Traditions
Life at Hillbrook is filled with adventure, learning, and laughter - these are a few of our favorite ways to connect and grow as a community.
Flag
Each week, accompanied by the Head of School and Hillbrook's Student Council (STUCO), our community pledges allegiance to the flag, students and teachers make announcements, and our community shares news. A highlight of this weekly tradition is jokes, where students (or adults) can stand up, take a risk, and share a joke with the entire audience. This is a favorite time for families to spend a few minutes observing and enjoying the school community.
Buddies
Monthly, Middle School and Lower School students connect through various events, projects, and activities, providing an opportunity for students in different grade levels to interact throughout the school year. This is a valuable experience for Middle School students to act as mentors and leaders to our younger students, and our Lower School students benefit from building meaningful relationships - that last year after year - with older peers.
Family Fun Night
Each fall, our community comes together for an evening of family games and an old-fashioned barbecue. This event, open to all families, is highly anticipated every year.
Student/Faculty Games
Interaction outside the classroom between students and teachers is a vital part of Hillbrook's integrated learning. Faculty vs. student basketball, volleyball, and softball games develop friendly competition and demonstrate school spirit.
Concerts and Performances
Students in junior kindergarten through 8th grade perform solo and in ensemble, making these performances a school favorite. Performances include acting, singing, dancing, and instrumental work. Annual performances include the Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten Family Celebration, the 1st-4th Grade Spring Concert, the 3rd Grade Greek Play, the 3rd Grade Sound Project, the 5th-8th Grade Winter Concert, the all-school Grandparents & Special Friends Day performance, and more.
The Halloween Parade
One of the most popular events, every member of our community is invited to celebrate the morning with Hillbrook in costume. Get ready to party, because Halloween at Hillbrook promises a vibrant parade, led by the Head of School, who starts the parade in junior kindergarten, picking up every grade before gathering the entire school in the Amphitheater. A school-wide musical performance led by our music teachers follows, with help from a few 8th grade students. Countless photo opportunities abound as each grade takes the stage to show off their costumes to music.
8th Grade Recognition Ceremony
In celebration of our graduating class and honoring the way in which we know and value each student for their unique passions and curiosities, this is a memorable and bittersweet experience for our graduating class. Teachers and staff honor each student on the Amphitheater stage before an audience of peers, teachers and administrators, friends, and family. This is also where the students, who have been nominated by their own peers and teachers, are honored with Hillbrook Awards: The Hillbrook Award is given to the student who best exemplifies our Vision – to inspire students to achieve their dreams and to reach beyond themselves to make a difference in the world. This award is given to someone who has consistently pushed to reach their highest individual potential both inside and outside the classroom, and who also strives to meet the school’s Core Values – be kind, be curious, take risks, and be your best. The recipient of this award returns in four years to address the 8th grade class at their graduation. The Founders Award recognizes a student whose goodwill, community mindedness and spirit, citizenship, and sense of humor enhance the life of their class and Hillbrook School.
Graduation
1st-7th grade students attend and sing with and for the 8th graders and their guests on this special milestone day. The graduating class is celebrated by a selection of special guests, including the recipient of the Hillbrook Award from the graduating class four years prior.
8th Grade Musical or Play
Hillbrook tradition, the entire 8th grade class is involved in staging the show, from singing and acting to building sets, making costumes, and running lights and microphones. The annual musical is a cherished tradition that dates back to the earliest days of Hillbrook School in the 1930’s.
