The Harbour School
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Courtesy photo
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| Haley Jurin and Dawn Watson design jewelry at the Bay Boutique in the Village. |
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What is the Village?
'It takes a village to raise a child' has new meaning at the Harbour School in Annapolis.
Dr. Linda Jacobs, the Harbour School's director, has transformed the Friday curriculum into a working town of businesses. 'Dr. J' as the students and staff have come to call her, had a vision of teaching students the skills that will support them in real life.
Based on the concept that a school is a microcosm of society, the 'Village' curriculum allows students to learn information and to use this information in a very realistic setting. Four days a week are dedicated to rigorous academic studies, but on Fridays, the Village opens.
The high school math class becomes a bank; the middle school math class is the school store; the social studies class becomes Town Hall. Students must fill out a job application and be interviewed by the business they are interested in working for, a wonderful real life exercise. Each student in a business performs a job relevant to that business such as general manager, bookkeeper or foreman, depending on the needs of each particular shop.
Each one of the 17 shops is an integration of business skills, communication skills, social skills and vocational skills. Students quickly learn that in real life, subjects blend together. In life there is no job that requires academic knowledge/skills in only one subject area.
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| Courtesy Photo |
| Jessica Crew is hard at work at the Sailing Ship Post & Shop, one of the stores in the Village.
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The Village curriculum also addresses the fact that different students have different abilities. Each business employs students with varied cognitive, social and vocational aptitudes. One student's academic knowledge may be complimented by another student's social skills; together they work to complete a business project or job.
This curriculum allows each child to attain a feeling of academic and personal achievement, while learning the skills and knowledge that they need to become a contributing, as well as happy, member of society.
One recent writing assignment given to students at The Harbour School was to research a famous person in history and describe where in the Village they would work. Below are some of their responses.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is considered a tragic figure in European history. While still young, Marie was married to the prince of France and stripped of her possessions before she crossed the border. Even when she inherited the throne after the sudden death of King Louis the XV, things did not improve much. She was blamed for the King's inability to have children and for the country's financial problems because she spent large sums of money on clothes, jewels and parties. Because of these things and the beginnings of the French revolution, being a public figure during that time period was difficult. It is unlikely that she had any choice about what happened to her. The French revolution would probably have occurred even if she had been accepted by most of the countries people.
— Henry Guth
Tragic royal figure Marie Antoinette would work at Bay Boutique to sell jewelry, work with pretty things, and keep her head at the same time!
— Adam Pye
John Hancock
Many of our founding fathers had one or more roles in American history. John Hancock had several. Even as a merchant in 1764, John Hancock did what he could to assist the American Revolution. Since trade was difficult due to Britain's unfair & impractical tax policies, John Hancock smuggled basic goods to the colonies. He also helped to ignite the American revolution by giving speeches and holding rallies with fellow leading man Samuel Adams. Later, he was elected president of the second Continental Congress. This put him in the position to declare George Washington Commander-in-Chief of the Continental army, who led the colonies to victory.
— Jeff Carey
John Hancock was more than just a founding father. He also studied government and would work at Town Hall. He could help write a constitution for the government.
— Jake Lowenthal
Charles M. Schultz
Charles M. Schultz is a well-known and memorable figure in American culture. To begin with, one of his Peanuts characters that he developed was Charlie Brown. He based Charlie Brown off of a co-worker he met when he worked at the Art Institution School. Another character he developed based on someone he knew was Peppermint Patty. She was based on the cartoonist's first wife. People all over the world have heard of Charles Schultz and still enjoy his Peanuts comics; they are still reprinted even after his death. The Peanuts comics have been printed in the newspaper for over fifty years.
— Alexandra Fleming
Peanuts' creator Charles M. Schulz would work in the Publishing Village because he was a clever cartoonist.
— Mandy Stelfox
Madame C.J. Walker
Madame C. J. Walker was a woman who pursued a dream. Since people did not shampoo their hair regularly in the 1800's, their scalps became unhealthy. Being concerned, Ms. Walker created her own hair-conditioning cream made from natural ingredients. In the early 1900's, she sold her vegetable shampoo, oils and salves as she traveled abroad, becoming America's first self-made female millionaire. Ms. Walker used her money to help fund the Colored YMCA in Indianapolis, Ind., and the building of a theater. Being a social activist, she donated $5,000 to the NAACP's anti-lynching movement along with offering a legislative petition to the White House in support of anti-lynching. In conclusion, Ms. Walker had the determination to achieve success with her quality products becoming a woman with a vision.
— Blake Moomau
Madame C.J. Walker, a woman with real vision, would work in Lighthouse Finance because she is famous for being the first African – American, millionaire.
— Alexandra Fleming
George Westinghouse
George Westinghouse was a great inventor who invented many products that improved people's lives. In 1868 George invented the air break, which is used on buses, trains & trucks. He also improved Alexander Graham Bell's phone, which he made better by creating a central switching system that is still used today. He also invented the power meter, sewing machines, clothes washers, clothes dryers, toasters and many other products that are in use today and are still improving our lives.
— Brent Olsen
Inventor George Westinghouse would work for the Oceanic Car Wash because he could design some machines to wash vehicles efficiently and quickly, without a lot of noise to bark at!
— Beacon
Beacon's all grown up
By BEACON, The Harbour School
Hi, this is Beacon speaking. I'm another year older. I would like to tell you what my favorite Village Shop is, now that I'm all grown up.
I love to visit Bay Books. A lot of the kids come to the store to browse and shop for books and try to decide what would be the best treat to buy: hot cider, coffee or cookies. You see, Bay Books is set up like a real bookstore. You can choose a book and buy a treat and sit, read and rest. They do not like it when the students fall asleep on the floor like I get to do.
My best friend here is Puddin'. She says I am doing a very good job. I love being here at the Harbour School!
This school has gone to the dogs
By Puddin' reflects, The Harbour School
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| Courtesy Photo |
| From left, Beacon and Puddin’ pose in front of a new mural featuring Puddin’ by muralist Eva Carson.
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As a senior member of The Harbour School community, let me clue you in on what goes on at the Annapolis campus. I've been here 14 years, been here and done that.
I don't have a MySpace page, but my space is in the administrative wing, and yes, we have lots of computers up here! I have a lot of responsibilities and things to check on every day. You know, just little things like administration, compliance with state requirements, attendance, finance and fundraising, human resources, and curriculum. Little things? No wonder I get tired doing all that! Lucky thing I have a comfy bed where I can crash.
Call me overprotective, but I love the kids. Our students all have accommodations to help them do their very best work. I have accommodations, too, like extra praise and a gentle rub now and then.
My favorite day of the week is Friday because that's when we have Village. There are a lot of cool Village shops to visit where you can do fun things and even buy snacks to eat. I really enjoy the yummy smell of cookies baking.
At The Harbour School in Annapolis, there are two cocker spaniels on the staff, and that's where I come in. My name is Puddin' Jacobs, and it's my job to help make a very special education happen for some very special kids.
Mural transforms bare white walls
The Harbour School has recently gone through a series of interior renovations.
The dirty work is done and the walls are looking bright and shiny, but a little flat. But soon the halls will be a breathtaking experience. Muralist Eva Carson is transforming the newly renovated walls, into spectacular original works of art. She has custom designed a storefront for each one of the 17 village shops.
Ms. Carson has completed the paintings at the Baltimore campus and has set her creative eye on the Annapolis campus. With her good-natured creativity she has cleverly incorporated actual characters from the school into the images on the walls.
One of the school's favorite mascots is featured prominently in one of the detailed murals. Puddin's dignified presence seated in her director's chair greets every visitor that enters our building.
The students and staff are just beginning to see the wonders of Ms. Carson's trompe l'oeil (French for 'fool the eye') paintings as she completes the first murals for the Broadcasting Studio's storefront.
It is exciting to watch a plain support column be transformed by simple paint and creativity into a Greek Revival marble column that just so happens to match the décor of the school. Innovation is a term used to describe the many aspects of The Harbour School experience.
This visual delight is no difference. Dr. Linda Jacobs never rests in her goal to create a healthy, safe and exciting environment to inspire, teach and develop students into successful, happy adult members of the community.
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