A Message from the Head of School

Giving and receiving kindness are easy ways to feel good and to help others feel good too. People, organizations, and societies thrive when they are grounded in a culture of kindness.

— VIVEK MURTHY

With attributes such as precious, enduring, and strong, one can see how platinum was selected as the metal to represent a 70th anniversary. This year, Harbor Day School celebrates its 70th year, and precious, enduring, and strong aptly describe the state of HDS – the first independent school in Orange County.

We chose “kindness” as the theme for Harbor Day’s 70th year. Hopefully, kindness has prevailed throughout our school’s history, and we wanted to spotlight kindness this year. Our students and faculty have embraced this theme and demonstrated kindness in many ways on campus. I particularly like that an eighth grader and a seventh grader lead the Kindness Club and serve as examples for younger students as they plan activities to spread kindness at school. You will learn some specific activities that the Kindness Club has created in this issue of The Beacon.

Always Home: The Campaign for Harbor Day is nearing completion, and we have enjoyed reconnecting with many of our alumni. It’s always heartwarming to learn of the many ways that our alumni stay connected. You can catch up with many of them in our Class Notes section. Also, be on the lookout for a Grammy nominee and two people currently working for Google!

On the cusp of becoming alumni, our eighth graders enjoy a busy year, both making final HDS memories and strengthening their skills to prepare for high school. A feature of the eighth grade curriculum is the opportunity to take an elective course. In “Sparking Fun and Creativity: The Eighth Grade Elective Program,” Middle School Director Susan Johnson shares the range of electives, from handbell choir to mountain biking, available to our eighth grade students. Right now, the eighth graders are busy preparing for the Eighth Grade Musical, We Will Rock You: The Music of Queen. I can’t wait to enjoy this lively show, which will be the last one we hold outdoors. Next year, we will enjoy shows in our new 500-seat theater.

Finally, we all can’t wait to complete the new HDS campus! We already reap the rewards of the Phase 1 classroom, STEAM, library, and administrative building. Completion of the new gym, theater, field, playground, and outdoor courts will give us a school that will be precious, enduring, and strong for at least another 70 years.

Gradatim ad Summum,

Angi Evans'7 5 Head of School

Students are excited to see the renderings as they arrive at their new campus in 1972 to literally break ground with shovels.

A one-to-one iPad program begins in Eighth Grade.

The St. James Day School was founded in 1952 by the Reverend Paul Wheeler. The original site of Harbor Day School is still in operation today as an Episcopal parish.

Harbor Day joins the Newport-Mesa Junior High Athletic League, which paves the way for seventh and eighth graders to compete against other schools.

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Dedicated is the recurring word used to describe the parents, students, and teachers at Harbor Day School in a fall 1973 article in The Beacon about the “new” school’s dedication ceremony. It’s no surprise that the dedication to this special place has persisted for seven decades, starting with the Reverend Paul Wheeler and a deeply committed group of parents who, in 1952, started St. James Day School out of a small parish on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach1. The school grew gradually and has undergone several transformations, but the dedication to providing quality education remains unchanged. As Harbor Day School enters a new phase, it is poised to continue its journey of excellence and growth.

An article in the Los Angeles Times (LEFT) announces the arrival of Headmaster John F. Marder. In 1968, Harbor Episcopal School officially becomes Harbor Day School.

Mrs. Angi Knapp Evans'75 is named Head of School. Mrs. Evans has held many roles at Harbor Day including student, faculty, parent, and trustee.

Construction begins on the new campus project June 25, 2020.

The cover of the 1968 yearbook (LEFT), The Marlin, shows Harbor Day School’s name prominently on the cover. In 1975, the yearbook was renamed Spirit.

The Moiso Family Activities Center-completed in 1979-held countless events & performances for decades.

The Harbor Day Families program is created.

Dr. DuPont retires after a 13-year tenure as Headmaster. Douglas E. Phelps is chosen as the new Head of School.

The HDS Community awaits the completion of the last phase of the new campus project.

Crest

THEN: This crest was a handmade gift given to Harbor Day by an HDS parent. It hung at the front entrance of the school but was lost—possibly in the 80’s—during a remodel.

NOW: The current design of the crest was revised in 2020.

HARBOR DAY SCHOOL: A VISUAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME BEACON

THEN: The Beacon—started by John F. Marder— was originally in newspaper format.

NOW: The Beacon is a biannual publication that is shared with our HDS community and beyond.

Parent Council

THEN: A photo from The Times in 1956 shows the St. James Day School Parent Council making arrangements for a fashion show

NOW: Our Parent Council today meets monthly, and parents chair various committees benefiting the school.

Turkey Bowl

THEN: One of the beloved traditions at Harbor Day is the Turkey Bowl. This photo is from the 1975 Turkey Bowl. The Blue team won 45-2 that year!

NOW: Families gather together to watch the Turkey Bowl festivities in 2022.

BLUE-GOLD TRACK MEET

THEN: The Blue-Gold Track Meet began in 1967.

NOW: The tradition continues today and is one of the students’ favorite days of the year.

THEN: The Harbor Lights literary and art magazine started in 1981.

NOW: Harbor Lights celebrates and features the written and visual art of Harbor Day students.

Harbor Lights

By Noelle Becker

This famous quote attributed to the Greek storyteller Aesop puts into the words the idea that kindness in any form creates a sense of empathy and understanding for one another. In the 2022-2023 school year, kindness is an overarching theme at Harbor Day School. We believe that demonstrating kindness can help create a positive and inclusive environment. And when students are inclusive, supportive, and respectful, they can foster a sense of community and belonging on campus. Middle school students at Harbor Day have been a driving force in promoting and encouraging kindness across all grade levels.

For example, members of the Kindness Club have made it their goal to model kindness. The club— made up of seventh and eighth graders—meets every Friday during lunch recess. Student leaders on each grade-level team determine how they should spread kindness in the community. Teacher and Kindness Club Advisor Ms. Khanhvy Phan explains the club’s goal. “The students are trying to bring people together and think about others. They work to get out of their routine and be kind to themselves and others.” Colton Mossman'23, president of the Kindness Club, explains why he got involved.

“I joined Kindness Club because when I was in sixth grade, I saw the impact that it had on the community. My favorite Kindness Club activity this year has been decorating pumpkins during Halloween. The pumpkins went to faculty members, and it was a great way to show the school’s appreciation for them.” For seventh grader and vice president of the Kindness Club Luke Bellman, “paying it forward” was something he really wanted to focus on. “There were so many times that someone was kind to me last year, and now I am in a position where I can give that kindness back to Harbor Day. In doing so, I have learned a lot about the impact of small acts of kindness.”

In the fall, the club crafted and put into motion the Kindness Challenge, which challenged middle school students to spread compassion across grade levels. A “chain” of kindness spread throughout the entire middle school as students carried out various kind deeds. For example, one group of eighth graders came together and caroled from class to class (with teacher permission, of course). Another group aimed to get their teacher Mr. Kerr to smile. The best part of the challenge was seeing the positive reactions from those who received the kind deeds. Eighth grade student Campbell Kelly feels that events like the Kindness Challenge have helped spread compassion in the HDS community. “I think middle school has become a kinder place since we started the kindness activities because people have been using the skills we learned in Kindness Club and implementing them into their everyday lives.” Seventh grader Adeleine Chen also feels that the Kindness Club brought people together. “Kindness Club gave me the opportunity to talk with members that I rarely talk with, and now I know them better.”

The impact of kindness is evident in the Harbor Day School community. Luke Bellman sensibly notes that even though we are only human, we all have the potential to do better. “I think it would be foolish to say that Harbor Day is a perfect school with no flaws, but the Kindness Club always tries its best to spread kindness, and from what I've seen, we have been, in many cases, successful. However, we cannot drown out hate with hate, so we must continue to glow brighter and spread kindness.” The club’s positive message to spread compassion at Harbor Day School and in our greater community is just one small step. But it is a step toward making the world better for all. n