As Head of School, I have numerous opportunities to connect with families and hear their Hillbrook stories. I’ve spoken to people at all different moments during their Hillbrook journey, from families brand new to the community to those who have been part of the school for more than 10 years. During these conversations I often ask, “Why did you chose Hillbrook?”
Time and time again I hear something like this: “Well, I heard about the school from a friend/neighbor/relative and so thought I should go visit and see what it was all about. As soon as I arrived, I was impressed with the beauty of the campus and I noted what an ideal place it was to be a child. But, in all honesty, what really made me choose Hillbrook was the student who led me on the tour during the Open House.”
At this point, families launch into detailed stories about the Middle School student who guided them around campus. People use words like poised, articulate, reflective, genuine, and refreshingly unscripted. More than one person has said, “After spending time with the tour guide, I hoped that my own child would grow up to be half as impressive.”
Hearing the story over and over provides for me strong confirmation that we are what we say we are – a life preparatory school. After all, the consistent development of these exceptional young adults does not happen by accident. The ingredients? Supportive parents, caring teachers, and an approach to educating children that emphasizes the development of academic and life skills.
It starts from the earliest days when we greet children by name when we open doors for them at carpool. I’m always appreciative of the number of students, even from the youngest ages, who greet me with a “Good morning, Mr. Silver” in response. Teachers continue to model this in the classroom during morning meetings, emphasizing the importance of recognizing other people and making sure that each child is known and valued.
Jokes at Flag teach public speaking and poise in a light-hearted but powerful way. Heard at Flag last week? “What is the difference between a teacher and a train? A teacher tells you to spit out the gum but the train says choo-choo.” Presentations in class are a staple of our program and students are expected as they move through the grades to be able to explain their ideas persuasively and articulately.
The buddies program is another core piece of the experience, bringing together students of different ages to create meaningful connections throughout our campus. For older students, the buddies program teaches them how to take care of a younger friend and helps them develop empathy and, in many cases, patience and understanding. For younger students, they gain a role model and an older friend, someone they can run into as they navigate around campus, a friendly face on the other side of the bridge.
In the end, the life skills – confidence, poise, empathy, self-control – displayed by our Middle School students come from being part of an extraordinary elementary (JK-8) school. Michael Thompson, author of the bestselling book Best Friends, Worst Enemies, writes, “If I could design psychologically safe schools, every elementary school in the United States would go from kindergarten through grade eight and be no larger than four hundred students.” There is an unquestionable benefit to being in a JK-8 school for children, a benefit that is often most pronounced for our oldest students. The chance to be the school leaders, to take risks, to prolong childhood and to develop independence in a safe and nurturing environment is invaluable.
This Monday’s Halloween celebration is a prime example of how Hillbrook allows children to be children. The excitement – and some well-deserved nerves – as the JKers join hands with me and we start off on our journey, the anticipation of the rest of the Lower School students as they eagerly await their turn to join in on the parade, the enthusiastic spirit of our Middle School students as they cheer the younger students on as they come across the bridge, and the energy and excitement of everyone as we gather at the outdoor stage and have an opportunity to see all of the grades show off their costumes. This is an event where everyone – from the youngest JKer to our oldest 8th grader – can be a child, free to dress up, laugh, and revel in the joy that is Halloween. Truth be told, quite a few adults reconnect with their inner child on Halloween as well.
Returning to the tour guides, we don’t do anything to formally prepare students for these tours. No scripts, no coaching, no detailed guidelines for what they should or should not say. All we ask is they wear a uniform and show up on time. We trust these dynamic young adults to share their genuine affection and appreciation for Hillbrook with our visiting families and to answer openly about their school experience. We are confident – and experience has shown us – that they have been and will continue to be exceptional ambassadors.