More than fifty Middle School students took the entire community by surprise Monday morning. In response to the final joke at Flag – “Knock, Knock,” “Who’s There?” the students stood up and began moving to one side of Founders’ Hall. As they moved, the unmistakable beat of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” started to pulse through the speakers. For the next two minutes, the students delighted us all with a choreographed routine reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s video from 30 years ago. Click here to see it for yourself.

The moment captured the sense of possibility that is at the heart of Hillbrook’s culture. While it felt spontaneous to those of us in the audience, the short performance reflected several weeks of coordination and practice by students and teachers. The idea was suggested by a student and then, in true Hillbrook fashion, it was encouraged, nurtured, and realized through the collaborative work of 4-8 music teacher Elisabeth Crabtree and other members of the community. As Elisabeth explained to me, many students gave up recess and lunch over several days to work on the routine. True to our entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, the students took a risk and teachers joined in to provide them the support they needed to see their idea through to its extraordinarily successful conclusion.

It is not only students, of course, who embrace Hillbrook’s entrepreneurial culture. Recently, a group of teachers led by JK teacher Sydney Hanley and JK-2 art teacher Susie Heeter, saw an opportunity to create a magical space for our youngest children to engage in dramatic play. With the support of the facilities team, a space was created tucked inside the hedge next to the JK-2 playground where children can sit on small wooden seats and have the freedom to create an imaginary world all their own. As research overwhelmingly shows, play is how young children learn and understand the world. The creation of spaces like the Enchanted Forest reflect our continuing efforts to provide an educational program that reflects what we know about best practices in education.

Examples of innovation and creativity are happening all over campus, reflecting the school’s long-standing enthusiasm for trying and embracing new things. At the heart of the campus, for example, the Village of Friendly Relations built by students in the late 1930s, is a visible representation of  our belief that students, with the guidance and support of teachers, can do extraordinary things. It also reflects the school’s commitment to being on the leading edge of independent school education since our earliest days.

At the same time, we also honor and celebrate the school’s long-standing traditions. Yesterday’s Halloween Parade is one example. While I don’t know the exact origins of this event, I know that the Halloween Parade has been here since before just about anyone can remember. Yesterday’s parade was once again an opportunity to celebrate the spirit and the creativity of our community. Click here for pictures of the event.

Even as we participate in this long-standing tradition, we have made changes to it in the last few years that have increased student participation and community engagement. The addition of the costume showcase on the outdoor stage three years ago inspired a dramatic increase in Middle School participation, with the result that virtually every single student in the school – and the vast majority of teachers – participate. The addition of singing to kick-off the costume showcase the last two years, beautifully led yesterday by Jk-3 music teacher Kristin Engineer, has further enhanced this joyful and inspiring day.

Ultimately, it is this linkage between innovation and tradition that is at the core of the Hillbrook experience. Like any great school, we remain connected to our earliest roots and to the commitment that has existed since the beginning to help each child reach their highest individual potential in school and in life. At the same time, we have created a culture where everyone – from students to teachers – is encouraged to seize opportunities, take risks, and try new things. It is, in the end, a culture that embraces both/and thinking, rather than limiting ourselves with an either/or mindset.

As we saw throughout the week, it is also a culture that creates, nurtures, and inspires joy. It is, without a doubt, an extraordinary place to be a child and an adult.