Dear Harbor Families,

Tonight is the night! Whether this is your first Spiral Night or your sixth, I hope you will pause and savor it. There is something truly special about watching your child stand beside their work - explaining their thinking, reflecting on their process, and sharing discoveries with pride.

This year’s exploration of Art in Three Dimensions has filled our classrooms with an extraordinary range of materials, methods, and techniques. Students have drawn inspiration from established artists as well as from their own imagination and interests. In our older grades, this creative work has been paired with research and writing, as students studied and reflected on an artist of their choosing. Spiral Night is a celebration of what makes Harbor, Harbor: collaboration, creativity, deep inquiry, and authentic student agency.

A few ways to make the evening even more meaningful:

• Students will be coming home today with Spiral t-shirts! Please have your child wear their t-shirt tonight - and again tomorrow for our field trip.
• Arrive at 6:00 PM for our community gathering downstairs. We’ll begin with interactive activities and reflections on our Spiral journey before heading upstairs to classrooms.
• As you explore the exhibits of student artwork, let your child be your guide. Ask open-ended questions such as:
  • What was the most challenging part of this project, and how did you work through it?
  • What’s something new you learned?
  • What was fun about collaborating with others? What felt tricky?

Tomorrow, we look forward to our culminating celebration of the Spiral experience with our all-school field trip! Here's what to expect:

• If you are part of a carpool, please meet in the back car line loop at 8:45 AM. Carpool groups should remain together throughout the trip for supervision purposes. For those meeting us at the museum, please plan to arrive at 10:00 AM at the East Building (entrance on 4th Street), where we will gather in the Atrium. The closest Metro stop is Judiciary Square, and there are several parking garages within walking distance.
• Our docent-led program will begin at 10:30 AM, with students divided into grade-level groups. Parents attending with siblings are encouraged to remain with their youngest child during the program.
• Lunch may be purchased in the cafeteria, or students/families may bring a packed lunch. The museum has graciously provided additional space for our group. 
• The afternoon will be spent exploring the museum in small groups, with a special focus on three-dimensional works - an opportunity to deepen the connections sparked by our Spiral study.
• At 2:00 PM, carpool groups will reconvene in the East Building Atrium to return to school.

This marks the first time we have taken a field trip as an entire school community, and it feels fitting that it follows a Spiral experience centered on art, perspective, and shared discovery. I am so looking forward to celebrating together - tonight and tomorrow!

Warmly,

                      
Leah Musico                                    
Head of School