Welcome to the Harbor School
When asked to describe the reason she chose Harbor School for her children, a parent stated,” after visiting a number of schools in the area, including public and private, I decided upon the Harbor School because of its genuine warmth and open and welcoming arms.” One of the first things that visitors comment on upon entering Harbor for the first time is this warm and friendly atmosphere that seems to permeate throughout the building.
Our students are greeted every morning by a staff that embraces each child’s unique personality and gears their efforts to helping each one achieve to the very best of their ability. We also reach out to our families on a daily basis in an ongoing spirit of cooperation and collaboration as we work together in support of their child’s educational program goals.
All of us here at the Harbor School willingly and earnestly commit ourselves each and everyday to share our expertise and knowledge with students and families alike with a spirit of caring and compassion. We are continually thankful to our families for entrusting their wonderful children to our care and remain inspired by their perseverance through life’s daily challenges. Our door is always open, and we invite you to come and experience a life fulfilled at Harbor School.
Principal, Harbor School
What's New at Harbor
The warm sunny days of Spring have finally arrived and all of us are looking forward to many various year-end activities. The month of May is highlighted by a FUN DAY which is held at Mater Dei High School. This annual event provides our entire school community an opportunity to interact with their non-disabled peers through a variety of recreational and social activities. On May 18th, our PTA sponsors a picnic combined with our school-wide field day event which runs from 9:30am- 2:00pm at Wolcott Park. Our high school students will travel to Gibbs Hall in Eatontown to celebrate their prom with their friends from the Alpha and Gateway Schools. This year’s gala is being sponsored by Holiday Express and McLoone’s retaurants. Our students will also shop for dresses, suits, jewelry, shoes and accessories at our very own Prom Shop starting on May 15th.
The final highlight of our school year is our annual Spring Show and Graduation ceremony which will take place on June 7th starting at 12:00 noon. We have also scheduled a sibling workshop and parent training workshop to be held starting at 9:30 also on this day. Family and friends who participate in the workshop will receive lunch and reserved seating for the show. We congratulate and extend our best wishes to all of our graduates and their families! Please check our calendar for other important events.
Student Life
Our school continues to focus on providing opportunities for our students to interact with their non-disabled peers through cooperative learning experiences.
Over the past five years, students from the Harbor School and the Rumson Country Day School have interacted on a weekly basis by working and learning together. Students from both schools have also collaborated in a musical production, an art contest, and plans are currently underway for a community garden project.
Our students also share educational experiences with the St. Dominic School in Brick and will be travelling to this school in late March to teach our friends there how to play a game called, “Knock “Em Down.” We also have an ongoing relationship through interaction with students from the Mater Dei High School, Monmouth University and Rider University.
Teachers Corner
2012 Ruth K. Newman Award
-Lynn Santhe Bielk (Harbor School)
Lynn Santhe Bielk has been involved in the field of education for the past thirty-two years. “Santhe” as she is most known by, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and French from Point Park College in Pittsburgh in May 1978. After graduation, Santhe toured with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performing various roles in Swan Lake, Cinderella and The Nutcracker. During this time, she also conducted a movement class for players on the Pittsburgh Steelers professional football team.
In 1980, Santhe founded and began directing her own dance school, Ballet and Dance, located in Brick, New Jersey. She was responsible for all aspects of the school including directing the Performing Arts Company a group of dancers who performed for local schools. Santhe first connected with Harbor when this company gave a performance at the school. Santhe eventually sold the dance school and began her work as a teacher assistant at Harbor in 2003. Her love of dance prompted her to start a program in addition to her duties as a teacher assistant. The dance and theatre program at Harbor has grown to include more than fifty students. The performances given by her students have included Broadway theatre selections, a Rockette tap extravaganza, as well as a, “Get Ready for This,” boxing/hip-hop show stopper.
Ms. Santhe Bielk has earned the respect and admiration of everyone at the Harbor School. Her positive attitude and ability to touch each child’s unique creativity is to be commended. The feelings of enthusiasm and self-confidence felt by her students shine through their smiling faces during every performance. Santhe’s dedication to improving the lives of children through dance extends beyond Harbor School to an international level. Beginning in 1998, she has volunteered her time during the summer to developing dance programs for children living on the impoverished outer islands of the Bahamas .She has been recognized by the Bahamian government for her time, effort, and dedication to these ”forgotten” children.
It is with great pleasure that we honor Ms. Lynn Santhe Bielk with the 2012 Ruth K. Newman Award for her ongoing commitment to the students, staff and families of the Harbor School and to all children in the world who need to dance!