In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Library Department Chair Jen Hubert Swan shares her concerns about the health of our imaginations, and how books can help. “Once we realize our imaginations have been withered by social media, is it too late to resurrect our inventiveness? As a librarian who has witnessed and experienced the creative power of reading, I’m here to tell you that it’s never too late,” she writes. “Ironically, as social media has exploded, so has publishing. According to some sources, there are between 500,000 and one million new titles traditionally published each year. ... But with so many options, how do we choose? Dear reader, I thought you’d never ask.” Read the post here.
By Melissa Tranchida, Computer Science Department Chair
In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Computer Science Department Chair Melissa Tranchida reflects on the artistry of computer science. “Artists exist in many capacities within the field of Computer Science,” she writes. “Whether students are digitally editing images, showcasing interactive games, exploring connections between code and graphical elements, or making decisions about a gradient within the user experience of their mobile application. In every one of these projects, the students are artists in their own right, using code as their canvas. Hackley students epitomize the joy of learning, and the art of coding is one they enroll in without checking off a graduation credit.” Read the post here.
Hackley’s Middle and Upper School debate teams have been busy! In February, seven Upper Schoolers represented Hackley at the National High School Ethics Bowl and 10 debaters competed in the fourth and final event of the 2024-25 HSPDP regular season. And on March 8, 27 members of Hackley’s MS debate team competed at a tournament hosted by the Fieldston School.
In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Lower School teacher Sue Harmon reflects on the power of kindness. “As an educator, I have been able to weave kindness throughout the curriculum and our everyday lessons and activities. The students quickly learn to embrace a classroom where kindness, respect, and friendship are the cornerstone and expectation.” Read the post here.
On Jan. 25, Hackley’s Middle School debate team attended a tournament at Dalton, while the Upper School team competed at Applied Tech in New Jersey for the third regular-season event of the High School Public Debate Program.
Computer Science student Phoebe Dungca ’25 — with a group of her peers and Computer Science teachers — spearheaded Hackley’s first-ever hackathon, Hack Squared, on Jan. 11 in the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology.
By Josh Samuel, Assistant Director of the Lower School
In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Assistant Director of the Lower School Josh Samuel shares his thoughts on the importance of the parent-teacher relationship. “At Hackley, we believe in working with parents. Parents and teachers may not always agree on every approach, but when we assume positive intent — especially during the toughest of conversations — and come to the table with open hearts and minds, the partnership is stronger for it.” Read the post here.
This year, 10 students have been awarded a Russ Hogg Grant for Creative Expression. Congratulations to Aran Basu ’25, Vivek Malik ’25, Jasper Quattrone ’25, Isaac Ahn ’26, Zion Bennett ’26, Rohan Krishna ’26, Mason Lee ’26, Cara Minello ’26, Elleana Derby ’28 and Ali B. ’29!
In this month’s blog post on Hackley Perspectives, Director of Academic Affairs Basil Kolani reflects on how Hackley School is embracing Generative AI. “As generally happens with the adoption of disruptive technologies, we began with initial threats to the ‘right’ way to do things; slowly saw how, under the right circumstances, there were useful ways to use the new tool; and now have at least made GenAI use a part of the student experience. Now that we’re here, we have some room for growth.” Read the post here.
It was a busy fall for Hackley’s Debate program, with an opening Middle School tournament at the Nightingale School in Manhattan and multiple Upper School events, including the opening HSPDP tournament at Dwight School and two other NYPDL tournaments at Hunter College High School and Rye Country Day School.
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