From the Head of School

A secondary meaning also exists, however, and it encapsulates my hopes for Hackley throughout this period in our history: continued progress in pursuit of the school’s mission and institutional goals, all of which is made possible by working in service of something greater than our own interests. Stories that encapsulate both meanings of forward together are highlighted in this edition of Hackley Review, providing insight into life at Hackley during COVID-19.

Resilience, adaptability, and professionalism are apt descriptors of the ways in which adult members of the Hackley community responded to COVID-19. Stronger Together on the Hilltop chronicles stories of our remarkable faculty, staff, administrators, and volunteers, all of whom have gone above and beyond — and continue to do so — so that school could reopen for in-person instruction. Together, we rethought what teaching and learning look like when teaching both students learning in-person, as well as those participating through Zoom from home. We also redesigned significant aspects of school life and school operations, all to continue providing today’s students a Hackley education, one that emphasizes deep connections, both in learning and in life. 

Sydney Stoller, Class of 2020, writes about the experience of graduating during the pandemic in Senior Spring. Her essay highlights the challenges the Class of 2020 faced when Hackley suddenly moved to a 100% remote approach in March 2020, just as her class was ready to enjoy their last few months on the Hilltop. The themes of resilience and adaptability that Sydney explores are also present in Fifth Grade Dean Don Eleck’s piece, When Life Gives You Lemons. Both stories show that the development of a strong and unique school culture is never complete, whether students are entering the Middle School in fifth grade or leaving the Hilltop as graduates.

While always outstanding partners with the school, the Hackley Parents’ Association (HPA) provided energy, initiative, support, and spirit over the last nine months, all of which has been vital to preserving a sense of community in the absence of in-person gatherings and celebrations. Sally Kesh, HPA President, writes about the HPA’s efforts in A Candle and a Mirror: The HPA in a Year of COVID. The entire community owes Sally and the dedicated leadership and volunteers of the HPA a debt of gratitude for their efforts to maintain connections with returning families and build relationships with new families.

Even as we prioritize connections and community, Hackley has moved forward on key aspects of Redefining Excellence: Learning Beyond Boundaries, our strategic plan. For example, students and teachers continued with service-learning, a form of service to others integrated into curricula that became an institutional priority through Redefining Excellence. Third grade teacher Roni Kanter writes about the grade-wide service-learning project known as Third Graders Making a Difference in an article of the same title. Despite COVID-19, these students and teachers continued with their projects, making the context and content for these activities central to classroom learning.

Hackley’s response to the pandemic has demanded a great deal of creativity, perhaps nowhere more so than in the visual and performing arts. How does one teach and perform in disciplines that are intended to bring people together in a moment when you are not permitted to bring people together? In The Arts at Hackley: Opening the Door. Finding the Light. Faculty members in Hackley’s Performing Arts and Visual Arts Departments address this question, demonstrating their own creativity in the process. Over the last few years, these departments along with the Computer Science Department have collaborated to develop interdisciplinary learning opportunities that elevate the creative process, all inspired by initiatives in Redefining Excellence. Pandemic or not, the arts remain vibrant at Hackley and central to the experience of a Hackley education. 

This edition of Hackley Review draws its inspiration from the unique and difficult period through which we are all living, one that will define many lives. Despite these challenges, the school — that is to say the individuals who live, learn, and work at Hackley — has responded in the most incredible ways imaginable. And this leaves me feeling optimistic. Hackley School has endured other great challenges throughout national and world history, and we will continue to bring unreserved effort in our response to COVID-19. Those qualities that made Hackley both special and successful in previous times — the broader community and its unrelenting pursuit of the school’s mission — will continue to serve us well in this moment. Forward together.

Michael C. Wirtz P ’29, P ’31
Head of School