6th Grade:

With the 7th and 8th graders away on retreat, the 6th graders had all of Hyla to themselves – and they were busy! They built natural sculptures using materials from around campus to apply the philosophy and technique of Andy Goldsworthy. Returning to the beads they chose at the overnight to symbolize the gifts they bring to a community, students built a dream catcher incorporating the beads to reinforce the many ways in which they are connected as a group. While reinforcing their positive attributes, they also worked to recognize the rougher edges they are learning to smooth: they wrote on paper the things they are ready to leave behind, and burned those papers in the meadow. They explored teaching and learning with an activity called the “learning dance,” in which one person has to teach but cannot talk, while the other person has to learn, but cannot see. They did a relay race, and created their time capsule, which included photos and an audio recording and a “heart map” to capture what they love at this moment in time. Our purpose with each activity was to invite a sense of belonging, both in the physical place of Hyla and the human community of our school.

7th Grade:

We know that experiential and hand-on activities are important for learning at this age, so what better way to study forest and watershed ecosystems than with a visit to NatureBridge. Working with environmental educators from NatureBridge, students enjoyed an outdoor classroom including canoeing on Lake Crescent and hiking up a river. This trip also launches the archaeology study with a visit to the Makah Cultural and Research Center in Neah Bay. This time away as a class is also important for bonding as a group. 

8th Grade:

As the oldest kids on campus, 8th graders are in a new position of leadership. The 8th grade retreat focused on activities that foster trust and belonging, with a particular emphasis on listening. Students learned about the “helping spectrum” to understand different ways to listen. The retreat helps the class set a tone for the rest of year, and begin to practice some of the goals they’ve identified for themselves. Setting personal and group goals helps them define and better understand the responsibility of leadership, at Hyla and beyond. Through this process they begin to understand and articulate what it means to be a leader, both as an individual and within the larger school community. They jumped the line – a group collaboration and problem solving activity that requires them to all land at the same time. They built sculptures on the beach that represent their class. In their free time they swam, invented a new game (Frisbee baseball), and played on a giant swing.