HARBOR DAY SCHOOL PROVIDES AN ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING, WELL-BALANCED EDUCATION IN A NURTURING AND INCLUSIVE FAMILY-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT. OUR FACULTY INSPIRES CURIOSITY AND A DESIRE TO LEARN, AND CULTIVATES IN STUDENTS THE CONFIDENCE, STRONG MORAL CHARACTER, AND PERSEVERANCE TO THRIVE. WE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND TRADITIONS, VALUE COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION, AND CHERISH OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOPED.
We value academic excellence and provide a challenging, well-balanced curriculum that prepares students for a rapidly evolving world.
Excellent teachers form the foundation of Harbor Day School. We will continue to attract and retain an outstanding and diverse faculty.
Harbor Day School develops self-reliance, strong moral character, and social-emotional intelligence in our students.
Harbor Day School fosters socially responsible and empathetic students who recognize and embrace differences among the members of our society.
We provide a warm, innovative, and secure learning environment that inspires students and teachers to think creatively and work collaboratively.
Harbor Day is an active and engaged school community characterized by supportive relationships, shared values, wellness, and social responsibility.
TOGETHER, WE ENSURE THAT A HARBOR DAY EDUCATION AND ITS TRADITIONS CAN BE ENJOYED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Since 1952, Harbor Day School has been helping children reach their highest intellectual, moral, and physical potential. Recognized as the first independent school in Orange County, Harbor Day School is located on a six-acre hillside site in Corona del Mar, California.
The motto on the school crest, Gradatim Ad Summum (step-by-step to the top), refers to the belief that learning is a gradual process and is developed over time. The ultimate goal of that process is for each child to reach his or her potential.
Students at the school gain academic excellence through learning to read fluently and perceptively, write vividly and imaginatively, compute accurately and logically, and think clearly and independently. Beginning in kindergarten, students engage in a multifaceted course of study, including performing and visual arts, technology, world language, woodshop, and design in addition to their core academic subjects. Small class sizes allow for every student to be known personally and build strong student-teacher relationships.
Collectively, our faculty holds degrees from more than thirty different colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. As leaders in their field, they attend and present workshops yearly for diverse organizations including the California and the National Association of Independent Schools.
Harbor Day is committed to continuing the education of its faculty. Teachers and administrators attend workshops and conferences at the national level and implement what they’ve learned in the classrooms.
The most significant measure of our faculty’s success, however, can be seen by the close relationships between faculty and students. Harbor Day School teachers are not only highly qualified in academic preparation and teaching experience, they are also superior in their understanding and concern for young people. Each teacher recognizes the developmental characteristics of different age groups and meets the needs of those groups with age-appropriate instruction.
The faculty, led by department chairs, assumes a great part of the responsibility for designing curriculum. Teachers meet regularly to review the progress of every child and to create plans for any additional support or enrichment that may be indicated.
Centered around a fireplace, the library provides a warm and inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy. The library is composed of over 15,000 volumes of books and related technology enticing each student to satisfy her or his curiosity, to complete assignments, and to learn about the world inside and outside the classroom. The comprehensive library program includes weekly lessons with the librarian and serves to foster the joy of reading among all students.
Visual arts and performing arts are strong components of the curriculum at Harbor Day School. In visual arts, students explore various media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and ceramics. In performing arts, students in lower school are introduced to musical theory through song, dance, and performances; middle school music focuses on a study of musical theater. Through their engagement, students gain valuable public speaking experience. With the help of seasoned faculty members, students in all grade levels are encouraged to discover their own creative abilities through exploration and risk-taking. Through the knowledge and understanding they gain, children develop their interest to maintain involvement in the arts.
Kindergarteners and first graders are introduced to early concepts of engineering; second through fourth graders take woodshop; seventh graders participate in a design class; and eighth graders combine all their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) learning in elective classes.
ll grade levels enjoy a physical education curriculum. Lower school classes concentrate on developing basic physical skills, fitness, cooperation, and sportsmanship. Middle school classes focus more on organized games and sports.
Since 1967, our fifth through eighth grade students have participated in a Blue-Gold intramural program. The purpose of this program is to provide athletic competition, emphasizing universal participation and good sportsmanship for every student in the middle school. In an attempt to create athletic equity, our physical education department places each child on either the Blue or Gold team. Blue-Gold competitions occur weekly during class time, with a cumulative score kept until the end of the year. Special events include the Turkey Bowl competition in November and the track meet in June. In the last all-school assembly of the year, students eagerly anticipate the announcement of the year-long winner.
arbor Day School’s technology program is an important part of the education of all students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and all students have technology classes in either the middle or lower school labs.
The school is strongly committed to providing all faculty and students with the access and training that will enable them to use the latest educational technology and to integrate that technology into the school’s curriculum.
Electronic whiteboards are utilized in all grade levels, helping to create an interactive experience in the classroom. 1:1 iPads, laptops, 3-D printers, and other devices are all used to support students across the grades in the creation of content. Students at Harbor Day School have the opportunity to participate in a variety of classes including Makerspace, robotics, and coding, where they are challenged to build and create interactions between computers and external devices.
Sixth through eighth grade students who desire a higher level of competition have the opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports competitions with other local private and public schools. Those sports include volleyball, basketball, flag football, cross country, and track and field.
Kindergarten through fourth grade students receive Spanish instruction twice weekly. In middle school, students are introduced to three languages: Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin. Fifth grade students move through a trimester rotation of the three different languages. Once they have completed all three rotations, each student chooses the one language that she or he wishes to study for the remainder of middle school.
The curriculum is designed to help students learn important language acquisition skills and become aware of modern and historical cultures.
One way I think Harbor Day stands out is that it gifts its students early on with a true love of reading. I love walking through the library, the true heart of the school, and observing the children individually engrossed in a book or listening intently to the librarian read a story. The energy there is quiet but powerful.
HDS PARENT, LIZ K.
From kindergarten through eighth grade, students at Harbor Day School have abundant opportunities to experience the spirit of volunteerism through involvement in worthy projects. The Parent Council led Make-A-Difference Day brings our families and community together to participate in volunteer and service activities for children of all ages.
Student-driven initiatives for charitable work they are passionate about are encouraged. Students in midle school participate in service projects several times each year through the Advisory Program and eighth graders fulfill a community service component as a part of their graduation requirements.
Our parents exemplify the philanthropic values of our community. Their contributions as volunteers and through fundraising initiatives each school year center around the people, ideas, and places that are Harbor Day School.
A hallmark of Harbor Day School operations includes prudent fiscal responsibility. In addition, our parents, grandparents, and alumni families give significantly through our Annual Fund and Fall Benefit, as well as Financial Aid initiatives and other major multi-year efforts. Combined, these funds supplement our operating budget, support our faculty and students, and enhance our educational programs. Harbor Day School is additionally supported by its endowment.
At Harbor Day School, parents take an active role in supporting their children’s education. Coordinated by the Parent Council Board, countless parent volunteers staff the library, organize the annual Fall Benefit and Grandparents’ Day, assist in the school hot lunch program, and work on various other Parent Council committees. Family involvement provides critical support for classroom enrichment and community events. This involvement enhances the close ties between parents and their children during these formative years when values are established.
The Parent Council supports the school as directed by the Head of School and the Board of Trustees. The Council offers open membership to all Harbor Day School parents and encourages all parents to actively support its activities.
Because Harbor Day School is a tax-exempt, non-profit institution, an independent Board of Trustees governs the school and carries the primary responsibility for setting policies for the institution. In addition, trustees have the responsibility to see that those policies are carried out in the best interest of the community that they serve.
Decades of planning are nearing completion in 2023 when we will cut the ribbon on Phase II and begin the school year with full use of our new state-of-the-art six-acre campus. Nearly 100,000 square feet of educational space houses our faculty and students daily, and we welcome parents, alumni, and grandparents to events throughout the year. Faculty already report exciting and unexpected ways in which the new campus has elevated their ability to teach students at every level, and we look forward to even greater progress as we settle into our new home.
One of my absolute favorite things at Harbor Day School is the big emphasis on character building through the pillars… teaching, reminding, and modeling these traits. This and the beautiful tradition of being part of a ‘Harbor Day Family’ really gives them a wonderful learning experience. They are held accountable in a very positive way and feel they belong to a very special community.
Harbor Day focuses on six character traits which provide a foundation of core values for our education: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Character education is reinforced through a cross-curriculum approach that allows the simultaneous development of both educational skills and strength of character. Discussions and activities in classrooms, library, outdoor spaces, advisory groups, and family meetings center on the character traits and remind students of the impact of their words and actions.
The Harbor Day School Families Program dates back to 1997 when a group of student council members came up with the idea to interact with students in all grade levels. The Families Program promotes a sense of community, builds continuity in grades kindergarten through eight, fosters character development, and creates a collaborative environment. A Harbor Day School Family is composed of a faculty or staff member and a child from each grade level. Students remain in the same Harbor Day School Family for the entire time they are at the school.
The Advisory Program at Harbor Day School operates in sixth through eighth grades and functions to provide a framework of support for the healthy and positive development of the children. Students are divided into grade-specific groups of approximately eight to ten students and assigned to an advisor. Advisees meet with their advisor multiple times a week to discuss topics ranging from social and emotional development to study skills. Always operating philosophically from the standpoint of care, our advisors promote the emerging independence, dignity, and responsibility of our students while supporting them as they experience the challenges of adolescence.
The office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. School is in session from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for all grade levels.
Starting in January 2023, Harbor Day will be introducing “Beyond the Bell”. This program will include a robust and reliable after-school program for our families which will include classes and workshops. Middle school students may choose to participate in the after-school sports programs. These sports include volleyball, basketball, flag football, cross country, and track and field.
Brief, occasional assignments begin in Kindergarten. As the children move through the grades, they become accountable for more extensive independent work. In addition to its essential value as practice and preparation, homework provides children with an opportunity to take responsibility for their own work.
Four times a year, parents receive a report card. Formal parent-teacher conferences occur twice a year. At all other times, parents who wish further communication may schedule a conference with a faculty member, the school directors, or the Head of School.
Field trips to museums, galleries, laboratories, and theaters throughout Southern California add to the enrichment opportunities for our students. Middle school students enjoy outdoor education through overnight camping with their classmates and teachers for several nights each year. Various optional trips are available for middle school students. These include overseas trips with the world language department and a tour through the Washington, D.C. area for our eighth grade students.
Recognition for special achievements encourages self-esteem and a positive spirit. Weekly assemblies, the “Pat on the Head” honor roll, Blue-Gold athletic
competitions, drama productions, musical programs, writing and reading competitions, art shows, math competitions, Latin conventions and the Harbor Lights literary magazine all provide opportunities to recognize the children’s efforts and performances.
We encourage parents to take an active role in supporting their children’s education. Coordinated by the Parent Council Board, more than 200 parent volunteers staff the library, organize the school’s annual Fall Benefit and Grandparents’ Day, serve in the five-day lunch program, and work on various other Parent Council committees. Parent involvement provides critical support for school operations, classroom enrichment, and community events.
Harbor Day grants financial aid to students whose families can demonstrate financial need. Grants are subject to availability of funds and based on a variety of factors. An administrative committee makes financial aid recommendations and considers financial need based on a family’s application submitted for independent assessment by School & Student Services by NAIS. Financial aid applications must be completed by February 1. Admission decisions are “need-blind.” This means that the applicant family’s financial need will not be taken into consideration during the decision process. All financial aid applications and decisions are administered by the school’s business office. All information is kept strictly confidential.
Harbor Day does not offer summer programs but assigns summer reading and math work for students entering First through Eighth Grades. Summer reading, designed by the school librarian, extends the enjoyment and the habit of reading beyond the school year. It gives an opportunity for individual choice, familiarity with favorite authors, vocabulary development, and writing practice. The summer math skills booklet helps students maintain their math skills.
Harbor Day School promotes a culture of under standing where we value the unique qualities of our community constituents. Instilling a sense of ownership as we strive to increase awareness and influence actions, we take a stand against prejudice, and we celebrate inclusivity. Within the Harbor Day curriculum, we aim to recognize, appreciate, and share each person’s experiences, thereby enhancing the lens through which we all view the world.
Over the past decade, graduates have attended local public schools and local private schools including: Corona del Mar High School, JSerra, Laguna Beach High School, Mater Dei High School, Newport Harbor High School, Orange Lutheran High School, Pacifica Christian, Sage Hill High School, and St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Boarding schools our graduates have recently attended include Cate School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, and The Thacher School.
The DEI department strives towards furthering our mission. Some of the immediate goals. include:
• Enhance curriculum to ensure multiple perspectives
• Understand the changing needs of our community
• Create an inclusive and safe environment
• Provide resources and support to faculty
• Celebrate differences within our community
• Develop empathy and advocate for all members of our community
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY • SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY • UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, BOULDER CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY • HARVARD UNIVERSITY • UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA • BROWN UNIVERSITY • CORNELL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES • PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY STANFORD UNIVERSITY • COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY • TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO • UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBO R • DARTMOUTH COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBAR A • DUKE UNIVERSITY • NEW YORK UNIVERSITY TULANE UNIVERSITY • UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA • BOSTON COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON • UNIVERSITY OF OREGON UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN • CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEG E
Admission to Harbor Day School is based on several factors including performance on report cards and entrance tests, teacher recommendations, and a half-day classroom visit. Qualified siblings of currently enrolled Harbor Day School students will receive priority acceptance, with the understanding that Harbor Day School may not be the appropriate school for all sibling applicants.
All applications should be submitted beginning in the fall of the year previous to the child’s planned entrance and are due by mid-January. Online applications are available by going to the Harbor Day School website
No applications will be processed earlier than one year prior to that entrance year.
(HARBORDAY.ORG).
The school hosts an annual Community Open House, and we invite all interested families to attend. Prospective candidates for the 2023 -2024 school year may schedule a tour with our Director of Admission and Enrollment beginning in September. Assessments for all grades Kindergarten through Eight are required and are held at the end of January and in early February. More exact details about the dates and the processes for the current year are available by going to HARBORDAY.ORG/APPLY.
