The Power of Lasting Relationships

BY MELANIE VAN DE WATER, DEAN OF STUDENTS

It takes a village to raise a child. And at HTS, the development of the whole child involves our entire community – teachers, parents and peers. At graduation this past June, HTS saw 73 Grade 12 graduates walk across the stage. For many, this was the culmination of years of growth at our school. Whether they were “Lifers” who experienced their entire education at HTS or they joined our community a few years prior, these students clearly left a personal, indelible mark on HTS – as evidenced by the heartfelt speeches from their teacher advisors. The relationships between students and the HTS community last long after the graduates have crossed the stage. Most importantly, students move on to future opportunities feeling tied to a place where they have learned the value of compassion and connection. The longevity of these relationships comes from years of supporting each student’s growth.

Striving for balance is paramount in today’s world. Young people are faced with a plethora of choices at any given point in their lives, facing many options in just a single day. With support from their teachers and advisors, HTS students learn how to be agile and confident thinkers. HTS students grow and develop by taking risks in a safe and understanding environment. Teachers and advisors are witnesses to this journey, encouraging and supporting our students as they grow from children into young adults. This is evident from engagement both inside and outside the classroom, supported by teachers who care.

The support from HTS teachers is unwavering in every aspect of a child’s school experience and goes far beyond classroom instruction. Outside the classroom, HTS teachers coach teams, instruct clubs and travel with students on school sports and cultural trips. With the majority of HTS teachers serving as homeroom teachers or advisors, they are privileged to walk alongside our students as they grow and learn, passing many milestones along the way. It is through these experiences that relationships develop, giving teachers a chance to be a part of their students’ successes and challenges. HTS teachers are consistently encouraging students to try something a different way and make choices that fit their goals and ethos.

Teachers work alongside students, fostering an attitude that values empathy, compassion, integrity and determination above all else. A student may spend countless hours trying to figure out how to get an Arduino robot to move, exploring different pathways to achieve success. Similarly, a science teacher will teach physics in the classroom but may spend hours after school developing lesson plans to best suit the needs of all students. These experiences, where teachers and students are learning side by side, foster connectedness, collaboration and respect for developing new skills and talents. Teachers promote a healthy sense of self by demonstrating that success is not always achieved on the first try, and persistence and grit go a long way on the road to success.

In a continuously changing world, one can no longer determine success by academic achievement alone. An HTS education contributes to a student’s knowledge of the world far beyond graduation. For our students, knowing their place in their community and the impact they can make on the world are key factors to their future success. These opportunities are seen throughout the school year, such as during our Student Life Days, which are designed to reinforce HTS core values of compassion, respect, empathy, courage and collaboration. Twice per year, students of all ages gather together to focus on these values, experiencing life with each other through activities outside the classroom. Recognizing themselves as global citizens requires students to see beyond their own walls. Clubs such as Amnesty International and the Law Society promote social justice. Model United Nations students travel all over the world, discussing and presenting solutions to global affairs. Our ongoing partnership with Colegio Tilatá, a school in Bogotá, Colombia, allows our students to create friendships with students across the globe and welcome our exchange partners from Colombia into their homes as guests. Connections at HTS and beyond are made by these experiences, and they help HTS students believe in their values and strengths and feel confident about the contributions they can make to the world.

The feeling of belonging comes from beginning each day as a community. Twice per week, all students and teachers in Kindergarten through Grade 12 gather for Chapel. Led by our school Chaplain, Father Stephen Crowther, students experience stories and songs and celebrate achievements all together. It is just as likely for a graduating student to celebrate the success of a Grade 2 eco-challenge initiative as it is for our Lower School students to applaud a Senior student’s success on the field as a member of the soccer or field hockey team. These celebrations at HTS are heartfelt. You can feel the energy during our fullschool assemblies for Spirit Days, House competitions and annual events such as the traditional Christmas assembly. It is during these times when HTS gathers as a community that memories are made and a sense of place is found.

It is no coincidence that an HTS journey ends at graduation in the same place where students spend much of their time during the school year. When our graduates cross the stage, they leave with a network of supporters who continue to cheer them on from the sidelines. The HTS experience allows students to develop relationships with teachers and peers that encourage them to become their best selves, and the effect of these relationships remains with graduates for life.