From the Desk of the Head of School- September 16, 2022

Dear Harding Academy Learning Community,

You may have noticed as you drop off your children in the morning there are a series of signs hanging from the roof as students walk down the corridor from the depot, past the middle school courtyard and towards the theater. These banners welcome our students to campus each morning in the three world languages we offer our 5th through 8th graders: Spanish, Latin, and French. It is a nice way for all of us to start the day - to be welcomed multiple ways - and, I think, represents a broad sense of belonging for all of our students. 

As a school that prides itself on our sense of community, it has been wonderful to see how we have been intentional in naming that community and the varied experiences of our families who contribute to it. Through our classrooms, our hallways, our assemblies, and now our Community Engagement Office, we are actively celebrating the wonder that comes from learning something new about someone or something you thought you knew so well. 

As a learning community focused on developing lifelong learners, I am proud of all the educators and families who are working to share themselves in this way and for deepening our connections to one another. Next month, in our 7th grade, we will welcome two exchange students from Colombia for about ninety days through our partnership with Faces and Our Culture. We are excited to hear their stories, share in their new experiences and further all of our learning. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.