Information from Harley
Head of School and Divisional Communications Archive (Since We Began Remore Learning)
This is where we frame the purpose of this page, and let poeple know a bit about how to navigate it. Also, maybe a little something about what to expect in terms of updates.
Larry Frye
Head of School
Terry Smith
Head of Lower School
Hassan Jones
Head of Middle School
Kim McDowell
Head of Upper School
This Week at Harley - Click here to see what happening.
4/16 | Going off the grid | Ken buys 6 chickens to get his own eggs while waiting for the Harely Kitchn to open up. Ok fine, but how are our families going more sustainable at home with this kind of stuff might be interesting |
4/16 | Fortune magazine: Doug Gilbert | Link to story=https://fortune.com/2020/04/13/teachers-online-school-classes-remote-learning-coronavirus-covid-19/ |
4/16 | The Harley Library Book Mobile | Share the story of Elaine delivering books |
4/16 | The Maker Space Challenge |
Highlight the Make Space Challenge page Kima created: I made some maker challenges for you to try at home. I’d love to see any challenges you complete or anything else that you are having fun making at home. You can share them with me or email makerspace@harleyschool.org and check the makerspace page to see what everyone has made!Web Link |
4/16 | Greenhouse Greens | Upper School’s Beyond Soup Club, led by Harrison Davis (’20), planted greens intended to be harvested for a shared meal at St. Joe’s. When circumstances changed, Commons Educator Lisa Barker harvested the greens and delivered them to the Davis family. In turn, the family prepared the crop for bagged lunches delivered to St. Joe’s. Beth, I’m sending you some pics in an email to me from Lisa. |
4/18 | From Sisi: MS Climate Club is gearing up for Earth day! We are asking our Harley community to create posters, pictures, and sidewalk chalk art to display in windows, sidewalks, and driveways to raise awareness for climate related issues. We are hoping that this effort will spark new curiosities and perhaps people will learn something new when they take walks outside and see some climate related information. | |
4/18 | Sam Gilbert project and Harley garden | Sam Gilbert made the impressive shelving system in the picture; also notice – starts are growing for the Harley growing spaces! |
4/18 | Pat Malone – example of utiizing digital platform in class (I did not contact her about this, I can follow up with her if you use | Pat Malone using Padlet to promote student engagement from full class and create a space where students can learn from each other |
4/18 | 3rd grade embracing digital platform for teaching (they dont know I took this shot) | 3rd grade using discussion board to collect student reflections and then respond to students on the discussion board. Opportunity for students to hear each others voices |
4/18 | Nursery Red sharing cool recipes for home | Nursery Red posts playdough and other fun things to do at home with your kids recipes that can be used any time |
4/18 | Seth presenting at NYSAIS webinar | NYSAIS webinar on Capstone Presentations Digital Options |
4/18 | Biomimicry competition submissions – at least 2, maybe 3? | Betsy Vinton and Seth O’Bryan submitted biomimicry competition entries from the students. They made some cool videos and project proposals. Third year of participating as a school. |
4/20 | This Tuesday and Wednesday, April 21 &22, with the coordination of Christy Tyler, Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at RIT, graduate students will be connecting with our 5th and 6th grade students about climate change. | |
4/20-4/24 | Kindergarten students have been reading The Lorax and making Lorax puppets out of materials sent home by Gail last week. | |
4/24 | 4th Grade live morning meeting Friday 8:30 is show and tell |
Larry Frye: Communications to All School
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Terry Smith – Lower School Communications
Sink and Float: Hands on Learning in a Primary Class
by Beth Bailey and Meredith Cavallaro, Primary faculty One of our Primary classes started a new unit, sink and float, this fall. This particular exploration involved the scientific skills of prediction, observation, and investigation (to name just a few). Things...
Oaks and Acorns: February 2019
A monthly note from Head of School, Larry Frye.
Motor Skill Development in Action in Our Primary Classrooms
Motor skill development is an important part of our Primary classrooms.
Gettin’ Gritty=Student Success
The Harley School teaches resilience, conscientiousness, optimism, self-control, and grit—they make a big difference in academic success.
How we encourage and support risk-taking
Three of our faculty talk about the ways they encourage risk-taking in students, how they facilitate it, and what it means for their learning.
Oaks and Acorns: Special Playground Edition
An update from Head of School, Larry Frye.
Hassan Jones – Middle School Communications
Middle School MathCounts Team Competes at RIT
The Harley Middle School MathCounts Team was one of twelve middle school teams (comprising over eighty students competing) at RIT at the Monroe County MathCounts Chapter meet on Saturday, February 29th. The team has been practicing every Friday morning with coaches...
Middle School Teachers Focus on Supporting Our Students
Our Middle School teachers love this age group and it shows. The joy and energy of students in the middle school years inspires them and informs their individualized approaches to the ways these kids learn. Our video interviews will provide you with a holistic...
Our Student Mental Health and Wellness Approach
One of the most significant changes in schools in the past ten years has been an increased awareness of student mental health and wellness needs. Harley has long endeavored to promote student wellness, and in the past several years, we have worked to have a more...
Teaching Applied Empathy to Our Children
by Beth Bailey An interview with Lower School counselor, Shelli Reetz There are several types of empathy: emotional empathy, when you feel an emotional pull; cognitive empathy, when you think about how someone might feel; and applied empathy, acting in a compassionate...
Oaks and Acorns: February 2019
February 13, 2019 “I’ll Go First” “What difference did it make that you went to Harley?” That was the question posed by a member of the class of ’82 to a member of the class of ’17, now a sophomore at Tufts, during a recent alumni dinner in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
Podcast: “The Harley Parley”, Halloween Special
Our Middle School students produce a weekly podcast, The Harley Parley. Enjoy their Halloween special here.
Kim McDowell – Upper School Communications
Our Student Mental Health and Wellness Approach
One of the most significant changes in schools in the past ten years has been an increased awareness of student mental health and wellness needs. Harley has long endeavored to promote student wellness, and in the past several years, we have worked to have a more...
Grade 9, “Rights and Responsibilities” class, field study
On a rainy Friday, November 3rd, the Trimester I Rights & Responsibilities class (required for all Grade 9 students) took a trip to downtown Rochester to hear first-hand memories of the July 1964 race rebellion and gain context for those events. After visiting...
Oaks and Acorns: February 2019
February 13, 2019 “I’ll Go First” “What difference did it make that you went to Harley?” That was the question posed by a member of the class of ’82 to a member of the class of ’17, now a sophomore at Tufts, during a recent alumni dinner in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
Skye Mossbrook: School and Slopes
Senior Skye Mossbrook discusses two of his favorite things: mogul skiing and Harley faculty.
Biomimicry Students Win Environmental Innovation Award
Retired Head of Lower School Pam Kimmet was the “grandmother” of Harley’s outdoor playground. Under her guidance, the School built a hybrid between traditional playground pieces like swings and slides—and imagination—sparking spaces such as log “bridges” and water...
Gettin’ Gritty=Student Success
The Harley School teaches resilience, conscientiousness, optimism, self-control, and grit—they make a big difference in academic success. By Beth Bailey Recently, an article from The Atlantic aught my eye. It discussed research about a set of qualities—including...
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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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