Where History Lives: Stories from Hackley’s Archives
Margie shares some gems from the Hackley Archives and why those rooms are her favorite on the Hilltop.
By Margie McNaughton Ford ’85, P ’20, Director of Alumni Engagement
21
A School, A Community, A Legacy: Reflecting on the Life of Mrs. Frances Hackley
Molly delves into the history and accomplishments of our beloved founder.
By Molly Reinmann ’22
26
Continuity and Change: The Power of Hackley Traditions
This article was first published on our online blog — Hackley Perspectives — in October 2024.
By Andy King P ’30, Director of the Upper School
Editor
31
Empowering Voices: The Vital Role of Student Leadership to Drive Change and Agency
Cyndy explores the invaluable opportunities leadership roles provide our students.
By Cyndy Jean, Ed.D. P ’34, ’36, Associate Head of School
36
Hackley Athletics: Then and Now
Charlie offers a look back at Athletics on the Hilltop and how they have evolved over the decades.
By Charlie Perlman ’25, the Dial Editor-in-Chief and former Sports editor
45
“What Hackley Means to Me” Contributions by Lower School classes 3H and 4S
See what Hackley means to our third and fourth grade students through their own words and pictures.
Aisha Laspina-Rodriguez, Director of Communications arodriguez@hackleyschool.org
Photography
Includes photos by Hackley School Communications, guest photographers and writers.
Design
Jason Fairchild and Jen Shanley, Truesdale Group
Printing Recycled Paper Printing, Inc.
50
The Center for the Creative Arts and Technology
A look inside the new Center.
58
Hackley School Kahoot!
How well do you know your Hackley trivia?
60
Hackley News Articles on happenings around the Hilltop.
65
End Note
By Basil Kolani, Director of Academic Affairs
A very special thank you to Rozanne Rosenberg for your editorial support and help in getting this edition to mailboxes. Thanks also to Margie, Cyndy, Charles, Basil, Andy, Melissa, Greg, Bettie-Ann, Liz and Elizabeth, Molly, Charlie, and to the many more Hornets who shared their time and stories. This publication is possible because of you.
Follow Hackley School on your favorite social networks and on YouTube.
On the cover: The Hackley seal is emblazoned onto a new conference table, made of wood salvaged from Hackley’s iconic Old Oak, in the Head of School’s office.
It is with pride and enthusiasm that I welcome you to this commemorative edition of the Hackley Review. As we mark the 125th anniversary of our School, we find ourselves reflecting on the enduring legacy of Hackley — a legacy that honors both the deep traditions of the past and the vibrant promise of the future.
Within these pages, we invite you to explore the rich history of Hackley through stories preserved in our archives and reflections on our School’s evolution.
You will learn the ways in which our time-honored traditions have evolved, the development of our athletic programs, and how the foundational principles of a Hackley education have remained steadfast through the years.
A central focus of this edition is the remarkable Center for the Creative Arts and Technology. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a testament to our commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in our students, essential components of academic and personal growth. We also know that a Hackley education transcends the physical spaces we
inhabit. It is fundamentally about the cultivation of intellectual curiosity, the formation of character, and the inspiration of young people to lead lives of meaning and purpose.
As we look ahead, we do so with a deep sense of optimism and anticipation. The enduring values that have guided Hackley over the past 125 years will continue to inform the next chapter of our School’s story.
I hope you enjoy this special edition of the Hackley Review. It is a tribute to the wonderful spirit of Hackley — a spirit of community, character and a commitment to inspiring young people to achieve their full potential.
With warm regards,
Charles Franklin P ’30, ’32, ’35
head of school
DID YOU KNOW…
HACKLEY COLORS
“AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO RECORD OF AN OFFICIAL DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL COLORS, EVIDENTLY it was Mrs. Hackley who is responsible for the black and grey that have graced it throughout the century. John Noble of the class of 1928 recalled in an interview that Mrs. Gage [wife of Hackley’s fourth and longest-serving Headmaster], with whom he was on friendly terms, had told him that one day she and Mrs. Hackley attended the opening of the new medieval hall at The Metropolitan Museum of Art to view a special exhibit of medieval armor featuring the Black Prince, a special favorite of Mrs. Hackley. Mrs. Hackley admired the steel and black colors of the suit of armor, which to her represented chivalry, bravery, and romanticism.”
— WALTER SCHNELLER, WHERE THE SEASONS TELL THEIR STORY, P. 44
Editor’s Note:
As Hackley marks its 125th anniversary, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about what moments like this really mean. Milestones like these have a way of making us stop in our tracks — don’t they? They give us the chance to reflect — on who we’ve been, how far we’ve come and who we still hope to become.
For schools, this reflection feels especially meaningful. It’s about celebrating years of growth and honoring traditions — both of which lay the foundation for something even greater: imagining what comes next. It’s about asking ourselves: What kind of legacy are we building? What are we leaving behind for the students, teachers and families who will one day walk this campus, just as we do now? This anniversary isn’t just about looking back — it’s about looking forward. And it’s exciting to think about what the next 125 years of Hackley might hold.
In this edition of the Hackley Review, you’ll journey with students, alumni and staff as they explore Hackley’s archives, rediscover the legacy of our beloved Mrs. Hackley, celebrate the School’s rich traditions and reflect on the impact of today’s student leaders. You’ll also enjoy Lower School reflections, a stunning photo spread of the new Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, updates from around the Hilltop and more. And for a bit of fun, brush up on some Hackley trivia and unique facts — all within these pages. This is an incredible edition of the Hackley Review, and we’re thrilled to share it with you. Happy reading!
Aisha Laspina-Rodriguez Director of Communications
2024-2025
Board of Trustees
Harvinder S. Sandhu, M.D., President
Kaveh Khosrowshahi ’85, Vice President
Maria A. Docters, Vice President
David Gluckman, M.D., Treasurer
Eric B. Gyasi ’01, Secretary
Christopher P. Bogart
John C. Canoni ’86
Thomas A. Caputo ’65
H. Rodgin Cohen
Linda Holden-Bryant
Jeffrey A. Libert ’73
Michael H. Lowry
Rachel Mears
Daniel E. Rifkin ’89
Hannah E. Saujet ’94
Jumaane W. Saunders ’96
Sy Sternberg
John R. Torell IV ’80
Sarah Unger ’03
Amy Wong
Maureen Wright
Advisory Trustees
John J. Beni ’51
David A. Berry ’96, M.D., Ph.D.
Robert Grusky ’75
Jason J. Hogg ’89
Michael G. Kimelman ’56
Jonathan P. Nelson ’64
Diane D. Rapp
Conrad A. Roberts ’68
Lawrence D. Stewart ’68
Pamela Gallin Yablon, M.D.
Honorary Trustees
Herbert A. Allen ’58
Daniel A. Celentano
John T. Cooney, Jr. ’76
Jack M. Ferraro H’63
Berkeley D. Johnson, Jr. ’49
Keith R. Kroeger ’54
Philip C. Scott ’60
Hackley Parents’ Association
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Jennifer Madison, President
Carolyn Carr-Spencer, Executive Vice President
Kelly Wang, Administrative Vice President
Seena Karunakaran, Treasurer
Joelle Burton, Assistant Treasurer
Kim VanOrman Mook, Upper School Vice President
Brenda Ayers, Middle School Vice President
Monique McManus, Lower School Vice President
Queenee Choudhury-Kundu, Secretary
Hackley Alumni Association, Inc.
OFFICERS
Christie Philbrick-Wheaton ’00, President
David Gutschmit ’76, Co-Vice President
Timothy L. Kubarych ’06, Co-Vice President
Daniel E. Rifkin ’89, Treasurer A. Gentry Torell ’11, Secretary
Senior Administrative Team
Charles Franklin, Head of School
M. Cyndy Jean, Associate Head of School
Basil Kolani, Director of Academic Affairs
Andrew M. King, Director of the Upper School
Shazia Durrani, Director of the Middle School
Lisa Oberstein, Director of the Lower School
Erin Bernstein, Chief Financial Officer
Robert Aldrich, Director of Operations and Campus Planning
Sheila Hicks-Rotella, Director of Enrollment Management
John Gannon, Director of Advancement
Aisha Laspina-Rodriguez, Director of Communications
Hackley School adheres to a long-standing policy of admitting students of any race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity and national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.
It does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity or national origin in administration of its educational policies, employment, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.
Transitions
SHERRY BLOCKINGER ’87
Sherry Blockinger ’87, P ’18 has resigned from the Board of Trustees. Sherry was elected to the Board in July 2017 and has been a vital part of the Hackley Community, bringing invaluable perspectives and a deep commitment to our mission. Throughout her tenure, she has served on multiple committees, including Admissions and Financial Aid, Buildings and Grounds, Audit and Advancement, and the Steering Committee for the 2018 -2024 Strategic Plan, Redefining Excellence: Learning Beyond Boundaries
As a member of the Class of 1987 and parent of a “Hackley Lifer,” Jocelyn ’18, Sherry has consistently demonstrated her commitment to our community. Over the years, she has actively contributed to a variety of volunteer initiatives,
including the Mentor/Networking Committee, Hackley Parents’ Association events, and as a Class Parent and Hackley Host. She has also provided internship opportunities for students, served as a guest speaker in classes and hosted events.
Sherry’s unique perspective as both an alumna and a parent has greatly enriched our discussions and decision-making processes. She shared the following with us a decade ago, “Hackley combines a strong academic program with a nurturing environment and a dedication to social and extracurricular activities. As a student, I found Hackley’s academic program interesting and challenging. Hackley taught me how to be a friend, a teammate and a contributing member of the community.” Thank you, Sherry, for your dedicated service.
DID YOU KNOW…
HACKLEY’S FIRST 100 YEARS
WHERE THE SEASONS TELL THEIR STORY: HACKLEY SCHOOL’S FIRST 100 YEARS was researched and written by longtime Hackley history teacher Walter L. Schneller in celebration of the School’s Centennial during the 1999-2000 academic year. Mr. Schneller is memorialized as one of Hackley’s “gargoyles” — you can spot him peeking out of Allen Memorial Hall with a quill in hand overlooking the staircase leading up to the Johnson Courtyard from Akin Common.
Students who wish to brush up on their Hackley history can check out Where the Seasons Tell Their Story from the Sternberg Library.
Farewell
JOHN HALPIN
John Halpin joined Hackley’s Advancement Office as Major Gifts Officer in January 2022 , and in summer 2024 accepted a position as Director of Development with the Freedom of the Press Foundation. John did terrific work with major donors, helping them
find ways to connect with Hackley and to deepen their connection with the School. Likewise, he did a great job welcoming new parents to Hackley each year and helping them to find ways to engage with the life of the School as volunteers and donors. A talented writer and a consummate team player, John was always ready to pitch in and help every member of the team. He made an impact in his short time on the Hilltop, and we are grateful to him for his service to Hackley.
Katy Ritz served as the Advancement Office’s Associate Director since April 2019 and accepted an appointment as Chief Development Director at Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, Connecticut, in summer 2024. Over the years, her responsibilities included overseeing the Hackley Fund and the volunteer program,
managing a number of others on the Advancement team, and onboarding and training new team members. In her final year on the Hilltop, the Hackley Fund raised nearly $ 440,000 more than the previous year — the largest single-year increase in School history; it would not have been possible without Katy’s commitment and passion for her work. We miss her creativity when it comes to achieving the Advancement team’s goals for the School. She now has the opportunity to lead her own team at Eagle Hill.
KATY RITZ
Welcome New Employees
BRIAN BISSINGER
Brian Bissinger joined the Computer Science Department in the Lower School this year. With 14 years of experience in childhood education, Brian is a dedicated and certified New York State teacher specializing in grades 1 to 6. He recently served as a math and science
subject expert at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, where he also advised on curriculum and supported schoolwide initiatives. A graduate of Long Island University/C.W. Post, Brian’s previous roles include lead teacher at Success Academy and adjunct professor at Long Island University. In addition to his teaching expertise, he is actively involved in mentoring, professional development and extracurricular activities, including directing theater arts and coaching athletics.
LORI BODNER
Lori Bodner joined the Math Department this year, bringing over a decade of teaching experience and a passion for mathematics education to the Hilltop. She holds a master’s degree in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a bachelor’s in Mathematics from Barnard College, with New York State certification for grades 7-12 . Lori has
excelled in diverse roles, including as a content creator for DeltaMath, where she developed precalculus and calculus modules and produced over 800 math videos with more than 10 million views. A recipient of the Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching, she has achieved exceptional AP Calculus exam success rates and contributed to educational publishing, including writing AP Calculus questions for Ron Larson’s Calculus textbook. As a Math for America Master Teacher and Desmos Fellow, Lori engages in professional development through workshops, curriculum design and leadership in education.
HEIDIE JOO BURWELL
Heidie Joo Burwell joined Hackley’s Admissions Office as the Admissions Interviewer in late October. Before transitioning to independent school admissions, Heidie spent 20 years working in affordable housing development. She then brought her expertise in community engagement to Brooklyn Friends
School, where she held various parent volunteer roles supporting diversity and enrollment before serving as the Associate Director of Enrollment, focusing on Middle and Upper School admissions. Heidie holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. Her background in admissions, coupled with her ability to connect with families, has made her an invaluable addition to Hackley, where she warmly welcomes visitors to the Hilltop.
JENNIFER DENZA
Jennifer Denza joined Hackley this September as a family leave replacement teacher in the Lower School before transitioning to the Admissions Office as the Admissions Associate in October. She brings a wealth of experience and education to the role, holding a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from St. John’s University, along with
additional studies in Educational Leadership at Bank Street College of Education. With over 20 years of experience teaching preschool and more than a decade as a preschool center director, Jennifer’s deep expertise in early childhood education, strong organizational skills and ability to build meaningful partnerships with parents have already made her an invaluable member of the team. She has provided prospective Lower School families with insights into Hackley’s Kindergarten program while making Middle and Upper School applicants and their families feel welcomed and supported.
Welcome New Employees
Gina Diaz joined Hackley this year as the Administrative Assistant for the Buildings and Grounds Department. With a bachelor’s in Social Work from Mercy College and extensive experience in real estate, education, social work and legal support, Gina brings exceptional
organizational and communication skills to her role. She previously served as a real estate administrator at Compass Group, an administrative assistant at SAIL at Ferncliff Manor, and a family specialist with Family Services of Westchester, excelling in managing operations, records and client services. At Hackley, Gina oversees the work order system, coordinates events and logistics, and handles critical office processes, including compliance reporting, invoices and time tracking, ensuring smooth departmental operations.
Sarah French joined Hackley this year as our new theater production manager for the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology. She is an accomplished theater professional with a strong background in theater production, design and education. A graduate of Susquehanna
University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Production and Design, as well as English Publishing and Editing, Sarah also holds a minor in Arts Administration. Most recently, Sarah served as the production manager, teaching artist, lead technician, scenic artist and carpenter at The Play Group Theatre in White Plains, New York. Her expertise extends to scenic, lighting and costume design, and she is skilled in prop design, lighting programming and costume creation.
SARAH FRENCH
GINA DIAZ
KASSY FRITZ
We are thrilled to welcome Katherine “Kassy” Fritz to the Hilltop as our new Director of College Counseling. Kassy joins us from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where she served as Associate Dean and Director of College Counseling since 2015. There, she led a team of 17 counselors and support staff, developed a comprehensive counseling curriculum, and launched initiatives to promote
equity and access within the counseling office. Her leadership extended to mentoring new counselors, coordinating major college fairs, and maintaining strong communication with parents, students and college representatives. With experience in both higher education and K-12 schools, including teaching French and coaching field hockey at her alma mater, Groton School, Kassy brings a deep understanding of student support. She holds a master’s in French Language and Culture from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Dartmouth College. We look forward to her leadership in guiding our students’ college journeys.
MARY STAPLETON
Mary Stapleton returned to Hackley this year, this time to teach the fourth grade. Mary holds a Master of Science in Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Molloy College with permanent New York State certifications in Childhood Education (Grades 1- 6) and Literacy (Birth-Grade 6). She has a strong foundation in creating and implementing
inclusive, student-centered learning environments and expertise in Balanced Literacy, Singapore Math and differentiated instruction. Previously at Hackley, Mary taught kindergarten, where she excelled in implementing a diverse curriculum in literacy, math and art while fostering strong partnerships with families. More recently, she served as an adjunct teacher. In addition to classroom teaching, Mary contributed to the admissions process on the Hilltop by conducting interviews, assessing applicant files and managing information sessions for prospective families. We’re thrilled to welcome her back!
ASSOCIATE AND ADJUNCT TEACHERS
Associate Teachers are essential members of our Lower School community. Through a mentorship-style, four-year program, the teachers learn and apply valuable skills in the areas of classroom management and curriculum development on a daily basis. They are an integral part in lessons to help facilitate and lead small groups, especially in reading and math. A warm Hackley welcome to our newest Associate Teachers, and to new Lower School adjunct teacher Anna Adler ’02
HILLTOP SECURITY
Hackley’s Buildings & Grounds and Security teams play a vital role in ensuring the safety, functionality and beauty of our campus every day. Their dedication supports the well-being of our community and enhances school life. Please join us in welcoming our newest security personnel to Hackley’s Operations Office.
Lark Ervasti
Elizabeth Kehoe
Leah Cunningham
Olivia Giacomo ’17
Anna Adler ’02, Adjunct Teacher
Michaela McGovern
Andres Hidalgo
Andrew Williams
Dylan Dubose
Iyerton Pierre Nick Denza
Scan the QR code to read more about these associate and adjunct teachers.
Congratulations
TERRY ELLIS
Congratulations to our very own Terry Ellis! Terry joined Hackley in 2017 as Facilities Manager after a 21-year career with the Scarsdale Police Department. His experience at SPD will serve him (and us!) well in his new role as Hackley’s Assistant Director of Buildings &
Grounds. In this role, Terry will oversee and support our colleagues on the security team while also playing a key role in coordinating the B&G staffing and logistical support for campus events. Terry’s new position comes at a crucial time, with new state and federal reporting requirements, increased expectations around drills and training, and our continued work to implement the recommendations from last year’s campus safety assessment. We’re especially thankful to Terry for his work at Hackley, then and now.
DID YOU KNOW…
GARGOYLEHOOD
IN 2003, THEN HEAD OF SCHOOL WALTER C. Johnson announced the creation of a new honor to be bestowed on those who achieve tenure of at least 40 years at Hackley — Gargoylehood. Hackley worked with local sculptor Bob Carpenter, who trained at the German State Woodsculpture School in Oberammergau, Germany, and at the Master School for Stone Sculpture, Cutting & Technology in Freiburg, Germany. In 2005, the images of retired Hackley teachers Randy McNaughton (46 years),
John McAuliffe (44 years) and Walter Schneller (42 years) became part of Hackley’s architecture. Then, another three gargoyles were added to the School’s architecture: Rob Pickert (45 years), Doug Clark (41 years) and Phil Variano (41 years). On Dec. 12, 2024, Hackley officially unveiled two gargoyles in honor of Kerry Clingen and Anne Budlong, who have each served Hackley for more than 40 years, and counting!
Where History Lives Stories from Hackley’s Archives
By Margie McNaughton Ford ’85, P ’20
As a faculty child raised on the Hilltop, I grew up immersed in Hackley stories, tales of legendary faculty I never met but felt like I knew, and traditions I wish still existed. Though to be fair, I’m not entirely sure having a formal tea after football games with members of the opposing team and their families, served with Mrs. Hackley’s silver tea set, would quite hold up today. Stories passed down through generations preserve legacies and keep history alive. That’s why the Hackley Archives are so important to the School and why those rooms are my favorite spots on campus. The Archives bring history to life, helping us understand what it was like to step through the “Enter Here to Be and Find a Friend” door decades before we ever did.
Located on the lower level of Goodhue Memorial Hall, the Hackley Archives house a treasure trove of memories, photos and documents spanning 1899 to the present day.
The Quad in the early 1900s.
Hackley School welcomed its first students in 1899 at Hackley Hall, Mrs. Hackley’s estate in Tarrytown, less than a mile from its current location on the Hilltop. The gates of her mansion still stand today at the corner of Union and Castle Avenues, a steadfast reminder of those early days. After the School moved to its location on Benedict Avenue, an
estate formerly known as Waldheim Park, Hackley Hall became the Lower School (grades 4 to 7 ).
During a recent visit to the Archives, I came across Hackley’s first admissions pamphlet, Prospectus 1900. It was fascinating to see the mission, classes and expectations outlined — a glimpse into what life was like for Hackley’s earliest students.
Left: The Varsity Hockey team practices on the rink at Clark Oval in the 1940s. Hackley built practice rinks not only at Clark Oval but also on the Benedict Avenue Field. Right: Hackley Hall served as Hackley School’s home until the buildings on the Hilltop were completed. It then became the Lower School for grades 4 to 7. Originally, it was Mrs. Hackley’s estate, which she transformed into a school when she founded Hackley.
The pamphlet noted, “The new School-House, Goodhue Hall, is in process of erection. It will face southeast and have the sunlight in every working room. One wing will contain thoroughly equipped laboratories for study of Experimental Physics and Chemistry. The Hall will be used for chapel and all general exercises. … The Hackley School, both Upper and Lower, is planned upon the cottage system. Each residence is built for the accommodation of thirty boys, with masters and matrons. No large hotel or barracklike structure will exist, and the natural wholesome influence of small, home-like social groups will be carefully preserved.” The 1903 - 04 Prospectus cited in the section labeled “equipment” that, aside from blankets and towels, each boy was required to bring a silver napkin ring plainly marked with his name and a dark suit, as dinner was a formal affair.
Through the archives, I discovered that King Field was named after Charles Goodhue King, a member of Hackley’s first graduating class and the grandson of Sarah Chandler Goodhue. Mrs. Goodhue, a former Hackley Trustee, also named the Chapel, built in 1908, in honor of her daughter, Sarah Goodhue King, who was Charles’s mother. The Chapel’s official name is The Sarah Goodhue King Memorial Chapel, though it has been abbreviated over the years to King Chapel. Along with Goodhue Memorial Hall, the Chapel was one of the first buildings established at Hackley through Mrs. Goodhue’s generosity. This discovery highlights how deeply intertwined Hackley’s history is with the legacies of the families who helped shape its foundation, reminding us of the lasting impact of their contributions.
Left: Pop Lindsay in 1950. Top right: In Hackley’s early days, the Lindsay Room was known as the Receiving Room and served as a shared living room for students and faculty. Bottom right: Goodhue Hall under construction in 1901. Hackley was built on the Waldheim Park estate, and its original greenhouse can be seen in this photo on the left.
I’m captivated by what life was like for students during Hackley’s early decades. A manuscript housed in the Archives titled Recollections from Some Way Back by W. Houston Kenyon Jr., Class of 1917, offers a vivid snapshot of life on the Hilltop. Students began each day with chapel, attended classes five days a week, and had a half day of classes on Saturdays. Meals were formal, sit-down affairs in the Dining Hall, where faculty and students dined together, and student waiters served the meals. The dress code was strict, requiring blazers and ties, and tardiness was met with “getting soaked” — Hackley’s term for Saturday detention, which took place after classes concluded at 11 a.m. This glimpse into Hackley’s past highlights the discipline, structure and traditions that defined student life more than a century ago.
favorite teachers; Pop Lindsay was one of them. The primary reason for this is that he emphasized being prepared in his geometry class. During class, we’d have to step up to the blackboard and properly go through the postulates theorems to prove a given statement. One mistake during the process and you had to be prepared to duck from a blackboard eraser being hurled at your head. Which meant you had to pick up the eraser, erase your work and start over. I got very good at ducking.”
The Archives bring history to life, helping us understand what it was like to step through the “Enter Here to Be and Find a Friend” door decades before we ever did.
Another favorite spot of mine, No. 2 on my list of cherished Hilltop locations, is the Lindsay Room. Steeped in history, it feels like a tangible connection to the past. Growing up, I knew it as the Common Room — with its large, comfortable furniture making it a perfect place for hide-and-seek. Over the years, the room has served many purposes, from the original Tuck Shop to faculty lounge to a venue for student dances and cocktail receptions.
In the 1990s, the Common Room was renamed the Lindsay Room in honor of Maurice “Pop” Lindsay, a beloved teacher who taught math at Hackley from 1924 to 1955 and was inducted posthumously as an Honorary Alumnus in 2005. He was also a founding member of Hackley’s Cum Laude chapter in 1945. Dick Hodgson ’51 shared this story: “During my years at Hackley, I enjoyed a number of
Clark Oval, meanwhile, has seen many transformations throughout Hackley’s history. It once was paddock for the horses who lived in the Hackley stable that stood across the street where the newest Hackley housing building stands now, hosted a practice rink for the hockey team, served as the site of the Middle School Carnival, and was a favorite spot for Camp Hackley cookouts. Today, the area serves as a retaining pond and parking lot.
I spent many hours playing on Clark Oval but never thought about its name. I was surprised to learn that Clark Oval was named for Royal A. Clark, Hackley’s Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds from 1942 to 1968. In 1947, Roy galvanized fundraising efforts by reporting to the Board of Trustees about critical infrastructure issues in the aging buildings. He highlighted weak points in the heating system, deteriorating water lines and outdated, poorly maintained wiring, emphasizing the urgent need for repairs and upgrades. As a result of his efforts, $125,000 was raised to correct these problems. The field was dedicated to him after his death in the early 1970s.
The Hackley Archives is filled with other fascinating treasures, like a photograph of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt taken in the Hackley Dining Room from the 1940s and a photograph of President Barack Obama speaking at an assembly in the 1990s. Eleanor Roosevelt, a trailblazer in human rights advocacy, was a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and the first Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights. She played a pivotal role in drafting the
As we continue to shape the next 125 years of Hackley, it’s inspiring to look back at the stories, people and places that have made the School what it is today.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and tirelessly championed civil rights and social activism. Her visit to Hackley was part of a regional tour to promote the 30 Articles of the Declaration, inspiring many with her vision of justice and equality. In 1991, Barack Obama, then a third-year law student and the first AfricanAmerican president of the Harvard Law Review, delivered the Forbes Lecture at Hackley. Invited by Walter Schneller, the esteemed
Left: President Barack Obama speaking at Hackley in 1991 as the Forbes Lecturer. Top right: The Lindsay Room was once home to the original Tuck Shop, which was later relocated to the basement beneath the Dining Hall and is now housed under Saperstein Arch. Bottom right: Hackley’s stable and barn were located across from Clark Oval, with the tennis courts visible in the background.
head of the History Department, Obama spoke to the Hackley Community about social change and the power of idealism. A legendary faculty member, Mr. Schneller was celebrated for his innovative and creative teaching. In a unique demonstration of the electoral process, he even ran for U.S. president twice.
The Hilltop is a living, breathing tapestry of memories and traditions, all stitched together by those who’ve walked these halls before us. As we continue to shape the next 125 years of Hackley, it’s inspiring to look back at the stories, people and places that have made the School what it is today. The Archives remind us that our connection to
Hackley is not only about where we are now, but also about where we’ve come from.
About the Author:
Margie McNaughton Ford ’ 85 is the Director of Alumni Engagement, parent of a Hackley graduate, a Hackley Lifer, and daughter of Hackley legends Randy and Mary Anne McNaughton. As the Director of Alumni Engagement, Margie is dedicated to keeping Hackley alumni connected to the School and each other through meaningful events and engaging programs. Her lifelong connection to Hackley inspires her commitment to cultivating a strong and engaged alumni network.
The 1917 Senior Class photo, taken on the steps of Goodhue Memorial Hall. W. Houston Kenyon Jr. is seated in the middle of the second row. He entered Hackley in 1912 and became the editor-in-chief of the 1917 The Annual. His manuscript, donated to Hackley, provides a unique glimpse into life as a Hackley student.
125 FUN FACTS ABOUT 125 FUN FACTS ABOUT HACKLEY SCHOOL
These Hackley facts originally appeared in a social media campaign leading up to this year’s Founder’s Day celebrations.
1: Mrs. Frances Hackley was a philanthropist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1899, when she was nearly 80 years old and living alone at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, she donated her mansion in Tarrytown, New York to start Hackley School.
2: Tarrytown was an old community dating back to Dutch colonial days. It was the setting for the fictional stories of Washington Irving. In the late 1800s, Tarrytown began to change from an agrarian community to a more industrial one. Many wealthy and powerful New Yorkers built houses in the area.
3:
In August 1899, Mrs. Hackley’s home at the corner of Union and Castle Avenues opened its doors to the first cohort of Hackley students.
4: Hackley’s campus soon expanded to the site of the Webb estate after Hackley’s first headmaster, Reverend Theodore Chickering Williams, and Seaver Buck, a founding faculty member, came upon the Hilltop on a walk through the woods.
5: Mrs. Hackley was a devout Unitarian and opened the School as a college preparatory school for boys in partnership with leading Unitarians of the era. They sought to create a nonsectarian school that embraced Unitarian values of intellectual questioning and inclusiveness.
6: Founder’s Day is celebrated annually on or around Oct. 27, which is Mrs. Hackley’s birthday. The first official “Founder’s Day” festivities were held on Mrs. Hackley’s 91st birthday on Oct. 27, 1911. The day was declared a special holiday and was celebrated with off-campus excursions and picnics in the woods.
7: Mrs. Hackley lived in the apartment above the Lindsay Room from 1908 until her death on Sept. 4, 1913.
8: The staircase to Mrs. Hackley’s apartment has shorter-than-average steps so she could more easily climb them in her advanced age.
9: Some of Hackley’s first students were those in the Class of 1900, which included Charles Goodhue King, the grandson of benefactor Sarah Goodhue and the first student to enroll in the School in 1899.
10:
Hackley began as a seven-day boarding school for young men. In 1968, the Board of Trustees approved a plan to reduce boarding, and in the 1972-73 academic year, the School adopted a strictly five-day boarding policy. In 1998, the Boarding program welcomed its first female boarders. This year, Hackley is home to 25 boarders.
11:
Near the end of WWII and after, increasing numbers of students came to Hackley from the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Hackley’s first Black student enrolled in 1960.
12:
On July 28, 1968, the Board approved a plan to build a coed Lower School — suggested by Headmaster Kenneth C. MacArthur — with the idea that the whole School would become coed over a period of time. The first female student to register at Hackley was Lori Ordover ’73 (nee Levine) in 1970.
13: Starting in 1987, Prep for Prep began sending students to Hackley. The first cohort of students were seventh graders who were accepted into the five-day boarding program. By 1990, there were 10 Prep for Prep students at Hackley.
14:
One of Hackley’s first two buildings, Goodhue Memorial Hall contained the School’s first classrooms on its current campus. It was financed by and named after Hackley School benefactor Sarah Goodhue, a close friend of Mrs. Hackley.
15: Sarah Goodhue, like Mrs. Hackley, lived in New York City and was a Unitarian. She provided money for Goodhue Memorial Hall and the Sarah Goodhue King Memorial Chapel, named in memory of her daughter.
16:
One of Hackley’s first buildings, the Sarah Goodhue King Memorial Chapel was named in memory of Hackley benefactor Sarah Goodhue’s daughter. A unique feature of King Chapel, as it is known today, is its series of stained-glass panels. It is an important gathering space for both practical and ceremonial purposes.
17: On the night of Aug. 4, 2007, lightning struck Goodhue Memorial Hall. Buildings & Grounds crew member Mike Quinones was out for a late-night walk when he noticed the fire starting to spread and sprung into action. Goodhue was gutted, though the stone facade remained intact.
18: The Sternberg Library on the second floor of Goodhue Memorial Hall supports readers and researchers from fifth grade through adults. It includes a comprehensive collection of curricular and pleasure reading print books and electronic resources, as well as The Hackley Collection, books by alumni authors. The library was named by the Sternberg family after the Goodhue fire in 2007 destroyed the old Kaskel Library.
19: The restoration of Goodhue Memorial Hall after the 2007 fire found crucial support from Trustee Sy Sternberg. In 2010, the Board of Trustees decided to name Hackley’s new library in recognition of the Sternberg family’s philanthropic leadership.
20: The Quad is the traditional center of Hackley’s original campus. Created in the first decade of the 20th century, it is still the “heart” of Hackley to alumni and Upper School students.
21: The two puzzle squares carved into Hackley’s architecture above the Quad are Magic Squares. The one above the Goodhue entrance, designed by former math teacher Doug Clark, was created in honor of Hackley’s Centennial as a gift from the Class of 2000. The total for each column, row and diagonal is 100. The origin of the original Magic Square carved on Minot Savage Hall remains a mystery; the solution is 34.
22: Minot Savage Hall is the section of the Upper School building where the Admissions Office, Lindsay Room, College Counseling Office and classrooms are located. It is named for Rev. Minot Savage, a nationally respected Unitarian minister of the late 19th century.
23: Dr. Minot Savage was a Unitarian minister who lived in the Plaza Hotel at the turn of the 20th century, which is where he met and befriended Mrs. Hackley. He was the one who suggested that Mrs. Hackley turn her Tarrytown mansion into a college preparatory school for boys.
24: Commonly referred to as the “main building,” Philip Savage Hall is the section of the Upper School with the “Enter here to be and find a friend ” doorway. It is named in memory of Philip Savage, a poet and son of Minot Savage, who died young in 1899, the year the School was founded.
25: Originally called the Raymond Scientific Building, Raymond Hall houses the Upper School office and many classrooms. It was the original home of the School’s science labs and was named in honor of Mrs. Hackley’s father, John Raymond, who died in 1882 at the age of 87. Along with Goodhue, Raymond Hall is geothermally heated and cooled!
A School, A Community, A Legacy
Reflecting on the Life of Mrs. Frances Hackley
By Molly Reinmann ’22
When I was tasked with writing a piece on Mrs. Hackley for the School’s 125th anniversary, I was struck by how little I knew about her. I thought of Hackley as a word printed across diplomas and chanted in the stands of Stings — a place more than a person. And although Hilltop legend Walter Schneller offers a masterfully researched and incredibly thorough and comprehensive account of our School’s history in Where the Seasons Tell Their Story, the nearly 300 -page tome can be a dense, inaccessible read. As a result, though they excel in studying the world’s history, Hackley students often know very little of the history of their own institution and its founder.
Mrs. Hackley’s legacy is also more than the school to which she gave her name. It is a tapestry of institutional ambition and interpersonal impact, a story of strength, drive, pride, loss and an enduring commitment to community. In many ways, understanding Mrs. Hackley’s story can help us make sense of our own.
Born Frances A. Raymond to a modest railroad family in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Hackley’s early life was shaped by progressive and
community-oriented values. She took an early interest in self-improvement and education, and, as a young woman, she quickly embraced the Unitarian faith. At 16, she married Caleb Hackley, a Yale graduate and ardent abolitionist. The two settled in New York City and welcomed a daughter, Frances Racilla, in 1859. But soon thereafter, the couple suffered a tragedy when Frances Racilla died of scarlet fever at just 5 years old. The Hackleys would never have another child.
Marred by this loss, Mrs. Hackley threw herself into the New York Unitarian community. She befriended renowned leaders of the faith, including Reverend Minot Savage, a minister, and Samuel Eliot, a prominent philanthropist. Mrs. Hackley’s drive to improve the lives of others was deeply connected to her faith. She supported educational initiatives for Black Americans, donating frequently to institutions like the Tuskegee Institute and the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth. She also sought to improve the educational landscape of her home city, establishing several early education programs in New York, including the Frances Hackley Kindergarten. Alongside household names like John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan, Mrs. Hackley is listed as one of the founding benefactors of Barnard College.
As the turn of the 20 th century approached, Mrs. Hackley had already established herself as a prominent philanthropist and champion of Unitarian values. But it was another loss that propelled her to begin work on her biggest endeavor yet — our Hilltop. In 1894, after more than five decades of marriage to Frances, Caleb Hackley died. Living then alone in New York’s Plaza Hotel, Mrs. Hackley considered her newfound status as a widow and the myriad assets now in her name. Particularly, she thought of a sprawling country estate in Tarrytown for which she now had little use. Considering how to best make use of the property, she sought advice from Savage and Eliot, who suggested she turn it into a preparatory school for boys. She discussed the idea with Maria Hotchkiss, a Plaza Hotel neighbor and fellow widow and philanthropist who had
Mrs. Hackley’s estate, Hackley Hall, served as the first home of the school she founded before it moved to the Hilltop we know and love.
founded her own preparatory school only a few years earlier. Hotchkiss encouraged Mrs. Hackley to take on the project. On a tour of the Tarrytown mansion in the early planning stages for the school, Eliot, inspired by the property’s grandeur, wrote: “I walked for two hours over the superb estate and I can see in my mind’s eye a splendid institution. Certainly, no other similar school ever started with a better chance than this one.”
The early days of Hackley were not without their challenges, and Mrs. Hackley was not one to shy away from conflict. Her commitment to the School’s success often placed her at odds with its leadership. She clashed with Henry White Callahan, one of Hackley’s first heads of school, whom she believed undermined female faculty members and failed to uphold her community-driven vision for the School. In letters to the Board, Mrs. Hackley made her stance clear: “I am so conscientiously convinced that he is not the man
for the school that I can never consent to give him another dollar.” Mrs. Hackley’s unyielding resolve ensured that her ideals remained central to Hackley’s identity — Callahan ultimately resigned, and her voice continued to be the one shaping the School’s future.
Beyond the strong hand she took in shaping the School’s administration, Mrs. Hackley also formed a deeply personal relationship with her students, whom she fondly called “her boys.” Though she did not move onto the School’s campus until 1907 — when she lived above what is now known as the Lindsay Room — she was a frequent presence on the Hilltop. In 1903, she gifted each student a copy of Reverend Savage’s book, inscribed with their name and her own.
Students were left deeply touched not only by the privilege of a Hackley education, but also by Mrs. Hackley’s affect. When she died in 1913 on the grounds of the school that bears her name, dozens of
Left: Mrs. Hackley is accompanied by two students in 1911 as she exits her vehicle on the Quad. Right: Mrs. Hackley surrounded by flowers in her apartment above the Lindsay Room.
former students sent letters expressing their bereavement. “As one of the many boys who have enjoyed the advantages of the splendid school which she founded, I regard this as a personal loss,” one student wrote. Another described Mrs. Hackley as “the occasion of so many of my pleasant memories.” In a resolution published upon Mrs. Hackley’s passing, the Hackley Board of Trustees predicted her enduring impact: “The impress of her personality and her purpose will long continue to mold the character of the school.”
In reflecting on Mrs. Hackley’s life, I am reminded that history is about the people who shape it as much as the events that comprise it. Just as I am the product of the many incredible teachers and administrators who defined my Hackley experience, so too were Hackley’s earliest students the product of our founder’s conviction, courage and care. It is tempting to think of ourselves as suspended within the period in which we live, but Mrs. Hackley’s life challenges us to consider what it means to leave a legacy. Her story is a prime example of how far-reaching the effects of human ambition can be, snaking throughout history to shape the lives of those we know and those whose paths we may never cross. Everyone who has ever been touched by something learned or someone met on the Hilltop carries with them the enduring spirit of a woman who believed that “character is higher than intellect ” and that education is a powerful tool for change.
About the Author:
Molly Reinmann ’ 22 is an aspiring journalist and Yale junior studying American Studies and Education Studies. She covers admissions, alumni and financial aid for the Yale Daily News and also reports for the News’ investigations desk. When she is not at class or working on a story, you can find her hanging out with her cat or listening to Taylor Swift.
DID YOU KNOW…
MRS. HACKLEY’S BIRTHDAY
THE FIRST OFFICIAL “FOUNDER’S DAY” festivities were held on Mrs. Hackley’s 91st birthday on Oct. 27, 1911. The day was declared a special holiday and was celebrated with offcampus excursions and picnics in the woods.
A portrait of Mrs. Frances Hackley.
125 FUN FACTS ABOUT 125 FUN FACTS ABOUT HACKLEY SCHOOL
26: There used to be an apartment in Raymond Tower known as the “Alumni Apartment.” It was used as a place to stay for alumni visiting the Hilltop.
27: The Whispering Arch is located at the entrance of Hale Tower. Similar to larger arches at Grand Central Station and St. Paul’s Cathedral, two people can whisper to each other from either side of the arch.
28: Hale Tower is the section of the Upper School building with the gothic doorway and turrets. It is named in honor of Edward Everett Hale.
29: Edward Everett Hale was a prominent Unitarian minister and author admired by the School’s founders. In 1903, he was selected to be chaplain of the U.S. Senate. He visited Hackley many times during the construction of the building in his name. His portrait hangs at the entrance of Hale Tower.
30: The Head of School’s house is named for Hackley’s fourth headmaster, Walter Gage.
31: Walter Boutwell Gage was appointed Hackley’s fourth headmaster in 1908. He went on to serve in that role for three decades, the longest in the School’s history. Gage came to Hackley in 1900 to teach classics and coach football — he even played on the first Hackley football team!
32: It is said that Hackley’s iconic Old Oak welcomed generations of students, families and employees to the Hilltop from its place at the entrance of the Quad for more than 100 years.
33: On Aug. 4, 2020, the Old Oak tragically fell during Tropical Storm Isaias.
34: With the help of our partners at Consigli Construction, the Old Oak has been given new life on the Hilltop in the form of benches outside of each divisional office, a podium, a new desk for the Head of School’s office and more.
35: In the Old Oak’s spot now stands a thriving chestnut oak, making its own place in Hackley’s history.
36: Many spots on the Hilltop are named after people who have played a significant role in Hackley’s history.
37: Akin Common, the green space in the center of campus, is surrounded by the Middle, Upper and Lower Schools, and the new Center for the Creative Arts and Technology. It is named for Robert Akin III ’54, longtime Hackley trustee and former Board of Trustees and Alumni Association president, in recognition of his devoted service.
38: Robert Akin III ’54 joined Hackley’s Board in 1972 and served for 30 years, with 10 of those as president (1980-1990).
39: Before the creation of Akin Common, the space was occupied by Symmes Hall and the Science Building. Symmes Hall served as the “Lower School” — which at the time was for middle school-aged students — from 1964 to 1971, when the Kathleen Allen Lower School opened.
40: Kroeger Arch connects Raymond and Goodhue Halls. It spans between the ground floor of the two buildings, creating a dry passage for rainy days. The second-floor passageway serves as a student lounge and an alternate route to the Sternberg Library. The arch is named in honor of Keith Kroeger ’54.
41: Keith Kroeger ’54, a Parker Cup winner, served as a trustee from 1977 to 2019, longer than any other trustee in School history. An architect, Keith’s vision guided the Buildings & Grounds Committee for years. He served during a period of unprecedented construction and renovation work on the Hilltop.
42: Keith Kroeger ’54 and Bob Akin ’54 were lifelong best friends. A beautiful circular stairway connects Akin Common and Kroeger Arch.
43: In May of 1998, Hackley officially purchased 172 acres of land from the Rockefeller Fund under the recommendation of the School’s eleventh Headmaster Walter C. Johnson and with generous gifts from Herbert A. Allen ’58 and his colleague and Hackley Trustee Paul Gould.
44: Named in honor of Hackley’s eleventh headmaster, Walter C. Johnson, the Johnson Center for Health and Wellness opened on Jan. 8, 2018. The state-of-the-art facility is home to Hackley’s fitness, health, wellness and athletics programs.
45: Walter C. Johnson was Hackley’s eleventh headmaster. He would go on to serve 21 years in the role (1995-2016), making him the second-longest head in Hackley’s history (surpassed only by Walter B. Gage, who was appointed in 1908 and served for 31 years). During his tenure on the Hilltop, Mr. Johnson oversaw the redesign of Hackley’s buildings and grounds. He strengthened Hackley’s overall financial stability and expanded faculty compensation and financial aid resources. He also was the visionary force who sustained and deepened the School’s commitment to its core values of community, inclusion, respect, kindness and character.
46: Said to be Walter C. Johnson’s favorite spot on campus, the Johnson Courtyard was dedicated and named in his memory on June 4, 2022. The dedication was made possible by a gift from the Caputo family — Trustee Tom ’65 and Janet P ’93, and Kate Caputo Squyres ’93 and Isaac Squyres.
47:
48: In 2003, Walter Johnson announced a new honor for those who achieve tenure of at least 40 years — gargoylehood. Hackley worked with local sculptor Bob Carpenter, who trained at the German State Woodsculpture School in Oberammergau, Germany, and at the Master School for Stone Sculpture, Cutting & Technology in Freiburg, Germany.
49: Randy McNaughton worked at Hackley for 46 years as a geology and astronomy teacher and holds the record for the Hilltop’s longest tenure. His gargoyle overlooks the Johnson Courtyard.
50: John McAuliffe joined Hackley in 1959 to teach Latin and served as Classics Department Chair from 1965 until he retired in 2003 after 44 years. His gargoyle overlooks Akin Common.
Hackley has always had gargoyles — one modeled after those of Notre Dame in Paris, a dancing Bacchus and a monk with a shield, all peeking out from Hale Tower and Raymond Hall.
Continuity and Change The Power of Hackley Traditions
By Andy King, P ’30
*This article was first published on our online blog — Hackley Perspectives — in October 2024.
As Hackley School celebrates an extraordinary 125 years, we find ourselves reflecting not just on this milestone, but also on the traditions that have shaped our history, culture and community.
Having been part of this community for 26 years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing and participating in many meaningful school traditions. When I started thinking about Hackley’s traditions for the purposes of writing this piece, my list quickly grew. It included signature events that you can find each year on the school calendar and have been part of the Hackley experience for generations of alums. It also included some rites that are much newer to our school community. Candidly, the relative “age” of any tradition is not what gives it relevance. Rather, what makes these
traditions powerful are how they align with and affirm Hackley’s core values, bring members of our community together and, in many cases, bring joy to the participants.
As I reviewed my list of Hackley traditions, two of my personal favorites are First Friday’s ninth grade cardboard boat building extravaganza and the Senior Graduation Walk. What better way to “Enter here to be and find a friend” than to spend a day with your ninth grade advisory building a boat out of cardboard and duct tape that probably will not stay afloat very long in
Ninth grade advisory teams prepare to launch their cardboard boats into the Johnson Center pool.
the pool while your classmates, advisors and teachers cheer you on? Boat building as a marquee event for ninth graders on First Friday dates back to the fall of 2012. You know a tradition has relevance for students when they can talk about it years later. In fact, one of my current eleventh grade advisees still laments, two years later, that our group did not build a better paddle for our boat and how that “probably cost us the victory.” While the boat race occurs on one of the first days of school, the Senior Graduation Walk takes place on the year’s final Monday. This is a very new Hackley tradition, dating back to June 2023. On this day, seniors return to the divisions where their Hackley journeys began. Our Lifers, those who started at Hackley in Kindergarten, lead the procession, walking through the Lower School and Middle School corridors and finally the Upper School, eventually gathering all members of the graduating class along the route. For seniors about to graduate and “Go forth and spread beauty and light,” the chance to retrace their years as Hackley students reminds them of the powerful connections they made during their time on the Hilltop. Wide smiles, a few tears, and waves of nostalgia for our seniors mix with the resounding applause and enthusiastic fist bumps, high fives and hugs they receive from former teachers
and younger students along the route.
While those traditions stand out for me, I wanted to know what current Upper School students deem the most meaningful traditions, so I interviewed a series of Upper School students across grade levels and simply asked, “What are your favorite Hackley traditions?” For current students, Convocation, First Friday, the Fall/Winter/Spring Stings, Coffeehouses, Pre-Prom in the Johnson Courtyard, Prom and Class Day were their favorites. The list looked slightly different depending on when students joined Hackley. For those who started in Lower School, they spoke affectionately about Character Education assemblies in the All-Purpose Room, the Halloween Parade, the Winter Concert, classes where they partnered with Upper School buddies, STEM Night, Trip Around the World and Field Day. Students who attended Hackley for Middle School think of the grade-level trips (namely the overnight trips), Hive competitions and activity nights (especially Chopped!) as some of their favorite traditions. If traditions are meant to evoke joy, it was powerful to observe how answering this simple question brought smiles to the faces of all the students I interviewed.
After asking current students about traditions, I reached out to a few alums from earlier in my career
Students in Hackley’s Class of 2023 reminisce about their time in the Lower School during one of Hackley’s newest traditions, the Senior Graduation Walk.
to ask them the same question. Alumni from the Classes of 2000 to 2003 offered up a slightly different list of favorite Hackley traditions. Yes, they spoke of Convocation, Field Day, Prom and Class Day as well. But in contrast to today’s students, these alums cited memories of the Community Council’s mini-marathon, touch football on the “old” Lower School playground with Mr. DiVirgilio and the Turkey Bowl — traditions unknown to today’s Hackley students. Just as conversations with current students about traditions brought them joy, asking alumni this same question did the same, transporting them back to fond memories of their days on the Hilltop.
For current students and alumni, Hackley is
their common bond, even if they don’t necessarily have the same experiences and traditions. Key elements of the Hackley experience transcend the particularities of a given rite. It does not matter whether Coffeehouse takes place in the Dining Room, Allen Memorial Hall, Bridges Theater, Akin Common or in Diller Hall in the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology. What makes Coffeehouse a powerful tradition is its popularity, its energy, how it showcases the staggering and diverse talents of our students, and the level of peer support for the performers. Similarly, whether Class Day occurs in the Zetkov gym, on Akin Common, on Pickert Field or inside the Johnson Center for Health and Wellness ultimately matters very little. What makes Class Day a potent tradition is its electricity, how service to the School and “character, scholarship and accomplishment” are recognized and raucously applauded. The people participating in these traditions will change. The venues where these rites occur may also change as the campus evolves. What does not change is how these traditions celebrate and elevate Hackley’s core values and culture and bring joy and connection to our community.
With the opening of Diller Hall this fall, the Upper School [has] a place where we can regularly gather as a full division. Though we have a long tradition of grade-level meetings run by the deans and Chapel homerooms with two grades in attendance, the Upper School has not had a tradition of regular divisional assemblies. The Upper School [now holds] weekly assemblies in the space. We imagine assemblies run primarily by the student leaders on Community Council, regular opportunities for other students to share out information and invitations to participate in clubs, community engagement work and other student activities. We imagine performances by our musicians and actors. We envision guest speakers addressing our students on a range of
Hackley “Lifers” in the Class of 2024 start their Senior Graduation Walk by the Kindergarten classrooms in the Lower School.
topics. This assembly curriculum will take shape over this year and will evolve as we grow into the space and the tradition. If an article like this one is written to commemorate Hackley’s 150 th year, I hope future Upper School students will look back and cite these weekly assemblies as one of their favorite Hackley traditions.
Now having celebrated the adaptive nature of many of Hackley’s memorable traditions, there is one tradition that I hope will never change and will persist for the next 125 years or more — the “thank you” tradition. I wrote about this tradition in a 2018 Hackley Perspectives blog post and still believe that it is the most culturally significant rite within our school community. What do I mean by the “thank you” tradition? It’s when students say “thank you” to their teachers at the end of a class. This simple, consistent expression of thanks demonstrates the centrality of gratitude in our school culture. Author and columnist David Brooks characterizes gratitude as “a form of social glue,” and I think this tradition at Hackley helps to keep us together as a community. One of the
hallmarks of our School is how powerful relationships form between students and teachers. Certainly the mutual respect and appreciation reflected in this enduring “thank you” tradition nourish these connections and contribute to the overall health of our school culture.
Our many and varied traditions are also a “form of social glue” for our Hackley Community.
Traditions that celebrate the essence of Hackley — a community grounded in connection, curiosity, kindness, civility and joy — will always be a part of our school day, even if they shift and evolve for Hackley’s next 125 years. Traditions should evolve, just as our School should.
About the Author:
Andy King has been a member of the Hackley faculty since 1998. Since 2008, he has served as Hackley’s Director of the Upper School. Prior to taking on this administrative role, Andy was an Upper School history teacher, advisor, dean and coach. He is also the proud parent of Henry, a member of Hackley’s Class of 2030
Upper School Coffeehouses are a favorite tradition for many students and alumni.
125 FUN FACTS ABOUT 125 FUN FACTS ABOUT HACKLEY SCHOOL
51: Walter Schneller began teaching history in 1956, also serving as department chair and Director of Studies. He retired in 1998 after 42 years of teaching but continued his connection to the School as Hackley historian. He researched and wrote Where the Seasons Tell Their Story: Hackley’s First 100 Years. His gargoyle, with quill in hand, peeks out over the stairs from Akin Common to the Johnson Courtyard.
52: Legendary Hackley coach and Athletics Director Rob Pickert came to the Hilltop in 1966. He coached Middle School football and varsity football, basketball and baseball. He served for 45 years on the Hilltop and frequently comes back for events. His gargoyle overlooks Akin Common and features his signature green shorts. Pickert Field is also named for him.
53: Doug Clark came to Hackley in 1980 and served 41 years as a math teacher and as a Chair of the Math Department. He also coached varsity girls’ soccer, boys’ basketball and golf, and he designed the Magic Square above the Goodhue entrance for Hackley’s Centennial. His gargoyle overlooks Akin Common.
54: Phil Variano held many roles in his 41 years on the Hilltop, including 28 years as Assistant Headmaster/Associate Head of School. He joined Hackley in 1980 as an English and psychology teacher and three-sport coach. Along with alumni Stephen Field ’83 and Andy Seibert ’82, he helped to create the boys’ squash program in 1982. His gargoyle welcomes students to the Hilltop just outside the Saperstein Arch.
55: Saperstein Arch connects Saperstein Hall to Allen Memorial Hall. The Middle School entrance, Tuck Shop and Infirmary are under the arch, which is named for David Saperstein, grandfather to several Hackley alumni.
56: The ring road that loops around the Hilltop was a suggestion of Hackley alum Raleigh D’Adamo ’49. In 1964, he was one of three first-place winners of a contest to redesign the New York City subway map. Mr. D’Adamo’s design was the first to color code the subway routes.
57: Allen Memorial Hall connects the Middle School and the Science Building and serves as a communal gathering space for various events. The space was named after trustee and benefactor Herbert Allen, Sr.
58: Herbert Allen, Sr. was a Hackley trustee for 37 years and a generous benefactor. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are Hackley alums. Mr. Allen’s portrait hangs inside Allen Memorial Hall.
59: Headmaster Kenneth C. MacArthur suggested the need for a new Lower School at his first Board meeting in 1968. The Kathleen Allen Lower School was completed for the 1971-72 school year and opened for kindergarten through fifth grade. It was named after Kathleen Allen, wife of Herbert Allen, Sr., and mother, grandmother and great grandmother of several Hackley alumni.
60: In the early 2000s, the Lower School outgrew its existing space. On Sept. 4, 2007, the new Kathleen Allen Lower School opened.
61: Allen’s Alley is the area of campus that includes employee housing. In the 1950s, Herbert Allen, Sr. advocated for increasing faculty salaries and improving living conditions. He contributed to the construction of the Allen Houses, the first of which was completed in 1956. In 2017, additional funds were raised toward expanding faculty housing on the Hilltop.
62: Pickert Field, named after legendary coach and Athletics Director Rob Pickert, is the field behind the Johnson Center where track and field, football, soccer and other Athletics events are held.
63: The baseball field located behind Pickert Field is named in honor of former Lower School Director Ron Del Moro P ’06, ’10.
64: Van Eck Field is named for Derek van Eck ’82, former HAA Director, who passed away in 2010. It is located on the “lower field.” Drivers can see the van Eck sign from Benedict Avenue.
65: The van Eck family arrived on the Hilltop in the early ’70s. Jan was a member of the Class of 1981 and Derek a member of the Class of 1982. Their mother, Sigrid, served as president of the Hackley Mothers’ Association (precursor to the HPA) from 1976 to 1978 and as a trustee from 1978 to 1985, chairing the Educational Program Committee. Now a Hackley grandparent, Sigrid and her family have remained supporters of the School.
66: King Field is the lower field where baseball, softball and soccer teams compete. It was named in memory of Charles Goodhue King, Class of 1900, grandson of school benefactor Sarah Goodhue.
67: Hackley’s tennis courts are named after Bruce and Rita Roberts. Bruce was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1969 to 1984 and an Honorary Trustee from 1984 to 2015. Rita was president of the Hackley Mothers’ Association from 1969 to 1970. Bruce and Rita’s four sons and five grandchildren are Hackley alumni.
68: The Santomero Library, located on the second floor of the Kathleen Allen Lower School, supports the curriculum across the Lower School community. Camillo and Denise Santomero, parents of Hackley alumni, named this space.
69: The Lindsay Room is the first room on your right as you walk onto the Quad. It’s a frequently used gathering and meeting space for various activities and special events. It used to be called the “Common Room,” and is directly below Mrs. Hackley’s old apartment. It was named years ago for Maurice “Pop” Lindsay.
70: Maurice “Pop” Lindsay was a revered Hackley teacher who taught math and coached track at the School from 1924 to 1955.
71: In 2023, the Hilltop, and particularly the Lindsay Room, was featured prominently in a fifth season episode of “FBI: Most Wanted,” a fictional drama on CBS.
72: The Whitmore Room is on the second floor of the main building and is named for George “Dick” Whitmore Jr. ’45, president of the Board of Trustees from 1972 to 1977.
73: Hackley School broke ground on the construction of the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology on June 3, 2022.
74: Spanning an impressive 50,000 sq. ft., the Center is dedicated to fostering imagination and creativity, bringing computer science, visual arts and performing arts under one roof.
75: On Feb. 1, 2024, members of the Hackley Community came together with our partners at Consigli Construction for a topping out ceremony to celebrate the last steel beam being placed on the building, completing the structural phase of the project. Students and employees had the opportunity to sign the beam before it was lifted into place.
Empowering Voices
The Vital Role of Student Leadership to Drive Change and Agency
By Cyndy Jean, Ed.D. P ’34, ’36
In today’s dynamic educational landscape, schools are increasingly focused on cultivating well-rounded, engaged citizens who are prepared to navigate and contribute to a complex, interconnected world. At the heart of this mission lies student leadership, a role I have often appreciated begins at a very young age here at Hackley. Students in the Lower School are taught how to begin advocating for themselves and others, as is the case with Roni Kanter’s fourth graders who learn how to research and write persuasive writing pieces to support those in need.
Student leadership continues in the Middle and Upper Schools, where students accept more formal roles on the student council and board of magistrates, and as peer advisors and club leaders. Their voices are critical to the work done in those groups and across the School. Why do they do it? According to the president of the Black Student Union, Jael Nuamah ’25, “I lacked certain spaces when I was a freshman in high school, and I wanted to take on a role that made the club more consistent and more welcoming. I felt it was my responsibility to create spaces for my classmates, and I hope it inspires underclassmen to do the same.”
Each year, Assistant Director of the Upper School Chris Arnold hosts a training session for student leaders called Hack Leads. I’ve had the pleasure of attending a handful of these sessions, and when I introduce myself, I share with students that Hackley is their school; their voice and their engagement
matters and is critical to shaping their experiences within the School. By offering students opportunities to lead, Hackley fosters personal growth and strengthens community connections — just as Jael noted. More than an extracurricular activity, student leadership is a cornerstone of holistic education, benefiting not only the individuals who take on these roles but also the School as a whole and the external communities we serve.
Leadership roles provide students with invaluable opportunities to develop critical skills. Students learn to communicate effectively and to collaborate toward a greater goal. When students work with me to plan and execute an event at school, I work diligently with them to establish a clear plan, to identify key community members necessary to help them move their planning forward, and ask them to consider what experience and message they want to convey to others who take part in the experience.
Students soon begin to realize how much work is required to engage their peers in a singular event. What is most impressive, however, is their willingness to do it again and again, because they’ve learned a new skill set and they feel successful. They are authoring shared experiences for members of their community, and they are leaving behind a legacy as a part of their Hackley story.
Whether organizing events, managing club activities or spearheading initiatives, students learn to navigate responsibilities that demand effective time management, accountability and organizational skills. These meaningful experiences not only enhance their confidence but also prepare them for success in college, where teamwork and self-discipline are key, and in the workforce, where employers highly value leaders who can communicate effectively and work well with diverse teams. Another student leader shared with me that these “little events and interactions
matter.” For our students, planning and executing these events are a signal that they matter and that we value their opinions in big and “little” ways.
I’ll never forget a conversation I had a few years ago with a team of deans from higher education. They shared that students come to school demanding change, asking the college for events to take place, yet the students don’t know how to take an idea and realize it. They need significant help, particularly because they are juggling so much at school. I take pride in knowing that at Hackley, we are preparing our students to feel confident in their skills — they can take an idea and turn it into a reality. In doing so, students are developing a strong sense of agency and purpose. When Hackley leaders see the tangible impact of their efforts, they recognize their capacity to drive change, fostering a mindset of resilience and initiative that we hope promotes habits of accomplishment for many years to come.
Left: Student leaders represent their clubs at the annual Upper School Club Fair. Right: Community Council President Rafael Castro ’25 welcomes Hackley students and employees to a new school year at Convocation 2024.
Diverse leadership opportunities are essential in creating an inclusive school environment where students from all backgrounds feel represented and heard. When schools prioritize a variety of leadership roles — such as student-led cultural groups, peer mentoring programs or student councils — they ensure that a wide range of voices contribute to shaping the community. Hackley’s Community Council Vice President Ben Iaderosa ’26 elaborated on this point when he said, “Leadership lets me build connections, develop skills and make a difference, but it can be challenging to balance responsibilities and ensure everyone feels heard. I hope my work creates a strong community where people support one another and take pride in Hackley, inspiring others to get involved.”
Hackley inspires inclusion and involvement in a variety of ways. Peer mentoring programs empower students to support one another, building connections across grade levels and experiences. Student council puts the interests of students first, creating such engaging and memorable events as the Halloween costume contest and the winter gingerbread building competition. Cultural club leaders like Jael also center the voices and lived experiences of
students, giving them space to feel affirmed and opportunities during heritage months to share their culture with others. These initiatives not only promote inclusivity but also strengthen the sense of belonging for all students, ensuring that leadership reflects the diversity of the school community.
Experiences in student leadership serve as a foundation for students to become active, engaged citizens who contribute meaningfully to society. Take for example the process the Community Engagement team has put in place for students interested in leading fundraising efforts at Hackley. Students are required to do extensive research of the organization they aim to support and to understand what is driving the need behind their fundraising efforts. Recently, three juniors inspired their classmates to collect over 3,000 diapers for a local health organization. These young men challenged themselves to understand the need that existed within their local communities, spoke with leaders of the non-profit organization, presented data to their classmates and advocated for children and families to ensure they would meet their goal. They were a powerful testament to student leadership enacting impactful change.
Members of Hackley’s Community Council for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fostering student leadership is essential for schools committed to nurturing confident, capable individuals who will contribute positively to society. By empowering students to take initiative, collaborate and make meaningful decisions, schools help shape the next generation of leaders equipped to address the challenges of an ever-changing world. Ben told me, “I think adults can learn from students’ creativity and fresh perspectives, especially how we approach challenges with optimism and new ideas. It’s also important to never underestimate someone, which I feel student leaders understand well, because leadership is about empowering others, not just making decisions.”
It is crucial for educators, parents and school leaders to prioritize student leadership by investing in accessible and meaningful leadership opportunities for
all students, ensuring that every young person has the chance to develop their potential. Together, we can create environments where leadership is not only encouraged but celebrated, laying the foundation for a brighter, more inclusive future. I firmly believe empowering student leaders is how we spread beauty and light.
About the Author:
Cyndy Jean, Ed.D. is Hackley’s Associate Head of School. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Amherst College, master’s in teaching at Fordham University, master’s in private school leadership at Teachers College at Columbia University, and her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Cyndy joined Hackley School as an assistant teacher in 2007 and has worked as a coach, division director and grade-level dean.
Each year, Hackley students have the opportunity to lead, explore and sign up for extracurricular clubs that speak to their areas of interest or topics they find deeply meaningful.
125 FUN FACTS ABOUT 125 FUN FACTS ABOUT HACKLEY SCHOOL
76: The Center for the Creative Arts and Technology includes an expansive 550-seat auditorium as well as a 100-seat black box theater.
77: With its impressive sustainability initiatives, the Center aims to secure LEED Gold certification.
78: Additional features include an art gallery, outdoor amphitheater, scene shop, visual arts studios, computer science classrooms, music rehearsal rooms and more!
79: The Thomas E. Zetkov Athletic Center was dedicated on Oct. 26, 1974. It was the home of Hackley’s Athletics program until the program moved into the Johnson Center for Health and Wellness in 2018. The building was named after Thomas. E. Zetkov, a former trustee and Hackley parent.
80: Trustee Thomas E. Zetkov had a son enrolled at the School in 1971 and contributed significant funds to the construction of the then new gymnasium.
81: Earth Week 2022 on the Hilltop marked the official grand opening of Hackley’s honey bee apiary and apple orchard, as well as the introduction of Hackley’s bat houses. The Pollinator Garden also opened the same year.
82: Hackley’s Apiary and hives are tended to by science teacher Tessa Johnson and alumni James Pratt ’97 and Carlo Esannason ’97, who run Fly Honey Farms, a small-scale sustainable apiary established in 2017.
83: The past several years, Hackley students and employees have been able to taste Hackley Honey at annual honey spinning events hosted by Ms. Johnson and the Pollinator Club.
84: Hackley has more than 6 miles of trails that weave throughout the Hackley Forest.
85: Beginning at the start of the Hackley Forest, beside the Pollinator Garden, is the Carl Buessow Nature Trail. The trail takes hikers past outdoor classrooms and the Deer Pond. It is a popular trail for all Hackley adventurers.
86: Carl Buessow joined Hackley in 1954 as a Lower School science teacher. He later became head of the Lower School and assistant headmaster. Mr. Buessow remained on the Hilltop until his retirement in 1989.
87: The Dave Allison Trails are cross-country walking and nature trails located beyond Pickert Field. They are named in honor of the late former coach and Lower School physical education teacher Dave Allison.
88: Dave Allison was a beloved Hackley Lower School physical education teacher and coach for multiple sports. He worked on the Hilltop for 30 years and is known for championing girls’ sports. Mr. Allison died in December 2004 after a long battle with cancer.
89: Convocation is one of two days in the course of the academic year when the entire K-12 community gathers. It is the ceremonial opening of the new school year and is held during the first week of school.
90: The first Friday of the school year is a day filled with fun and activities throughout the Hilltop. Middle Schoolers win points for their “hives” through sports and engineering challenges.
91: On Class Day, the last day of school, the entire student body and all employees gather to honor and recognize members of the Community for their accomplishments. Awards for the eighth through twelfth graders recognize achievement and emphasize character.
92: Hackley’s school colors have always been black and gray. As noted in Where the Seasons Tell Their Story, “although there is no record of an official designation of school colors, evidently it was Mrs. Hackley who is responsible for the black and grey that have graced it throughout the century.”
93: The Hornet is Hackley’s lovable mascot who makes an appearance across the Hilltop in various ways and times throughout the school year, bringing everyone joy and friendship. Community members are often referred to as “Hornets,” as in, “Once a Hornet, always a Hornet.” Hackley’s Athletics teams are also the Hornets.
94: Each Athletics season, the Hackley Parents’ Association (HPA) and Athletics Department co-sponsor a Sting event. The Stings are a fun-filled day for members of our Hilltop Community to come together and show their spirit for Hackley and our student-athletes.
95: Located under the Saperstein Arch, the Tuck Shop is run by the HPA and is open in the morning from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Students are welcome to go there during free time to grab a snack and socialize. The Tuck used to be a kiosk that occupied the space that is now the Lindsay Room and moved around campus several times before landing in its current spot under the arch.
96: Coffeehouses, sponsored jointly by the HPA and the Upper School, are popular events at which students perform for their peers and showcase the many individual talents that contribute to our community.
97: Mitchell Gratwick, headmaster from 1941 to 1950, created the Hackley Fathers’ Association (1946) and Hackley Mothers’ Association (1948) to help increase opportunities for parents, most of whom did not live nearby, to engage in the life of the School. In 1989, the two groups were combined to form the Hackley Parents’ Association. A new set of bylaws was drafted and the organization became more active, raising increasing amounts of money and taking a greater interest in other School matters. In spring 1993, the HPA adopted a Statement on Character Education that urged Hackley to help students become “better individuals as well as smarter individuals.”
98: The Hackley Alumni Association’s mission is to serve and empower the global Hackley alumni community by engaging and connecting alumni with each other and the School. The HAA works closely with the Advancement Office on activities and events.
99: After the Goodhue fire in 2007, the HAA helped to fund the Archives Room to preserve Hackley history. Many alumni have made donations to the Archives, and the room is open for alumni to tour on Alumni Day.
100: Alumni Day is a long-standing Hackley tradition that engages alumni to bring them back to the Hilltop. Some highlights of the day include reunions, the 50+ Club luncheon, Athletics events, the Art King Memorial Hike (named for Hackley’s legendary science teacher who passed away last year just shy of his 102nd birthday), a bottle rocket class and English teacher Anne Siviglia’s Writing Workshop.
Hackley Athletics Then and Now
By Charlie Perlman ’25, the Dial Editor-in-Chief and former Sports editor
Walking around campus today, the rich history of Hackley athletics lingers everywhere. From early 1900s architect Thomas Butler’s curved stone wall down on Benedict Avenue Field to the Johnson Center, sports have always been fundamental to the Hackley experience.
It’s hard to picture what athletics and life at Hackley were like over a century ago. The campus, the buildings and even the activities have changed significantly since then. When Hackley first started, sports like football, ice hockey, baseball, track, tennis and golf were among the offerings. Today, Hackley’s athletics programs have grown and evolved, with most of those sports still going strong, except for ice hockey. Football, with its deep historical ties to the School, has firmly established itself as the centerpiece of Hackley’s athletic tradition.
Out of Hackley’s 26 students in 1900, 13 joined coach and player Walter B. Gage on the gridiron to compete in the team’s first season. Football has always had close ties to the academic side of Hackley, as well. As Walter L. Schneller writes in Where the Seasons Tell Their Story: Hackley School’s First 100 Years, “It should come as no surprise that Hackley’s longest-reigning headmaster gained prominence as a quarterback on the Harvard football team and was, for a brief period before coming to Hackley, a football coach” (p. 29).
The 1974 Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team.
Hackley football has had the fortune of attracting talented coaches and players, including former coach Robert Pickert and former offensive lineman James C. Reilly ’66. Coach Pickert excelled with an impressive 210 wins and a winning percentage of 64% over his 38 seasons as varsity head coach. Upon his retirement in 2011, he was elected to the Ivy Preparatory League Hall of Fame. Hackley acknowledged his service to the Hilltop with a commemorative award given to a coach who has demonstrated excellence on the field. After excelling at Hackley all four years, James C. Reilly attended the prestigious Notre Dame University at the peak of the school’s football success. Reilly was a four-year starter who earned first-team All-American honors as an offensive lineman before declaring for the NFL draft. In the third round of the 1970 draft, the Bills selected Reilly, who would start 27 consecutive games for them. The Hackley football program was built on the two constants that Pickert and Reilly brought every day — talent and leadership. The team continues to honor its rich history by posthumously retiring Reilly’s No. 46 jersey, naming the home field after Coach Pickert, and welcoming alumni to inspire the current players.
Today, Hackley football is crushing it under the leadership of former quarterback and head coach Joseph McDermott ’14. “Hackley’s football program
focuses on developing student-athletes by promoting teamwork, accountability and sportsmanship. It offers students the opportunity to compete, build character and develop lifelong skills,” McDermott noted. With a strong team and dedicated coaching staff, the Hornets dominated this fall, with big wins like a 35 -16 victory over longtime rivals Riverdale on Alumni Day and a 33 - 0 triumph in the MIFL semifinals. With a winning tradition and a focus on teamwork, this program is definitely on track for even more success.
Squash on the Hilltop has had a much shorter history than football — one that may never have come into being without some adventurous Hackley students. Unlike most other well-known high schools of the Northeast, Hackley didn’t have a squash team, let alone courts. It was interest from students Stephen Field ’83 and Andy Seibert ’82 that helped bring a team to Hackley almost a century after the School’s founding. The prospective squash players approached then-Middle School English teacher and former Vassar squash coach Phil Variano to help create the team. Alongside fellow squash enthusiasts Derek Van Eck ’82 and Josh Chervokas ’85, a team was beginning to take shape. In winter 1981- 82, Hackley unveiled its first boys’ squash team. The team went an unflattering 0 - 4 but improved to 5 -2
The Hackley Varsity Field Hockey team today (left) and in 1974 (right).
the next season. As Field wrote in his reflection in the 2022 edition of Class Notes, “While losing is never fun, we were thrilled to be playing squash, and that team was now a reality.”
Hackley squash has only gotten better over the years. Back in 1985, the school built squash courts in the Zetkov Gym to give students a place to play. Then, nearly 30 years later, Hackley took it up a notch by adding eight brand-new, top-of-the-line squash courts in the Walter C. Johnson Center for Health and Wellness. This really set the stage for the program’s success. In the 2016 -2017 season, the Boys’ Varsity Squash team was ranked 15th in the nation and only lost four out of 70 matches. The team finished the 2024 season winning the Division 3 title at Nationals, and the Girls’ Varsity Squash team placed 11th in Division 2
What started as a dream from Hackley students over 40 years ago has grown into a program that consistently sends players to top colleges, dominates the Ivy League and, most importantly, gives student-athletes the chance to develop their skills.
“Hackley’s varsity squash teams have been the strongest in the Ivy League over the past few years, along with successful wins at NYSAIS and High School Nationals,” noted Director of Squash Tina Rix Stout, who joined Hackley in 2019
Today, the Hackley Squash Academy also offers lessons and clinics for kids in kindergarten through fourth grade who want to learn the game. “The goal with Hackley’s external squash programs is to expose students to the game at a young age so that by the time they are in Middle School, they have some experience and competency in the game and then
progress on to become varsity squash players,” Rix Stout said. “I really enjoy introducing young students to the game and helping them develop a love for sport and exercise in general. I feel lucky to work with a great partner, Edgardo Gonzalez, as well as a fun and supportive Athletics Department!” What started as a dream from Hackley students over 40 years ago has grown into a program that consistently sends players to top colleges, dominates the Ivy League and, most importantly, gives studentathletes the chance to develop their skills.
Lacrosse is one of the most popular sports among students today, but it didn’t exist for male students until 1973. In its inaugural year, coaches Bruce Hislop and Matt Sampson ’68 led Hackley to an undefeated season. From there, the program never looked back, having a multitude of successful seasons, including another undefeated season in 1985 and two seasons with only one loss in 1990 and 1996. These teams were led by great coaches and incredible athletes who went on to play at the college level. One player who stands out is Robert Gutheil ’90, who had a huge impact both as a player and a coach at Hackley. He was a star on the 1990 team, which finished with a 15 -1 record, before going to Brown University. In 1994, as captain, he helped Brown make its first Final Four appearance, ranking third in total points in the NCAA tournament and leading all midfielders in assists. He earned a ton of
honors, including third-team All-American, firstteam All-Ivy and the Cliff Stevenson Team MVP award. After playing at Brown, Gutheil returned to Hackley as a coach and, alongside current head coach and Assistant Director of the Upper School Chris Arnold, led the team to Ivy League and Metro tournament championships before joining the University of North Carolina men’s lacrosse staff.
“I love how each team gets to write its own story over the course of a season and that each player has a role in creating that collective narrative,” Arnold said about coaching at Hackley. “I love the history of
teams at Hackley and the way that each team gets to add to that history in their own ways. I love knowing that the memories and relationships players forge on the field will stay with them throughout their lives.”
Herb Allen ’85 was an excellent player for Hackley lacrosse, earning two-time high school AllAmerican honors in his junior and senior years. He helped lead those teams to impressive records of 15 -1 and 16 - 0, and his name still sits atop the Hackley lacrosse record books for all-time points, most points in a season and most assists in a season. Allen excelled not only on the field but also in the
Clockwise from top left:
The Varsity Football team in 1900, today and in 1920.
classroom, going on to play at Yale. There, he was part of the 1988 team that made the NCAA tournament and earned an honorable mention for All-Ivy in 1989.
The legacy of Hackley lacrosse extends far beyond Ivy Preparatory League record books, leaving its mark at every level of collegiate lacrosse. Today, the program stands as a powerhouse, consistently excelling in the Ivy League and making regular appearances in the NYSAIS championship. Honoring its proud traditions, the team names its Team MVP award after Coach Hislop and continues to instill the values of hard work and teamwork in every player, every year.
Today’s student-athletes are following in the footsteps of their dads and granddads, playing on the same Hilltop fields where past legends made their mark.
The success of lacrosse isn’t single-faceted, however; Hackley Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse is arguably the more dominant side of the program. The winning mentality can be traced back to stellar coaching and great players. Morgan Lathrop ’05 took charge in the early 2000s as a four-time letterwinner and four-time All-Ivy goalkeeper. Lathrop led Hackley girls’ lacrosse to four Ivy League titles and two NYSAIS titles while being named Journal News All-County and winning the 2003 Ivy League coaches award. At Northwestern, Lathrop cemented her legacy as one of the best goalkeepers in the university’s history. She left the Wildcats as the
Clockwise from left: Girls’ Varsity Cross Country and Boys’ Varsity Squash teams today, and the 1910 Varsity Basketball team.
all-time save leader with a 83 -3 record and four consecutive NCAA trophies on the mantelpiece. In 2022, she was inducted into the Northwestern Hall of Fame.
Two more Northwestern lacrosse players have also left their mark on Hackley’s program. Sisters Ally Mueller ’14 and Sammy Mueller ’16 dominated during their time on the Hilltop. Ally won six NYSAIS titles across three sports and was named a top-5 senior athlete in Westchester by MSG Varsity, while Sammy was a two-time All American and twotime NYSAIS champion in lacrosse. Ally was a lockdown defender, making the BIG 10 All Tournament
team her junior year. She consistently showed up during NCAA tournament games throughout her four years, forcing turnovers and picking up ground balls. Sammy’s career began a little differently, with her first four seasons of collegiate lacrosse being played at the University of Virginia. Over those four seasons, Sammy racked up numerous accolades, including 2017 ACC Freshman of the Year, All-ACC first team, IWLCA First Team All American and a Top 25 Tewaaraton Award nominee. When she made the transition over to Northwestern in 2021, following in her older sister’s footsteps, she continued to excel,
Clockwise from top left: Today’s Varsity Track & Field team and GIrls’ Varsity Basketball team, the 1959 Varsity Track team, and the 1974 Girls’ Varsity Basketball team.
achieving Second Team All Big 10 and numerous multi-goal games.
The driving force behind Hackley’s Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse success is coaching duo Jenny Leffler and Melissa Stanek ’90. Leffler was a standout player at Fox Lane and later went to play field hockey and lacrosse at Kenyon. Stanek was a star at Hackley, winning the Bruce F. Roberts Scholar/ Athlete Award and later helping Princeton University win its first NCAA Tournament in school history with a goal in the championship game. The two joined forces at Hackley and have been unstoppable.
“The girls’ lacrosse program today thrives on the passion of our current players who carry the tradition of Hackley girls’ lacrosse with them,” said Coach Leffler. “They find their success through their love of the game and, even more so, their love of each other and the team, which drives them to work hard for a common goal. This pushes them to work hard and
Hackley has built a tradition of excellence, where teamwork, perseverance and character are just as important off the field as they are on it.
also to have fun, which is at the heart of our success year after year.”
Since the NYSAIS tournament began in 2003, Hackley has claimed 12 of the 19 championships under Leffler and Stanek’s leadership. This season, with Johns Hopkins commit Brooke Koffler ’25 on track to break the points record and a strong roster of collegiatebound players, the team is poised to add another title to its legacy. Hackley lacrosse continues to shine, celebrating its incredible program and ongoing success.
Clockwise from left: Hackley swimmers in 1935 and the Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse and Wrestling teams today.
The helmets might be newer, and the courts are definitely a little more pristine, but the energy and school spirit are still the same. The players who built Hackley’s athletic programs are remembered in banners, retired jerseys and awards, reminding everyone of the legacy they created. While this article highlights the evolution of a few teams, Hackley’s athletics program encompasses many more sports, each with its own history, achievements and lasting impact on the School. Today’s student-athletes are following in the footsteps of their dads and granddads, playing on the same Hilltop fields where past legends made their mark. They’re creating their own legacy, contributing to Hackley’s expanded athletics program (see the list of current teams). Hackley has built a tradition of excellence, where teamwork, perseverance and character are just as important off the field as they are on it. As we celebrate 125 years on the Hilltop, we’re excited to see what the next century will bring as future generations of Hornets break records and take things to the next level. Only time will tell what the future holds on the Hilltop.
About the Author:
Charlie Perlman is a member of the Class of 2025 and one of three Editors-in-Chief on the Dial, Hackley’s student newspaper. He is also a member of the varsity basketball and lacrosse teams, and the founder of the Sports Photography Club. Charlie shared that he will study journalism at Northwestern University next year and build upon the valuable lessons he learned at Hackley.
DID YOU KNOW?
Today’s Athletics program has grown since its earliest years to include the following teams across fall, winter and spring seasons annually.
Cross Country
Football
Field Hockey
Girls’ Tennis
Girls’ Soccer
Boys’ Soccer
Girls’ Basketball
Boys’ Basketball
Girls’ Squash
Boys’ Squash
Girls’ Indoor Track & Field
Boys’ Indoor Track & Field
Girls’ Swimming
Boys’ Swimming
Wrestling
Epee, Foil and Saber Fencing
Softball
Baseball
Girls’ Lacrosse
Boys’ Lacrosse
Boys’ Tennis
Girls’ Golf
Boys’ Golf
Girls’ Outdoor Track & Field
Boys’ Outdoor Track & Field
125 FUN FACTS ABOUT 125 FUN FACTS ABOUT HACKLEY SCHOOL
101: Inaugurated during the tenure of Headmaster Peter Gibbon, the 50+ Club was created to re-engage alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago with their School. The 50th Reunion Class is inducted on Alumni Day.
102: This year marked the 17th annual Dave Allison Memorial Game & BBQ, which kicks off Alumni Weekend each year. The event remembers and honors Dave Allison, a beloved coach who championed girls’ sports at Hackley. The evening always features a tribute by a former HGVS player.
103: Hackley once had a radio station! Started in 1967 by Class of 1970’s Stu Goldberg, Andrew Burstein, Tom Lee and Timothy Matlack, WHTR broadcast out of the basement of King Chapel. Chris Berman ’73 and Keith Olbermann ’75 were also on the staff.
104: The annual alumni holiday party in New York City is a Hackley tradition and takes place every December. It is a highlight of the holiday season.
105: Throughout Hackley’s history, alumni have returned to the Hilltop to contribute to the School as faculty and staff and to send their children here. Currently, there are 11 Hackley employees who are also alumni of the School.
106: Created in 2000 through the generosity of the Casten family, Hackley’s Casten Trips support global education opportunities for Upper and Middle School students and faculty. Each year, small groups of students and faculty travel to destinations as diverse as Japan, Malawi, Peru, Denmark and Cuba, where they engage in cultural immersion, service and other experiences as defined by each trip’s mission.
107:
Students in our Upper School French, Chinese and Spanish programs have the opportunity to participate in language immersion trips led by Hackley language faculty. Students also have the opportunity to experience the way others live and learn to see the world through different lenses.
108: In 2012, Hackley was invited to join Round Square, a consortium of more than 150 independent schools around the world that share a commitment to discovering the world and making a difference.
109: Hackley’s Global Education initiatives are supported by several generous members of our Community. We are grateful to the late Henry Wendt III ’51 for his support for Hackley’s membership in Round Square, to the Casten family for their ongoing support for our Casten Trips, to Sigrid van Eck P ’81, ’82, GP ’14, ’17, ’17, ’25, ’26, ’29 for supporting Hackley’s language immersion trips, and to the Hackley alumni, parents and parents of alumni who have provided funds toward student financial assistance.
110: Student Ambassadors know Hackley well and are eager to share their enthusiasm for our School with prospective families. You will often see ambassadors leading tours for prospective families and during Alumni Day. The program is led by the Admissions Office.
111: Participation in student clubs plays a crucial role in enriching the educational experience on the Hilltop. These clubs offer students the chance to explore interests, develop leadership and organizational skills, and foster collaboration beyond the classroom.
112: Hudson Scholars is a transformative, tuition-free enrichment program at Hackley, dedicated to empowering academically promising, low-income middle school students from Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. The program unites these students (Hudson Scholars) with passionate Hackley teachers and Upper School student mentors for a dynamic summer and academic year experience.
113: Hackley initiated its first artist in residency program in 2019. Conceived to provide support and enrichment opportunities for the three creative departments — performing arts, visual arts and computer science — the program was designed to grow within the new Center for the Creative Arts and Technology.
114: The Hackley Review launched in fall 1963 and was originally created by alumni and named the Hackley Alumni Review It became the Hackley Review in fall 1970, and in 2015, the publication split in two, with the Hackley Review focusing on sharing the stories of Hackley people and programs.
115: In 2015, Class Notes split from the Hackley Review to better focus on sharing alumni-specific news. Published each spring, the magazine connects alumni to each other and to the School. Each issue features Hilltop news, compendiums with updates, articles written by and spotlighting alumni, memorials and more.
116: Each summer, the Hackley Review Commencement Supplement celebrates the graduating classes of each division and features awards lists and speeches, as well as a look back at the year in Athletics, Performing Arts and Visual Arts.
117: Hackley Perspectives is the School’s blog. Articles about the people and programs at Hackley are published monthly during the academic year and are promoted through the weekly bulletin to families and on social media.
118: Hackley’s student newspaper, the Dial, published its first issue on Oct. 8, 1927. It now includes both print and digital editions and has won many student journalism awards. It was named for the sundial that used to be on the Quad. Check it out at hsdial.org.
119: The Vision, published annually, is Hackley’s Upper School art and literary magazine. Its mission is to create a platform for Upper Schoolers to share their artistic and literary accomplishments with the student body and faculty.
120: The Arrow, Hackley’s Middle School literary and art magazine, annually features the creative endeavors of fifth to eighth graders. Many submissions appear in the print edition, and additional selections can be found on the website at sites.hackleyschool.org/thearrow.
121: The Hackley Community embraces four core values that weave throughout our culture and shape our journey, K-12 and beyond. These ideals are embedded in our history, our collective identity and our architecture.
122: First, we “Enter here to be and find a friend.” This core value is engraved on the entrance to Philip Savage Hall. The source of the saying and date of the carving are a mystery, but it is remembered by all who come to the School.
123: Once here, “United, we help one another ” — translated from the Latin iuncti iuvamus, this is the official Hackley motto.
124: Then we learn and share a commitment that “Character is higher than intellect.” This core value was borrowed from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
125: And, ultimately, the journey prepares us to “Go forth and spread beauty and light.” The final Hackley core value was one said by legendary Hackley teacher Arthur Naething at the conclusion of his classes.
“What Hackley Means to Me”
Contributions by the Lower School (classes 3H and 4S)
We asked our youngest learners what Hackley means to them. Below are excerpts from journal entries and hand-drawn illustrations of beloved places on the Hilltop.
SPENCER, 3H
GREGORY, 3H
JOSHUA, 3H
POSEY, 4S
“What
Hackley
Means to Me”
RAYAN, 3H
MIA, 3H
AVA, 3H
JACKSON, 4S
NORA, 4S
MAYA, 3H
SYLVIE, 3H
SUZIE, 4S
LINCOLN, 4S
“What
Hackley Means to Me”
REBECCA, 3H
COLIN, 4S
SIMONE, 3H
JULIAN, 3H
PETER, 3H
RACHEL, 3H
DEAN, 3H
CHIARA, 4S
DAVID, 4S
THE CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
The Center for the Creative Arts and Technology officially opened in November 2024. In the first few days, students and employees were treated to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, classes for all three departments were held in the building, the first Upper School assembly took place in Diller Hall and featured the firstever performance on the main stage, grandparents and special friends enjoyed the first Lower School performance in Diller Hall, and families and alumni were invited to explore the Center during an Open House. As we look to the future, we are excited to see how the Center will continue to inspire students, deepen their learning experiences, and shape the next generation of leaders and creators.
CHARLES FRANKLIN P ’30, ’32, ’35
HEAD OF SCHOOL
I’ve thought about the moment that Theodore Chickering Williams [Hackley’s first head of school] and Seaver Buck [a founding faculty member] brought Mrs. Hackley to this site for the first time. I wonder what she thought in that moment. I wonder if her mind ever wandered to what might become of her school 125 years later. Perhaps she didn’t take the time to dream; perhaps she was too busy with the quotidian tasks of building a school on a new site to think about us today. But then again, maybe I need to give Mrs. Hackley more credit. Perhaps there was a spark of inspiration and imagination in her eyes that when she closed them — maybe right where we’re standing today — she could envision what this School might become. And in Mrs. Hackley’s story, we see a tangible example of what can come from one person’s dreams. One moment, one springboard into a new opportunity, one push to see the world differently than what it currently is, this is how you change the future. … How will you fill this building with your dreams, with your visions of what might be? What will you do for the world with your creativity? How will you take what you learned in the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology and go forth and spread beauty and light ?
AT HACKLEY, WE BELIEVE THAT TRUE LEARNING OCCURS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ACADEMICS, THE ARTS, ATHLETICS AND A VIBRANT SCHOOL LIFE. IN OUR CLASSROOMS, STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO THINK CRITICALLY AND TACKLE COMPLEX CHALLENGES. ON THE FIELD, THEY DEVELOP SPORTSMANSHIP AND RESILIENCE. THROUGH THE ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY, THEY DISCOVER THEIR CREATIVITY AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
“New beginnings are like following your dreams, No matter how impossible they may seem. New beginnings are a spark of life.”
AN EXCERPT FROM THE FOURTH GRADE POEM NEW BEGINNINGS, WRITTEN FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY AND READ BY FOURTH GRADERS RAVI M., AIDAN P. AND POSEY P.
MELISSA TRANCHIDA P ’34, ’36, ’37
COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR
The opening of the Center represents Hackley’s commitment to supporting an evolving Computer Science program for current and future generations of Hackley computer scientists. … It’s easy to become enamored with the architecture, but what’s most impressive are the happenings. The spaces provide organic opportunities for Middle and Upper School Computer Science faculty to communicate in close proximity, bringing us together for the first time in one building. The innovative classrooms allow students to develop deep connections and transferable skills supporting habits of accomplishment while uniting character and scholarship. … The Center comes to life through the problem solvers and creative thinkers who inhabit the space, and it has amplified Hackley’s commitment to the program.
Department Chairs Melissa Tranchida, Computer Science; BettieAnn Candelora, Performing Arts; and Greg Cice, Visual Arts.
THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH HAS BEEN AT THE CORE OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN REMEMBER. AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, HACKLEY HAS CONSISTENTLY ELEVATED EACH OF THESE AREAS, DEDICATING NEW SPACES AND RESOURCES TO ENHANCE OUR PROGRAMS. WITH THE OPENING OF THE CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY, WE ARE TAKING OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE TO NEW HEIGHTS.
GREG CICE P ’ 26
VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR
One of the remarkable things about teaching art on the Hilltop, and what has consistently inspired me over the last 25 years, is to see the focus and commitment Hackley student artists bring to the studio every day. The students in our visual arts program approach their creative work with effort, intention, imagination and joy.
… And now, with the opening of the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, for the first time in Hackley’s history, all the visual art disciplines will be united in one facility.
Photo courtesy of Consigli Construction
“In art, you get to impart a part of your own identity into what you make. Of course, there’s also a practical side to art. You can’t learn art without the proper materials or without a neat, organized space. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about this new Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, which contains dozens of clean, beautiful classrooms; an enormous, new auditorium; and even an art gallery. With all this new space, learning art — all forms of it — becomes even better and easier.”
AN EXCERPT FROM A SPEECH BY SEVENTH GRADE VISUAL ARTS MAJOR XI H.
BETTIE-ANN CANDELORA PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR
The opening of the new Center marks an exciting chapter for our performing arts students, offering for the first time in Hackley’s history unparalleled opportunities to nurture their imaginations. Imagination lies at the heart of the Performing Arts Department, allowing students to explore new worlds through music and drama, hone their skills and tell impactful stories. … The Center is not just a building; it’s a space where imaginations can soar.
THE CENTER UNITES OUR PERFORMING ARTS, VISUAL ARTS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS IN A CUTTING-EDGE FACILITY, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS, PUSH CREATIVE BOUNDARIES AND CULTIVATE ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE.
HACKLEY SCHOOL
On Founder’s Day, students tested their Hackley knowledge with this fun Kahoot quiz! Now it’s your turn! Answers on page 60.
Q1 – HACKLEY SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED BY …
a. Mr. Caleb Brewster Hackley
b. Mrs. Caleb Hackley
c. Mrs. Frances Hackley
d. Taylor Swift
Q2 – WHO WAS HACKLEY’S LONGESTSERVING HEADMASTER?
a. Frances Hackley
b. Walter Gage
c. Charles Franklin
d. George Washington
Q3 – TRUE OR FALSE:
in
Q4 – WHAT YEAR WAS HACKLEY SCHOOL FOUNDED?
a. 1888
b. 1890
c. 1899
d. 1999
Q7 – WHAT WAS THE NAME OF MRS. HACKLEY’S FRIEND WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCHOOL’S FOUNDING?
a. Minot Savage
b. John Raymond
c. Maria Hotchkiss
d. Sarah Goodhue
Q5 – TRUE OR FALSE:
Hackley started as an all-boys’ boarding school.
Q6 – WHAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BUILDINGS ON THE HILLTOP?
a. Goodhue Memorial Hall
b. Kathleen Allen Lower School
c. Johnson Center for Health and Wellness
d. Center for the Creative Arts and Technology
Q8 – THE FIRST FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS WERE HELD ON OCTOBER 27 OF WHAT YEAR?
a. 1899
b. 1911
c. 2000
d. 2024
Q9 – TRUE OR FALSE:
Toward the end of her life, Mrs. Hackley lived on campus.
Hackley School started
Mrs. Hackley’s home in Tarrytown.
Q10 – TRUE OR FALSE:
The staircase leading up to Mrs. Hackley’s old apartment has shorter-than-usual steps.
Q11 – HOW LARGE IS HACKLEY’S CAMPUS?
a. 285 inches
b. 285 feet
c. 285 yards
d. 285 acres
Q12 – HOW MANY FACULTY “GARGOYLES” ARE THERE ON THE HILLTOP?
Q13 – WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS BUILDING?
a. Johnson Center
b. King Chapel
c. Kroeger Arch
d. Raymond Hall
Q14 – WHICH OF THE OPTIONS IS NOT ONE OF HACKLEY’S CORE VALUES?
a. Character is higher than intellect
b. Go forth and spread beauty and light
c. Keep calm and carry on
d. United, we help one another
Q15 – WHAT YEAR DID HACKLEY FIRST ENROLL YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS?
a. 1700
b. 1899
c. 1970
d. 2020
Q16 – WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS SPOT ON THE HILLTOP?
a. Akin Common
b. Clark Oval
c. Kroeger Arch
d. Pickert Field
Q17 – CHOOSE THE PICTURE OF KROEGER ARCH
Q18 – WHAT IS HACKLEY’S OFFICIAL MASCOT?
a. The Bee
b. The Hornet
c. The Wasp
d. The Yellowjacket
AROUND THE HILLTOP
HACKLEY LACROSSE TEAMS STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP WITH BRONX LACROSSE
THROUGH A COLLABORATION between the Community Engagement Team and the Athletics Department, the Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse teams have continued to grow their partnership with BronxLacrosse, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to improve educational opportunities and life outcomes for underserved middle school and high school students in the Bronx.”
Under the leadership of Assistant Director of the Upper School and Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse coach Chris Arnold, the teams held their second annual lacrosse clinic on the Hilltop on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. Hackley student-athletes teamed up with BronxLacrosse coaches to run drills and scrimmages.
“It was awesome to be able to coach the sport I’ve played my whole life, especially to have the chance to do it with friends and teammates,” said Jackson Fauber ’25 after the event.
“I enjoyed bonding with BronxLax kids over our shared love of lacrosse,” added Zion Bennett ’26.
Mr. Arnold, the BronxLacrosse coaches, more than 35 Hackley lacrosse players, and coaches Jenny Leffler,
Hackley Kahoot Answers (from page 58)
Noah Knopf and Melissa Stanek offered support to the more than 90 BronxLacrosse middle school students.
“It was a great day to work with passionate young lacrosse players and help them get better,” noted Tyler Mook ’25.
Hackley Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse players and coaches give pointers to BronxLacrosse players at their second annual lacrosse clinic on the Hilltop.
AROUND THE HILLTOP
ROUND SQUARE BRINGS ROMANIAN STUDENTS TO THE HILLTOP
IN OCTOBER 2024, HACKLEY ENJOYED HOSTING 12 students and two chaperones from the Paradis International College in Iași, Romania, as part of our membership in Round Square. During their stay on the Hilltop, the group helped Hackley students learn more about Romanian culture and performed a traditional Romanian dance during several assemblies. Throughout the week, they also spoke with alumni and guest speakers and had the opportunity to observe Upper School classes.
Our Romanian visitors also spent two days in New York City learning more about finance, marketing, branding and international relations with visits to advertising firm SpotCo, where they learned about the marketing and branding for Broadway’s “The Great Gatsby”; Goldman-Sachs, with programming arranged by Hackley alum Alexandra Gluckman ’16; a tour of the United Nations arranged by Hackley parent Enzo Iaderosa P ’26; and a viewing of “The Great Gatsby.”
Students from the Paradis International College in Iași, Romania visited Goldman-Sachs and heard from Hackley alum Alexandra Gluckman ’16 (top) as part of their Round Square exchange visit. They also performed a traditional Romanian dance for students in the Lower and Middle Schools (bottom).
AROUND THE HILLTOP
HOGG GRANTS HELP STUDENTS BRING THEIR CREATIVE IDEAS TO LIFE
THIS YEAR, 10 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED A RUSS Hogg Grant for Creative Expression. Congratulations to Aran Basu ’25, Vivek Malik ’25, Jasper Quattrone ’25, Isaac Ahn ’26, Zion Bennett ’26, Rohan Krishna ’26, Mason Lee ’26, Cara Minello ’26, Elleana Derby ’28 and Ali B. ’29!
The Russ Hogg Grant for Creative Expression provides an opportunity for Middle and Upper School students to further their interest in creative expression and innovation in ways that fall outside the typical course offerings at Hackley. Trustee Jason ’89 and Alexandra Hogg P ’19, ’22 established this endowment to honor the life’s work of Russ Hogg, Jason’s father and a former Hackley trustee. The Hoggs’ philanthropic leadership inspired friends and family to join them in creating the endowment in Russ’s name to foster creativity and innovation in myriad forms and fields, including technology, the creative arts (performing, visual and digital), science, entrepreneurialism, global challenges and interdisciplinary inquiry.
An avid chess player since the age of 6, Rohan Krishna ’26 used the grant to help him publish a chess puzzle book of positions from games he has played that not only helps others learn and love the game as he does, but also shares the raw feelings one goes through while playing under pressure. The book includes diagrams of each position along with detailed answers and thoughts on how Rohan felt while playing that position.
“I’ve done my fair share of chess books, [and] the thing with all these chess books is that they are a compilation of puzzles and answers at the back,” Rohan shared. “All of them were basically some author taking a bunch of master and grandmaster games and putting them in a book and having a kid go through them as puzzles to get their pattern recognition up.
“But what I struggled with as I got older was a lot of mental health issues over the pressure you build up in your own head,” he continued. “And so my book is an interesting way to also address that issue. I felt that all those other books were addressing only half the issue of the game of chess. I wanted to give a fuller outlook to the game as a whole. … I really wanted to address the
Hackley junior Rohan Krishna published a unique chess puzzle book with the help of the Russ Hogg Grant for Creative Expression.
mental side and give people tools to combat the same pressures that I felt because, as a player, I know what other players feel. That was something that was lacking.”
Thanks to diligent note taking on both his game play and journaling about his emotions after each match, Rohan was able to cull through hundreds of his matches to pick the 50 that he felt would best illustrate both the calculations and the emotions of chess to publish in Growth Over the Board: An Introspective Look Through Chess Puzzles. He credits the Hogg Grant with helping him publish and print the books, which are now being sold on Amazon, and with marketing and publicizing it.
“I don’t think I could have published it without the Hogg Grant,” Rohan shared.
Want to know more about the Hogg Grants?
Scan the QR code to learn more about the rest of this year’s Hogg Grant projects.
AROUND THE HILLTOP
EVOLUTION OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION ON THE HILLTOP
“WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CLASS, THERE WERE three main threads: food and culture, food and the environment, and food and power, which was the business and regulation side and also the social justice side,” notes science teacher Katherine Hannon about her class “Food and Power: The Science and Politics Behind What We Eat,” which is open to juniors and seniors.
The interdisciplinary course explores how food is tied to culture, history, political systems, beliefs, the environment and available technologies. Students cook, garden and learn about the science and nutrition behind what they eat.
“Those three threads are still there, although now I would say the course has evolved, so it’s much more diverse,” Hannon added, noting that she now includes a lot more about nutrition based on students’ interests in the subject. Among many other topics, the class also explores the environmental impact of farming and agriculture, the effects of climate change on our food sources, and even the psychology behind how various foods are marketed to consumers.
“There’s a lot of things students don’t know about food systems, so I kind of like debunking those myths,” Hannon added. “I actually ended up taking a certification course in nutrition through Cornell University, which has helped me teach about it. And then I also feel like we have more health and wellness resources now than when I started.”
Each year, Hannon invites an alumni — often recommended by the Advancement Office — who has a job within the food system to come speak with the class. “It’s a nice way to get them more exposure to things that I don’t necessarily have expertise on,” she said, mentioning past visits from a recipe developer for Hello Fresh; an alum who works for Walden Bank, which
finances sustainable farming; and others who have started their own food-related businesses.
This year, Sarah Lucas ’01 took students foraging around the Johnson Center and taught them about the nutritional and medicinal benefits of such native plants as mugwort, white pine, dandelion and plantain.
“My goal for the class is just to have them be more informed consumers of food and also to enjoy it more — to open up their palates and also learn some skills so they’re more excited about and not afraid of going into the kitchen,” Hannon added.
Health and Wellness Eduation
Scan the QR Code to read more about health and wellness at Hackley in the Winter 2022-23 edition of the Hackley Review
Hackley alum Sarah Lucas ’01 takes Food & Power students foraging around the Johnson Center.
AROUND THE HILLTOP
HACKLEY NEWS NETWORK OFFERS STUDENT PERSPECTIVE ON HILLTOP EVENTS
AS HACKLEY’S CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS and Technology continued to take shape last year, a new endeavor was also blossoming on the Hilltop. The Hackley News Network — a collaboration between the Communications Office’s Wade Tonken and student Arri Bentsi-Addison Posey ’25 — launched as a way to document the Center’s development through our students’ perspectives.
“As the person who was producing all the video content for Hackley, I realized that student reporters interviewing other students, as well as our faculty and administration, could present our audience with a unique perspective on Hackley,” said Tonken, Assistant Director of Communications, Multimedia.
Videos originally included construction updates, behind the scenes tours of the Center and interviews with members of the Hackley Community. HNN has now expanded to include two additional reporters, Jiya Dhakad ’26 and Josh Gandelman ’27, and more varied
content on everything Hackley, from student opinion to school events.
“HNN gives the students involved real-life experience in what it’s like to be a communications specialist — like being able to speak and improvise on camera,” Tonken added. “The program is in its infancy, and we look forward to expanded coverage in the future.”
“It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m honored to leave behind such an incredible legacy in my final years at Hackley,” said Arri. “I look forward to getting to know the students in my community every time I get in front of the camera. I couldn’t imagine a better job if I tried.”
Scan the QR Code to read more about another Hackley student news endeavor, the Hilltop’s WHTR radio station, which operated in the ’60s and ’70s and was profiled in the 2024 edition of Class Notes
Senior Arri Bentsi-Addison Posey interviews students at the opening of the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology for an episode of the Hackley News Network.
BASIL KOLANI DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
THE HILLTOP JOURNEY
Atthe end of last school year, I reflected on the year by sharing snapshots of the Hackley K-12 student journey with families. With more than half the school year behind us, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on where this year’s journey has taken our students on the Hilltop.
At the risk of being too obvious, we’re celebrating 125 years of Hackley and the opening of the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology. The ribboncutting ceremony was a testament to student creativity, and as the whole Hackley Community gathered in the building’s amphitheater, we heard about the importance of the arts to seventh grader Xi H. and the significance of computer science to senior Phoebe Dungca. We were also treated to an original poem titled New Beginnings, written by the entire fourth grade, and read by Ravi M., Aiden P. and Posey P. The poem was such an inspiration as we think about the new possibilities that the Center offers. Here’s an excerpt:
New beginnings are like a green banana. New beginnings are like saplings. New beginnings are a fresh pencil straight out of the box. New beginnings are growth in the forest.
We won’t soon forget “New beginnings are like a green banana,” and it even sparked discussion in at least one Upper School English class. Equally
unforgettable was the palpable excitement on students’ and adults’ faces as they entered the Center for the first time. Now that classes in our new spaces are in full swing, one teacher shared, “the only problem so far is that I have to repeatedly ask the students to leave class when the period is over as they want to stay in their seats and keep working on their art!” We witnessed this firsthand during a visit to the AP Art
Studio, where students remained engaged long after class ended — and if you’ve seen their studio, you’ll understand why! It’s a sentiment echoed by Visual Arts Department Chair Greg Cice, who shared that this year’s students are inspired by last year’s work and are equally motivated to inspire next year’s artists. Thinking of new beginnings and new approaches, the English, History and Classics departments have adopted the Harkness method for student-centered discussions. Originally developed at Phillips Exeter Academy in the 1930s, Harkness discussions place students at the center, encouraging them to share interpretations, observations and insights while building on the contributions of their peers. In October, Middle and Upper School teachers from these departments deepened their expertise in Harkness pedagogy through a daylong workshop led by two Exeter faculty members. It has been exciting to watch both Middle and Upper School students engage in their first Harkness discussions, confidently steering conversations with only subtle guidance or clarifying questions from their teachers.
Many of us are likely inspired by our mission statement’s call for students to learn from diverse perspectives. Engaging in discussions — truly listening to others and contributing your thoughts — is central to that process. In recent months, there have been powerful reminders of this across both divisions and the curriculum, even in math classes, where answers often seem definitive. In one firstgrade lesson, students estimated the number of items left in a box after removing a handful. They used different strategies independently before partnering to compare their visuals and explain their thinking. At the same time, AP Calculus students discussed their solutions to four problems, comparing their approaches and thought processes as they prepared for an upcoming assessment. While discussing math might seem unusual to some, at a recent Lower School HPA coffee, Eva Van Buren, Lower School Math Specialist, walked parents through solving a complex problem, in a very similar way that an Algebra class might — by talking through the solution.
The concept of revisiting prior knowledge to build new understandings is woven throughout Hackley’s K-12 program. For instance, fourth-grade students deepen their study of the United States government with a daylong trip to Philadelphia, while Upper Schoolers reenact history through a mock Constitutional Convention, collaboratively exploring how the nation was founded. This spirit of connection extends to the arts as well, with Middle and Upper School music students performing their first holiday concerts in the newly opened Diller Hall, inspiring and being inspired by Lower School students beginning their musical journeys in the same space.
As much as we celebrate the chances to revisit and go deeper, Hackley isn’t afraid to break new ground. Students arrive in the Middle School with a strong foundation of Computer Science skills built in the Lower School, as demonstrated by this year’s sixth graders. These students are not only training an
AI model but also designing their own, working alongside visiting MIT researchers to refine a Middle School AI curriculum. While original research is often associated with the Upper School’s Independent Research programs in science, history or English, Middle Schoolers on the Hilltop are also making their mark — contributing insights to shape a curriculum designed for students around the world.
I’ve told anyone that will listen that I think Hackley’s greatest superpower is the strength of relationships between students and teachers. Powerful learning cannot happen without trust, and when we step back to look at everything happening on the Hilltop, it’s clear what happens when a learning community fully commits to growing in character, scholarship and accomplishment. At Hackley, learning is a celebration — both the lessons we teach and the insights we gain from one another throughout the student journey.
DID YOU KNOW…
THE OLD OAK
ON AUG. 4, 2020, HACKLEY’S ICONIC OLD OAK — WHICH WELCOMED generations of students, families and employees to the Hilltop from its place at the entrance of the Quad for more than a century — fell during Tropical Storm Isaias. Thanks to our partners at Consigli Construction, who helped to build both the Johnson Center for Health and Wellness and the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, the Old Oak now has a new life on the Hilltop. Salvaged pieces of the oak have been used to create custom furniture for select areas on the Hilltop, including benches outside each divisional office, a new podium, and a new desk and table for the Head of School’s office.
JOHN GANNON P ’ 21 DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
As the stewards of Hackley School, it is critically important that we appreciate our School’s 125-year history. Doing so informs our understanding of today’s Hackley and guides and inspires our thinking about Hackley’s future. Dating back to our founder Mrs. Hackley, the School we have built — literally and figuratively — would not have been possible were it not for generations of philanthropy in all its forms, including the too-many-to-count hours of volunteerism. Our culture of philanthropy is rooted in, and is a byproduct of, the relationships we have with one another, and it is inspired by the extraordinary work done by our teachers, coaches and staff. Indeed, united, we help one another.
United, We Help One Another
YOUR GIFT TO THE HACKLEY FUND PROVIDES OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS, COACHES AND STAFF WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DELIVER A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
It also strengthens our programs and supports financial aid, ensuring that every student can thrive at Hackley. Together, we can continue to make an impact and uphold the values that have defined our School for over a century. Please scan the QR code to make your gift today.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
The Copper Beech Society
Planning Ahead for Hackley School
The Copper Beech Society recognizes members of our community who have included Hackley in their estate plans through planned gifts, such as bequests, trust agreements or beneficiary designations. Including Hackley in one’s estate plan is an investment in the future — supporting tomorrow’s students, teachers and coaches. We are deeply grateful to those who choose to support Hackley in this meaningful way.
To learn more about how you can include Hackley in your estate plan, please contact Director of Advancement John Gannon P ’21 at 914 -366 -2654 or jgannon@hackleyschool.org. If you have already included Hackley in your estate plan and would like to be recognized as a member of the Copper Beech Society, please reach out to John.
293 Benedict Avenue Tarrytown, NY 10591
The Hackley Gala Celebrating 125 Years
When: Saturday, May 3, 2025 Where: Center for the Creative Arts and Technology Questions? Contact the Advancement Office.
Summer Programs
Registration opened Tuesday, Feb. 18
Program begins Monday, June 9 Visit hackleysummer.org for more information.
Follow and subscribe to Hackley School on your favorite social networks and on YouTube
