A Letter from Andrea 

Dear Harbor Families,

During my years of teaching at Harbor, I often heard our treasured school proudly described as “Bethesda’s best kept secret” (this was before we moved to Potomac, of course), and a “hidden gem.” At the time, I remembered thinking yeah, this school is so special, and I don’t know why it’s such a secret! 

After several years of teaching in almost every grade we offer at Harbor, I’m so proud to be in my current role, as Assistant Head and Admissions and Marketing Director, where I can spread the word about Harbor, and help new families learn about what we do here, and what makes our school so unique. In contrast to that little secret place, people who call or inquire online often tell me that they’ve heard amazing things about Harbor, that they have friends, coworkers, or neighbors who attend(ed) Harbor, that they know one of our incredible teachers, or maybe that they found us online, read some of Leah’s blogs, saw the fun we were having on instagram, and couldn’t wait to come in for a tour. 

Harbor has a strong reputation as an exemplary school focusing on the critical years of preschool to third grade, where children are celebrated for who they are, challenged to think deeply about the world around them, and find solutions to problems in their own way. Our graduates are known to be confident, kind and capable learners, who continue their educational journeys in a wide variety of settings after Harbor. As Harbor parents, you obviously know all of this, so why am I wasting this time and space? 

I come with a request - keep spreading the word! Even though a lot of us are feeling like the school year is just underway, this is the time when many families are starting to plan for next year. If you have friends, neighbors, or coworkers with young children, tell them about Harbor! Despite our lovely website (soon to be updated!), eye-catching signage, and illustrative social media posts, word of mouth is still one of the strongest drivers to new enrollment! We are hosting in-person open houses (see dates below), where prospective parents and caregivers can come hear from Leah and myself, along with teachers and parents, about our school and community. Let your friends and colleagues know about these sessions, and also, let me know if you would like to join an open house as a current parent, or if you would be willing to be a parent ambassador who prospective families can talk to about your experience at Harbor, while they make this big decision for their child.

And since we’re talking about plans for next year, please reach out if you are interested in learning more about your child’s upcoming year at Harbor. We are always happy to answer your questions, and our open classrooms on select Fridays are a great time to catch a glimpse of what’s in store for next year!

See you at Smokey Glen!

Andrea Zuraf
Assistant Head of School and Director of Admissions and Marketing