Lower School News Archive

2024

  • October

    Director of the Upper School Andy King

    Hackley Perspectives: Continuity and Change – The Power of Hackley Traditions

    By Andy King, Director of the Upper School
    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Director of the Upper School Andy King reflects on the traditions — both “old” and “new” — that have shaped our history and elevate our sense of community. “The people participating in these traditions will change. The venues where these rites occur may also change as the campus evolves. What does not change is how these traditions celebrate and elevate Hackley’s core values and culture and bring joy and connection to our community.” Read the post here.
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  • September

    Hackley Head of School Charles Franklin

    Hackley Perspectives: Disconnect to Reconnect - Being Fully Present

    By Charles Franklin, Hackley Head of School
    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Head of School Charles Franklin discusses how putting away our smartphones can help us reconnect as a community. “What we want is for each and every student at Hackley to give their undivided attention to their education, their peers, their teachers and their school. We want them to form relationships with as many people as possible — people in different grades and people with different backgrounds. Being fully present, both with ourselves and for others, is perhaps our broadest generational challenge as a society.” Read the post here.
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  • Head of School Charles Franklin, Community Council President Rafael Castro '25 and Associate Head of School Dr. Cyndy Jean

    Hackley Community Kicks Off School Year at Convocation Ceremony

    The first week of school is always an exciting time on the Hilltop! This week, we delighted in reconnecting with Hackley families and students, and on Thursday morning, Head of School Charles Franklin, Community Council President Rafael Castro '25 and Associate Head of School Dr. Cyndy Jean formally welcomed the Hackley Community to the academic year at Convocation 2024.
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  • August

    Welcome to Hackley (back to front, left to right), Sarah French, Elizabeth Healy, Elizabeth Zammit, Lori Bodner, Gina Diaz, Brian Bissinger, Mary Stapleton, Anna Adler ’02, Elizabeth Kehoe, Kassy Fritz, Lark Ervasti, Michaela McGovern and Olivia Giacomo ’17, as well as Leah Cunningham and Joe McDermott ’14 (not pictured).

    New Employees Join the Hilltop

    Hackley is excited to welcome 15 new Hornets to the Hilltop for the 2024-2025 academic year!
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  • May

    Upper School Counselor Katya Ostor

    Hackley Perspectives: Reflection, Goals and Growth

    By Katya Ostor, Upper School Counselor
    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Upper School Counselor Katya Ostor discusses how to prioritize your mental health through reflection and setting goals for the future. “Mental health awareness looks different from one person to the next, and I encourage you to consider how it shows up for you, especially during one of the busiest times of the school year,” she shares. Read the post here.
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  • April

    Kindergarten teachers Kristen Adams and Elizabeth Richmond (top row), first grade teachers Nicole DeNino and Rachel Mwakitawa, and Literacy Curriculum Coordinator and Specialist Shannon MacDonald

    Five Lower School Teachers Earn Science of Reading Microcredential

    Kristen Adams and Elizabeth Richmond in kindergarten, Nicole DeNino and Rachel Mwakitawa in first grade, and Literacy Curriculum Coordinator and Specialist Shannon MacDonald recently received the Microcredential in Science of Reading Fundamentals (SoRF MC) from SUNY New Paltz.
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  • March

    Assistant Director of the Middle School Damon Hall

    Hackley Perspectives: Cultivating Imagination

    By Damon Hall, Assistant Director of the Middle School
    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Assistant Director of the Middle School Damon Hall reflects on the role of imaginative thinking in education. “I believe that creative, imaginary, big-picture thinking should supplement traditional skills and that they should work together as an ‘and’ rather than an ‘instead,’” he shares. Read the post here.
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  • February

    Associate Head of School Cyndy Jean, Ed.D.

    Hackley Perspectives: What is Education But the Balance of Character and Intellect

    By Cyndy Jean, Ed.D., Associate Head of School
    In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Associate Head of School Cyndy Jean, Ed.D. reflects on Hackley’s core value, Character is higher than intellect. “It is our job to help Hackley students in our care maintain a balance of character and intellect in order to reason through the questions before them,” Dr. Jean writes. “Character and intellect must go hand-in-hand if we desire to bring forward a generation of deep critical thinkers and inspiring leaders.” Read the post here.
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2024