Click here to listen to Episode 61 on Jam.ai
Click here to watch the full webinar – it’s well worth the watch!
Last week, as part of a series of webinars for families interested in our Upper School program, we offered a session with five 9th graders talking about their experience during the first semester. What did we learn?
Students raved about the academic challenge and the engaging program. Maya shared her passion for math. “I felt the school would let me pursue math curriculum as far as I wanted to go, and at my own pace and it has been supporting me through that.” Another student, Chloe, spoke about her passion for science and the opportunities to do authentic scientific research. “I really love science and I love the way Hillbrook is doing science, and how outstanding the faculty is. The amount of hands on research is important to me.” Jackson shared, “Classes are challenging but they are so much fun, all teachers have made it super, super interactive – the teachers are so good, it’s kind of hard to believe.”
Indeed, the teachers were lauded for being exceptional by every student. When asked what she would want people looking at Hillbrook to know, Vivi quickly said, “How awesome our teachers are. They keep class exciting and engaging, not just talking at you, having discussions in class. They are awesome people.” Maya added, “Our teachers are excited to teach, and they want to teach us….. During lunches I hear them talking about how excited they are for the assignment they made for our class.”
While the school is small, it also was clear that students have what seem like limitless opportunities. Only four months into their high school experience students talked about creating multiple clubs (a Science Club that is editing manuscripts to be published in scientific journals, a skate club, an automotive club that is building go karts, HERO – a club that exists in our Middle School and is now a part of the Upper School), participating in a broad range of performing arts programs (a play, a musical, chorus, and a jazz ensemble), and joining teams including cross country, volleyball, and basketball. Vivi described how she participated in an exploratory class on metalworking at Visual Philosophy, an art studio located in downtown San Jose that the school is using for some of its programs, and that now, this quarter, she had signed up to join additional classes after school on her own. As she noted, “it is an opportunity to use the city as a classroom not just at school, but after school.”
Two students – Millie (a high-level ballerina who performed in the Nutcracker this Fall) and Jackson (a very competitive soccer player) – noted how the school was enabling them to balance participation in outside activities while still being able to participate in Hillbrook activities, with Millie being in the play and Jackson joining the basketball team. Head of Upper School Mike Peller marveled at how Millie would finish rehearsals for the Fall play and then walk across St. James Park to her ballet rehearsals at New Ballet San Jose, and still show up the next day eager for school.
One of the reasons she and others show up so eagerly – the strong sense of community. Jackson, Vivi and Millie talked about the close knit community, a place where everyone can talk to everyone else. As Vivi noted, “I feel like our community at Hillbrook is even stronger because we are a founding class.”
Maya noted that “everyone is really kind here. I can’t think of mean people,” she said. And Chloe added, “It feels like family. I cannot imagine going to another school.”
It’s an incredibly powerful combination – rigorous academics undergirded by a culture in which, as Maya said, “students care about learning above grades,” endless opportunities limited only by students willingness to take risks and try new things, and a culture of kindness and belonging that is rooted in Hillbrook’s core values – be kind, be curious, take risks, be your best – and that reflects nearly 90 years of education.
Perhaps my favorite moment of the evening came a little over halfway through. Students were talking about what they loved about the school, and Millie was sharing about how close knit the community was and how engaging classes were. She paused and then a smile broke across her face. “Last night I was telling my Dad about my schedule for the day and I was just like, “oh my gosh, I love school.” It made both of us smile.” What more could you ask for from the high school experience?