Harrisburg Academy (HA), Central PA’s flagship independent school, plans to reopen to safe, in-classroom instruction five days a week for all students (Pre-K – Grade 12) on August 25, while keeping the safety, health and well-being of students, faculty and staff paramount. Students who have medical conditions or who choose distance learning will be offered hybrid or multi-modal instructional options including access to virtual classroom instruction with their teachers.
The Academy also is an official candidate to expand theInternational Baccalaureate (IB) Program beyond the Upper School to encompass all students Preschool through 12th grade – the only school within a 100-mile radius of the Capital City to do so. The IB Diploma is recognized globally as a high standard of educational achievement. The Academy was the first regional school to offer the IB Diploma Program to its Upper School students.
“At Harrisburg Academy, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff come first,” said Adrian Allan, the Academy’s head of school. “We also know that children learn best in a classroom setting led by dedicated, professionally talented instructors and with the full engagement of their peers. We invite our students to Learn Boldly through the Academy’s IB program in an environment that is safe and interactive for all, and we are prepared to meet the health and social distancing-challenges posed by COVID-19.”
The Academy’s Pandemic Response Team spent the last five months studying and implementing safety protocols based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the PA Department of Health (DOH), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and in consultation with regional health professionals. The Athletic Department will follow all PIAA guidelines for participation. The Academy’s full 2020-21 Reopening Plan is available at https://www.harrisburgacademy.org/file/2020-21-Reopening-Planning_Official.pdf.
Among the Academy’s NEW Safety and Health Features:
- Mandatory daily health screenings including temperature checks before building admittance
- All employees and students will be required to wear masks and/or facial coverings that wholly cover one’s nose and mouth
- Increased number of sanitizing stations throughout campus
- Social-distancing signage and practices in all classrooms and facilities
- Hourly/Daily cleaning and disinfection protocols
- Expanded mental health support services
- Altered classroom switching and in-place lunch service
- Limitations to on-campus visitors
- Elimination of field trips for the 2020-21 school year
- Training of all personnel on cleaning and safety protocols
- Technology improvements including the purchase and deployment of ionizing disinfectant sprayers and upgraded MERV filters in the HVAC system
“Our pandemic response plan is proactive, comprehensive, and adaptable to meet evolving COVID-19 developments,” assured Allan. “We are investing in our students’ health, including their mental health, welfare and futures, and will continually assess the protocols in place to mitigate any emerging health risks to protect our students, faculty, staff, administrators, families and our greater community.”
Leading Boldly with the International Baccalaureate Program:
Harrisburg Academy is the first school in the Greater Harrisburg area to offer the prestigious IB Program at all grade levels and was the first regional school to receive IB World School accreditation. IB is an inquiry-led, transdisciplinary framework that challenges students to think for themselves and take responsibility for their learning as they explore local and global issues and opportunities in real-life contexts.
“Our graduates earn their IB diplomas at rates that are competitive with national and global averages,” noted Allan. “And our rigorous, exploratory approach to learning starts with hands-on labs in Pre-School and Kindergarten and progresses through World Languages and The Centers for Experiential Learning and Innovation in our Middle and Upper Schools. We empower children to Think. Do. Thrive. through our world-class faculty, challenging curriculum, exciting internships and diverse extracurricular activities.”
Community Service as a Core Pillar of Education:
Among the most exciting developments underway at the Academy is an intensified focus on meaningful Community Service as a core pillar of every child’s education. HA students will develop project skills in the Lower School and will continue in the Middle and Upper Schools collaborating with local nonprofit organizations and the business community to create valuable personal service projects that improve the life and vitality of our Central PA communities.
“This enhanced embrace of Community Service opens a new portal of learning and social responsibility for our students from an early age. It develops their leadership, critical-thinking, project-management and good citizenship skills — the very traits that universities and employers look for and that our students must adopt to become responsible citizens of the world and to give back,” added Allan.
To learn more about Harrisburg Academy and its re-opening plan, please visit www.HarrisburgAcademy.org. To schedule an interview with Adrian Allan, please contact Lucy Gnazzo, 717-979-0692, or Nell Abom, 717-514-6301.#
About Harrisburg Academy:
At Harrisburg Academy, an outstanding, forward-thinking, hands-on education is paramount with students engaged on a unique journey of self-discovery, academic achievement and social growth. Students, preschool through high school, excel in a challenging and diverse curriculum, and are well-rounded scholars and creative artists, exceptional athletes and talented musicians, and globally-minded philanthropists. They benefit from the enormous advantages of a small learning community each and every day that offers stimulating growth to prepare them for 21st Century success to learn boldly and to think analytically, creatively and innovatively.
About International Baccalaureate:
Since its founding in 1965, International Baccalaureate’s IB Diploma has become a symbol of academic integrity and intellectual promise. The student who satisfies its demands demonstrates a strong commitment to learning, both in terms of the mastery of subject content and in the development of the skills and discipline necessary for success in a competitive world. The general objectives of the IB program are to provide students with a balanced education, to foster critical thinking in all academic disciplines, to facilitate geographic and cultural mobility, and to promote international understanding through a shared academic experience.
According to the International Baccalaureate, on 2 April 2020, there were 6,995 IB programs being offered worldwide, across 5,278 schools in 158 countries. Fifty-two percent of these programs are located in the Americas. Harrisburg Academy is proud to be a part of this extensive community of global learners to prepare students for a successful future.