Whole-Child Integrated Development

Publishes a biannual newsletter sharing student and staff news, school events, and fundraising progress.

Offers a cross-disciplinary STEAM curriculum, Regents-level mathematics and science courses, Singapore Math, global language instruction in Mandarin and Spanish, fine and performing arts, inter-league athletics (soccer and basketball), public speaking, community service, leadership retreats, and social-emotional learning. Also supports programs such as FLL Robotics and cross-divisional mentoring.

Hosts events such as spring Open House for prospective families and provides digital calendar subscriptions for school and community events to support enrollment and community engagement.

Advanced construction of a new academic wing on campus, including demolition of the 1980s-era wing in early 2025, foundation and elevator shaft work, and preparation for steel framing by spring 2026, to support long-term programmatic growth.

Provides a comprehensive educational program for 167 students from preschool 2 through grade 8, emphasizing academic excellence, critical thinking, leadership development, and ethical modeling. The school maintains small class sizes, with average student-teacher ratios ranging from 1:4 in PK2 to 1:14 in grades K–8.

Conducts long-range planning, approves annual budgets, sets policy, employs and evaluates the head of school, and ensures the long-term financial, physical, and programmatic sustainability of Harbor Country Day School.

Supports ongoing professional growth for faculty and staff through funding for graduate studies, conference attendance, collaborative meetings, and training initiatives, including in diversity and inclusion.

Manages the Pre-K admissions process with a published timeline for applications and offer releases at Spruce Street School.

Teaches social-emotional skills including getting along with others, making healthy decisions, developing coping strategies, accepting responsibility, and respecting individual differences.

Teaches 1st grade students about the food journey from seed to market through a partnership with a local urban farm.

Organizes and hosts events such as Taste of the Seaport and the Annual Gala to build community and raise funds in support of the school.

Provides free courses, resources, events, and activities to educate and empower families—including non-parent caregivers—as partners in their students’ education from early childhood through adulthood.

Educates families on the importance of daily attendance and risks of chronic absenteeism, provides a list of excused absence reasons, and offers an online form for reporting absences.

Funds and supports enrichment programs such as dance, chess, and theater, along with recess staff and equipment, school supplies, technology, lice checks, and teacher appreciation efforts at Spruce Street School PS 397.

Provides free breakfast, lunch, and afterschool meals to all students during the school year, with early breakfast service beginning at 7:50 a.m. and school opening at 8:12 a.m.

Provides active support during middle and high school application processes and supplies copies of report cards and administrative records to families considering non-public school options during 5th and 8th grade articulation periods.

Operates as an official IB World School with full accreditation in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), supporting a globally recognized curriculum framework.

Automatically includes all families with enrolled students as members of the PTA to foster inclusive community participation.