9th GRADE MATH: The limits of algebraic models and the possibilities they inspire. Erik will tell you that sometimes the most exciting thing about a new math skill is not necessarily that students learn where and how it can be applied, but that they learn where and how it cannot. Case in point: finding the best-fit line in algebra class. Students analyze a data sample from a set window of time, find the slope, solve for the y-intercept, and voila: they now have an equation/model they can use to accurately predict results both within and outside of the original…

STUDENT LEADERSHIP & IDENTITY IN HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS At first glance, you see that high school clubs are about astronomy, a literary magazine, hiking, gardening, cinema, and Disc Golf & Ultimate. Go a layer deeper and you see that students are conducting interviews and managing production deadlines; calling local nonprofits to propose a partnership based in citizen science; building cardio strength and endurance in fresh air; and debating procedures and methods for Cinema Club. Ask Spanish Teacher Tom Neal and he’ll tell you to go a layer deeper to get at the real purpose of Hyla’s…

Our Middle School Campus: No matter what window you look out, you’ll see students outside getting fresh air. They’re on the sport court, in the Gaga pit, climbing trees, reading on steps, playing ping pong, and working on assignments under trees. By design, students get a burst of fresh air after every class thanks to covered porches (not indoor hallways) as they pass from one class to the next. During breaks and lunch, they are outside again and can choose from a wide range of spaces to explore. Teachers take advantage of our wide campus for…

6th MATH: What’s a great way to give yourself a fresh, clean start to a new year of math? Bath bombs! Beyond the obvious fun, making bath bombs in math class involved many essential elements of math at Hyla: positivity, real-life application, and hands-on activities. With the intentional goal of making sure math is “not scary,” Cindy started the year off with a series of activities that involve math review, assessment, and student self-reflection. In their “math biographies” students were asked to take responsibility for themselves as learners and advocate for their needs as they shared…

Launch Week at Hyla High: Concentric Circles of Learning & Impact As a deep learning program, Hyla High attracted a founding group of students who share a clear and common rallying cry: “I want an education within community.” Launch Week gave them community as an experience, but also as a mindset, a critical thinking tool, and an academic method. During Launch Week, the practice of community also activated student engagement, leadership, inquiry, and co-creation – all essential and interconnected elements of deep and purposeful learning.  We began by introducing the high school “campus” as an expansive learning environment…

Hyla grads often talk about the game of gaga ball as a metaphor for Hyla, friendship, and even life. But this year the gaga pit itself is a shining metaphor for creative possibility in the face of hardship. Shakespeare is never a light undertaking with 6th graders, but add a pandemic, masks, and countless protocols and you have quite a challenge. But Chris knows that what it takes to perform Shakespeare in 6th grade – trust, responsibility, and courage – is exactly what it takes to keep tradition alive during COVID. And so, thanks to resourcefulness, determination, and…

What’s great about disc golf? Just ask students! They’ll tell you: Everybody is super chill. While it’s a physical sport, there’s a lot of deliberation and strategy, and you can always get better at it. I do it because it’s fun. Dozens of Hyla students from all grades gather twice a week on the upper field to play disc golf. Similar to Ultimate Frisbee, it’s an inclusive sport in several ways. First, it’s free to play at local public parks throughout Kitsap County, including Battle Point Park, making for a great family activity. It’s also a…

To the whole, wide Hyla community:  Today we write to the entire Hyla community to thank you for the resounding, collective YES you brought to Hyla through your generosity! A healthy Annual Fund is always something to celebrate, and a successful Capital Campaign is a milestone accomplishment in the life of any organization; but when both happen in a pandemic year, it is breathtaking. We are profoundly humbled by your support, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the important work that happens at Hyla.  Our students, the children in our care, are our purpose. They are the reason we…