2020-21 K-12 Brochure

K - 1 2

C o l l e g e

P r e p

|

K

t h r o u g h

L i f e ®

Preschool

I

Summer Programs

welcome to harker A Learning Environment Like No Other At Harker, we define success as something more than outstanding academic achievement: We believe in providing a world-class educational experience that both inspires and empowers students to explore, try new things, and discover their unique talents and passions. This is equally true during this time of COVID-19 as we provide a distance learning program that inspires and challenges our students - and ourselves - in new ways.

A focus on the whole student leads us to offer the type of truly well-rounded education proven to lead to happier, more purposeful and more fulfilling lives – K through Life.

In this dynamic community, our outstanding faculty and deep academic offerings are enriched with an incomparable array of opportunities for children to immerse themselves in the arts, athletics, extracurricular activities, global education and local community service.

Since the school’s founding in 1893, Harker students have gone on to achieve great success in their colleges and careers. They have also continued to demonstrate a commitment to making the world a better place in ways that inspire us every day.

We invite you to come experience the uniqueness of a Harker education for yourself!

Brian Yager, Head of School

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 Owens ’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.

lead the way Since 1893, The Harker School has been on a mission to develop students uncommonly prepared for college and beyond, and unusually enthusiastic about future possibilities.

Prepared for success in an ever-changing world Renowned for instilling lifelong qualities of inquisitiveness, critical thinking and leadership, Harker has been on the leading edge of educational excellence since the day it was founded.

For more than 125 years, our campuses and curriculum have continually evolved, incorporating the latest best practices, creating the innovative programs, and building the state-of-the-art facilities that have earned Harker its reputation for offering the most dynamic K through Life learning experience in Silicon Valley.

From our innovative lower school methodologies to a university-quality upper school campus, Harker students dive deep into a rich array of academic and extracurricular programs that develop young adults uncommonly prepared for success in today’s global society.

I am impressed with Harker’s individual approach “ to students: the teachers’ efforts to learn who the

student is - how they are motivated and what their individual learning style is - and to address the needs of each student, factoring all of this into account.

Alina Gicqueau, parent

”

inspire passion Outstanding teachers, small classes When learning is inspired, exploring becomes excelling. We search nationwide for our faculty, then select and retain those who demonstrate the ability to bring out the best in our students. Many hold advanced degrees; each is passionate about teaching and focused on individual student success.

Individualized curriculum, inspired learners As a student’s interests and talents evolve, each is evaluated for the course placement that will best engage and inspire him or her to personal and academic excellence.

Our proven teaching techniques and comprehensive support systems ensure that high expectations are met through a nurturing balance of challenge and encouragement. It’s an approach proven successful to instill students with confidence, resilience and poise.

Harker provides the best combination of top “ quality academic and extracurricular programming,

dedicated and caring faculty, incredible resources and facilities, and a vibrant community that anyone living in the Silicon Valley could ever hope to share with their child.

�

Bill Stevenson, parent

discover talents Where opportunities become accomplishments We help students hone talents they never knew they had – ones which they will always be grateful to have discovered. Our richly diverse offerings encourage students to pursue interests outside the classroom where extracurricular activities can become the accomplishments that inspire a lifelong joy of learning.

Outside the classroom: from STEM to strings Our K-8 after-school program offers a myriad of learning adventures, including Mandarin, yoga, violin, cooking, storytelling, athletics, robotics, debate and Japanese anime; the middle school additionally has dozens of clubs and programs.

The upper school boasts an amazing array of more than 100 student clubs, enriching electives, extracurricular activities, and programs from competitive sports to powerful research projects.

Whether it’s our earth-conscious Green Team or the forward-thinking Future Problem Solvers, Harker students are empowered to implement ideas for clubs and introduce initiatives that reflect their own interests and passions to make a real impact in the world.

I was able to to explore every aspect of performing in ways that I couldn’t “ have foreseen when I chose Harker for its academic rigor. Having the breadth of performing experience from Harker gave me tremendous confidence that paid dividends in my performing life.

Gabrielle DeMers ’03

”

Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music and a Master of Music in opera performance from the University of Maryland, College Park. She currently performs with and is on the board of the Bizarre Noir Theatre Company.

perform & create The chance to perform and create Once you know that music fosters math comprehension in early learners and athletics help promote strong character development, it’s hard to see your child’s chance to participate in extracurricular activities as anything other than essential.

That’s why Harker students perform in 25 major events each year – from musicals to dramas to concerts. Our groups have even been invited to perform internationally, including four times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

Visual arts students express themselves through a variety of mediums, including bronze casting and architecture, producing works that have been selected for national exhibitions.

The opportunity to grow Through an array of opportunities they wouldn’t have elsewhere, and in ways they would never have otherwise imagined, Harker students discover and nurture their own talents, develop self-confidence and unleash their creative potential.

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.

compete and grow Eagle spirit: character with a competitive edge Teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication and leadership are the cornerstones of our athletic program. From the very start, our programs focus on character development and are designed to instill positive attitudes, strong core values and the habits of healthy living.

Each campus features extensive athletic facilities and playing fields, from a lower school swimming pool to the upper school’s state-of-the-art Singh Aquatic Center and 33,000-square-foot athletic center.

Eagle athletic offerings include football, soccer, volleyball, swimming, softball and lacrosse, to name a few. We participate in the South Valley Athletic League, West Bay Athletic League, Bay Football League and others.

Whether student athletes pursue sports for pure enjoyment or have a desire to compete at the collegiate level, we provide the guidance, leadership and support they need to get and keep their game on. Go Eagles!

“

Harker had a lot to do with my drive to be an entrepreneur and I’m grateful for all of the teachers who inspired me while I was there. It was a fantastic journey.

”

Surbhi Sarna ’03 Surbhi earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She founded venture-backed nVision Medical in 2009 to develop technology to more quickly detect ovarian cancer. The medical device that resulted received FDA approval in 2015.

explore the world Worldly classrooms As students move through the divisions with growing involvement in international programs, their experiences are consistently being filtered through the goals of our global education program: awareness, collaboration and experiential learning. Our students have collaborated with schools in 25 countries through projects or visits since the program began.

Meaningful research Research programs enable upper school students to pursue the wonder of science through original, real-world research projects. The John Near and Mitra Family endowments allow students to engage in deep research in the humanities, and the annual Harker Research Symposium provides deep, college-level research opportunities.

Business and entrepreneurship Our business & entrepreneurship program prepares students as emerging leaders in engineering, technology, finance, marketing, and hospitality and tourism. A new incubator program, BECon (Harker’s annual convention) and TEDx Harker School events offer unique opportunities to leverage the entrepreneurial engine of Silicon Valley.

Our kids are learning a lot, and have also “ made great friends. It shows because they are raring to go to school in the morning! �

Raghu Subramanian, parent

enjoy friends Our students cheer each other on in athletics, applaud their friends in school performances, celebrate the activities of the student-run clubs, and just enjoy hanging out together from morning to evening.

Schoolwide traditions We have some long-held social traditions – homecoming, a family and alumni picnic and our gala – that bring students, faculty, parents and alumni together just to have a great time!

Campus communities Lower school students take pride in sharing fun events with family and friends at our annual Hat Parade, Grandparents’ Day and Halloween parade. Harker’s Eagle Buddies program pairs grade 3 students with an upper school buddy.

Fun buddy events are planned throughout the year, which has formed warm connections between our youngest and oldest students.

Middle school students are assigned to one of four “houses” which compete in spirit events throughout the year. Cheering for friends at sporting events and attending barbecues and dances all ensure your pre-teen has plenty of opportunities to make friends, build confidence and have fun.

Upper school students form deep and lasting friendships at Harker, creating a warm, fun and supportive social life. Dozens of events like class competitions, spirit activities, events, dances and outings make for an engaging and exciting high school experience.

In addition to the academic rigor, Harker does a “ very good job of creating a caring and supportive

community for the kids. It’s been really rewarding to see our son’s friends, who are seniors, support and encourage our daughters as freshmen. It really does feel like a family.

Kurt Leafstrand, parent

”

nurture and thrive Harker students receive a world-class education within an intellectually challenging and supportive community. But to truly thrive we believe students also need to be healthy, self-aware, resilient and empathetic. The curriculum for developing these traits starts the moment students begin their journeys at Harker.

The lower school uses a curriculum called The Toolbox Project, which is designed to empower the children with 12 specific tools that will guide them in managing their own social, emotional and academic success.

Middle and upper school students are assigned to a faculty member’s advisory. They remain in that group throughout their time at that division.

Advisories offer downtime to chat and play, to discuss topics of interest, give and receive guidance about wellness and social issues, and form a close-knit group of friends outside of one’s regular classes or pursuits.

At the upper school, the LIFE (Living with Intent, Focus and Enthusiasm) program sponsors workshops throughout the year that help our students navigate through topics including healthy relationships, performance anxiety and college readiness.

Harker students encourage and support one another and celebrate each other’s efforts and successes with hugs, high-fives and applause. It’s a supportive, safe, fun and nurturing place where kids thrive.

Harker students are always curious to learn, “ enthusiastic to help and are really connected to the importance of giving back. You have a tremendous group of future leaders in your midst.

”

—Sarah Uldricks, Camp Okizu’s director of marketing and special events

give back We teach character development skills as a part of the regular curriculum, engaging our students to develop essential character traits including kindness, respect and integrity. With hands-on learning opportunities for character development both in the classroom and out in the community, students will have many options for participating in service and helping others.

Big hearts, kind souls Students raise awareness and funds for both local and global issues, and they enthusiastically support each other in celebrating successes.

Immersed in an environment of integrity and respect, our students are generous, kind, considerate and thoughtful. They learn to think of others and have a desire to help those around them. No wonder college reps say, “Harker kids have soul!�

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.

Grammy nominee Taylor Eigsti has appeared four times at the Harker Concert Series.

share with others Harker Concert & Speaker Series Harker invites visionaries, innovators and artists from a kaleidoscope of disciplines to share their talents and expertise with our students and the greater Bay Area.

Being green At Harker, being green means more than wearing our school color. From earning a commendation for our “dedication to environmental stewardship� for helping to implement San Jose’s new recycling program, to opening the first LEED Gold certified school building in Santa Clara County, our commitment to sustainability runs deep.

Ready to change the world To be a true global citizen is to understand the impact one person can have on the world. Our students are guided to become knowledgeable, ethical and responsible contributors to society, empowered with the desire to share their gifts and make a difference.

ABC7 News Anchor Cheryl Jennings interviews author Khaled Hosseini at a 2012 Harker Speaker Series event. Photo by Kyle Cavallaro.

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.

celebrate community Our community is vibrant, bustling and inspiring. Athetic events, musicals, parties, speaker events, workshops and more provide opportunities for faculty, parents, students, alumni and the greater community to gather, have fun and share their passions.

We treasure our alumni and stay closely connected through nationwide alumni events, reunions and mentoring programs. Some of our alumni have come back to teach at Harker, while others serve on boards, present to classrooms and find reasons to come back to see their teachers (and have the famous Harker lunches again).

We are also a community of passionate learners and constantly seek ways to understand, improve and explore new ways of thinking. From student classrooms to parent education events, to reunions, there is a shared love of learning that permeates our community. Join us!

connect with us We invite you to become a part of the Harker community. Whether it’s to attend Harker, participate in an event or become a mentor, we welcome you to join our commitment to excellence in education.

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

The Harker School | K-12 College Prep | Summer Upper School 500 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose, CA 95129 Middle School (Fall 2021) 4525 Union Avenue., San Jose, CA 95124 Lower School 4300 Bucknall Road, San Jose, CA 95130

SanI Jose, CA Summer Programs

Preschool

www.harker.org

Printed on 100% recycled paper O of C: Revise 9/20 (BHDG-JQ/DQP) 3,250