On Sept. 21, Harker received three visitors from the Ching Shin Elementary and Middle School in Taiwan. The purpose of their trip to the United States was to learn more about the curricula and philosophy of other successful schools, and their goal in visiting Harker was to learn more about its K-Gr. 8 English curriculum and the BEST program.

The guests arrived in the morning and met with Jennifer Gargano, assistant head of school for academic affairs, at the upper school campus, where they discussed the K- Gr. 8 English curriculum. Following the meeting, they met with Stacie Newman, middle school English department chair, for a tour of the Blackford campus and further discussion of Harker’s English curriculum.

After having lunch with Cindy Ellis, MS division head, the group went to the lower school campus to meet with Kim Coulter, director of the Bucknall Enrichment and Supervision Team (BEST) to learn more about the after-school activities available to LS students. While there, they took the opportunity to talk about the LS curriculum with Sarah Leonard, primary division head, and Kristin Giammona, elementary division head.

According to Gargano, the visitors were very impressed with the demeanor and kindness of Harker’s students, faculty and staff. “They said that all of our students are so sweet and the division heads and managers they met on all campuses were very kind and generous,” Gargano said. “They said they left the best school for last.”