The Harvey School
| The Harvey School | |
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| Location | |
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| Information | |
| Type | Private, Boarding, Preparatory School |
| Established | 1916 |
| Founder | Dr. Herbert Carter |
| Headmaster | Barry W. Fenstermacher |
| Grades | 6-12 |
| Colour(s) | Maroon and Blue |
| Mascot | Cavalier |
| Newspaper | The Pulse |
| Yearbook | Cavalier |
| Asst Head | Richard R. Wyland |
| US Head | Robert Cook |
| MS Head | Brian Mahoney |
| Website | http://www.harveyschool.org/ |
41°15′17″N 73°40′00″W / 41.254837°N 73.666779°W The Harvey School is a co-educational, college preparatory school near Katonah, New York, for students in grades 6 through 12.[1] Is is located on a wooded, 100-acre (40 ha) campus and has an annual budget (2005) of $10.9M.[2] AP courses in biology, American history, calculus, chemistry, computer science, English, European history, Latin and Spanish are available. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum, and three Internet-accessible labs are available for student use. Basketball, cross-country, dance, football, ice hockey, rugby, lacrosse, and soccer are among the sports offered at Harvey. An optional five-day residential program is available for students in grades 7 through 12.[3]
Mission statement
The mission of The Harvey School is to help students of varying abilities maximize their potential as they prepare for successful college and university careers as well as adulthood. Through a program of academic challenge, faculty support, and out-of-class activities, Harvey encourages students to find the best of what is within them and to develop the confidence and ability to try new things and to master them.
Students and The School
Student government
The Student Council meets regularly to discuss improvements in school life and to plan all-school activities such as Family Weekend and holiday parties. The President and Vice-President, elected by a simple majority of students during the preceding year, lead the Student Council. Additional representatives are elected by individual classes.
Athletic teams
| Sport | Level+ | Season | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball Basketball |
V, JV, MS V, JV, MS |
Spring Winter |
Boys Boys, Girls |
+ V=Varsity, JV=Junior Varsity, MS=Middle School
The school's teams are quite successful within their leagues, especially the girls' teams. In the last four years the Varsity Girls basketball has won the league three times as well as placing first and second in various tournaments. Varsity Softball has won the championship the last four years in a row, although invited to tournaments often declining because they happen on Mother's Day weekend. The Girls Varsity Soccer Team is relatively new, with only seven years in existence, but has quickly climbed the ranks and won the HVAL Championship in 2007.
- 2nd place HVAL 2005
- 1st place HVAL 06
- NEPSAC Tournament Quarterfinalist 2006
- 1st place HVAL 07
- NESPAC Tournament Quarterfinalist 2007
The boys' teams standings all vary depending on the sport. Although not always on top, the football team participates in a very competitive league; being a small private school the odds are not always with them when playing large public high schools. The rugby team is unique among independent schools in the area. The Coach, Phil Lazzaro, has practices throughout the year and even has a team trip to play in Ireland every three years.
There are many equestrians at the school. They currently unite under Veronica Jean Seltzer, the founder of the school's equestrian club, but a full equestrian program and team may be in the works in the future.
Clubs and activities
- Avatar
- Community Service
- Drama Club
- Environmental Awareness Club
- Equestrian Club
- Model United Nations
- Student Ambassadors (Tour Guides)
- Student Government
- Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.)
- The Cavalier
- The Pulse
Curriculum
Graduation requirements and course credits
Upper School students are expected to have 60 credits upon graduation – the equivalent of 20 full-year courses plus four trimesters of physical education, fulfilled by participating in a team sport. The following distribution of academic requirements must be met for graduation:
- Four years of English
- Three years of mathematics: Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2
- Three years of science: Conceptual Physics, Chemistry, Biology
- Fours years of history: Non-Western History, Western Civilization, American History, and Senior History
- One year (three trimesters) of fine arts. Two-thirds of this requirement is met by required courses in Music and Culture and in 9th grade and History of Art in 10th grade
- One trimester of Health & Wellness in the ninth and eleventh grades.
Course of study
The Middle School offers a supportive environment that prepares students for the Upper School curriculum. Teachers enjoy a ratio of approximately one teacher to eight students[4] so that they can support intellectual development by presenting an integrated course of study that focuses on key content areas. Students are encouraged to develop strategies and skills related to questioning, critical thinking and problem solving. This type of instruction supports the mission of the school by recognizing the varying abilities of students, celebrating their learning styles and supporting the natural strengths of all individuals.[3] The development of study skills is an integral part of the Middle School's curriculum. Sixth-grade students focus primarily on organization, time management and note-taking strategies. Seventh-grade students work on improving their reading-for-meaning skills, note-taking strategies, and developing an understanding of the five-paragraph essay. Finally, in eighth grade, students focus on critical thinking, mastering the five-paragraph essay and the development of a research paper.
A typical Middle School program includes the following:
| Sixth Grade | Seventh Grade | Eighth Grade |
|---|---|---|
| English Math 6 or Math 7 Science Geography Latin 1 Art, Music , Drama Study Hall |
English Math 7 or Pre-Algebra Science Government Latin 1 or 2 Art, Music, Drama Study Hall |
English Pre-Algebra or Algebra Science American History Latin 1, 2, or 3 Art, Music, Drama Study Hall |
A typical Upper School program includes the following:
| Ninth Grade | Tenth Grade |
|---|---|
| English or Honors English 9 Algebra 1, Honors Algebra 1, |
English 10 or Honors English 10 Geometry, Honors Geometry, |
| Eleventh Grade | Twelfth Grade |
| English 11 or Honors English 11 Algebra 2, Honors Algebra 2 |
English 12 or AP English AP Calculus |
References
- ^ National Association of Independent Schools website accessed 13 September 2007
- ^ The Harvey School Form 990 Tax filing
- ^ a b Westchester Magazine, Private School Report Card, published Sept 2007 US
- ^ Harvey school at privateschoolreport,com accessed 12 September 2007