Principal's Message

Welcome to the 2025–2026 School Year!

Dear Harding Families,

It’s hard to believe, but this will be my 12th year as principal at Harding and I continue to feel incredibly grateful to be part of this community. Each year, I’m in awe of what our students, staff, and families accomplish together, and I know this year will be no different.

We ended last school year on a high note. We celebrated 30 students who reclassified as fluent English proficient, 30 students who read over one million words, and a Math Super Bowl team that built one of the tallest towers in the county! And perhaps one of the biggest honors—we were recognized and funded as a California Community School, which means more resources and more opportunities for our students and families. One exciting change this year: our doors will open at 7:45 AM with enrichment activities that we can’t wait to share with you.

Our students also made incredible academic gains. Our state test scores rose 10% in ELA and 14% in math, with performance above the state average in both subjects. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident, it’s the result of hard work, focus, and a belief in every learner. At Harding, being HAWK STRONG isn’t just something we say, it’s how we walk the talk. Our students and staff show up every day with perseverance, determination, and reliability, and these results reflect the power of that commitment.

This year, we’re welcoming a new art teacher who’s highly qualified and eager to contribute to our IB Primary Years Program. Our classroom teachers will also be teaming up with our STEAM teacher to bring science, technology, engineering, art, and math to life through our IB units. We’re building even stronger connections across subjects, with more hands-on learning and real-world problem solving.

Our staff will continue to collaborate in grade-level and horizontal teams, making sure that learning is purposeful and standards are met. Through Universal Design for Learning, we embrace what we know to be true: every child is different, and that’s something to celebrate. Learning isn’t one-size-fits-all, it’s dynamic, personal, and driven by the “why,” the “what,” and the “how.” Our job is to remove barriers and make sure every student has a flexible path to success.

We’re heading into next year with excitement, purpose, and the belief that we can accomplish even more together. I’m proud of how far we’ve come and even more excited for the growth ahead.

With appreciation,
Veronica Binkley
Principal