Harbor Day Families Program
Harbor Day Families Program
The Harbor Day Families Program is a unique program that gives students the opportunity to interact with students from all grade levels.
Student Council members started the Harbor Day School Families Program in 1997. This program takes what is best about a family and extends it to the school, the local community, and the world. A Harbor Day Family is comprised of nine or ten students in kindergarten through eighth grade and a faculty or staff member who meet together in a group. Students remain in the same Family for the entire time they are at Harbor Day School. As one child graduates or leaves school, he or she is replaced in the Family unit by a new child entering the school. Generally, Family meetings take place once every 4-6 weeks.
During monthly meetings, Families work collaboratively on various projects. At the beginning of the school year, they craft personalized cards for their new kindergarten family member. After that meeting, the family sixth grader will meet their new kindergarten student, introduce themselves, and read a book together. Each month, the program provides an opportunity for each child to be known and feel supported. These activities emphasize teamwork, empathy, and respect for one another. A favorite activity is the Spaghetti Tower Team Building Challenge, where families compete to build the tallest tower for ultimate bragging rights. Another highly anticipated day is Family Field Day. Families compete against each other in various relay races, including potato sack races, hula hoop jumping, and bear crawls.
The most meaningful part of the HDS Families Program is the continuity of the program from kindergarten through eighth grade. It’s a journey that lasts from a child's first steps in the school to their graduation day. It’s one of the many ways students feel connected at the school. Harbor Day is where learning is an adventure, friendships are timeless, and every student can thrive in an inclusive and nurturing environment.
The Harbor Day School Families concept encompasses the following goals:
- Establishing a sense of community where all members work cooperatively, nurturing and supporting one another's uniqueness and success
- Building continuity with students from grades K through 8 in a different learning environment
- Developing a sense of responsibility and fostering self-esteem, personal independence, and social responsibility
- Providing a format for projects that benefit the school and community, which promotes respect for self, others, and the world
- Creating a venue for multi-grade grouping that encourages a sharing and caring environment for the entire school
The Fat Toes 1,2,3 Family
The Puppy Chiao Family
The JoKerrs Family
We love meeting every month because we get to see everyone from across grades, share sweets and life updates, and create fun memories with each other like Field Day.
The Puppy Chiao Family
Family Meetings
Family Field Day Sack Races
Pretzel Rods Family on a scavenger hunt around the school.
The P.E.P.L. Family on a scavenger hunt.
The MadHatters Family measures their Spaghetti Tower during a collaborative project.