Embracing Growth

Contributed by Nikki Butts, Associate Director Of Admissions

As the Associate Director of Admissions and as a parent in our community, this month is marked by a sense of excitement and growth. Like many of you, I see the growth in my own children. Their uniforms – having transitioned from shorts and short sleeves in 2015 to pants and long sleeves in 2016 – seem quite a bit smaller now than they did when we first tried them on in September. My children are growing, and not just physically. They have new friends, ask deeper questions, and feel more assured of themselves and their surroundings than they did just a few months ago. I am growing, too, in my understanding of and connection to this extraordinary school community – and in my ever increasing gratitude to be a part of it.

Embracing a growth mindset is a part of who we are and what we do here at Hillbrook. We are committed to being innovative, curious, and willing to take risks. Perhaps most exciting to me is that we are, quite literally, in the process of growing as a school, as we vest the new CUP and plan to enroll up to 33 additional students in the 2016-17 school year. Not surprisingly, we are well on our way. There has always been a high demand for Hillbrook, and the many ways that we measure that demand in admissions (inquiries, tours, applications, attendance at various admissions events) suggest a record level of interest in our school.

What is at the heart of this growing interest? What brings prospective families to Hillbrook – and how and why do they choose to become new members of our community? These are questions I ask every day, and I want to share a few of the answers I hear most often from prospective families:

• Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values – Prospective parents cite a sense of “rightness” from the moment they step on campus. They envision their children becoming a part of this unique community and see Hillbrook as the right partner in the growth and development of their child. As an admissions team, we are intensely focused on attracting and retaining families who are a strong philosophical fit for Hillbrook. As it turns out, it is the essence of who we are as a school that attracts the very families we seek. 
• Our extraordinary educational experience – Hands on learning. Social-emotional learning. Differentiation. Collaboration. Our students are compassionate and curious learners who harness opportunities every day to solve for a better tomorrow in a way that matches their unique passions and interests. The phrase “this is how learning should be” is spoken time and time again by visiting families. There is a fullness to what we offer here that is unique and compelling. 
• Our passion for innovation – From our iLab, Science Labs, 1:1 iPad program, and even the construction timeline our Kindergarteners are creating from footage taken by drones, visiting families are impressed by our intentional use of technology and how it enhances every student’s learning and growth. 
• Our joyful community – There is a tangible sense of joy in our community and in the learning that takes place here. The deep desire for children to love learning and the environment they learn in is one of the most frequent reasons prospective families tell us they choose Hillbrook. 
• Our teachers – Our teachers know and support every student and build lasting relationships with them. Prospective families want their children to learn from – and with – our extraordinary faculty. 
• Our students – Our students and our graduates are our everyday indicators that what we do here at Hillbrook matters. Visiting families are amazed by their maturity, kindness, curiosity, and talents. In meeting our students, visiting families feel confident that we will help their child reach his or her fullest potential in school and in life. 
• Our commitment to diversity and inclusivity – From our Inclusivity Statement to our robust tuition assistance program, families are attracted to Hillbrook because we are committed to being accessible to families of all socioeconomic means and because we understand how diversity and inclusivity strengthen our school and community. It is a fundamental part of how we prepare our students and graduates to be leaders in the ever-changing, multicultural world in which we live. 
• Our beautiful campus – Every inch of our 14-acre campus is tailored to – and explored by – our students. Visiting families see how “campus as classroom” takes on new meaning here at Hillbrook and makes for an incredible environment for students to learn and grow. 
• YOU – Most prospective families first hear about – and choose – Hillbrook because of a personal recommendation from a current Hillbrook family. You are the most common way that new families find out about Hillbrook and are the number one reason that new families want to be a part of our community. Parents like you share stories of your children engaged in flexible learning spaces, telling jokes at Flag, and collaborating with teachers who know them and care deeply about them. In short, all of our children are growing and thriving here at Hillbrook – and it shows to those around us.

This month of January brings our final round of Open House events and application deadlines for admissions and tuition assistance. We invite you to share your Hillbrook experience with friends and family who would be a strong philosophical fit for Hillbrook. Please let us know if you or a family you know has any questions. We do our best to accommodate interested families who are a strong match for Hillbrook and inquire even after the application deadlines pass.

You are the most powerful way that we build the future of our school and community – and you are at the very heart of the growing interest we see in Hillbrook every day.
Why did you choose Hillbrook for your family? Share in the comments below!