COLLEGE PREP K-12
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Summer Programs
harker We believe the most valuable education we can provide is one that brings out the best in our students in academic, extracurricular and personal domains. We have been committed to that mission since our school’s founding in 1893; in fact, we’re looking forward to celebrating our 125th anniversary in the 2018-19 school year. Our outstanding faculty, broad programs, deep academic offerings and dynamic community inspire students to explore, try new things and discover their unique talents and passions. And our students then go on to share these talents and passions to make the world a better place in ways that inspire us every day. I warmly invite you to join our exciting community!
Brian Yager Head of School
Front cover photos by, clockwise from upper left, Kyle Cavallaro, Pam Dickinson, Nicole DeVelbiss, Mark Kocina. Inside cover photos by, clockwise from upper right, Stefan Armijo, Mark Kocina, Ashley Batz, Mark Kocina. Previous page photos by, clockwise from upper left, Mark Tantrum, Kyle Cavallaro, Mark Kocina, Mark Tantrum. This page’s photos by Kyle Cavallaro.
about Since 1893 The Harker School has been a pillar of excellence in learning and the development of well-rounded citizens. We began our commitment to children when orchards covered the valley – and we’ve continually transformed with the times into the area’s brightest opportunity for youth. We’re a vibrant and caring community dedicated to preparing young people for meaningful, happy and successful futures. We offer rich opportunities for each and every student to discover and develop his or her unique talents. We foster a challenging and supportive environment where inspiration has no limits.
“Harker remains the most significant professional and personal influence on me. Harker provided me with the study skills to succeed in school, and more important, the ethics and values to succeed in life.” John Owen ’85 John is a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He is currently the youngest serving federal appellate court judge in the nation.
Photos by Mark Tantrum and provided by The Harker School Archives (circa 1920).
inspire Big teachers, small classes We search nationwide for our faculty and select on a basis of expertise, rapport and role modeling. Many of our teachers hold advanced degrees; each and every one is passionate about teaching. Right time, right place As a student’s talent evolves, we evaluate the course placement that will best challenge and inspire him or her to academic excellence. Our varied and proven teaching techniques, customized curriculum and comprehensive support systems ensure an inspiring and exciting learning environment.
“Harker teaches you to learn. It’s really not about the grades. It’s about the fact that I can read analytically, discuss material with
my peers, work through a problem until I solve it, write a cogent paper, and interact with people from all walks of life.” Alice Loofbourrow ’11 Alice is pre-med at Goucher College and will be attending George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences to become a geriatric psychiatrist.
Photos by Mark Kocina, Kyle Cavallaro
discover In addition to our richly diverse curriculum, we encourage students to discover their talents and passions outside the classroom. After school: from Maker’s Space to clarinet We offer an ever-growing myriad of after-school adventures: Mandarin, yoga, violin, cooking, storytelling, athletics, debate team, robotics, Japanese anime and more. Students build programs around their passions; from the environmental Green Team to the forward-thinking Future Problem Solvers team, there’s always room to explore. We help students discover and hone talents they never knew they had!
“We never dreamed that our preschool daughter would have the opportunity to create, explore, hypothesize and enjoy such a wealth of projects and have such talented and dedicated music, STEM and art teachers. Thank you for bringing the love of learning to all of our children.” Katrina Ryan & Bill Jeffers, parents
Photos by Megan Prakash ‘14, Devin Nguyen ‘12
compete Teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication and leadership are the cornerstones of our athletic program. Self-confidence and fair play From the very start, our programs provide a fun, safe experience and instill healthy habits for life. Competitive edge Whether student athletes pursue sports for pure enjoyment or have a passion to play at the collegiate level, we provide the guidance, leadership and support they need. Athletic offerings include football, soccer, volleyball, swimming, softball and lacrosse. We participate in the South Valley Athletic League, West Bay Athletic League, Bay Football League and others.
“I still draw inspiration from my athletic experience at Harker, and our journey to the state championships!” Tanya Schmidt ’08 Tanya is a Santa Clara University graduate and played professional volleyball in Germany and Belgium. She is pursuing a master’s degree in English and American literature at New York University.
Photos by Mark Kocina and Stefan Armijo.
create Top-notch academics are the core of Harker’s program, and the arts play a pivotal role. Staging delight Harker students perform in 25 major events a year - from musicals to dramas to concerts - and groups have been invited to perform internationally, including three times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. From clay to Monet Our visual arts students reveal their visions through a variety of media, including stone carving, bronze casting and architecture, and have had their works chosen for national exhibitions. At Harker students discover and nurture their own talents, develop selfconfidence and unleash their creative potential.
“I learned a lot about the passion and dedication it takes to make a life in the arts. About learning how to fail, fail again, and fail better, and to become comfortable knowing that there are no ‘right’ answers in the arts world.” Siobhan Stevenson ’07 Siobhan graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City, and currently performs with and is on the board of the Bizarre Noir Theatre Company.
Photos by Mark Kocina and Alexandria Kerekez.
explore Worldly classrooms Our global education program involves students at all grade levels with partnerships and projects in eight countries. Meaningful research Harker’s science research program enables upper school students to pursue the wonder of science through serious, original research. And the Near and Mitra grant programs provide deep humanities research opportunities. Business & entrepreneurship Our business & entrepreneurship program prepares our students as emerging leaders in areas such as engineering, technology, finance, marketing, and hospitality and tourism. BECon and TedxHarkerSchool events offer unique opportunities to leverage the entrepreneurial engine of the Silicon Valley.
“Harker provided me with a haven where I could pursue advanced academics, athletics, activities in service, and take leadership roles, all among like-minded peers.” Senan Ebrahim ‘08 Senan is an M.D./Ph.D. candidate at Harvard Medical School.
Photos by Chris Spenner, Harshita Pant.
honor Kindness, respect, honesty, integrity and personal accountability are at the heart of our character development curriculum – and the Harker Honor Code. Big hearts, high fives Students raise funds and awareness for both local and global issues, and they enthusiastically support each other in celebrating successes. Immersed in our environment of integrity and respect, our students are generous, kind, considerate and thoughtful children who think of others and have a desire to help those around them. No wonder college reps say our kids “have soul.”
“Your students possess a desire to be of service – admirable in these days of materialism and self-absorption.” Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston Author of “Farewell to Manzanar” Ms. Wakatsuki Houston presented her life story and writings to students as part of our upper school annual assembly lecture series.
Photos by Ashley Batz, Mark Tantrum.
engage Harker invites visionaries and artists from a kaleidoscope of disciplines to share their expertise and talents with us and with the Bay Area at large. Making a difference Being green at Harker is more than just wearing our school color. Between joining forces with the city of San Jose to implement a new recycling program (and earning a commendation for our “dedication to environmental stewardship”), and being certified as a Bay Area Green Business, our community is deeply committed to sustainability. Our students are guided to become knowledgeable, ethical and responsible contributors to society and to be true global citizens who want to make a difference.
“Harker was a place where studying certainly was important, but not the most important. The options were so numerous,
and finding your passion was the most important goal of all.” Kaavya Cherukuri ‘11 Kaavya is a master’s student at Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Her goal is to make affordable and safe medical devices that are accessible to everyone.
Nichols Hall’s green roof. Photo by Mark Tantrum. ABC7 News Anchor Cheryl Jennings interviews author Khaled Hosseini at a 2012 Harker Speaker Series event. Photo by Kyle Cavallaro.
celebrate Our community is as vibrant as the Bay Area is diverse. Soccer games, musicals, harvest festivals and more provide opportunities for faculty, parents, students, alumni and the greater community to gather, have fun and share their passions. Friends for life Harker students encourage and support one another and celebrate each other’s efforts and successes with hugs and high-fives. It’s a supportive, safe, fun and nurturing place where kids make friends for life.
“It’s been an awesome 13 years at Harker! I will miss every part of Harker so dearly, but I am happy that I will always be welcome back home. I’m a lifer, I love Harker, and go Eagles!” Vikas Bhetanabhotla ‘14 Vikas is attending U.C. Berkeley in the College of Engineering.
Photos by Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell, Kyle Cavallaro.
connect We invite you to become a part of our vibrant community. Whether it’s to attend Harker, participate in an event or become a mentor, we welcome you to join our century-long commitment to youth!
General: 408.249.2510 | communications@harker.org | www.harker.org Admission: admissions@harker.org Summer Programs: summerinfo@harker.org Subscribe to Harker News Online: http://news.harker.org
Preschool 4525 Union Ave., San Jose, CA 95124
Middle School 3800 Blackford Ave., San Jose, CA 95117
Lower School 4300 Bucknall Rd., San Jose, CA 95130
Upper School 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, CA 95129
The Harker School | College Prep K-12 | Preschool | Summer Photos by Trynn Sylvester, Kyle Cavallaro, Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell
San Jose, CA Preschool Summer Programs I
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