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Becoming Magazine Spring 2020

Previous Issues

2016
2017
2018
2019

Letter from the Editor

Examining the future of work. We focus on preparing students to “Become What Thou Art.” A large part of our approach to education is making sure students gain the skills they will need for success in college and beyond.

But the question of “beyond” is an interesting one to ponder nowadays. A global pandemic, automation, digital platforms, social distancing, and other impacts are changing the fundamental nature of work. For example, many activities workers carry out today have the potential to be automated, and Google hires not just for coding ability, but also for one’s ability to leverage empathy as a workplace skill. In this issue, we’ll hear from thought-leaders, an alum whose business has changed because of technological capabilities, and our technology and maker space educators. You’ll also learn how we teach students for a future world we cannot predict.

Join us in thinking about the future of work.

Beth Bailey P ’23, ’26, Director of Marketing and Communications

 

Head of School
Larry Frye P ’12, ’15, ’15

Editor and Publisher
Beth Bailey P ’23, ’26

Art Director and Designer
Lisa Osborne Lange ’74, P ’09

Director of Development
Whitney Brice

Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Karen Saludo P ’27

Contributing Writers
Alex DeSantis, Martin Edic, Lars Kuelling P ’18, ’20, Owen Liotti ’18, Steve Miller, Seth O’Bryan P ’32, ’34

Contributing Photographers
Beth Bailey, Ming DeMers ’21, Arthur Rothfuss III, and submissions from our community

Cover illustration
Chris Lyons

Copy Consultant
Rob Williams ’98

Becoming Magazine is published biannually by The Harley School, an independent college-preparatory school in Rochester, NY.

The Harley School
1981 Clover Street
Rochester, NY 14618

We welcome questions, story ideas, and letters from readers.
Contact us by mail or at becoming@harleyschool.org

The Harley School

1981 Clover Street
Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 442-1770

©2023 The Harley School

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

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.

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. 

About

Academics

Key Programming

Enrollment

Letter from the Head of School

Letter from the Editor

Features

Central Work that Matters: DEI

Harley Black Alumni Network

Climate Crisis Curriculum

Citizen Scientists

Joy Moss: Storytelling Roots

In Every Issue

Class Notes

Diane Donniger Award

By the Numbers

From the Archives

What’s (Who’s) New at Harley

Divisional Highlights

Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

Alumni Profiles: Keller

HAC Athletics

2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

Reunion 2022

In Memoriam

Retirements and Fond Farewells

Letter from the Head of School

Letter from the Editor

Features

Central Work that Matters

Affinity Group Forms

Climate Crisis Curriculum

Citizen Scientists

Joy Moss: Storytelling Roots

In Every Issue

Class Notes

Diane Donniger Award

By the Numbers

From the Archives

What’s (Who’s) New at Harley

Divisional Highlights

Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

Alumni Profiles: Keller

HAC Athletics

2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

Reunion 2022

In Memoriam

Retirements and Fond Farewells