List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Lisa Oberstein

    Lisa Oberstein 

    Director of the Lower School
      Lower School Office:
      (914) 366-2613

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Joshua Samuel

    Josh Samuel 

    Assistant Director of the Lower School, Extended Day Director

List of 11 news stories.

  • Jen Hubert Swan, Library Department Chair

    Hackley Perspectives: How Books Can Reignite Our Imaginations

    By Jen Hubert Swan, Library Department Chair
    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.
  • Melissa Tranchida P ’34, ’36, ’37, Computer Science Department Chair

    Hackley Perspectives: Code as Canvas

    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 Ethics Bowl team: Rohan Krishna ’26, Charlie Napach ’27, Peter King ’26, Ben Iaderosa ’26, Sarah Rotenberg ’26, Macey McLane ’26 and Hailey Won ’25

    Middle and Upper School Debaters Have Strong Showings Across Recent Competitions

    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.
    Read More
  • Sue Harmon P ’13, ’16, Lower School teacher

    Hackley Perspectives: The Power of Kindness

    By Sue Harmon, Lower School teacher
    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.
  • Members of the Middle School debate team at Dalton on Jan. 25.

    Middle and Upper School Debate Teams Compete in January Tournaments

    On Jan. 25, Hackleys 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.
    Read More
  • Computer Science Students Host Inaugural Hack-a-thon in New Center

    By Meredith Lee ’25
    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.
    Read More
  • Josh Samuel, Assistant Director of the Lower School

    Hackley Perspectives: The Parent-Teacher Partnership – A Shared Support System

    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.
  • Middle School debate team

    Hackley Debate Teams Shine in December Middle and High School Tournaments

    On Dec. 14, Hackley’s Middle and Upper School debate teams showcased their skills in two year-end events.
    Read More
  • Ten Students Awarded Russ Hogg Grant for Creative Expression

    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!
    Read More
  • Director of Academic Affairs Basil Kolani

    Hackley Perspectives: Beyond the Prompt

    By Basil Kolani, Director of Academic Affairs
    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.
  • Middle School Debate Team

    Hackley's Fall Debate Wrap-Up

    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.
    Read More
Welcome to Hackley

Welcome to Lower School

Congratulations and welcome to Hackley’s Lower School! We are looking forward to you joining our community where we inspire students to make deep connections in learning and life. New students feel welcomed the moment they enter our Lower School building, where they find it is easy to be good friends to all because we all learn the traits of friendship through our character education program. When our Lower School students are challenged in the classroom, they offer and receive help from one another as active members of our united and supportive community. They are encouraged to be intellectually curious and to find joy in learning that will be the foundation for deep learning and the unreserved effort they will put into their studies as they grow.

As they continue through the Lower School, our students build a community with their teachers and classmates that empowers them to go all-in in everything that they do. At the end of their Lower School experience, our students have grown socially, emotionally, and academically and have developed the skills and experiences to excel in the classroom and to be confident artists, musicians, changemakers, and athletes. They are well-prepared to go forth and spread beauty and light in our Middle School and beyond. As you think about the ways that your child will grow in character and scholarship at Hackley, we invite you to join us on The Hilltop and reimagine what accomplishment looks like for your child. 

We look forward to having you on campus soon. Please RSVP for our Lower School New Hornets Day by email so we can welcome you to the Lower School building and introduce you to many of our teachers. 

We hope to help you begin to make the connections now that you will continue to have as a Lower School family in the fall. Please fill out this form if you would like a phone call or email from anyone in the Hackley community. We are all too happy to welcome you and to answer any questions that you may have. Please stay in touch!

Once again, congratulations. We hope our welcome page aids you during this most important decision-making time.

Lisa Oberstein
Director of Lower School

Lower School Welcome Events

**Important Information: Please Read!** 

Join us in the Lower School for our New Hornets Day! 
Please join Lisa Oberstein, Director of Lower School, and, Charles Franklin, Head of School, for an introduction to the Hackley School curriculum and community. You will also have the opportunity to meet our Lower School faculty and current Hackley parents.

Please note that this is a PARENT ONLY event.

Please join us at the Hackley Book Fair
Newly-enrolled families are welcome to join us at the Hackley Bookfair. This is a wonderful way for you and your child to start your journey as Hackley community members together. Please let us know if you are coming, so the Hackley Parents’ Association can welcome you warmly!
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