Hillside School

Summary: At Hillside, we know that 150 (commonly known as Dunbar’s Number) “appears to be the maximum number of individuals with whom we can have a genuine social relationship, the kind where we know who they are and how they relate to us.” Our School is built upon this principle; our student body always numbers within that range. Students and their teachers, house parents, and advisors all know each other and have a deep and abiding relationship.

Knowing the intimacy of Hillside’s size, visitors to campus might be surprised to see the range of facilities, in academics, athletics, activities, and the arts. Our students are actively encouraged to pursue – or to develop – important skills in such wide-ranging offerings as Mandarin and lacrosse, hockey and rocketry, Computer Media and Peace Education, Leadership and golf, Farm Immersion and Economics.

Some students come to Hillside already energized by a particular facet of their own imagination. For others, it is during these pivotal years that they are first exposed to new talents and opportunities. We believe in the compelling power of passion. A young man’s passions will undoubtedly evolve over time. But we are convinced of the lifelong value of developing a capacity for such passion.

Classes rarely number more than 12 and the average student-teacher ratio is 7:1. We offer small-group tutorials in Organization and Language Arts, Social Skills and Mathematics. Students learn how to organize not only their belongings, but also their time and thinking. They acquire note-taking and outlining techniques, and amass clues to effective text analysis. One unique aspect of Hillside’s tutorial program is that boys attend during their “flex periods;” they don’t miss any academic subjects while they meet. Specialists work side by side with the boys, examining their learning styles and addressing weaker areas while building on their strengths. Through academic assignments, specialists tailor strategies that will help each boy learn best. They communicate openly with classroom teachers, so everyone is working together to best support the boys.

Summary: At Hillside, athletics and sportsmanship are essential to the development of each student, and a vital part of his character education. Coaches stand steadfast by their players’ sides as they learn important life lessons through sports, from the satisfaction of scoring a goal to the disappointment of a missed play. The mark of a Hillside athlete is the grace with which he approaches either one.

The focus of coaching at Hillside is not just to win, but to use athletics as another way to reinforce the School’s core values, as well as encourage structure, motivation and independence. Commitment to a team, giving one’s best effort, and sporting a good attitude when encountering new challenges are as integral to the experience as any literal goals. While boys are required to participate in at least one competitive sport each year, Hillside recognizes that not all boys favor team sports. We also offer non-competitive options each season such as intramurals, Eco Team, skiing, snowboarding, drama, and sailing.

At Hillside, students are encouraged to take risks, support each other, and make their impression on the world around them. The Visual and Performing Arts curriculum at Hillside gives every boy an outlet for creative expression, teaching him to appreciate the value of diverse cultural influences, but also unique perspectives within his own peer group.

The Visual Arts program at Hillside inspires students to explore new methods of communication through mediums as varied as cubist painting, throwing pottery, or engineering Pitsco cars. They learn about the contributions of historical and contemporary artists like Seurat, Picasso, and Goldsworthy by emulating their work and applying their techniques.
Students develop their musical knowledge and appreciation through the study of composition and performance. The Performing Arts curriculum ranges from research projects about the great composers, to students’ own compositions using multimedia software.