HACKLEY SCHOOL
Convocation 2016
On Tuesday, September 6th, Hackley School launched its 118th academic year. On Wednesday, September 7th, during our annual Convocation, Hackley’s K-12 community came together to formally recognize the installation of Hackley’s 12th Headmaster, Michael C. Wirtz.
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from the community council president
Right now, for all of us, big or small, change is at the forefront of our minds; there’s a ton of construction on campus, (which I am sure all of you have come across already) a new headmaster joining us this year, a new grade to begin, and new friendships forming or old ones being rekindled.
As a member of the senior class, I know that my classmates are all especially thinking about and preparing for the changes that our last year at Hackley will bring, but an even bigger change that is to come next year, when we must all leave the Hilltop. This year, I challenge all of you to accept these changes coming into your life, and to work with them as you look towards the future. Consider the legacy that you and your classmates want to leave behind, and make sure that you work every day to meet those goals while you are a student here.
To keep our awesome community thriving, the best thing I’d say to do is remember our school’s mantra: “Enter here to be and find a friend.” It can sometimes be easy to forget this statement, or forget to live in the moment and be kind to others at times—especially in the hustle and bustle always going on at Hackley—but every day we must remember to uphold the ideals of integrity, achievement, and respect that we pride ourselves with as students of Hackley and members of its community.
So, in light of all the change occurring this year on the Hilltop, I urge you to consider Hackley already has a very special commuthe things that you want to change to imnity filled with caring and motivated peoprove as individuals and to make our comple which I’ve personally seen every single munity a better and stronger place. Whethday these past three years—it’s really er it be giving yourself a small goal to say extraordinary. hi to people more often in the hallway, or
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from the community council president
a greater gesture like sitting with someone who is all alone at lunch, any act of kindness is appreciated. Remember that each year is a new leaf, and yours starts now; change yourself into someone who you are proud to be and “put your all” into the community and every activity you partake in so that you are proud to be representing the Hackley community.
I wish you all the best of luck this year, and I am confident that it is going to be a great one. I can’t wait to get to know all of you better—I am honored to be the president of such an exceptional community of people. Thank you.
ALEXANDRA MEYER ’17
Community Council President
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from the president of the board of trustees
Good Morning everyone. This is my first convocation. Hackley did not have this tradition when I was here. I don’t think the entire school got together for anything. Thirty-four years ago when I started as a 9th grader, where we are now, this was a parking lot.
Back then, we did not have the facilities for a school-wide gathering. We expressed our school spirit and Hackley pride in other ways. But today is convocation, today’s Hackley is fortunate to celebrate together, and I am happy to be here to celebrate with you. Indeed, the word convocation essentially means gathering the community to celebrate together.
Hackley experience. Hackley values, Hackley character is a part of the teaching from kindergarten through 12th grade. And when you graduate, you carry it with you as alumni. I am here to remind you that although you leave the Hilltop at graduation, the Hackley culture stays with you and you stay a part of the Hackley community forever.
So let us come together and celebrate the opening of our 118th year at Hackley. We have many things to celebrate on the Hilltop, but let’s focus on what makes Hackley special and unique. Hackley is not just another school.
Today we celebrate what links us— students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents—a love of this place, the common ethos, the shared character and values that make us a community. At convocation, we celebrate a new school year, filled with promise, hope and excitement. But this year, we also celebrate the start of Hackley’s next era of leadership under Michael Wirtz, our Headmaster. When the Board of Trustees selected Mr. Wirtz, we did so because he demonstrated that he shared our values, he understood Hackley’s culture and he had a vision for an even better Hackley built on the strong foundation of our past 117 years.
Yes, we educate students to reach their full potential, to grow and learn in a nurturing environment. Other schools do that, perhaps almost as well. Of course Hackley does better than those schools on the athletic fields, middle school debate tournaments, quality of lower school playgrounds, and in theatre performances and art shows. What makes Hackley truly different, truly unique, is our culture. That culture is in everything we do, everything we learn, everything that makes up the
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from the president of the board of trustees
Today I officially welcome Mr. Wirtz to the Hackley community, and we welcome his wife and family too—Hilary, Charlie and Frances. In technical terms, this is his installation as the 12th Headmaster of Hackley School. Installation may seem like a strange word for this ceremony. I don’t mean to suggest that Mr. Wirtz is a part or a software program. Another definition of install refers to a ceremony where someone is put in an important job. That is what we are doing here. There is no more important job at Hackley than Headmaster, the person who will lead us educationally, morally and culturally.
But really, it’s a community-wide housewarming party, and we want the Wirtz family to make the Hilltop their home. Mike, please allow me to formally welcome you to Hackley. On behalf of the Board and the entire community, we look forward to your leadership, and to working closely together to preserve our culture and our values while taking Hackley to the next level.
At convocation, we celebrate a new school year, filled with promise, hope and excitement. But this year, we also celebrate the start of Hackley’s next era of leadership under Michael Wirtz, our Headmaster.
JOHN C. CANONI ’86, P ’20
President, Hackley Board of Trustees
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MEET
MICHAEL WIRTZ
Michael C. Wirtz comes to Hackley from St. Mark’s School, a 9-12 day and boarding school in Southborough, MA, where he had served as Assistant Head of School/Dean of Faculty since 2010. At St. Mark’s, Mr. Wirtz led the schools’s initiative to build its STEM education program, along with the program, curriculum and facility development inherent to its success, and led a team of faculty to direct architects to design a world-class teaching and learning space. Mr. Wirtz began his teaching career at The Montgomery Academy in Montgomery, AL, after spending two years working as a scientist with Pfizer, Inc. He joined the faculty at Concord Academy, Concord, MA in 2001 as Lead Chemistry Teacher, and served as Science Department Chair. Mr. Wirtz earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, summa cum laude at Ohio University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Lambda of Ohio. He earned his Ed. M. in Policy, Planning, and Administration at Boston University. An avid golfer and lover of the ocean, Mr. Wirtz joins the Hackley community with his wife, Hilary, and their two children.
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from the headmaster
Thank you Alex and Mr. Canoni for those kind words. It is an honor and a privilege to join the Hackley community and I am looking forward to working with both of you this year!
I also want to thank all the students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and trustees who have warmly welcomed me and my family to Hackley. I know that we are joining more than a school, we are joining a community. That is a difference with distinction, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be here with all of you.
our Lower School students and parents. For those of you who don’t know it, Gerald the Giraffe was known to be a bit clumsy, yet he was eager to participate in the community-wide dance with all the other animals. Unfortunately, their response to him was anything but encouraging and accepting:
I am only nine weeks into my tenure as Hackley’s head, yet it would be hard to miss the importance of community here on the Hilltop. During this transition, I have often asked students and adults, “What makes Hackley a special place?” The responses always touch on the idea of community, illuminated by stories of support, encouragement, friendship, and acceptance. Not all—or even many —independent schools share these attributes. Today, I want to talk about us: a collection of individuals who are united as a community.
“ Hey, look at clumsy Gerald,” the animals all sneered.
I was reminded of this idea recently after reading an important work of fiction: Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees. This story may be familiar to many of you here today, particularly
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“ Giraffes can’t dance, you silly fool! Oh, Gerald, you’re so weird.” As you would expect, Gerald felt terrible about himself and retreated from the dance floor embarrassed and alone. A cricket observed Gerald and offered the following encouragement: “ Listen to the swaying grass and listen to the trees. ‘ To me the sweetest music is those branches in the breeze. “ So, imagine that the lovely moon is playing just for you—everything makes music if you really want it to.”
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from the headmaster
Setting aside his humiliation, Gerald slowly began to sway, finding that he could dance. His movement gave way to joyful, uninhibited dancing. The other animals came upon Gerald and were impressed by what they saw: “It’s a miracle! We must be in a dream. “Gerald’s the best dancer that we’ve ever, ever seen!” The story ends with Gerald explaining how he learned to dance: Then he raised his head and looked up at the moon and stars above. “We all can dance,” he said, “when we find music that we love.” “We all can dance when we find music that we love.” Gerald discovered he was able to dance because he was willing to try. He stretched himself in a new way. He took a risk! Not only did Gerald learn to dance, he discovered an inner strength and resolve, laying the groundwork for a potential friendship with the cricket.
make as part of an ensemble or for Coffeehouse. Or it might be the metaphorical music and dance that comes as you participate in Young Round Square, write for The Dial, compete on an athletic team, participate in debate, and develop as a thinker, writer, scientist, and artist. Each of you will have the chance to try something new this year and I hope you make the most of those opportunities as they come along. As I have come to know Hackley over the last year, I see this community as a place that attracts and honors those who, like the cricket, offer kindness, inclusion, and support to those around them. The cricket recognized Gerald’s vulnerability as he tried something new, and the cricket acted as I believe members of our community would have done, a fictional example of “Enter here to be and find a friend.”
As learners, each of us needs a place to try new things and Hackley is that very place. I want each of you to be like Gerald: find music that you love and dance to it. Quite literally, this may be the music that you
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In one moment or another this year, each of us will do something we have never done before [‌]  Each of us will also bear witness to these daily acts of courage and growth as our friends and classmates try and try again.
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from the headmaster
In one moment or another this year, each of us will do something we have never done before. We will be Gerald! Each of us will also bear witness to these daily acts of courage and growth as our friends and classmates try and try again. We will be the cricket! Hackley values personal character, and the ways in which our daily interactions influence the feel of the school. Over the last few days, you have welcomed new classmates and renewed friendships with those you have known throughout your time on the Hilltop. You are each directly contributing to that which we value so
highly at Hackley: our sense of community. As we open the 2016-17 school year, I encourage you to find the music that you love and dance‌and then support those around you to do the same. Community does not come from the buildings, the fields, or the air we breathe here. It comes from each of us. I am truly excited to be here at Hackley, and I wish each of you a wonderful school year!
MICHAEL C. WIRTZ
Headmaster, P ’29
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HACKLE Y SC H O O L 293 Benedict Avenue Tarrytown, NY 10591