Harley’s Approach to College Counseling
“Club Rush” is an afternoon every fall in the Upper School when students have the chance to sign up for clubs for the year, and each year it is very different because new clubs are created based on student initiative and enthusiasm.
Each and every year, students at The Harley School participate in HAC Athletics, and their success continues to be impressive, both as students and athletes. Our athletic program is an integral part of Harley, teaching student-athletes invaluable lessons about teamwork, time management, persistence, and competition. Our program allows them to develop physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally as they represent their school on and off the field. They grow, mature, and work hard to be the best teammate they can, while creating lifelong memories with teammates who often remain friends for life. 
Our Upper School is filled with formal and informal opportunities for students to take on leadership roles. Whether following passions or learning new skills, student-driven opportunities take many shapes.
Unlike this class, death is not an elective. Although it is one of two universal human experiences, our culture often ignores, denies, or misconstrues the true nature of death and dying. What happens when we bear witness to this natural process in the cycle of life and develop our ability to be fully present with others when they need us more than ever? It has the potential to change us deeply and fundamentally while shining a brilliant light on the path of our own lives.
This program utilizes environmentally-focused approaches to education and hands-on learning in order to foster the next generation of leaders through a lens of sustainability and problem-solving.
At Harley, our students learn how to evaluate social systems in order to identify complex problems in society through a lens of social justice. They take a hands-on approach to working for a fair, equitable society by researching, exploring and evaluating different perspectives, and offering solutions—both theoretical and practical.
Students may create independent studies with supervising teachers throughout their Upper School experience or, during Grade 12, they can design Capstone projects—intensive collaborations with Harley faculty and off-campus mentors—involving rigorous academic study and culminating in public presentations. 
Two Harley School Grade 11 students, Danny C. and Brynn M., had the opportunity to attend the distinguished Photon Camp hosted by the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester this summer. This immersive week-long program provided a deep dive into the captivating world of optics and photonics – the science of light and its applications.
Beyond Textbooks: A Week of Hands-On Learning
Photon Camp goes beyond traditional learning. It combines engaging lectures with hands-on laboratory experiences, fostering a deep understanding of light and its diverse applications. Through interactive sessions and exciting field trips, campers gained a comprehensive perspective on the evolving world of optics. Over the course of the week, the students dove into the world of optics, exploring its fundamentals, engaging in hands-on activities, and learning about practical optical systems. They were divided into groups to work on capstones that were presented to the public at the end of the week.
A Glimpse into the Future of Light
One field trip took them to the world-renowned Laboratory for Laser Energetics; a world-renowned facility dedicated to using high-powered lasers to explore clean energy production through laser fusion research. Here, students gained a firsthand look at the sophisticated machinery and underlying principles that drive cutting-edge optical research.
Sparkling Curiosity: Interacting with Experts
Photon Camp fosters a collaborative environment where campers can interact with professors, researchers, and industry professionals. This exposure is designed to spark intellectual curiosity, ignite a passion for STEM fields, and potentially shape their future academic and career paths.
Shining a Light on Future Innovators
We are incredibly proud of these Harley School students for their dedication to science and their selection to participate in Photon Camp. This experience has the potential to be transformative, shaping their futures as the next generation of innovators in the field of optics.