Dear Harbor Families,

One of the core aspects of research-based best practices is the concept of self-reflection and continuous improvement. The idea of a “growth mindset,” coined by Stanford professor and psychologist Carol Dweck in her research on child development, guides our work with students every day at Harbor. In contrast to a fixed mindset, students with a growth mindset understand that they are always learning and growing. They embrace mistakes as opportunities to improve, develop resilience when faced with challenges, and recognize that effort, practice, and perseverance help them become more capable over time.

A growth mindset must be nurtured in everyday interactions. Great teachers make reflection a regular part of their students’ experiences. They remind students that persevering through hard tasks makes them stronger learners and more confident people. They treat mistakes as opportunities to learn, rather than failures. They give specific feedback, with warmth and care, to support students in the next step in their learning. Finally, they support students with the process of self-reflection. To that end, next Friday the 29th, we invite you to join for a very special Open Classrooms experience where you will have the opportunity to reflect with your child on their growth throughout the year through a collaborative review of their learning portfolios!

Great schools have growth mindsets as well, and feedback is an important part of this. This is where you come in! Each year, the school conducts a survey for families to help us better understand what we are doing well and where we can continue to grow as a community. Your perspective is incredibly valuable. Feedback from families helps guide our planning and decision-making, shapes priorities for the future, and allows us to reflect thoughtfully on the experience we are creating for students and families. Over the years, family feedback has directly informed improvements to communication, programming, school traditions, and community experiences.

We know that everyone’s time is valuable, and we are grateful for the time and thought you put into completing the survey. It should take less than 15 minutes to complete, and every response helps us continue the important work of strengthening Harbor for current and future students. Thank you, as always, for your partnership and continued support of our school community!

Warmly,

Leah Musico
Head of School