By Charles Franklin, Head of School, Hackley School
If you are around a group of Hackley students and ask them to share some of their most meaningful and impactful experiences, it is almost certain that arts and athletics will be mentioned.
This is because at Hackley, we believe that arts and athletics are essential components of a well-rounded education. They are central to our program’s focus on character, leadership and creativity. Accordingly, we support, encourage, and at times require student participation in these areas because we know the benefits that come with engagement in the studio or on the field.
Time spent in artistic and athletic realms teaches lessons that shape character and build community. In these areas, students learn:
- Perseverance
- How to work with others to achieve a shared goal
- The value of hard work
- Respect for the contributions of others
- Fair play and sportsmanship
- Collaboration
- The central role spirit, camaraderie and chemistry play in a group’s success
- Creativity and imagination
- Leadership
These mindsets and skills are invaluable for young people as they prepare for their personal and professional lives. Arts and athletics are not the only avenues for developing these traits, but they do offer students tangible and immediate pathways for growth.
Middle School students perform on the Diller Hall stage.
Consider a student who doesn’t start on the soccer team in the fall because they didn’t stay in shape over the summer. That student quickly learns that hard work at practice, extra conditioning, and a commitment to being a supportive, positive teammate from the bench are necessary ingredients for achieving their goal of earning more playing time. The same holds true for students who aspire to land a larger role in the musical or a solo in the choir.
It is perhaps uncontroversial to state that there are benefits to participation in the arts and athletics. However, learning these important life lessons within a student's own school community amplifies the impact.
When the values of academic life align with artistic and athletic experiences, students begin to see their entire day as part of their overall growth and development.
The desire to contribute to a musical ensemble stems from the same place as the desire to be a productive member of a Chemistry class. In both settings, students are invested in representing themselves and their school with pride.
At Hackley, where so many of our coaches and instructors are also faculty members, students learn that the values of hard work, respect, perseverance and collaboration apply to all areas of life. Students see their participation on the softball diamond as connected to something greater than themselves —- it’s a connection to community, to school, and to the legacy of Hornets who came before and ones who will follow.
Baseball student-athletes gather on DelMoro Field in May 2025.
Athletics are a required part of every season for Hackley students in seventh and eighth grades, and you can see the excitement and pride on their faces the first time they wear their Hackley jersey to school on game day. While Upper School students are not required to participate in three seasons of athletics, about 85% choose to play at least one sport, and many take part in two or three.
In the arts, we have mandatory requirements in the Middle and Upper School. Our Performing Arts Department offers more than 25 performance-based groups, involving hundreds of students each year. Our sculpture, drawing, painting, architecture, filmmaking, photography, and digital design classes provide students with varied opportunities to develop their creativity and perseverance.
Families of younger students often ask me for advice as they look ahead to their child’s years at Hackley. My first response is always to continue supporting their child’s character development above all else. My second is to encourage their child to participate in athletics and the arts at Hackley as much as possible.
I want every Hackley student to experience both — to be part of a sports team, whether as a player or manager, and to take part in a performance on the Diller Hall stage, whether as a musician, actor or member of the stage crew. The most meaningful and transformative moments of our lives often happen when we work with others to achieve a shared goal.
About the author: Charles Franklin joined Hackley as Head of School in July 2023. Throughout his career in education, Mr. Franklin has focused on building community and creating opportunities for students and faculty.
