At The Harker School, we invest in resources and services to promote the academic, social, emotional and physical health of our students.
Wellness and Social-Emotional Learning
At Harker, we look after the health and well-being of our whole community – students, families, teachers and staff. We offer a wide variety of wellness services for students and education opportunities for parents.
LIFE (K-12)
LIFE (Living with Intent, Focus and Enthusiasm) is a K-12 program focused on engaging the community in conversations and experiences that foster social emotional growth and learning. LIFE’s robust resources include a range of student activities, expert outside speaker series, and a wealth of presentations and gatherings for students, faculty and parents. The goal is to give every member of our community the tools to navigate an ever-changing world and make effective decisions that will enhance one’s overall wellness: both physically and mentally.
At the lower and middle schools, emphasis is placed on identity formation through the "windows and mirrors" approach. Students learn about themselves by listening to speakers from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
At the upper school, topics vary by grade and from year to year so that students are receiving the most pertinent, up-to-date information to navigate daily decision making in light of more sophisticated adult opportunities and responsibilities. Grade-level LIFE sessions are mandatory while LIFE periodic workshop offerings are voluntary. Areas of focus include:
- Navigating life transitions
- Mental health, stress management & healthy coping skills
- Interpersonal relationships & communication
- Driving safety
- Online & personal safety
- Substance use & abuse
- Financial literacy
- Civic responsibility
- Resilience, grit, perseverance
Lower & Middle School Social-Emotional Programs
Kidpower
Lower and middle school students attend personal safety skills workshops led by Kidpower. These workshops help our students learn people safety skills that help prevent violence and improve communication at home, at school, online and everywhere, with everyone.
Character Strong
In 2019, the lower and middle schools adopted the Character Strong program. Our faculty trained with Houston Kraft, co-founder of Character Strong, who has been featured on the Huffington Post and highlighted by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. The curriculum is taught in our character and advisory classes and focuses on fostering the whole child with vertically aligned lessons that teach both social-emotional learning and character lessons.
Challenge Success
Working with Challenge Success has been integral to our LIFE program. Challenge Success encouraged us to examine our school community and create a more balanced and academically fulfilling life for everyone. All grade levels, K-12, re-examined homework times, and how best to create impactful homework when it is assigned. Past initiatives include implementing a time management survey, adoption of a more balanced bell schedule, and creation of a student group focused on student wellness. We also adjusted our awards criteria to be based upon the mission of Harker as it relates to love of learning, leadership and our four values of respect, integrity, accountability and kindness. These initiatives live on and have been iterated to meet the current needs of our students.
Physical Wellness
Adult/Infant CPR and First Aid
Adult/infant CPR and first aid certification is required of, and provided for, all faculty and student program staff through our partnership with Lionheart Safety Training.
Sports Medicine & Performance
Our athletic staff includes two full-time athletic trainers and a part-time strength and conditioning coordinator. Our comprehensive program, which includes a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy unit and the integration of the latest virtual tools, support the health and wellness of Harker’s athletes.
SCA Testing
Harker offers optional Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) testing free of charge each spring to all students ages 11-18, in collaboration with the Kyle J Taylor Foundation.
School Nurses
Each campus has a full-time registered nurse to support the medical needs of the students during the academic day. The upper school also has a full time licensed athletic trainer who supports the health and safety of our student athletes when the academic day concludes.
Wellness Speakers
Parent Education Opportunities
At Harker, our goal is to support strong families. We provide a wealth of opportunities for parents to learn and connect here at Harker. Parent education opportunities include:
Academic Counseling Department
The primary function of the counseling department is to provide academic, social, psychological and emotional support to students and families. A licensed professional staff of 11 (including a learning specialist on each campus) is trained to identify the source of student difficulties, as well as provide appropriate support and interventions to address the specific needs of each student and family.
Our counseling department offers a continuum of support from childhood through adolescence, from classroom to courtside and from peer group to parents. Students are assigned to counselors according to grade level at the lower school, and alphabetically by last name at the middle and upper schools. The diverse clinical background and extensive training of our counseling team allows us to approach each student through developmentally appropriate interventions that support optimal learning and psycho-social growth. We meet with students individually, facilitate clinical peer groups and regularly collaborate with teachers, parents, administration and outside support networks. This enables us to practice a “whole child” approach that recognizes and supports the development of a student’s sense of self, resilience, motivation and critical thinking skills as well as a positive engagement in the learning process.