The Hill School
a great school, an exceptional community.
A Sense of Family For generations, The Hill School has been respected as one of the nation’s finest college preparatory institutions, a place where young people build the foundation for lives of learning and leadership. To those who know and love this school, The Hill is also something more: It is “the family boarding school.” Because Hill offers a more intimate campus environment than its peers and because such a strong web of tradition unites the School community, a remarkable feeling of warmth and personal connection infuses the experience of learning and life here. Before new students even arrive in the fall, our Headmaster knows each by name. Long after they have graduated, our students are remembered clearly by the teachers who have cared for them and by the lifelong friends they’ve made.
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Academics
| A Personal Way of Learning | From advanced offerings in Greek and Latin to the latest in technology, Hill offers opportunities and resources that add up to a remarkable education. Learning here is strongly grounded in the tradition of the liberal arts and sciences and offers ample challenge. It is also highly personal. In small classes and through experiences beyond the classroom, students and teachers who know each other well work together to achieve shared goals.
Close Connections in the Classroom “ What makes the learning experience so exceptional are the relationships between our students and teachers. Our faculty members are intellectually alive and truly passionate about their work. Their energy and their interest in students lead to strong, meaningful connections—and a great environment in which to learn.” Kathryn Malone, Ph.D., Dean of Academics
Challenge and Support In AP Biology, students visit the barrier islands of Virginia for field research. Through independent study projects, they pursue topics ranging from Gandhi’s life to robot design. In the Charterhouse Challenge, they strive to build better racing boats or catapults. No matter what the challenge, the common thread is support from dedicated teachers every step of the way.
Guides in the Adventure of Writing “ At The Writing Center, we provide one-on-one support to help students become stronger writers. As an editor at The Washington Post for 22 years, I worked with some very talented journalists, making their work clearer and more accurate. The goal at The Hill is the same, except these talented writers happen to be crafting term papers and college essays.” Tony Reid ’75, Director of The Writing Center
Outstanding Advising “ Our advising program is at the heart of The Hill experience. Each advising group brings together five to eight students of different ages under the guidance of one faculty member. The groups meet each week, sometimes at the adviser’s house. There is a real feeling of family. Often students will stay with the same adviser the entire time they’re here.” Jennifer Lagor, Assistant Head for Student Life
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| Highlights of The Academic Program | A Hill School education is founded on the relationship between talented, motivated students and dedicated faculty who are passionate about the subjects they teach. Teachers and students interact in small classes and also each day in a variety of informal settings beyond class. A number of curricular strengths and distinctive opportunities enhance this core experience, helping make the academic program an exceptionally rich one.
Close Contact With Strong Faculty With a student/teacher ratio of 7 to 1, Hill is able to provide students with a great deal of individual attention and support. The average class size is just 12; the largest class size is 17. Faculty members across the School are exceptionally well qualified. Seventy percent hold advanced degrees and, in addition to many years of teaching experience at the secondary level, a number have held college- or university-level positions. Technology Hill leads the way with the effective use of the latest learning technology, from the comprehensive 1-to-1 iPad program and BYOD learning environment to the advanced digital resources available through the Apple iMac multimedia labs, Apple TV’s and SMART Boards in classrooms. Course offerings in technology range from Visual Basic to Introductory and Advanced Java, Video Editing, and Computer Science.
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Honors and Advanced Placement Exceptionally strong students may with approval choose Honors sections of many courses, from English and mathematics, to physics and chemistry, to ancient and modern languages. They also find an extensive array of Advanced Placement offerings, currently including the following: Art History, Biology, Calculus (AB), Calculus (BC), Chemistry, Chinese, English (Language and Literature), European History, French (Language), Humanities, Latin (Vergil), Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Physics, Psychology, Spanish (Language and Literature), Statistics, Studio Art, U.S. History. Independent Study Working closely with a faculty adviser, students may pursue individual interests that extend beyond The Hill curriculum. As fourth or fifth formers (sophomores and juniors), they may do so through an underform Independent Study. As sixth formers (seniors), qualified students may undertake an Honors Independent Study (HIS), which involves projects of particular depth. Examples of recent HIS topics include Astronomy, Bio-Diesel Manufacturing, Chinese Philosophy, Latin American Fiction, Linear Algebra, Music: Composition and Conducting, and Mythology of Africa.
Writing Center The Writing Center reflects Hill’s school-wide commitment to educating its students to be effective writers. Located in The John P. Ryan Library and directed by former Washington Post editor Tony Reid, of Hill’s Class of ’75, the center provides individual guidance and feedback to students at every level of skill, from those in need of additional support, to those ready to take already excellent abilities to the next level. The Center was made possible through a generous endowment gift from alumnus Wolcott J. (Bud) Humphrey ’41. Exchange Programs Students may apply to a variety of options for expanding their educational horizons beyond the boundaries of campus. These include the School Year Abroad program, which places students with host families in Europe and China; the half-year exchange with the Island School in Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas; and short-term exchanges with Hill’s sister institution, the Charterhouse School in Godalming, England. In addition to numerous international students, each year The Hill welcomes a sixth form student from the Maru a Pula School in Botswana, and frequently hosts students from points across Europe and Asia through the ASSIST program.
Field Trips and Cultural Travel Classes explore a full range of fascinating sites across the wider region, whether experiencing the battlefields of Gettysburg, the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, or the roller coasters of Dorney Park (while equipped with accelerometers and stop watches to gather data for their physics classes). Students also gain exposure to a variety of attractions in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia—from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, to the National Gallery and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Venturing farther, the Humanities Department typically sponsors tours of culturally rich destinations such as Italy and Greece each year during spring break, and other departments have led trips to England and France. In addition, students have volunteered for service trips to Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Africa, such as a recent multi-week journey to Botswana and Zambia which combined service work with a safari along the Zambezi River.
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The Arts
| Creating Together | Hill offers a world of opportunities for students to explore the arts, whether by creating original work or by experiencing the exciting work of others. Arts courses range from Theatre Technology and AP Studio Art to Fine Woodworking and Video Editing. Beyond class, Hill students join together to mount impressive stage productions, travel off-campus to perform choral and instrumental works, and pursue in-depth independent projects in both the fine and performing arts through a program called Afternoon Arts.
Center Stage Hill’s Center For The Arts stands at the heart of cultural life on campus. A facility that would make most colleges proud, it boasts a 720-seat theatre, a scene shop, bright and spacious art studios, dedicated music rooms, and the boyer gallery showcasing the work of students, faculty members, and professional artists.
Opportunities in the Arts Arts Groups
Growing and Exploring “ At Hill, I’ve had the chance to continue growing as an artist and the time to explore new things. Currently, I’m working on a portrait commission, and I recently completed a still life for a competition at The Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Hill community has been really supportive. Everyone comes to see the exhibits. In fact, everyone wants me to do a painting for them.” Kate Esbenshade, 6th form student
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In Harmony “ In Hilltones, we have a lot of talented people, each with a unique quality to bring to the group. When you put it all together, you get this amazing a cappella sound. We sing everything from pop songs to holiday music. It’s a really good group of guys. We’re singing constantly, yet we find time to joke around.”
C reative Energy/ Creative Opportunities “ Each year we mount multiple major productions and, in addition, kids stage their own student-directed works and manage a black box theatre. We have kids with great creative energy and—throughout the arts—we provide them with a wide range of opportunities, not to mention amazing facilities.”
Jared Feinman, 5th form student
Burt Merriam, Instructor of the Arts
The CAVE (student-directed black box theatre) Chamber Choir Chamber Ensemble
Hilltones & Hilltrebles (a cappella)
Commencement Weekend Concerts
Artist-in-Residence Program
Jazz Ensemble
Fall and Spring Art Shows
Bissell Forum Guest Speaker Series
Fall and Spring Plays
Gallery Exhibits by Professional Artists
Jazz Improvisation Orchestra
Concert Choir
The Record (literary magazine)
Dead Poets Society
Writers’ Guild
The Dial (yearbook) Ellis Theatre Guild Guitar Ensemble Hill News (newspaper)
Highlight Events Afternoon Arts Recitals Candlelight Holiday Service
Fall, Winter, and Spring Music Festivals Hill Drama Festival Winter Musical Special Opportunities Afternoon Arts Independent Projects
Lively Arts Series (visiting professional performers) Museum and Theatre Trips Tours by Hill Vocal Groups Visiting Regional Symphonies, Dance Companies and more
and Theatre Director
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A Rich History
| Shared Traditions |
Dining as a Family “ At seated lunches and dinners throughout the week, we sit down in the dining room at a table that is set just like a dinner table at home and we eat together. There are about 14 or 16 kids at each table, and two faculty members. It really feels like a family. It always reminds me of Thanksgiving.” Mary Mac Jones, 3rd form student
J-Ball “ The game is essentially baseball played with a tennis ball and racket. Also, only one person can use a glove. There are nuances, but that’s the basics. You have to understand, though, that it was invented at Hill and it’s a big tradition. There’s a whole league with a student commissioner, and each team designs its own T-shirts.”
A Time for Reflection “ Chapel is a quiet time in a busy day. For 20 or 25 minutes, you enter this beautiful place and have the chance to listen and think. Chapel talks can be personal and thoughtful or very funny—about anything from homelessness to Hogwarts.” Alex Pumphrey, 4th form student
Anthony Ferrara, 5th form student
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Athletics
| Team Spirit |
Interscholastic Boys Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Squash Swimming Tennis Track—indoor and outdoor Water Polo Wrestling
At Hill, sports play a central role in the life of the School. Afternoons on the practice field provide a healthy balance to hard work in class. Lessons in discipline and teamwork inspire growth in character. And, for players and fans alike, the thrill of competition feeds a strong sense of pride in the Blue and Gray.
Girls Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Squash Swimming Tennis Track—indoor and outdoor Water Polo
At Hill, every student takes part in interscholastic sports, and there is a place for every level of ability, from those building skills to those heading to Division I collegiate programs. A single goal unites all these student athletes: to achieve their personal best.
Greta Witter, 5th form student
Part of Something Special “ When you’re involved in sports at Hill, the bond you feel with your coaches and teammates is very strong. The guys I’m with on the lacrosse team and on the football team—these are my brothers.”
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Inspired Coaching “ I enjoy my time coaching as much as I do teaching. In fact, for me, coaching really means teaching in a different classroom with a different dress code. I love watching our teams come together to play as if they’ve known each other for years. Seeing young guys come here from different states and countries full of potential and grow together is what The Hill is all about.”
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Other Options Athletic Training Team Management
High-level Competition “ I’ve had a great athletic experience at Hill, with field hockey, winter track, and lacrosse. I see myself playing lacrosse in college, and I know I’ll be prepared. The competition we face at The Hill is very high, and my coach, Mrs. Mulhern, is great. In fact, she’s a coach for the USA under-19 national team.”
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Intramural Fitness-based Intramurals Lifeguard Certification Strength and Conditioning
Eric Davidheiser, 6th form student
Chris Drowne ,89, Head Coach of boys varsity soccer, Assistant Head Coach for varsity baseball, and Knobloch Chair of Economics 10. the hill school
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Community Commitment
| Leading and Serving | We believe a complete education does more than nurture academic achievement. It also inspires growth in character. The Hill is a community united by shared values, key among them a sense of integrity and responsibility. Our students find high expectations and ample encouragement as they step forward to take on new roles, speaking out and pitching in, leading and serving.
An Atmosphere of Trust “ What the Honor Code says is that each person must act with integrity. What it means is that you can leave your book bag and it will be safe. A teacher can step outside during a test and no one will cheat. The Honor Code creates an atmosphere of trust.” Tom Shade, 4th form student
All Phases of Life “ Hill prepares students for success in all phases of life, not just academics. It does a great job keeping kids grounded and in touch with the real world, and it provides them with leadership opportunities. For each of our sons, that has turned out to be a very meaningful growth experience.” Amber Gofus, Hill School parent
Learning to Lead “ Even if you have the desire to serve, becoming a great leader takes deliberate practice. Due to the small size and intimate nature of The Hill School, our students enjoy opportunities to practice their budding leadership skills in the classroom, in the dormitory, in athletics, in co-curricular programs, in student organizations, and in the local community. As such, those skills become a deeply embedded aspect of our students’ dispositions and Hill graduates often serve in meaningful leadership positions in the private and public sector throughout the world.”
Pitching In A vital part of life at the Hill, community service takes many forms. “It could be tutoring area children, raising money for cancer research through Skate for the Cure, or bowl-a-thons for Operation Smile,” explains Caitlin Klein, a 6th form student. “You see your friends getting involved and ask yourself, ‘What am I passionate about?’ Whatever you choose, everyone supports you in pursuing it.”
Zack Lehman, Headmaster 13.
Teammates, Classmates, Roommates
| Friends Forever |
My Hill Family “ I absolutely feel that I have a complete network of support surrounding me. There are my teachers, my dorm parents, my coaches, and my adviser, Mrs. Dougherty. She has been my mentor and guiding light. Everyone here is family, and we really count on each other.” Annie McLaughlin, 4th form student
Close Ties “ It’s strange—at most I’ve known these kids for four years, only as long as we’ve been in school here at Hill. But I feel like we’ve grown up together. When it’s time to graduate, I’m really going to miss them.” Korey Jacobs, 6th form student
People of Every Background “ This is a very diverse place, and I’ve made such a range of friends—a girl from Pottstown, a girl from Saudi Arabia. There are students from 20 countries here. Every person from every background has something different to offer, and I try to learn something from each person I meet.” Jen Kang, 5th form student
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| College Planning and Preparation | Hill prepares its students to thrive in college in two important ways. First, The Hill provides an education strong in the liberal arts and the skills of writing, speaking, quantitative analysis, and ethical reflection, all essential to the challenges of university-level work. Second, through the staff of the George Berman Center for College Advising, Hill provides highly personal support to each student in finding and gaining admission to an excellent school that represents an equally excellent personal fit.
“ Our philosophy is that students should aspire highly and aspire prudently. They leave Hill extremely well prepared for the challenges of college, and we encourage them to reach for the institutions that will provide them with every opportunity they seek.” Craig Allen, Director of College Advising
“ Hill prepared me extremely well, both academically and socially, for success at Georgetown. Hill teachers demand a lot from you, and that prepared me to go above and beyond the academic expectations I found here.
Individual Guidance The cornerstone of the college advising program is the individual support provided by the members of the Berman Center staff, each of whom has direct experience working in admission for a college or university or, in one case, in college-level coaching and recruiting. Each staff member typically serves 40 to 50 students. The process begins in the fourth form as students choose courses for the following year, and it continues through the sixth form as students receive and ultimately choose among offers of admission.
Digital Resources During the college preparation process, students and staff utilize several excellent software programs and databases. The most important of these, Naviance, offers a self-assessment questionnaire, a testpreparation module, and a “scatter-gram” feature that lets students learn how other Hill students with similar academic profiles have faired in applying to specific schools. In addition, software from the College Board is used for accurate and realistically scored SAT practice testing.
College Forum Spanning the fall and winter terms, this special class for all fifth form students introduces each key aspect of the college search and admission process. Topics range from assessing personal strengths and preferences in order to build a college list, to preparing for campus visits, handling interviews, and writing application essays.
College Visits Hill’s staff maintains strong relationships with their counterparts in college and university admission offices. Each fall representatives from 70 or more institutions plan personal visits to campus. In the busy months of the school year, these visits offer students a time-efficient way to explore promising schools and to begin deciding which campuses they will want to see in person. In addition, each spring some 30 schools participate in The Hill’s College Mini Fair, which all fourth and fifth form students attend.
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The single most useful skill I took from my Hill experience is writing well, the ability to think critically and analytically and put my thoughts on paper concisely. I also found the structure of Hill’s schedule very helpful as a template for managing my time.” A lec Miran, Hill graduate and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service student
“ Smith is the perfect school for me—my dream school. I couldn’t be any happier with my choice, and I don’t believe I would be here if it weren’t for all the guidance, support, and help I received at Hill. My college adviser and academic adviser were both incredibly proactive in helping me put together a great application, stand out as a strong candidate, and gain admission. I am really appreciative of all they did.” Olivia Cap, Hill graduate and Smith College student
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| Our Campus | 5
The Hill’s campus combines tradition with warmth, old with new, respect for our past with a view toward the future. Students walk the same Quad where our students first gathered in 1851, and they live and learn in many buildings that have been in use for more than a century. They study in a library that combines traditional Gothic arches and stained glass with stateof-the-art spaces for research and computing. They also make use of newer facilities such as the Center For The Arts, with its open architectural style. From any of these buildings, students have access to an information technology network that is unsurpassed among secondary schools.
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1. Alumni Memorial Chapel
9. Meigs House: Admission
Residences
2. Center For The Arts
10. John P. Ryan Library
15. Dell Village
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11. Academic Center: Headmaster, Campus Store
16. Dutch Village
12. Science Building
18. Rolfe Dormitory
4. The David H. Mercer Field House 5. The Dell Field 6. Dining Hall 7. Sweeney Gymnasium 8. Edward Tuck Hall Arena and Thomas Eccleston Jr. Rink
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13. Soccer Field and Colbath Track 14. Widener Building: Advancement Office
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17. Foster Dormitory
Philadelphia
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19. Wendell Dormitory 20. Upper School Dormitory 21. Sherrill Guest House
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Pottstown
Located in Pottstown, a small > community northwest of Philadelphia, Hill occupies a location convenient to destinations all along the midAtlantic coast. It’s a short drive from Center City Philadelphia, about two hours from New York City, and about three hours from Washington, DC.
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| Fast Facts |
Faculty 89 faculty members: 70% with advanced degrees; 7 to 1 student/ teacher ratio. Class Sizes Average size: 12; maximum size: 17. Curriculum Grounded in the tradition of the liberal arts and sciences, with honors offerings in most departments, more than 20 AP courses, and several options for independent study.
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Tuition and Financial Aid Financial Aid is awarded to 40% of students, with the average needbased grant covering approximately two-thirds of the cost of tuition. Please see www.thehill.org for current tuition and fees.
Residential Living Eighty percent of students live in one of 12 residence halls, under the supervision of dormitory parents and student prefects; the environment combines familial warmth with clear structure and limits.
Visiting Campus Tours and interviews are offered throughout the year and visitors are warmly welcomed. Please contact the Admission Office to schedule your visit.
Athletics 29 interscholastic teams facing Mid-Atlantic Prep League rivals and other independent and public schools. For a list of sports, see page 10. Postgraduate Program Open to selected candidates showing academic promise and maturity and seeking to strengthen their educational preparation before entering college.
For More Information To learn more about The Hill and the admission process, please visit us on-line at www.thehill.org, contact us by email at admission@thehill.org, or call the Admission Office at 610-326-1000.
Dan DEVINE PHOTO (page 17 and 20)
Enrollment 490 students from more than 30 states and some 20 countries: 80% boarding, 30% of students of color, 9% international.
Campus A 200-acre hilltop site featuring buildings ranging from the historic stone chapel and library to the contemporary Center For The Arts and an expansive new field house, squash courts, and indoor ice rink.
Our Mission The Hill School prepares young men and women from across the country and around the world for college, careers and life. Within a family school environment and a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, we challenge our young people to work hard; think and reason; be fulfilled; serve the common good; and be prepared to lead as citizens of the world, uniquely guided by our motto, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatsoever Things Are True.â&#x20AC;?
Kelsh Wilson Design www.kelshwilson.com
Identity An independent, non-sectarian, coeducational boarding and day school, founded in 1851.
Jen Lebo Photography (page 12)
Our School Motto: Whatsoever things are true.
The Hill School 717 East High Street Pottstown, Pennsylvania 19464-5791 610-326-1000 www.thehill.org