Dear Harbor Families,

Happy New Year! Whether your winter break was spent at home, traveling, or a bit of both, the return to school routines can feel both grounding and a little bumpy - especially with young children. As we settle back into the rhythm of school and work, let’s remember to extend plenty of grace to ourselves and to our kids as schedules fill and expectations ramp up in the weeks ahead.

I’m delighted to share that our Spiral exploration, Art in Three Dimensions, begins this week, and there is so much to look forward to. Tomorrow morning, we are excited to welcome families into classrooms for Open Classrooms, where students will begin exploring and brainstorming ideas connected to three-dimensional art and the many ways artists work in form, space, and materials.

Next Friday afternoon, we are thrilled to host museum educators from the National Gallery of Art for a professional learning session with our faculty. This experience is thoughtfully tailored to our Spiral theme and aligned with the Project Zero professional learning we have focused on this year. (Please note that there will be a noon dismissal for students that day.) Teachers will deepen their understanding of artists, materials, and techniques in 3D art, and will bring these ideas directly into their classroom work with students.

While still pending final confirmation, please tentatively mark your calendars for Friday, January 30, for a school-wide field trip to the National Gallery of Art to deepen and extend our Spiral learning! Parents will be invited to join us as we explore three-dimensional works and learn about artists through a special program designed just for Harbor students to support our Spiral exploration. This is an exciting opportunity that is sure to delight and inspire!

Be sure, as well, to save the date for Spiral Night on February 26. Each year, Spiral Night transforms our building into a celebration of student thinking and creativity, but with this year’s theme, it promises to feel even more like a true museum experience. It is a beloved highlight of our school year, and we cannot wait to share this special evening with you, and to see the amazing art the students will create!

In the meantime, we hope you’ll join us for our MLK Day of Service on January 19th, featuring a Dance-a-thon benefiting Children’s National Hospital. Please read on for more details, and be sure to check your child’s backpack tomorrow.

We look forward to seeing you very soon, both in classrooms and around the Harbor community, as we begin this exciting new chapter of learning together!

Warm regards,

Leah Musico
Head of School