To All Harker Parents, Upcoming Harker Parent Connect Events (see list below) Welcome to the 2024-25 school year. I hope everyone had a rejuvenating summer. It has been wonderful to start seeing students back on our campuses and all of you at our recent parent orientations. As the school year begins, I also wanted to remind you of our Harker Parent Connect series. Details about these events are in the calendar item and/or will be outlined in emails. Attendance at these events is optional. For more social opportunities organized by grade level parents, look for the “Parent-Organized Events” in the calendar denoted with a little puzzle piece icon. Common Ground is returning to in-person events this year, and Harker is hosting the first one in September, so this is a rare opportunity to see a CG event in the South Bay! On Sept. 19 we will have the privilege of hosting noted researcher David Yeager, Ph.D., and psychologist Carol Dweck, Ph.D., who will discuss Yeager’s newly released book about the new science of growth mindset. This is a highly anticipated event, so please be sure to register as soon as possible to reserve your seat. We’ve also listed the other presentations on the slate for our Common Ground Speaker Series, a Peninsula-based group with approximately 40 local private school members. Webinars presented by Common Sense Media and the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) are also below. As members of the Harker community, you have free access to Common Ground, Common Sense Media and ISACS events. I wish everyone a wonderful start to the year. Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. Jennifer Gargano Assistant Head of School, Academic Affairs jennifer.gargano@harker.org 408.249.2510 Harker frequently hosts, sponsors or shares parent education events for our families to learn about and discuss important topics relevant to the raising of informed, healthy and fulfilled children and young adults. These Harker Parent Connect events are noted in the main school calendar as “(HPC).” You can customize your calendar settings to select the HPC sub-calendar, and then you’ll be able to see them all at a glance. Harker Events Grade-level Parent Connects | throughout the fall These sessions are a chance to have your questions answered by various faculty, staff or administrators, and mingle with fellow parents. Registration links are on the calendar and will be in the emails you will receive before each event that is relevant to you. Parent Connects with specific topics are included below. Thurs., Sept. 26 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Nichols Hall Auditorium Grade 12 parents: Graduation Information Night Tues., Oct. 1 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Patil Theater Grade 9 parents and students: Academic Planning for Grade 9 Tues., Nov. 5 | 6-7 p.m. | Patil Theater Grade 10-11 parents: Challenge Success – A Healthy Approach to College Admissions Mon., Nov. 11 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Patil Theater Grade 8 parents: Getting to Know the Upper School Fri., Jan 10 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Union Campus Grade 5 parents: Parent Connect and Step-Up Information ISACS and Common Sense Media Connected Schools Webinars For ISACS registrations, check our school calendar as the date approaches. Wed., Sept. 18 | 5-5:30 p.m. | Common Sense Media Webinar | Register K-8 parents, Back-to-School: Managing Digital Devices for a Successful School Year Wed., Sept. 25 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | ISACS Parent Webinar Back-To-School Momentum: Prepping Children of All Ages for the Challenges (& Successes) of a New School Year, with Lynn Lyons October TBD | 5-6 p.m. | Common Sense Media Connected Schools Webinar | More Info Heads are Spinning: Our Love/Hate Relationship with Tech Tues., Nov. 19 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | ISACS Parent Webinar Never Enough: When Achievement Pressure Becomes Toxic – And What We Can Do About It, with Jennifer Wallace December TBD | 9-10 a.m. | Common Sense Media Connected Schools Webinar | More Info The Fraught Future: Pressures and Stressors in Our Kids’ Lives Wed., Jan. 15 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | ISACS Parent Webinar How to Raise Socially Skilled Tweens & Teens Who Can Navigate Friendship Challenges, with Phyllis L. Fagell Common Ground Events For details on all Common Ground events, visit the Common Ground website. Thurs., Sept. 19 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Register Learning Mindsets: 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People | David Yeager, Ph.D. and Carol Dweck, Ph.D. The Harker School, Upper School Campus, Patil Theater Wed., Oct. 9 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Register Parent Mental Health: The Stress Prescription – Living and Parenting with More Joy and Ease | Elissa Epel, Ph.D. Sacred Heart School, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton Tues., Oct. 29 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Register Civic Engagement: How to Talk About Controversial Issues in Polarized Times | Brian Fong of Facing History & Ourselves In-person, venue TBD Thurs., Dec. 5 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Register Caring, Connection and Wellbeing: How to Become a Hopeful Skeptic – Regaining Trust and Empathy in a Cynical World | Jamil Zaki, Ph.D. In-person, venue TBD Social Media facebook.com/harkerschool instagram.com/harkerschool youtube.com/harkerschool Contact Us 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose 95129 communications@harker.org Need more spirit wear? 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