Harmony D.C. School of Excellence

h to succeed in college, the workplace and the 21st century. The educational philosophy of HPS founders is that school exists for the welfare and dignity of the child. Education at Harmony is student-centered and each child is recognized as a unique individual with unique interests, needs, and abilities. Harmony aims to develop responsive, productive, and civic-minded youth by inspiring them to follow their dreams while making the world a better place for themselves and others. Harmony is focused on core knowledge and essential skills so that children may achieve the mastery upon which further learning will be built. The purpose of Harmony is to foster productive attitudes toward work, family, and community. When students have a positive attitude toward school, their perception of “school” transforms. Every effort will be made to humanize and personalize the environment in which students learn, and to maintain a friendly and wholesome atmosphere that encourages creative expression and a desire to acquire knowledge. The emphasis of the entire instructional program is aimed at meeting the individual needs of each student in order to allow children to develop to their fullest potential. The school establishes an atmosphere in which students develop abilities to generate new thoughts, to think analytically, to draw logical conclusions, and to express thoughts in written and verbal form. It is a function of the school to develop the well-rounded child by fostering aesthetic as well as academic growth through increased awareness and appreciation of the arts and sciences. By instilling in the student knowledge and appreciation of one’s heritage as a member of the American community, as an American citizen, and as a member of a family, the school strives to make the student aware of accountability to oneself and to others. Since adolescents thrive in an environment of diversity, we will strive to create a diverse learning environment. Diversity is not only a motivating factor, but also an essential element in a well-rounded education. It serves as a key to success in our diverse American society, institutions of higher learning, and inter-connected global economy. Each and every student at Harmony will be regarded as a unique, valuable, and vital member of the school community. Individual attention in the form of blended learning strategies, intensive counseling, and personalized goals is the key to motivating our students. Cooperation with area universities is an effective means toward enhancing the effectiveness of our tutoring system. While cherishing the individual choice of each student, the school will focus on core knowledge and essential skills so that children may achieve the mastery upon which further learning will be built. The school's strong academic program will reduce achievement gaps by eliminating an important cause: the insufficient mastery of basic knowledge and skills required for further academic achievement. Harmony will use a variety of teaching methods to ensure mastery of appropriate skills, ideas, and knowledge for all students, regardless of race, gender, disability, and/or socioeconomic background. There are specific elements required to accomplish our vision, which include; 1) enriched curricula and authentic assessment, 2) effective school management, 3) parental involvement, 4) technology integration, 5) sound fiscal management, 6) leadership and character development, and 7) safety. The founders envision an environment where families, teachers, and students communicate on a regular basis, in order to optimize the students’ educational opportunities in addition to activities that contribute to the complete personal and social development and personal esteem, such as recreation, athletics and co-curricular and/or extracurricular activities. Affective, cognitive, and linguistic needs of each student will be met; individualized and differentiated educational plans will be developed for each student and collaboration among teachers will be rigorously monitored. HPS founders believe that leading by example is the best way to inspire change. Through the development of a school with challenging standards of academic excellence, which results in higher achievement scores; through the inclusion of all students regardless of racial, ethnic background, language barriers, educational classifications, or socio-economic status; and through the demonstrated satisfaction of students and families alike, the impetus for change in the region public schools will be realized.