WELCOME!

Thank you for visiting the web site of Harbor Country Day School.  I hope you find these pages informative and helpful in introducing you to our small, friendly, high-achieving school.

Harbor is housed in an elegant historic North Shore mansion, Tulip Knoll, once owned by the famous philanthropist Alice McLean. When you visit, you will find a welcoming front hall like that of a country estate, and classrooms that once were bedrooms, many with fireplaces and ornate woodwork. Our comfortable, historic surroundings directly influence learning: they help create an environment like that of a home, where students feel safe and secure.

Within these surroundings, you will feel the palpable energy of many individuals working together as a community. As you probe deeper and look more closely, you will find students performing at an academic level only possible with a talented and dedicated faculty, a challenging and broad curriculum and an approach that both stretches our most capable students and supports those who are in need. You will find technology such as MacBooks, SMART Boards, wireless connections, advanced calculators, an iMac computer lab and access to state-of-the-art learning software.

Our program is integrated, allowing for in-depth study of related subjects at the same time in various classrooms. While fifth grade students are reading historical fiction in English, they may be studying the same time period in social studies and learning the music and art of the same era. We differentiate our instruction at every opportunity, allowing us to teach to individual skills and talents; based on continual assessment, teachers can monitor individual progress with ease, allowing assessment to drive instruction.

Harbor Country Day is small enough to pay attention to details, teach to the individual and foster a sense of independence in our students. Opportunities for leadership abound. Yet we are large enough for every student to find his or her voice and acquire confidence among supportive peers. Our motto, Sine Labore Nihil (Without Work, Nothing), underlines that hard work is the key to achievement. Teachers and students alike, we enjoy our work in our small community, and we have plenty of fun along the way.

That explains the smiling faces you will find throughout these web pages. Please browse this site and enjoy discovering a new opportunity for your children -- what we mean as we showcase Family, Friends and Futures.

-Christopher C. Pryor, Head of School