Dear Harbor Families,

I hope you are enjoying an enriching and fulfilling summer, whatever that may mean for your family! 

Greetings from the Grand Canyon, where my family is spending a few days as part of our big summer adventure: a cross-country road trip (and back!). As I write, it is early morning and I am sitting outside of our room at the lodge inside the park. with a view of the canyon. It is a breathtaking view and a humbling reminder of nature’s power, as I can also see the smoke from the fires burning on the north rim of the canyon. With our days full of activity, this peaceful moment is a welcome pause and a beautiful place to reflect and write to you.

For those of you with younger children, I’ll admit we wouldn’t have attempted this kind of trip when our kids were smaller—but at 8 and 11, they are just the right ages for it. With some advance planning (and plenty of snacks), they’ve handled the long drives remarkably well. Along the way, we’ve visited family and friends—some of them from Harbor—including a former Board Chair, which has reaffirmed for me the deep and lasting relationships this community fosters.

Our most recent stop was at Mesa Verde National Park, where we explored the extraordinary cliff dwellings of the ancestral Puebloans, built in the 1100s and 1200s. Ingeniously constructed into the cliffs, these homes provided protection from both the elements and potential outside threats. As the park ranger described what archaeologists and historians have uncovered about the inhabitants of one dwelling, Balcony House, I found myself thinking about Harbor. Though their physical space was limited within the cliff walls, it was clear that the design prioritized connection—featuring a central gathering area for the community, with smaller rooms set further back into the rock for individual family use. It was remarkable to see the intentionality of the space, the innovative problem-solving, and even signs of renovation over time—all in service of supporting a strong, connected community. It reminded me of how we at Harbor also design our spaces—with care, creativity, and a deep commitment to nurturing belonging and growth.

At Harbor this summer, we have been busy improving two of our own gathering spaces  - The Chesapeake Room and faculty room - but with cabinets and new furniture, rather than sandstone and mud mortar. It has  been so exciting to see the progress throughout the summer! With guidance from a faculty and staff committee, we’ve redesigned these spaces to better serve our community’s needs. The Chesapeake Room will be more flexible and functional than ever - for student gatherings, art, music, and yoga classes, faculty meetings, family coffees, and admissions events. The updated faculty room will include a new, deeper sink, more storage, and a refreshed bathroom. None of this would be possible without your generous donations - both through our Raise the Paddle fundraising efforts at last spring’s Gala and through additional support. Thank you! I can’t wait for you to see the transformation when we return.

While summer offers our faculty time to rest and recharge, many have also used the break for continued learning. Our faculty and staff have participated in trainings on multisensory reading instruction using Orton-Gillingham, attended workshops on Positive Discipline and classroom management, and participated in an admissions and marketing conference. Next week, several teachers will attend the Summer Institute for Teaching at Washington International School to explore Project Zero research from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. We look forward to bringing these insights into our classrooms this fall.

It’s hard to believe that today is the first of August! As you look ahead to the new school year, here are a few reminders to guide you: 

• The school calendar, which was first sent in May, is available here.
• Health forms must be completed and signed by a physician before the first day of school. Forms can be found here and should be emailed to the school at administration@theharborschool.org.
• On Thursday, August 28 at 3:15 PM, families are invited to visit classrooms and enjoy time on the playground. You’ll also have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one Zoom calls with your child’s teachers on Wednesday and Thursday of that week (sign-ups will be shared mid-August).
• Back-to-school shopping is not necessary—classroom supplies will be provided! Your child will need a backpack, lunch bag (if not using the hot lunch program), water bottle, and for preschool and JK students, a blanket or nap mat for rest time.
• The first day of school is Tuesday, September 2.

Later this month, I’ll write again with more detailed back-to-school information, including class lists, the family directory, our updated handbook, extended day, enrichment, and hot lunch information, and logistical details for the first days of school.

In the meantime, I hope you are able to enjoy a few more moments of summer calm—whether it’s a grand view from a national park or a quiet afternoon watching your children play outside. We’re so excited to welcome you back to Harbor soon!

Warmly, 

Leah Musico
Head of School
The Harbor School