Expectations of a Hiller

Mission

I. Tower Hill School prepares students from diverse backgrounds for full and creative engagement with a dynamic world. Each student is provided with an educational experience that emphasizes the development of an inquisitive, discerning, and critical mind; the value of being creative and aesthetically sensitive; the appreciation of physical wellbeing; the ability to collaborate and to function as part of a team; and the growth of character.

II. Tower Hill inspires students to be citizens who are active, responsible, honest, collaborative, empathetic, and respectful. It is our expectation that every Hiller will:

Be Proud

We care about our school, and treat each other with honor, civility and respect. We represent Tower Hill wherever we go, considering intentions and impact. We share the responsibility of caring for our buildings and grounds. We leave things better than we found them.

Be Present

We are present, engage with the community, demonstrate concern for others, and act appropriately. We value each other more than our digital devices. This means making a conscious choice to limit social media and video games in social settings, including lunch, assemblies, class and all other appropriate venues.

Be Professional

We are committed to upholding community standards and values at the highest level. This includes honoring the dress code, completing all school work with integrity and honesty, and advocating for oneself and for others.

Be Proactive

We are proactive, considering both the near and distant future. This includes studying, completing homework carefully, using open periods wisely, making healthy food choices, recycling all recyclables, minimizing use of resources, and cleaning up after ourselves.

We pay attention to the future of the greater school community by engaging in community service and also involving ourselves in clubs and co-curricular activities.

Responsible Behavior Expected of a Hiller

As stated, at the heart of Tower Hill School is a culture defined by active, responsible, honest, collaborative, empathetic, and respectful behavior, as well as our commitment to the safety and health of students. All members of the community have an obligation to know and uphold the School’s values and strive to embody them in word and deed.

We therefore expect that all members of the community will: ● Respect other people and their privacy and property, both within and beyond the School. ● Treat all human beings with dignity, refraining from behavior that intimidates, insults, threatens, bullies, coerces, abuses, exploits, harasses, humiliates, or demeans, acting with tolerance, courtesy, and thoughtful regard. ● Have an open mind and heart to the views and experiences of others, creating space for all to belong and thrive. ● Support and promote a school climate that does not discriminate against any individual or group. ● Use words constructively, avoiding gossip and other inappropriate or unproductive sharing of information. ● Maintain high standards of honesty, avoiding deception, half-truths, and deliberately misleading words or behavior. ● Exemplify principles of responsibility and fairness in daily life. ● Observe safe behavior and report unsafe conditions or practices. ● Cultivate caring and compassion, seeking to serve others, both within and beyond the School.

Our School cultivates a school environment in which all members of the community feel valued and safe. Part of living our values includes every member’s responsibility to support a safe school environment by refraining from harmful and unsafe behavior and reporting such behavior when observed. In addition, we prohibit all boundary crossing behavior between adults and students (as outlined in our Student/Adult Interaction and Communication Policy) and sexual misconduct (whether between students or adults and students). Adults are expected to identify and report suspicions of harassment, abuse, and sexual or other misconduct and will not engage in such behavior themselves. In addition, School employees are mandated reporters of suspected abuse, neglect, or abandonment as specified by Delaware law. The School has conducted and will continue to conduct training for adults and students on these important issues and encourages all students and their parents to report any concern about boundary crossing behavior, sexual misconduct, or any other situation that impacts the safety, health, or security of any member of our community to their Division Head, the Associate Head of School, or the Head of School.

All adults have an obligation to model through both language and behavior the values and expectations we have as a school, being especially conscious of their actions at times and places when students can observe them. Students must be mindful of the power they have in various roles at school. They must use their roles constructively, always avoiding intimidation and abuse of authority. Older and returning students must take seriously the power of their example on younger and newer students, accepting the responsibility to model and transmit our School values.

These community standards apply to our words and behavior not only in personal interactions, but also in all forms of electronic media and communications.

All members of the community help others to develop a sense of belonging, encourage empathy and compassion, and promote an environment that is safe, kind, and inclusive. As members of this community, we acknowledge that our actions reflect not only on ourselves, but also on the School as a whole and therefore strive to live in a way that is consistent with our values.

School Schedule

School Closings and Delays

Occasionally, School closes or opening time is delayed due to emergency situations, such as unsafe driving conditions or inclement weather. Students and families will be notified through Tower Hill’s Alert Now system, which will contact you through your home phone, cell phone, email, and text. Any information about delays or closings will also be posted at www.towerhill.org.

Features of the Schedule

The Upper School uses a 10-day cycle, which includes a morning meeting, class time, study hall, lunch at 1:05 p.m. and office hours from 3:15-3:45 p.m. A weekly assembly period is held every Wednesday from 10:35-11:20 a.m.

Morning Meeting

We begin school days in the theater at 8:30 a.m. sharp. The Upper School day begins with daily Morning Meeting in the du Pont Theatre. Morning Meeting is a time for community in which we gather as an entire division to share announcements, highlight student achievements, and take attendance. Morning Meeting is also where Senior Speeches take place. Parents are always welcome to attend Morning Meeting to hear their child give their Senior Speech. Classes begin five minutes later.

Classes

The Upper School uses a 10-day rotating schedule with a typical class length of 60 minutes. There are five academic periods scheduled each day. Major academic classes meet seven out of the ten days in the schedule.

Class Meetings (Homeroom)

Class meetings occur once each 10-day cycle. Each class meets in its Homeroom to discuss grade-specific information, develop a positive class culture, and engage in enriching activities as a class. The Class Deans and elected Student Government Officers run Homeroom meetings.

Lunch

All Upper School students are scheduled into the meal plan and are expected to attend lunch from 1:05 p.m. to 1:40 p.m.

Athletics

Athletics are a required element of the school day for most students. On a typical day, practice occurs from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. Depending on the sport, games occur a few times a week or on the weekend. Go to www.HillersSports.com for team schedules and info, or to the Athletic Handbook for more information on our athletic requirements. The requirement summarized is as follows: ninth and tenth graders must participate in an after-school athletic activity in each of the three seasons, whereas eleventh and twelfth graders may opt out of participating in such an activity during one out of the three seasons if they so choose.