Dear Harbor Families,

This week, we have been celebrating the joy of reading with a long-standing tradition at Harbor - the annual book fair and tonight’s Pajama Party! 

It has been wonderful seeing our families peruse the diverse selection of books at our book fair throughout the week! As you consider your purchases (which support Harbor as a fundraiser - so thank you!), consider choosing a balance of books that represent both mirrors and windows. Mirror books mirror back aspects of your life, culture, or interests, while window books open the door (or window) to new perspectives, knowledge, and ideas. Finding a balance of both types of books is a purposeful way to encourage self-understanding, identity, empathy, and perspective-taking - all important life skills. If you have a few minutes, this TED Talk by Grace Lin is worth a listen. (If you participated in our parent session about choosing books last spring, you will remember that this video prompted a lot of rich discussion.)

While I’m on the subject of books, let’s all remember the many benefits of reading for pleasure as adults - whether you prefer hardcover, paperback, tablet, audiobook, or another form. If you’re anything like me, you may feel that taking time to do something for yourself falls to the bottom of the list on many days. Here’s a reminder for all of us - modeling reading for our kids is sending a powerful message and will influence them for years to come. (Note to self... Saturday morning plans confirmed.)

Tonight, we look forward to seeing many of you at our annual outdoor PJ Party in the parking lot by the Harbor arrival/dismissal loop, starting at 5:30! Please park in the lot in front of the building, bring blankets or camp chairs, and depending on your family’s dinner schedule, feel free to bring or pick up a picnic dinner for the event. No need to bring dessert, since our bake sale will be open with delicious treats! (Unfortunately, though the s’mores kits are packed and ready, there is currently a burn ban in Montgomery County, so the fire pits will be taking a year’s hiatus.) In addition to the book fair, we’ll host guest author Danielle Joseph, award winning author of I Want to Ride the Tap Tap, who will be reading her book and selling signed copies! Thank you to Nicole Moore and her team of volunteers for organizing such a special week at Harbor.

Tomorrow morning, we hope to see many of you for this week's Family Friday - our second Coffee and Connections events, where we’ll be discussing the content of Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation. We look forward to an engaging discussion about the effects of the technology and social media (which he calls the "phone-based" childhood) on children’s development, as well as Haidt's assertion that providing children with more independence in the real world (a "play-based" childhood) equips them with important skills for their future. Bill and I listened to the book during a long road trip this summer and it gave us a lot to think about as parents. If you like to have a heads up on the topic, we'll watch this interview tomorrow to prompt our discussion.

We look forward to seeing you tonight and again tomorrow morning! Happy reading!

Warm regards,

Leah Musico
Head of School