Lower School

Lower School Welcome

Welcome to Hackley’s Kathleen Allen Lower School. Our motto, “United, we help one another” plays out every day in support of our children’s continuing development.
As you explore the Lower School, you will discover a cheerful, engaged community of approximately 200 children in grades Kindergarten through Four, learning together in an atmosphere that establishes collaboration and kindness as essential partners to academic challenge. Appreciating each other and a spirit of cooperation are embedded in everything we teach.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions about our Lower School.
 
Sincerely yours,
Lisa Oberstein
Director of the Lower School

News

List of 12 news stories.

  • Director of the Upper School Andy King

    Hackley Perspectives: Continuity and Change – The Power of Hackley Traditions

    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Director of the Upper School Andy King reflects on the traditions — both “old” and “new” — that have shaped our history and elevate our sense of community. “The people participating in these traditions will change. The venues where these rites occur may also change as the campus evolves. What does not change is how these traditions celebrate and elevate Hackley’s core values and culture and bring joy and connection to our community.” Read the post here.
  • Hackley Head of School Charles Franklin

    Hackley Perspectives: Disconnect to Reconnect - Being Fully Present

    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Head of School Charles Franklin discusses how putting away our smartphones can help us reconnect as a community. “What we want is for each and every student at Hackley to give their undivided attention to their education, their peers, their teachers and their school. We want them to form relationships with as many people as possible — people in different grades and people with different backgrounds. Being fully present, both with ourselves and for others, is perhaps our broadest generational challenge as a society.” Read the post here.
  • Head of School Charles Franklin, Community Council President Rafael Castro '25 and Associate Head of School Dr. Cyndy Jean

    Hackley Community Kicks Off School Year at Convocation Ceremony

    The first week of school is always an exciting time on the Hilltop! This week, we delighted in reconnecting with Hackley families and students, and on Thursday morning, Head of School Charles Franklin, Community Council President Rafael Castro '25 and Associate Head of School Dr. Cyndy Jean formally welcomed the Hackley Community to the academic year at Convocation 2024.
    Read More
  • Welcome to Hackley (back to front, left to right), Sarah French, Elizabeth Healy, Elizabeth Zammit, Lori Bodner, Gina Diaz, Brian Bissinger, Mary Stapleton, Anna Adler ’02, Elizabeth Kehoe, Kassy Fritz, Lark Ervasti, Michaela McGovern and Olivia Giacomo ’17, as well as Leah Cunningham and Joe McDermott ’14 (not pictured).

    New Employees Join the Hilltop

    Hackley is excited to welcome 15 new Hornets to the Hilltop for the 2024-2025 academic year!
    Read More
  • Upper School Counselor Katya Ostor

    Hackley Perspectives: Reflection, Goals and Growth

    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Upper School Counselor Katya Ostor discusses how to prioritize your mental health through reflection and setting goals for the future. “Mental health awareness looks different from one person to the next, and I encourage you to consider how it shows up for you, especially during one of the busiest times of the school year,” she shares. Read the post here.
  • Kindergarten teachers Kristen Adams and Elizabeth Richmond (top row), first grade teachers Nicole DeNino and Rachel Mwakitawa, and Literacy Curriculum Coordinator and Specialist Shannon MacDonald

    Five Lower School Teachers Earn Science of Reading Microcredential

    Kristen Adams and Elizabeth Richmond in kindergarten, Nicole DeNino and Rachel Mwakitawa in first grade, and Literacy Curriculum Coordinator and Specialist Shannon MacDonald recently received the Microcredential in Science of Reading Fundamentals (SoRF MC) from SUNY New Paltz.
    Read More
  • Assistant Director of the Middle School Damon Hall

    Hackley Perspectives: Cultivating Imagination

    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Assistant Director of the Middle School Damon Hall reflects on the role of imaginative thinking in education. “I believe that creative, imaginary, big-picture thinking should supplement traditional skills and that they should work together as an ‘and’ rather than an ‘instead,’” he shares. Read the post here.
  • Associate Head of School Cyndy Jean, Ed.D.

    Hackley Perspectives: What is Education But the Balance of Character and Intellect

    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Associate Head of School Cyndy Jean, Ed.D. reflects on Hackley’s core value, Character is higher than intellect. “It is our job to help Hackley students in our care maintain a balance of character and intellect in order to reason through the questions before them,” Dr. Jean writes. “Character and intellect must go hand-in-hand if we desire to bring forward a generation of deep critical thinkers and inspiring leaders.” Read the post here.
  • Hackley Community Kicks Off Academic Year at Convocation 2023

    On Thursday, Sept. 7, the Hackley community came together at Convocation 2023 and formally launched the academic year with welcome notes from Associate Head of School Dr. Cyndy Jean, Community Council President EJ Regalado ’24, Board of Trustees President Dr. Harvinder Sandhu and Head of School Charles Franklin.
    Read More
  • Hackley Welcomes New Members, Roles to the Community

    On July 1, 2023, Hackley officially welcomed the School’s 13th Head of School Charles Franklin to the Hilltop. Additionally, former Assistant Head of School for Community and Inclusivity Cyndy Jean assumed the role of Associate Head of School, and former Middle School history teacher and dean Damon Hall stepped into the position of Assistant Director of the Middle School.
    Read More
  • Hackley Community Raises Over $3K for JCK Foundation in Color Fun Run Event

    On Sunday, May 21, the Hackley community gathered for our second annual Color Fun Run.
    Read More
  • Charles Franklin, Hackley's 13th Head of School

    Hackley Announces 13th Head of School

    Charles Franklin has been named Hackley's new Head of School, beginning July 1. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Franklin based on the recommendation of the search committee and the hundreds of survey responses and feedback received from members of the Hackley community, including faculty, staff, families, students, and alumni.
    Read More
See More Lower School News