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The Upper School Follies, 1966-1998

by Mike Lasser

It started with a casual conversation over breakfast in January 2020, and after dozens of phone calls, 100+ emails, and 20 Zoom video calls, at least one good thing has come out of this pandemic year–The Upper School Follies, 1966-1998!


The Upper School Follies, 1966-1998 is a collection of Harley alumni and faculty/staff tales composed by Michael Lasser, Harley School faculty member from 1966-1998. Michael’s voice weaves together these wonderful stories of over 200 members of the Harley School community with a touch of humor, sweet affection, and deep reverence. This book is story telling at its best!

From the Introduction: Memories and Anecdotes:

“In my time at Harley, the Upper School almost always had a sense of play. We held irreverence in high regard. The faculty took the classroom and the subjects we taught very seriously, but we also laughed a lot, in class and out.—Michael Lasser”

The Upper School Follies, 1966-1998 is available for purchase and proceeds from the book will support the Harley Fund, so please give generously, as you purchase your copy!

A Harley Alum has underwritten the book’s publication costs as a tribute to Michael Lasser and very much hopes you will also add what you can to the Harley Fund in his honor.

Add $100 or more, together with the $25 for the book, and receive a signed copy and a personal note from the author. Enjoy this delightful look back at the Harley you remember!

The Harley School

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

©2023 The Harley School

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