Year 4 Accomplishments: (2021-2022)
Even as we look forward to continued progress on Redefining Excellence: Learning Beyond Boundaries, we also reflect on the many accomplishments of the 2021-2022 school year. Together, we achieved the following in support of our goals:
Redefine a Liberal Arts Education
Refined interdisciplinary courses in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. AP Biology and AP Studio Art students came together for a day of exploration, discovery, and drawing at Storm King Art Center. Sponsored a visual and performing arts interdisciplinary field trip to New Haven, CT where students experienced a morning of art history, exploration, and discovery in The Yale Art Gallery and The Yale Center for British Art, followed by an afternoon in the Yale Repertory Theater enjoying the musical theater production Choir Boy.
Hosted numerous industry experts at Hackley to work directly with research students and explored partnerships with local and regional organizations in support of student research.
Held the First Annual Hackley Research Symposium to share student work from the Independent Science Research and Independent Research in English & History programs and the Russ Hogg Grant for Creative Expression awardees.
Developed a discussion series focused on civil discourse about current events across divisions. Expanded support of the Service Leadership for Social Impact course. Supported fourth and seventh grade Big Experience programming focused on the responsibilities of being a citizen.
Promote the Hilltop as a Learning Hub
Continued the development of the Upper School and Middle School Art Show iOS app and explored ways in which to further include the performing arts. A Hackley junior developed and launched the AP Studio Art Thesis Show app for the show’s opening.
Developed a cross-divisional musical—A Year With Frog and Toad—bringing Upper School and Kindergarten students together.
Hosted three artists through the Creative Residency Program, including visual artist Thomas Doyle and performing artists Vince Cherico (drummer) and Jeremy Harman (cellist).
Implemented fourth and seventh grade Big Experience curricula and developed plans to expand Upper School Big Experiences. Hosted three experts for fourth grade Big Experience events, including Sleepy Hollow Mayor Ken Wray, Hackley Head of School Michael Wirtz, and Sleepy Hollow Village Justice Katherine Baldwin ’97, P ’29, ’33, ’35.
Expanded culturally immersive Global Education initiatives and researched peer schools’ Global Context models to grow Hackley’s Global Context pilot course. Participated in a Virtual Exchange with Round Square schools in Tamagawa, Japan, and Hyderabad Public School in Hyderabad, India.
Collected feedback from the Scholars and faculty of the Hudson Scholars program to enrich the summer curriculum, and explored ways to further aid the Scholars during their Middle School years and through the college process. Supported Hudson Scholars mentors during a virtual Community Conversation hosted by The Partnership of Schools with Public Purpose, where they discussed leadership opportunities within Hudson Scholars. Refined the role of Teaching Fellows in the Hudson Scholars program.
Expanded the number of community service and service-learning partnerships in Westchester County—including 914Cares, Neighbors Link, Abbott House, Hearts & Homes for Refugees, Community Food Pantry of Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown, TaSH Farmers Market, and more—through various Upper School courses: Service Leadership for Social Impact, English 12- Service Leadership, and PostAP Spanish. Created a more clearly defined institutional structure for all service initiatives in partnership with divisional service coordinators.
Developed K-12 curricula focused on the use of the Hackley Apiary and trained faculty in beekeeping and fruit orchard maintenance. Introduced the Apiary and Orchard to the Hackley community during Earth Week 2022; utilized student videos about bees, fruit trees, and bats as educational tools. Planted a pollinator garden near the Apiary/Orchard. Conducted research for the expansion of Hackley’s deer exclusion zone and developed a monitoring program for beech leaf disease to manage its impact on the Hackley Forest.
Supported the new Outdoor Adventure and Wilderness Skills course and the Big Experience Forest Program in the Middle School. Conducted research for a proposed ropes course.
Build for the Future
Refined the New Employee Orientation for the 2021-2022 school year and supported new department chairs and teachers through a cohort model of professional development.
Implemented the Hackley Teaching Fellowship, bringing the first two Fellows to the school, each of whom completed classroom rotations throughout the divisions, assisted with admissions, and participated in the life of the school beyond the classroom. Developed partnerships with colleges and universities to strengthen the Teaching Fellows applicant pool. Secured funding from generous donors to support the Teaching Fellowship.
Provided ongoing DEI training for all employees and utilized employee teams to support K-12 DEI learning.
Launched a new speaker series—Varying Perspectives in Action—designed to bring individuals to campus (in person or virtually) to help students see the world through a new lens. Alumni Michael Makinde ’03 (Counsel, Walt Disney Company) and Dr. Gentry Torell ’11 (Clinical Psychologist, Military Family Clinic, NYU Langone) were the first two speakers.
Nurture a Culture of Wellness
Hosted guest speakers specializing in health-related fields: eighth and tenth grade health students met with Hope's Door; eighth grade students met with the JCK Foundation; and adolescent health expert Michael Nerney met with parents, eleventh grade Peer Advisors, and health and science teachers.
Revised ninth grade Peer Advisory conversation regarding sex, consent, and sexual misconduct. Supported eleventh graders in student-led discussions with eighth graders on bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment. Trained the Leadership Team on trauma-informed care. Held a Lower School presentation for parents on child abuse prevention.
Administered the High Achieving School Survey in November and piloted Second Step, a social-emotional learning curriculum in the Lower School.
Surveyed faculty and students on the rhythm and use of time during the school day to optimize student and faculty learning, hosted school management expert Andrew Taylor in January, and approved a new schedule to be implemented in the 2022-2023 school year.
Raised significant funds during year two of the quiet phase of Beyond Boundaries, Hackley’s comprehensive campaign to support the initiatives of Redefining Excellence.
Continued to keep audiences informed of the status of Redefining Excellence: Learning Beyond Boundaries and its impact on our students and the school through print and digital updates (see our dedicated microsite at www.redefiningexcellence.org).