Trustee Tidbits
News, views and announcements from Tulip Knoll
A Message from the Head of School, Andy Sperling
A Letter from the Board Chair Harbor Faculty & Staff Updates
Renovations at Tulip Knoll
Harbor Happenings
HCDS Signature Program Additions
Harbor Fund & Enrollment Updates
2024-2025 Event Calendar
Current Trustee Listing
Former Trustee Listing
As we embark on another year together, it’s important to reflect upon the growth we have made over the past two years As I enter my third year at Harbor, I am both excited and honored to have played a role in many collaborative successes.
Once again, we’ve been able to make significant strides with regard to the renovations that are needed for our current facilities With your steadfast commitment and support, the Harbor Dining Room has been transformed! Removing the serving counter and surrounding wall and expanding the kitchen made a huge impact, and the children will ultimately be the direct benefactors In addition, the space will take on a multi-purpose identity. With a variety of table shapes and configurations possible, the room will now be able to accommodate formal gatherings, board and committee meetings, and special academic events The kids are excited and proud to be able to enjoy this beautiful, updated space.
Welcome to our new trustees! It is an honor to have you join us, and your input will be invaluable as we embark on this next phase in Harbor’s history. This past year was full of strategic planning conversations and prioritizing direction. We were fortunate to have spent time with Tim Fish, the NAIS consultant who engaged us in truly productive discussions around our identity, our strengths, and the challenges we face as a school. The retreat he led for us provided this group with new tools as well as reminders for how we can gain momentum He reiterated to us that we are “remarkable at the show but should expand our ways to tell. ” This has created a productive focus for us as we continue to explore new ways to market our school.
The building expansion project application and permitting process is complete! I am thrilled that we have submitted all necessary plans, and the Village has approved each one. With demolition already underway, we are geared up to begin this exciting journey of growth together Our building expansion project mirrors our mission and will afford us the opportunity to take our academic program to new heights!
The three phrases that comprise our mission statement will continue to guide us every step of the way. Our charge, as we enhance the campus facilities, will always be to ensure Harbor’s existence for our children’s children and beyond As always, it is a privilege to be leading the charge
A Letter from the Board Chair, Cynthia Wong Lippe, Ph.D.
Happy Autumn! I have some very exciting news to share this year
First, after seven years of back and forth with the Village and our neighbors, we have finally passed all the regulatory hurdles and are getting our building permit! Demolition of the library wing will start on November 23rd, and the plan is for the building to open for the start of the 2025-26 school year This new wing will hold new upper school classrooms, the library, an art studio, a music room and storage, a convocation hall, and a state-of-the-art STEAM (“science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics”) Center
Over the summer, the third floor was spruced up and reconfigured in anticipation of moving some of the upper school classes there during the construction The dining room and kitchen were remodeled with slightly enlarged footprints, new flooring, furniture, and equipment
Having been part of all the conversations from a strategic plan, advancement, and building & grounds committee perspective, seeing these campus improvements come to fruition is a major point of satisfaction for me Many of you have walked with us on this long journey, and we are grateful for your support and dedication to this project A special thanks goes to:
The chairs and co-chairs of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, including George Bubaris, Alex Doboli, Neal Mellert, and Ariya Lapan. An extra note of gratitude goes to Rob Antonacci, who has worked on this project continuously from day one, overseeing the many iterations of the plans and conversations with the Village, and Garrett Bergen, who lent his professional expertise to the final set of building plans and built the relationships needed to get us to the finish line
Agnes Ferro and Sue Ryan, co-chairs of the capital campaign who raised the funds for this building, and Monica Bugallo for inspiring us to see the possibilities for Harbor’s STEAM Center. Adrienne Owen, Corinne Hammons, and Alex Doboli for their leadership of the board, the strategic planning process, and the capital campaign that led us to this point John Cissel and Andy Sperling for all their work starting, maintaining, and finishing the grueling process of getting the Village building permit
Second, in preparation for creating the next strategic plan, Andy and trustees met with all the stakeholders last spring through a series of “listening” sessions These stakeholders included current parents, alumni and former parents, faculty and staff, students, and trustees
We had two tremendously productive meetings with past trustees in June The first was a virtual session with trustees who served on the board at least 15 or more years ago; the second was an in-person session with trustees who served within the past 15 years. The first set of trustees discussed past priorities, goals, and challenges for our school, providing crucial institutional memory The second meeting, which also included leadership team members, brought up more recent board priorities and turned into a collective brainstorming about how to address current challenges and opportunities All of these conversations will play an essential role as we identify the strategic priorities for the next 3-5 and 5-8 years of Harbor’s growth.
This year, we welcomed three new trustees around the table They bring tremendous experience and knowledge in finance, fundraising, and education Please join me in welcoming current parents David Goldweitz, Johnathan Komich, and Shellon Lees P’19
We are grateful for the service and contributions of two trustees who rolled off the board this year: Rob Antonacci P’17, P’17, and Monica Bugallo, current parent As mentioned, their dedication to Harbor and the building project cannot be understated Rob will continue to serve on the Buildings & Grounds Committee as we construct the new building to provide support and continuity, and Monica will continue to advise on the STEAM Center.
Finally, I hope to see many of you at the Trustees and Capital Campaign Donor Appreciation event on November 21st The event starts at 6:30 pm in our beautiful new dining room, but we will perform a ceremonial groundbreaking at 4 pm, while there will still be sunlight for photos
Please come and celebrate this wonderful moment with us!
Harbor Faculty & Staff Updates
Laura Huang Ernst - Retirement
It is with great pride and the utmost respect that we share that Laura Huang Ernst has decided to retire Upon reflecting, Laura shared that she experienced a sense of true satisfaction and closure with her class last year and that her instincts told her the timing was right.
Few rarely come to know a more dedicated, humble, and caring human being than Laura Her collegiality, leadership, and commitment to Harbor for 34 years will continue to resonate with us Please join us in honoring Laura's devotion and contributions to our special community We will truly miss her and wish her all the best. We will be sharing information soon regarding ways to celebrate Laura's career and contributions.
Harbor Welcomes Our New Faculty Members
Michael White - Music Teacher
We are excited to welcome Michael White as our new Music Teacher. Michael wowed us from the moment he shared his interest in Harbor with his authenticity and genuine approach to music education Michael is a recent graduate of The Crane School of Music and is a talented vocalist and musician We are absolutely delighted to have Michael on board!
Eric Mauro - Part-Time Math Teacher
Eric Mauro is officially a part-time member of the Harbor faculty! Eric has been teaching math to middle and high school students for 18 years and holds a Mathematics degree from St. John's University Eric will be teaching upper school math and collaborating with the department as we continue to grow our math program with regents classes, extensions, and new lab experiences.
Sandra Henrich - Part-Time Math Teacher
Sandra Henrich will be joining us as a part-time Math teacher this year She will be teaching several classes Sandra recently retired from the Comsewogue School District We are truly lucky to have Sandra join us as she brings her own vast experiences from her years of teaching all levels of math to middle and high school students
New Roles
Rachel Weir
Mrs Weir, who will continue to serve as Music Director and upper school music and band teacher, has been promoted to Assistant Principal for Lower and Upper School.
Dana Amir
Previously Harbor’s kindergarten teacher, Ms Amir will now be teaching second grade
Meghan Gray
Previously a PK2 teaching assistant, Mrs Gray will now be coteaching kindergarten alongside Ms. DiPaola.
Danielle Martino
Ms. Martino is welcomed back to Harbor and will once again be teaching PK2 with Mrs Coleo
Carly Lange
Ms. Lange has been named our Early Education Teaching Assistant and will also be working as a second-grade math specialist
Sylvia Frank
In addition to teacher lower school Mandarin classes, Mrs. Frank will also be teaching our 5th through 8th-grade students while Ms Snyder is on sabbatical to finish her Ph.D. studies.
Renovations at Tulip Knoll!
HCDS Dining Room Gets a Makeover!
Harbor Country Day School proudly unveiled its recent dining room renovation at our “Back-to-School” night events this past September
The use of original moldings and trims, and the preservation of the existing fireplace, allowed for the renovation to maintain the historic feel of the room while still providing a much-needed refresh to the space. Transformed with fresh paint, new flooring and ceiling materials, and custom-built heating vent covers, Harbor’s new-and-improved dining room is sure to become a vibrant hub for students, parents, faculty and staff.
Extra space was created by relocating the kitchen area into adjacent office space, and new seating was purchased to provid flexible layouts for meal times, community events, and in-house meetings. Enhanced temperature control and technology features also support a variety of activities, making the dining room a versatile space for both dining and learning.
We look forward to having you visit us soon to share in the use o this beautiful space!
Harbor’s Third Floor Overhaul
In preparation for the much-anticipated renovation of Tulip Knoll, Harbor’s current “80's wing” (which previously housed upper school classrooms and gathering spaces) was shut down for use for the 2024-2025 academic year As a result, it became necessary to overhaul Harbor’s third floor which primarily had been used as office space for Harbor’s school nurse, finance department, and Camp Harbor staff, as well as a workspace and break room for the faculty and staff.
In addition to fresh paint, new carpets, and french doors, the reconfigured space is now home to Harbor’s upper school udents.
eyond providing much-needed space for learning and cializing for our Harbor students, the Harbor community will so be able to enjoy the area which will serve as a meeting spot d venue for receptions and school events.
We look forward to having you visit us over the course of the upcoming year to see the progress being made at Harbor!
Harbor Happenings
The first weeks of school brought with them a number of memorable occasions and events. We look forward to making more memories during the upcoming school year!
HCDS Signature Program Additions
Service Learning Program
Service learning provides an opportunity for students to actively engage in their communities by incorporating their voices and choices into meaningful projects Through this process, students explore community needs, whether at Harbor, locally, or globally. We begin by helping students identify their strengths, skills, talents, and interests, then integrate those qualities into projects that benefit both the students and the community
These projects offer a variety of experiences, from hands-on community involvement, such as direct service work, to indirect service, like raising awareness on critical issues. Students might learn practical skills, such as crocheting hats for those in need, or engage in research-based projects, such as developing affordable water filtration systems As they work, students gain valuable knowledge, real-world experience, and a deeper understanding of community needs while learning how they can contribute to finding solutions.
Executive Functioning Program
This year, we’ve added a prescriptive and comprehensive program for our upper school students to help them develop and refine their organizational skills This consists of a binder system that enables each child to keep better track of assignments and handouts. It takes on an all-in-one approach by combining “to-do” and “done” folder designations as well as a place for necessary daily materials. We’ve also made a renewed commitment to having teachers and students interact with planners during every class. This will ultimately develop necessary and essential habits for our middle school-aged students that will benefit them significantly in high school Finally, the program we’ve adopted adds a unique element of study strategies and time management activities that the students will learn in a dedicated workshop throughout the year, taught by Mrs. Napodano, our talented Library and Media Specialist! We are excited and fortunate to have this opportunity to expand our students’ executive functioning repertoire
Harbor Fund Update
2023-2024 Harbor Fund
Goal: $200,000
Total Funds Raised: $205,714
Parent Participation Percentage: 4702%
2023-2024 Harbor Fund*
Goal: $225,000
*To donate to the 2024-2025 Harbor Fund, visit www.hcdsny.org/giving-to-harbor/ways-to-give or contact jtaggart@hcdsny org Thank you!
2024-2025 Enrollment Update
Total Enrollment 157 Students
Early Childhood: PK2 - PK4 48 Students
Lower School: K- 4th Grade 59 Students
Upper School: 5th - 8th Grades 50 Students
Harbor Country Day School - 2024-2025 Event Calendar
December12:K-8ChorusConcert
November28:HCDS3rdAnnualTurkeyBowl
March28:HCDSSpringBenefitatTheWaterviewatPortJeffersonCountryClub
April4:MulticulturalDay
May9:UpperSchoolMusical
May15:ArtShow&K-8ChorusConcert
May22:FieldDay
May29:Grades4-8BandConcert
June13:K-8MovingUp&CommencementCeremonies
2024-2025 Harbor Country Day School Board of Trustees
Cynthia Wong Lippe, Ph.D., P'21, P’24 (Chair)
Garrett Bergen, Current Parent (Vice Chair)
Ariya Lapan, Ph.D., Current Parent (Secretary) Adrienne Owen, P'20 (Treasurer)
Jennifer Accomando, M.B.A., Friend of Harbor
Shellon Blackman-Lees, Ph.D., P'19, Current Parent
David Goldweitz, M.B.A., Current Parent
Tehmina Haque, M.D., P'17, P'15, P’24
Johnathan Komich, C.F.A., Current Parent
Emma Pearce, J.D., '88
Marina Polonskaia, Ph.D., Friend of Harbor
Ned Puchner, Ph.D., Current Parent
Andy Sperling, Head of School, ex officio
Jennifer Tona, ‘24
Former Harbor Country Day School Trustees
William Adkins
Oakes Ames
Rose Antilus
Robert Antonacci
Donald Baker II
John Bardsley
Mindy Berger
Jennifer Berlingieri
Michele Berti
Mitchell Birzon
Seema Bhansali
Arlene Boscarino
Matthew Bradley
William Brennan
Paul Broder
George Bubaris
Monica Bugallo
Heidi Cacciabaudo
Katharine Clancy
Richard Clarke
Frank Clemente
Michael Commins
Glenna Craw
Martin Crowley
Therese DeAngelis
Vincent Della Pietra
Michael DiSabello
Robert DiStefano
Alex Doboli
Paul Edelson
David Essex
Richard A Evans
Agnes Ferro
Michele Filosa
David Fischler '62
Eileen Gaeta
Robert Gaffney '76
Susanna Gamaldi
Leyi Gao
Tagi Garbizu
William Garthe
Debby Graber
Doreen Greenblatt
Corinne Hammons
David Hicks
Leith Hill
John Hurtado, Jr
Ekambaram Ilamathi
Michael Irvin
Theodore Jospe
Roy Kahane
Vicki Katz
Lois Kuhlke
Nancy Langdon Hickerson
Mike Lauri
Robert Lazar
Harvey Lerner
John Libaire
Christine Little-Meyer
Mary Longabardi
Robert McCarroll '78
Thomas McMillen
Neal Mellert
David Merzin
Bruce Meyer
Charles D. Miller, Jr.
Evelyn W Miller
Lawrence Mincer
Steven Moll
Michael Morrell
Arlene Morris
Lynne Nowick
Peter Nowick, Jr.
Michelle Nuti
Nathaniel Peirce
George Penza
Gary Porcano
Edward Porter
Judy Proctor
Gary Rubio
Eric Russo
Sue Ryan
Mary Sanders
Herman Schecter
Priscilla S. Schecter
Sanford Scheman
Richard Scheyer
Elizabeth Schwartz
S. Lytton Scott
Malcolm E Smith, Jr
Maria Sorrentino
Alan Spielberg
Jack Squire
Marisella Staller
Jack A Swain
David Swift
John Toomey, Jr.
James Verdi
Kevin Vesey
Thomas Vulpis
David Waechter
HP Wei
Julie Wieland
Patrick West
Carrie Zuckerman
Thank you for helping to make a difference in the lives of all of our students.
Please contact Jennifer Taggart at jtaggart@hcdsnyorg if you: - have changed your mailing or email address - know of other board members who may be missing from this list - have updated contact information for a trustee who is not receiving our communications Harbor will update our records accordingly.
Thank you!
