march 2005 (VOL. 11, NO. 6)
A
M O N T H L Y
N E W S L E T T E R
est. 1893 • K-12 college prep
F R O M
T H E
H A R K E R
Harker World’s Best for Its Size in Two AP Categories
inside
overly concerned with deadlines and assignments,” added Korin. “Our primary concern is that they learn the material.”
Update on schoolwide tsunami relief efforts ....................... 5 Rockin’ recap of annual fashion show ................. 7-10
Cutler added, “It’s easy to teach well when you have students who are excited to learn and who come to school because they want to, not because they have to. I’m continually astounded at the level of intellectual maturity of our students.”
Inaugural and historic Shanghai visit ................ 1-15
■ 2005 Rock the Runway Fashion Show ■ Student Directed Performances
events 5th Annual
Evening at the Conservatory
Friday, March 18 8 p.m. See page 2 for details!
In findings released on Jan. 25 as part of the “Advanced Placement Report to the Nation,” The College Board recognized The Harker School for having the strongest AP Chemistry and AP Computer Science courses in the world among schools with enrollment of between 500-999 students. Top performing schools were named for each AP subject, based on the percentage of students who successfully scored a 3 or higher on the AP Exams. No other school in the world had a greater proportion of its student body succeed in AP Chemistry or AP Computer Science last year than Harker. “Harker has extraordinary teachers so it does not surprise me that we are competitive at a world level,” said Head of School Diana Nichols “The large number of students who have shown themselves to be high scorers is a cause of pride for all of our teachers.” Nichols particularly thanked two teachers – US chemistry teacher Robbie Korin and Assistant Head of Operations Robb Cutler, who also teaches US computer science – for their specific contributions to the AP achievement. “Both epitomize what we stand for at Harker,” said Nichols of Cutler and Korin. “They are able to get the students running alongside them rather than having to pull the students along. Only then are you able to see these kinds of results.”
“I think it’s largely a product of the relaxed learning environment at Harker,” said Korin in response to the announcement. “Even though the students are expected to perform at a high level, we are not
In a letter sent to Harker Head of School Diana Nichols last month, Trevor Packer, the Executive Director of the Advanced Placement Program, wrote, “The work (Harker) is doing of preparing so many students for success in such rigorous curricula is a model for schools worldwide.”
NBC 11 Covers Harker AP Distinction See pg. 3 for details.
Mark Tantrum - all photos
New online photo galleries posted on Parent Home Page (PHP):
Mark Tantrum
Harker’s first class food service ............................. 19
online
S C H O O L
22nd Annual Harker Dance Production Thursday - Saturday March 3 - 5 7:30 p.m. See pg. 2 for details!