From the Desk of of the Head of School - January 5, 2018
Dear Parents,
I don’t how many of you spend your leisure time reading studies from academia, but if you are looking for one to tide you over, I recommend this study out of NYU. It tracked 5,754 students across 1,712 schools from kindergarten through 8th grade and states that students enrolled in the PreK to 8 model are more academically confident than their middle school peers. This certainly holds true for Harding Academy graduates as we hear from high schools across the region that Harding students dive right in academically (as well as artistically, athletically, and in all other facets of school life.)
Certainly, the data in the studies shows the positive effects of the model, but at the same time the quality of the faculty and their ability to develop deep and meaningful relationships with their students and families are highly influential as well. Again, Harding Academy is representative of this finding. In the ten most formative learning years of our students’ lives, our faculty work tirelessly to challenge and nurture our students.
Importantly, the study suggests that there is a greater sense of community in PreK-8 schools. For Harding, while we focus most intently on the ten most impressionable learning years of our students, we also understand and engage our families in ways that support them in the ten of the most formative parenting years of their lives. This partnership is at the heart of our learning community.
Happy reading!
Inspiring The Mind • Nurturing The Spirit