An idea born at the 6th grade retreat has grown. Into a turnip. The Dirpy Turnip. He’s the mascot and namesake for a grassroots organization created by a 6th grader who inspired several 6th and 7th graders to join in the cause. The group meets outside of class time during breaks and lunches to turn this idea into reality, with the help of Jennifer who is their faculty adviser.   Dirpy Turnip is an organization that sells trading cards in hand-made paper boxes, ranging in size, cost, and rarity – from “common” to “ultra mega rare.” Students…

Hyla Middle School eighth-grader Hannah Cutler was recently awarded second place for her essay, “Tidal Power and Solar Roads: Clean Energy Solutions for a Country going Green,” as part of the World Affairs Council’s 20th annual World Citizen Essay Contest. Hannah, of Bainbridge Island, won in the sixth- to eighth-grade division of the essay competition. The prize included a cash award as well as recognition in a May 15 ceremony where she was honored by several academics from the University of Washington as well as Jacqueline Miller, CEO of the World Affairs Council. Miller, who is…

Hyla’s Middle School’s Parent Education Speaker Series presents pediatric nurse, author, and educator, Julie Metzger on February 13 from 7-9 PM. Join us for a conversation on Staying Close While Standing Back: strategies to strengthen family communication with adolescents. “One of the greatest balancing acts that parents face in today’s world is knowing when to step forward to help guide their children’s lives and when to let their child make independent decisions and choices for themselves,” says Julie of this crucial phase in development.

Jim Bisenius, founder of Bully Proofing Youth will visit Hyla to share his twenty years of experience as a child and adolescent therapist. His expertise centers on teaching methods for handling bullying situations. Jim has shared his knowledge in over 950 schools to students of all ages. In addition, he conducts trainings for school staff members and workshops for parents, with the goal of giving participants concrete tools that they can immediately implement to help their child or student eliminate bullying from his or her life. As part of Hyla’s Speaker Series, Jim will conduct a…

Emelio DiSabato earned his MA from Columbia University’s Teachers College after graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in Latin. He taught middle school English in both New York and Colorado before moving to Washington to teach at Hyla. Emelio brings an inspiring wonder and excitement to his work and many hobbies to our community, including cycling, backpacking, pottery, and music – many of which will surely make appearances in Electives and Exploration Week. Here is a short Q&A to introduce you to Emelio. What do you love about teaching English?  Engaging in the language arts…

The school year may be over, but there is a lot going on at Hyla! The campus is abuzz with activity and we’re excited to tell you all about it. You can read about our progress and see what’s on the horizon in our End of Year Communique…

We invite parents to join us for a free event: Technology & Social Media in Middle School with Dr .Christy Brady Smith Tuesday, April 24th 6:30 PM Hyla Library Come learn about the impact and influence of social media, technology, and the digital age on our middle school children. Social media and technology is always a big topic for parents. Your children are growing up in an ever-changing landscape of apps at the same time that they are working their way through different levels of accountability, identity and independence. The technology approach that works for your…

Student leadership and hard work create yet another way to connect to the natural environment at Hyla.   By careful design, students at Hyla get a burst of fresh air between every single class: they don’t walk through hallways, but rather along outside porches that connect classrooms. On any given day you can find Hyla students outside during class time as well – writing for English class, building something for science class, digging in an archaeological pit for history, or running for PE. During break and lunch times, you will see students in trees, in the…

What does PE look like at Hyla? Teacher Cooper Rooks explains in his own words:   When most of us think of Middle school PE classes we think of awkward locker rooms and gyms with dozens of our peers in a competitive environment that feels like it was invented to highlight our differences in a negative way. Or at least that’s what I remember as 6’3″ lumbering 8th grader, who played basketball and field games like a fish out of water (I was a swimmer). I had a PE teacher in 8th grade that encouraged me…