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kindergarten students arm in arm smiling at camera
Students standing on social stairs
students on playground smiling in playhouse
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Gradatim ad summum

Harbor Day School

At a Glance

416

Students, Grades K-8

56

Faculty

2,308

Alumni

72

Years of Excellence in Education

61%

Faculty with Advanced Degrees

6

Acre Campus in Corona del Mar, CA

The Spotlight

Harbor Day News
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Student drawing in notebook
Summer Adventures: Embrace the Sunshine and Sharpen Your Skills!

Summer is almost here, bringing with it the thrill of sunny days, beach outings, vacations, and a break from regular homework. However, Harbor Day School students know there's a small catch—summer reading and math assignments to complete before the new school year begins. With two and a half months between this school year and the start of the next school year, it's essential to keep those academic skills sharp. These assignments aren’t just about ticking off tasks; they’re about maintaining and honing your skills over the summer. While it might be tempting to leave them until the last minute, a steady, paced approach to reading, writing, and math will serve you much better in the long run.

A lower school music class with flip forms and acoustic paneling.
There's No Place Like Home
The music department has finally settled into its new home now that construction is complete. Since earlier this year, the music classrooms and theater have held classes, hosted Thanksgiving and Holiday concerts, and most recently, housed the Eighth Grade Musical.
 
Over the past four years, the students have performed in less-than-ideal performance settings. These venues included Zoom, blacktops, parking lots, and the quad. Despite these unique conditions, the students demonstrated professionalism and poise and performed with aplomb. Whether in their homerooms, an open middle school classroom, a collaboration space, or a shared lower school Spanish classroom (known as “Sp-usic”), the students came to music class ready and eager to learn, regardless of the classroom location.
 
Now that we have settled into our new facilities, the music department has finally found its place. The importance of place in a music department benefits students and audiences alike. Dedicated learning and performance spaces give students a sense of belonging and pride. Middle school music teacher Ms. Manion Leon says she will “never forget seeing the students walk into the stage area for the first time. A huge wave of pride and awe washed over them as it sunk in that they were preparing for a performance that would take place in that very space. The moment instantly felt so important and so special.” For audiences, performance spaces that showcase students’ work in the best way possible create memorable experiences. For students, being confident and proud of their performances fosters lasting impressions of the performing arts, hopefully propelling them to be lifelong patrons of the arts.  
Student reading on stuffed animal
Reading Aloud: The Lost Foundation of Literacy

“We have an obligation to read aloud to our children. To read them things they enjoy. To read to them stories we are already tired of. To do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves. Use reading-aloud time as bonding time, as time when no phones are being checked, when the distractions of the world are put aside.” - Neil Gaiman

Eighth grade students analyze stomata under the microscope.
Planting Seeds for the Love of Science

Science education is a core component of the learning experience of Harbor Day students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Our approach emphasizes the progression of knowledge, with concepts becoming more complex as students advance through each grade level. By following the California Next Generation Science Standards, we ensure a cohesive and comprehensive curriculum that builds upon itself from K-8. Our aim is to cultivate inquisitive and curious learners who have a love for science and learning. We recognize that true mastery of scientific concepts requires sustained engagement over years rather than mere weeks or months, and we employ learning progressions to guide students along this journey. By focusing on natural phenomena, we foster deeper engagement with the material, encouraging students to explore the world around them. Our emphasis on depth over breadth allows students to develop a thorough understanding of scientific explanations. For instance, students delve deeper into the study of plants as they progress through each grade level: