs

are of special importance at Harbor.

We believe they not only enrich the mind,

but they also tap new and creative ways

of thinking.

At Harbor, we start exploring art and artists

in kindergarten as young students mimic the

techniques of such famous painters as Long

Island resident Jackson Pollack or the famed

19th century Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh

to create their own original works.

This “immersion” approach is refined in

subsequent years as the school pursues an

interdisciplinary approach to the understand-

ing of arts and artists. By helping students

understand the connections between art and

other disciplines, they come to appreciate the

interconnectedness of ideas, creativity and

the human experience.

The Arts

“if you are learning about the renaissance in history,”

says one teacher, “you can reinforce connections by

learning about renaissance art, culture and music at

the same time.”

during the arts and elective period, upper school students

have the opportunity to choose topics of special interest for

further exploration. some examples include a cappella

singing, drama, photography, shakespeare and writing.

Performing builds confidence: such traditions as the annual

holiday concert and the upper school musical showcase

student talent that the entire community can be proud of.

Community service at Harbor is not just a

way to give back—although it certainly

plays that vital role for the school and the

community. It is also a crucially important

teaching opportunity, a way to model the

virtues of helping others, sharing special gifts

and applying unique talents to the common

good. As with so much that distinguishes

Harbor, these lessons begin young.

A staff community service coordinator

coordinates activities across grade levels for

the entire school, and Harbor students are

familiar participants in such area projects as

the Salvation Army coat drive, the Smithtown

Food Pantry, Toys for Tots and many others.

Through the National Junior Honor Society

and the Student Council, student leaders

engage the school community in service

projects that offer valuable lessons about the

connections between service and leadership.

Community Service

clean the beach: lessons in environmental stewardship

and service combine in a new initiative that brings together

harbor students with community leaders to clean up the

beaches of long island sound.

serving the harbor community: after learning about

harbor’s annual Fund, one eighth grader set—and met—

a personal goal to achieve 100 percent participation

from upper school students in the fundraising effort.

c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e — a sampling

• Salvation Army Coat Drive

• Thanksgiving Food Drive, Smithtown Food Pantry

• Toys for Tots

• Warm Hands Warm Hearts—collecting gloves for

Long Island Veterans Adult Day Care Center at

Stony Brook University

• Long Island Blood Services blood drives at school

• Newsday FutureCorps program participants

c e l e b r a t i n g F a m i ly : o u r m o s t c h e r i s h e d

s c h o o l t r a d i t i o n s a r e F a m i ly a F F a i r s

• All-school Picnic

• Classroom presentations and productions

• Community Book Fair

• Dad’s Day

• Family Fun Night

• Field Day

• Field trips

• Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day

• Mothers’ Day Tea

• Parent P.E. participation

• Trunk or Treat

3 3

a d m i s s i o n s

As you might expect, admissions is a highly

personalized experience at Harbor.

A campus visit will introduce you and your

family to the closeness of the Harbor commu-

nity, the comfortable feeling of our classrooms

and our beautiful 11-acre campus of woods

and playing fields. We’re happy to show you

around. And, we’ll tell you more about the

program, meet your son or daughter and give

you an inside look at our school of which

we are so proud.

For more information, or to schedule a

visit, please contact the Admissions

Office at 631.584.5555, or by e-mail at

[email protected].

d e a d l i n e a n d a g e i n F o r m a t i o n

Decisions on Early Childhood applications

are made on a rolling basis as space allows.

Children must be age 3 for Nursery and

age 4 for Pre-Kindergarten by December 1

of their entry year.

Applications for Grades One–Eight must be

received by the end of February for first-round

decisions, and notification letters are mailed by

mid-March. Decisions on applications received

after February are made on a rolling basis, as

space allows.

Harbor Country Day School17 Three Sisters Road

St. James, New York 11780

631.584.5555 fax: 631.862.7664

[email protected]

www.harborcountrydayschool.org

summer Fun: our popular summer programs offer

a unique blend of summer fun and educational

opportunities to more than 500 area children each year.

Please request a separate brochure.

30

Smiles from Harbor Country Day Schools

17 Three Sisters RoadSt. James, New York 11780

631.584.5555

www.harborcountrydayschool.org

harbor country day school viewbook

Documents