Lower School
Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4
Better is possible…At The Harley School, joy in learning is at the center of all we do. We are a community of educators and students who have a passion to learn and to impact the world around us.
We encourage curiosity and inspire discovery. Our unique approach delivers a challenging academic program that creates a diverse and close-knit community while nurturing students’ strengths and helping them reach their full potential.
Why Lower School at Harley?
The Lower School at Harley spans Nursery (ages 3 and 4) through Grade 4, offering a social and thematic curriculum that keeps children and their innate desire to learn at the center of everything we do.
Hands-on learning. Students at the Harley microfarm, a cross-divisional experience.
Inspiring excellence and lifelong learning.
In Harley’s Lower School, we expand our classroom boundaries to give students the kind of experiences that ignite childrens’ passion for knowledge, turning every day into an intellectual adventure.
Joy in learning connects children to their amazing world with their minds, hearts, and bodies. Learning is multisensory and fun. This approach helps children think independently, meet challenges creatively, and ultimately achieve their full potential.
Nursery
(ages 3 and 4)
The Harley School’s Nursery program is specifically designed for children ages 3 and 4, featuring play as a vehicle for learning while engaging curious, growing minds. At Harley, we believe preschool education establishes habits of mind which form the foundation for learning—inspiring and igniting joy, which students carry with them from age 3 to graduation day and beyond.
Primary
(Kindergarten and Grade 1)
Our full-day Kindergarten and First Grade combine for a truly unique experience, allowing students to develop at their own pace while promoting growth through challenge and joy in learning.
While these formative years are technically the “start” of formal education, our students feel safe and comfortable as they are encouraged to learn through play and thematic lessons, which allow them to go beyond memorization, to understanding, applying and creating. Our children flourish when we support their wonder and meet them where they are. It’s this unique approach that sets Primary at Harley apart.
Grades 2, 3, 4
In Grades 2, 3 and 4, students explore with hands-on projects, encounter inspiration and continue to create a foundation for wonder and inquiry.
From Grades 2 to 4, children grow in so many ways. They mature as they engage with the intentional curriculum, which respects that children will approach a subject or content area differently as they experience more of the world. They hone their skills and develop proficiency in them so that they are the ones driving the learning. Not only are they learning new content and more sophisticated skills, but they are also learning how and when to use these skills as they work together, encounter new material, and demonstrate their understandings.
Our Students
As members of the Harley community, children in our Lower School flourish as learners and develop as individuals. We encourage our students to embrace their differences, celebrating diversity as they learn to actively participate in and help improve the world in which they live. Our students are not simply special because they are part of Harley. Harley is special because of them.
Learning environments. We learn outdoors and in nature, taking advantage of our ample campus and natural setting.
Primary goals of our Lower School program are to:
- Promote learning
- Foster intellectual curiosity
- Develop self-regulation and responsibility
- Nurture personal and social growth
- Encourage independence
- Inspire participation and cooperation
At Harley, we emphasize a developmental approach to education that allows children to learn at their own pace and in ways best suited to meet their needs. We challenge children to master and apply basic skills while learning in new situations, as well as emphasize learning through experiences designed to meet the needs and interests of each child.
Our Curriculum
The Lower School curriculum is child-centered, developmentally-appropriate and inquiry-based, providing truly authentic learning experiences. We believe happy children learn, so our curriculum balances cognitive and academic development with social-emotional growth and self-awareness.
In the Lower School, children study math, reading, writing, social studies, and science through thematic, integrated, and hands-on lessons. Students learn what it means to be a civic person through active participation in classroom community meetings, service projects, and tending the organic micro-farm. Specialists in art, music, literature, library, performing arts, world languages, physical education, sustainability education, and technology work with students to connect and extend the academic program.
Project based learning. Students at Harley are active learners, applying classroom knowledge to real and authentic projects.
Cultivating a love of literature. The Lower School library features a world literature collection. Students in Lower School study comparative literature as part of the curriculum.
At Harley, Our Lessons Are…
Mindful
We promote physical and mental fitness by providing an intentional environment that is saturated with opportunities to encourage social-emotional, physical, and mental development.
Meaningful
Whether in daily morning meetings, rotating lunch table assignments, or weekly community assemblies, meaningful interactions continually strengthen and refine our respect for the diverse people in our lives and the world around us.
Personal
Our small class sizes allow teachers to connect with students in ways that offer insight into their individual needs, help build confidence, establish a high level of trust, and equip students to offer their best work.
Intentional
Our thematic approach allows for intentional instruction, crossing-over academic subjects and intimately weaving together lessons in ways that incorporate creativity and the arts with science, mathematics and more. It also supports student risk-taking and “failures” in order to build confidence and find creativity in different approaches to problem-solving.
Perpetual
Children are continually learning. Developing the ability to ask robust and probing questions to satisfy their natural curiosity, reflecting on and revising their thinking, and learning how they learn best, all contribute to them becoming lifelong learners.
Harley Highlights
- Hands-on, experiential learning
- Freedom within structure
Everyone participates - Discovery and outdoor play
- Small class sizes, allowing faculty to build deep connections with students
- Experienced, vibrant, educators who understand and are passionate about children as learners
- Thoughtful, structured schedule
- Healthy snacks and lunches included in tuition
Gluten-free, allergen-free, and diet-sensitive options available
Technology meets engineering. Our technology program begins in Kindergarten and features hands-on learning, using the design thinking process as well as an introduction to coding.
Acorn Grants Are Now Available!
Interested in learning how to make a Harley education possible for your child? Acorn Grants are smaller grants awarded to families who may not be eligible for need-based financial aid. It is a grant of up to $5,000 intended to put the Harley education within reach for your family. The Acorn Grant stays with your child until graduation.
Thinking of applying?
Explore our enrollment and application process.
Financial Assistance Opportunities
A Harley education is possible for your child.
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College Counseling
Harley’s Approach to College Counseling is highly individualized and student-centered. Students have direct access to college counselors throughout their Upper School experience, but really, each student is part of a team including faculty, administration, and staff. It’s our job to support each student and we want nothing more than to send students on to the next step of their journey at a right fit school for them. The student centered and driven process is wrapped in care, expertise, and professionalism.
We host college reps during times students are available (no need to miss a class) so they can make connections and learn more about potential schools. We also arrange campus visits for classes as field trips, host an alumni college day (where recent Upper School graduates return to share advice and answer questions), and help connect students with our international alumni network. In fact, representatives from schools all over the world actively seek opportunities to come to Harley and meet with our students!
Our college counselors are accredited and are part of national/global conversations on admission trends. They also attend and present at conferences across the country.
Beginning with our Grade 11 parent night, we offer informational sessions for parents, including one devoted just to financial aid. Our partnership with families is critical, as the college admissions world changes very quickly and having an expert to guide students and families through the process is essential.
Clubs
“Club Rush” is an afternoon every fall in the Upper School when students have the chance to sign up for clubs for the year, and each year it is very different because new clubs are created based on student initiative and enthusiasm.
A few of this year’s choices: Sports Media, Social Action Club, Journalism Club, Feminism Club, Student of Color & Allies (SOCA), Gay-Straight Alliance, Tri M (music honor society), E-Sports Club, Euchre, Key Club (service), Animation Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Sustainability Club, Jewish Cultural Club, Astronomy Club, Biomimicry, and Beyond Soup (social justice/service).
Athletics
Each and every year, students at The Harley School participate in HAC Athletics, and their success continues to be impressive, both as students and athletes. Our athletic program is an integral part of Harley, teaching student-athletes invaluable lessons about teamwork, time management, persistence, and competition. Our program allows them to develop physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally as they represent their school on and off the field. They grow, mature, and work hard to be the best teammate they can, while creating lifelong memories with teammates who often remain friends for life.
Helping our athletes to reach their potential are some of HAC’s best assets: our coaches. More often than not, they are drawn from the ranks of our faculty and have a deep understanding of the personalities and abilities of the student-athletes on their teams.
We strive to find the right balance of academics, exercise, and personal growth for everyone. By offering a variety of sports at many different levels, all student-athletes find a sport they can be successful in. It is with great pride and pleasure that my team and I work to enrich the athletic lives of all our HAC student-athletes. Go Wolves!
To learn more check out our athletics page.
Student Leadership
Our Upper School is filled with formal and informal opportunities for students to take on leadership roles. Whether following passions or learning new skills, student-driven opportunities take many shapes.
– Independent study: one trimester, full year, and multi-year projects have included automating our solar chimneys, coding handmade musical instruments, or developing a class on financial literacy for underserved high school students.
– Serving on student council
– STEM: Climate curriculum program, biomimicry program, NASA Hunch program
Clubs
“Club Rush” is an afternoon every fall in the Upper School when students have the chance to sign up for clubs for the year, and each year it is very different because new clubs are created based on student initiative and enthusiasm.
A few of this year’s choices: Sports Media, Social Action Club, Journalism Club, Feminism Club, Student of Color & Allies (SOCA), Gay-Straight Alliance, Tri M (music honor society), E-Sports Club, Euchre, Key Club (service), Animation Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Sustainability Club, Jewish Cultural Club, Astronomy Club, Biomimicry, and Beyond Soup (social justice/service).
Hospice
Unlike this class, death is not an elective. Although it is one of two universal human experiences, our culture often ignores, denies, or misconstrues the true nature of death and dying. What happens when we bear witness to this natural process in the cycle of life and develop our ability to be fully present with others when they need us more than ever? It has the potential to change us deeply and fundamentally while shining a brilliant light on the path of our own lives.
With the support of their classmates, teacher, and comfort care home communities, senior students are offered the chance to care for others who truly need their purposeful, non-judgmental attention. In the home-like setting of a comfort care home, opportunities for learning extend beyond a traditional classroom rubric and conventional methods of evaluation. In this course, students will certainly find tangible “learning outcomes” by studying the medical/physical processes associated with dying and the basic nursing assistant skills of comfort care. The ultimate goal, however, will always be rooted in true relationships and connection, which occurs only through empathy and compassion.
Learn more about the Hospice Program at Harley HERE.
Capstone/Independent Studies
This program utilizes environmentally-focused approaches to education and hands-on learning in order to foster the next generation of leaders through a lens of sustainability and problem-solving.
Food & Farm: These year-long and trimester-long classes are held outside as much as possible, allowing students to become leaders in our various growing spaces. They cover environmental justice issues as well as hands-on work such as planning and overseeing planting, harvesting, and preparation of the gardens.
Past year-long focus projects have included: Creating a native plant shade garden in the Wild Wood area, redesigning our hydroponic system, overhauling Harley’s high tunnel, and improving the irrigation system for the MicroFarm.
Culinary Arts: These classes have a two-fold purpose: to give students practical skills in cooking and the science behind different techniques in the kitchen, learning about food justice, food sourcing, labor topics, and sustainability.
Past topics have included: Examining a plant-based diet, looking at the carbon footprint of different meals and food preparation methods, proposing a low carbon footprint menu to the dining hall, links between food labeling and environmental issues of food production.
Beekeeping: This one trimester class provides hands-on training in beekeeping, how to be a beekeeper, and safety and other techniques for working with bees. Once trained students help with all aspects of Harley beekeeping such as hive inspections, honey collection and extraction, and teaching students in Lower School about our hives.
Students pick a research topic addressing honeybee health and the larger environmental picture.
Social Justice
At Harley, our students learn how to evaluate social systems in order to identify complex problems in society through a lens of social justice. They take a hands-on approach to working for a fair, equitable society by researching, exploring and evaluating different perspectives, and offering solutions—both theoretical and practical.
Our faculty integrate social justice into our broader curriculum to assist students in gaining a foundational knowledge about what makes a democracy function. By gaining skills in ideating supportive pathways they become more exposed and experienced to how communities can undergo healing and restorative actions.
Capstone/Independent Studies
Students may create independent studies with supervising teachers throughout their Upper School experience or, during Grade 12, they can design Capstone projects—intensive collaborations with Harley faculty and off-campus mentors—involving rigorous academic study and culminating in public presentations. They are empowered to create their own curriculum, set goals, and work on time management skills in order to accomplish their objectives.
Independent Studies run the gamut from The Psychology of Sports to Furniture Design to The Neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s Disease. Capstones, meanwhile, are as diverse as the students who pursue them: Fictional Rochester, Autobiographical Art, Biomimicry Education, Organic Fuel, and Rochester Refugees.
Indicative of Upper School curiosity and creativity, pursuits such as these distinguish our graduates in college. Through deep dives of this sort, Harley students master more than speaking, writing, and computing: they learn to communicate, advocate, collaborate, organize, listen, and empathize.
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