As 6th graders they do a graduation project that is a major study of a topic of choice. In the elementary students do several “Kids’ queries” in which they spend 2 or 3 weeks several times during the year researching a topic of their choosing. There are many opportunities for students to do their own inquiries. Teachers can allow for extra time, bring in extra resources, consult other programs for help or counsel the student on a regular basis in order to allow a student to pursue an interest. If students don’t find material particularly engaging or pertinent to them, there is usually an opportunity to negotiate for a different approach or assignment.Teachers will go out of their way to support a student in developing a talent or interest if this is made known to the staff. Many times assignments are open ended, and students are given a variety of choices, so they are able to select topics in which they are interested. If there are controversial international issues to deal with there is a concerted effort to present both sides of the issue, so that students can weigh the information themselves and create their own understandings. We welcome students from other countries as students at Harmony through our International Student Program. International guests are invited to the school on a regular basis. There is much emphasis placed on exposing students to a wide variety of cultures. Students with special needs are admitted without labels and students are admitted with little consideration given to their ability to pay. Students are encouraged to listen to others’ perspectives and to be willing to try on new ideas and a variety of ways of doing things.In order to work toward this goal one of the main considerations when new students are being selected is to maintain the diversity of the population. Much can be gained by bringing diverse voices together. Harmony strives to include all students regardless of their abilities, learning style, socio-economic level, ethnic background, sexual orientation, political leaning or religion. Everyone tries to create a place at Harmony in which each person feels like he or she belongs. This is encouraged in many classes, and every year Harmony devotes Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday to a Social Action Day, in which the entire school explores current social and political issues and examines ways in which students can get involved in the community. In the selection of students, diversity is crucial and ability to pay should be of minimal importance.Īround Harmony one often hears the phrase, “We all need to learn to try to balance individual needs with our responsibility to the community.” While students are encouraged to discover their own strengths and interests, and teachers work to create environments in which students’ individual needs can be met, there is also an emphasis on creating a caring community in which everyone is encouraged to contribute to others, either the classroom, the school or the larger society.The school considers it important for students to feel empowered to make a difference in the world, and this involves understanding the needs of the community and finding a place in which individuals can give what they’re able. Our school should be a microcosm of the community.Teachers and staff are available whenever need arises. Our commitment to a meaningful relationship with each student and their family extends beyond the school day/school year.We build classroom curriculum around the passions of teachers and students and connect it with developmentally appropriate milestones. Our teachers are enthusiastic and deeply committed because they are free to share their interests and given space for personal growth.This allows us to individualize our curriculum and make learning more hands-on, engaging, and fun. Our school is independent and our class sizes are small.We believe that children develop a sense of responsibility when given freedom to make choices. We nurture each child’s unique qualities while helping him/her to become aware of the delicate balance between individual voice and community responsibility.We practice democracy through “Family Meetings” and other age appropriate decision-making approaches.
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