Summer Camp at Hyla is back! This year, we are offering two one-week sessions featuring half-day courses in art, theater, science, sports, and engineering. Families may register for a half-day or full-day option for one or both weeks. When: Session I: June 22-26; Session II: June 29 – July 3 Who: Anyone entering grades 5-6-7-8-9 Cost: $160/week half-day, $320/week full-day How to register: Click here to download the registration form return it to Hyla with a check made out to Hyla Middle School to cover class fees. Return the form to Hyla Middle School, 7861 Bucklin Hill Road, Bainbridge…

The 2nd Annual Hyland Games features outdoor field and carnival style games, prizes, raffles, live music, food trucks and plenty of family fun! Sunday, May 17th Noon – 3:00 PM Hyla Middle School 7861 Bucklin Hill Road Bainbridge Island, WA  98110   In the spirit of traditional Scottish Highland Games, our “Hyland” games provide a unique combination of Hyla Middle Schools’ culture of sportsmanship, honorable competition, community involvement and old- fashioned enjoyments. We invite the surrounding community of all ages to join us for a festive day featuring some of Hyla’s most beloved traditions. A Scottish…

          Last week our 7th grade students took to an empty stage for Hyla’s annual Improv night. Building on the strong ensemble work from last year, students worked together in a collaborative process, learning the art of adaptation and a new expression for creativity. Through a series of improvisation and mask techniques, students showed us that the essentials of this performance style are skills they will need in all areas of life: concentration flexibility cooperation, and courage Beyond physical and vocal expression, theater at Hyla is a path to self-discovery. For more information about our drama program, click…

As part of our parent education program, “Parenting Right in the Middle,” we offer online TIPs for busy parents. TIPs stands for “Tools for Intentional Parents.” Here are two great resources for keeping normal tween behavior from setting your hair on fire: Looking for a way to move through reactivity? This short video from Dr. Laura Kastner helps parents access the Learner’s Mindset – home base for effective parenting.   Looking for concrete ways to build better communication with your tween? Here’s a 12 point list, from therapist Veronique Burke, MSW, LICSW, to get you started. You’ve heard…

Just glancing at the list of Electives you get a sense of the fun – experimental cooking, printmaking, debate – to name just a few. But Electives are about a lot more than fun. The broad range of activities offered through Electives speak to the multi-dimensional skills, talents, and passions of our faculty. They bring that passion to each activity and invite students to explore a new activity or subject area. When students choose an Elective, they are often choosing a hobby that will stay with them for life, or an area of study that will guide…

“The evolution of algebra at Hyla The story of our new math curriculum begins at the Arbor School soccer exchange. Each year Hyla students compete in various sports events in the region with other students from independent schools. While the soccer exchange with Arbor, Catlin Gabel (track) and Spring Reign (Ultimate Frisbee) are beloved traditions for students, they are also important times for Hyla faculty to connect with other teachers. Casual conversations between teachers at these events can spark exciting exchange and inquiry. And that’s exactly how we came to find out about a new algebra…

Starting in the Spring of 2014, the science room has received some exciting upgrades: New technologies: Robot kits for computer programming and robotics in 6th grade and electives. iPad minis for science (to receive data from probes) and math class (graphing calculators). Digital probes to transmit data wirelessly (like temperature and motion) during labs in all grades. Several new solar car kits so kids can work in pairs rather than groups. Color printer and copier in the science room for distributing data and sharing student-generated work more quickly and easily (the printer is also shared with…

They did it! The 6th grade class has completed one of the signature Hyla experiences: performing a full Shakespeare play. A culminating experience, like a performance, allows students to demonstrate their developing skills, and therefore to feel a great sense of success. Sitting in the audience, we too can feel their pride when we watch them on stage transformed into their characters.   Interpreting a classical dramatic text and then creating a unique character to express physically and vocally is a tremendous personal challenge for students. These photos capture quiet moments of the difficult work that prepares students…

Last week teachers took the 7th grade into the Mountaineer’s Preserve near Chico, WA as part of our aquatic biology and experimental design unit. With new iPad minis in hand, students walked along the salmon run capturing data and photos. Special thanks to Hyla dad, Rick Gillat, who guided stream biology experiments along this active salmon run in an old growth forest. 

Today during Morning Meeting, faculty members briefly described their visions for this year’s mini-term explorations. Yes, mini-term is a month away! This is the first time we’ve had mini-term this early in the school year; however, we are excited to start Tuesday afternoon, December 16th, 2014. Students will be in specific groups all day Wednesday and Thursday. We will reassemble on Friday to share our findings and share a meal, celebrating culture, before our noon dismissal for winter break. For those new to the Hyla community, each year we break from the normal academic routine to look…