Academy 2008 is a comprehensive and integrated blueprint for fulfilling our mission and realizing our potential through seven goals: academic program excellence; faculty support and professional development; student growth and personal development; diversity and inclusiveness; community building; financial stability; and facilities planning.

Since adopting Academy 2008, the Academy has made significant progress on achieving its goals. Here are the highlights from 2006-07:

GOAL 1: Academic Program Excellence

  • Designated an IB World School and received $10,000 Whitaker Foundation grant for IB and pre-IB science.
  • Through the National Association of Independent Schools’ “Challenge 20/20” global initiative, our Global Awareness Club partnered with students in Tamil Nadu, India, on an interactive website.
  • Converted an ordinary computer lab into a multimedia global learning center for the Learning Links global education program in partnership with Dickinson College. Our thanks to The Greater Harrisburg Foundation, The Franklin H. and Ruth L. Wells Foundation, and individual donors for supporting this initiative.

GOAL 2: Faculty Support and Professional Development

  • Middle School teachers received training in the Developmental Designs social learning program.
  • First grade teacher Robyn Cutchall became the Academy’s first school trainer for The Responsive Classroom teaching method in Lower School.
  • Three faculty members received Trustee Fellowships to pursue new learning experiences over the summer months. The Fellowships funded study in Costa Rica, Ireland, and environmental science research in the Chesapeake watershed.
  • Marlynn Meyer , academic technology coordinator, was named a statewide Keystone Technology Integrator and attended a summit last summer at Shippensburg University.

GOAL 3: Student Growth and Personal Development

  • We implemented Developmental Designs in Middle School and are already seeing a greater sense of community within the student body.
  • The Academy’s Middle School cross country team completed its inaugural season last fall.

GOAL 4: Diversity and Inclusiveness

  • Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) contributions from business leaders increased to $644,000, allowing us to offer scholarships to 24 percent of our families – a percentage in line with the National Association of Independent Schools average.
  • We received funding from the McCormick Foundation and Children’s Home Foundation for Nativity School graduates to attend the Academy.
  • Through a partnership with Nativity School and the Academy, Dickinson College will provide full funding for Nativity students who graduate from the Academy and are accepted at the college.
  • A $50,000 bequest from the estate of William C. Schaffner, retired Middle School teacher, established the William Charles Schaffner Scholarship for Academy students attending Bucknell University.

GOAL 5: Community-Building

  • We inducted another “class” of four alumni into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a busy Homecoming Weekend, which included Spirit Day, the all-school picnic and athletic contests, class reunions, and the annual Academy Golf Classic.
  • Through our partnership with the Susquehanna Folk Music Society, we hosted three artists-in-residence.
  • The Academy sponsored three “WE HAVE TO TALK” discussions on issues of concern to all parents in the greater Harrisburg community.
  • HATS children to 12 th graders and their teachers volunteered for 15 area organizations during the annual All-School Community Service Day.
  • The Ice Cream Social, soup-and-sandwich nights, and Learning Circle book discussions provided opportunities for the school community to interact socially.
  • We continued to participate actively in Rotary Club; the Harrisburg, West Shore, and Carlisle chambers of commerce; and The Hershey Partnership.

GOAL 6: Financial Stability

  • Our generous donors contributed $224,100 to the Academy’s endowment. Thanks to The Foundation for Enhancing Communities’ quality management of our endowments, we enjoyed better-than-average returns, experiencing an 18.8 percent growth from new funding and investment performance.
  • Another record-setting year in the Annual Fund raised $200,000 through 605 gifts, 26 percent and 14 percent increases, respectively.
  • The Blue & Gold Auction continued as a model of community cooperation and financial success, netting nearly $80,000.
  • Our 2 nd Annual Laps for Learning walk/jog-a-thon raised more than $20,000 for faculty endowment.
  • The Academy received corporate and foundation grants totaling over $35,000 for a multimedia global learning center, IB and pre-IB science curriculum, scholarship, and artists-in-residence.

GOAL 7: Facilities Planning

  • Four additional electronic whiteboards were installed in an ongoing effort to enhance classroom technology.
  • Also, thanks to Mr. Schaffner’s bequest, energy-efficient windows were installed in the Middle School as a first step toward improved heating and ventilation.

Click here to download the Academy 2008 brochure.