"A Year in Review" High Meadows School Magazine & Annual Report 2022-2023

From the Head of School & Camp

Dear High Meadows Community,

What an absolute joy it has been to experience more of the traditions, events, and community connections that are hallmark to High Meadows this year. It has been amazing to reflect on the last 50 years of HMS&C and to prepare for our launch into the next half century of High Meadows. Guided by our mission, vision, and values, incredible work is being done here, remarkable learning is happening here, and lifelong memories are being made here. We’re so glad you’re part of our story.

I hope to see all of you on campus during our Anniversary Weekend (November 3-5). We look forward to welcoming community members from near and far from all chapters of High Meadows, then and now. Until then, enjoy reading our “Year in Review” magazine. I hope it provides a glimpse into and reminder of some of our highlights from 2022-23, not the least of which is celebrating the graduates of the HMS Class of 2023—our 30th 8th grade class!

See you next time on the meadow,

Lisa Baker Head of School & Camp

“It has been amazing to reflect on the last 50 years of HMS&C and to prepare for our launch into the next half century of High Meadows.”

Strategic Plan

At High Meadows, our Mission, Vision, and Values serve as a compass for our work, culture, and decision making. The Strategic Design Team’s work last year provided us with clearly articulated language in these areas for our faculty, staff and leadership to utilize daily.

We hope this new graphic rendition helps bring our priorities to life for our students and families. Enjoy!

Honoring Half a Century of High Meadows

Happy Birthday, High Meadows!!!

Donning camp shirts, swimsuits, sunscreen and smiles, nearly 1000 campers and camp staff kicked off High Meadows’ 50th anniversary in summer 2022 with a once-per-session birthday party complete with cake, singing, and fun. At the end of the summer, Camp hosted a 50th Summer Reunion with around 300 camp alumni and former/current staff members on campus for an evening of fun and fellowship. The 50th summer of camp marked the beginning of an institution-wide celebration of the 1973 founding of High Meadows School & Camp spanning from Summer 2022 through May 2024. In August, High Meadows students got to join in the fun with their own High Meadows birthday party where they received ‘High Meadows Forever’ t-shirts, participated in decade dances, and heard stories about the humble beginnings of HMS.

“In planning the 50th anniversary activities, our primary focus has been on community- offering current High Meadows families and those from the past an opportunity to connect and celebrate the magic of this place,” Lisa Baker shares. “We have mined old employee files, databases, the internet, and our human resources to try and reach as many people who have been a part of High Meadows over the years as possible. We hope to see them all here on the meadow for Anniversary Weekend in fall 2023!”

The school’s Advancement Department in collaboration with a robust volunteer team formed five committees to help support the 50th efforts. Led by volunteer tri-chairs Bud Lichtenstein, Sarah Bobbitt, and Amy Whittall, committees are focusing on Events, Honorary, Constituent Communications, Archives & History, and Projects and have been hard at work planning, researching, and connecting. “We hope to create an Anniversary Weekend experience that is rooted in the many things that make High Meadows such a unique place,” states Events Committee Chair, Samara Kaufman. “We want it to feel nostalgic and authentic and to offer a wide array of opportunities for High Meadows community members from then and now to have moments to share High Meadows together in meaningful ways.”

There will be events Friday through Sunday of anniversary weekend. Saturday night, High Meadows will host an adult social on the Lower Meadow with dinner, drinks, and a band. Influential contributors from over the years will be honored and acknowledged. “We can’t wait to welcome back alumni, alumni families, former teachers, founders, and others to whom High Meadows has been a special place. Not only are we celebrating our first 50 years, we are also coming together to envision and invest in the next 50 years,” shares Grace Shickler, chair of the Honorary Committee, alumni parent, and former Early Years Principal. “High Meadows is a place that has had tremendous positive impact on thousands of people. I’m excited to see what the future holds and to continue find ways to stay connected.”

Anniversary Weekend, slated for November 3rd-5th, will offer opportunities for guests to tour the campus, engage in learning opportunities, connect with old friends, and more.

The Magic of Middle Years

With one foot rooted in childhood and the other stepping eagerly into adolescence, middle schoolers can pose a perplexing combination of needs and contradictions. High Meadows Middle Years teachers would tell you, however, that this distinct age and stage is also marked by heightened information processing abilities that allow students to delve more meaningfully into complex thinking, problem solving, self-reflection and growth. The adolescent brain is amazing in its capacity and plasticity, and High Meadows Middle Years program is designed to capitalize on these areas of rapid cognitive growth and to support the unique needs of this developmental transition.

So, what do middle schoolers need to thrive, and how does High Meadows’ program uniquely support and inspire them?

Collaborative Learning: One key element of adolescence is a strong social drive. Instead of trying to control and minimize socialization in the classroom, High Meadows teachers utilize this social motivation through collaborative work, dialogue-driven lessons, and exploring different perspectives and lenses on topics. Students also have intentional free time in their day to foster friendships, to exercise the navigation of social relationships, and to play. Many Middle Years students identify having positive relationships both with peers and teachers at High Meadows as a benefit.

Exploration and Self-Expression: High Meadows robust mini-course offerings provide Middle Years students the opportunity to choose from and try many different specialized courses including Animal Care, Yoga, Band, Debate, a variety of Fine Arts courses, Theatre, World Peace Games, Culinary Arts, and more. Mini courses are taken every day and run on a 6-week rotation, so students are able to explore a wide variety of topics and experiences across their middle school years.

Fostering Independence & Self-Confidence: All Middle Years students at High Meadows start their school year off with a six-week orientation focused on building social connections, study and organizational skills, and learning the structure and expectations of the Middle Years program. Students are encouraged to reflect on themselves as learners and community members, to set goals for themselves, and to consider what tools and strategies will help them succeed.

Mentorship & Leadership: One of the many benefits of a Pre-K through 8th grade school model is that our Middle Years students enjoy the role of being campus-wide mentors and leaders. Instead of being stuck in the middle or stranded on an island, our middle schoolers know that they serve as role models to their younger High Meadows’ counterparts. Middle Years students shine as facilitators at Community Gatherings, as buddies to younger students, and as empowered change-makers within our community. Being part of the whole at High Meadows allows Middle Years students to see the significance of their role in the community and to strive to make a positive impact.

Intellectual and Academic Challenge: High Meadows’ Middle Years program is known not only to prepare its graduates for academic success in a wide variety of public and private high school settings, but also for preparing students to stand out in those high school communities as self-advocates, engaged citizens, collaborative peers, and ethical leaders. With a majority of graduates starting their high school careers in AP and Honors classes, HMS alums come back to tell us that they were both academically prepared to thrive in their high school courses and had the skills and strategies to navigate the transition with confidence.

High Meadows graduates enter their high school years with a strong academic foundation, a passion for learning, and a keen understanding of what they need to be successful. Whether they attend a public or a private high school, they stand out as students who are invested not only in their own success, but also in making a positive impact on the schools and communities they become part of. “HMS graduates know themselves academically, trust themselves socially, and advocate for their own needs and hopes. They see themselves, are reflective, and understand the power of their own voice” shares long standing Middle Years teacher, Vanda Spinola.

Middle Years and Connections Principal Matt Nuttall observes, “We encourage our students to take healthy risks, to focus on learning as a process rather than simply on the outcome, and to continually reflect on not just what they have learned, but how they have learned it. We want to instill in our students the belief that they can do hard things, and that failure is not only a possibility for learning but is often a prerequisite for it, and that all of this is possible when we are part of a supportive, positive community of peers and adults that are all coming together to help each other grow and thrive.”

Coming Together

Face

Emphasis Night, when students, parents, and community members come together and see how each grade approaches this year’s topic, Underground.

Welcome to the first day of school!

painting, crafting, rock art, and more bringing our community together for Fall Festival.

Our first Community Gathering of the year kicking

Welcome back to our alumni for our annual Alumni Reunion Dinner.

our High Meadows’ 50th anniversary.

8th grade students share in a culminating experience on their trip to Colorado.

Students put on their silliest costume during one our treasured traditions, the Halloweenie Roast.

Thank

Coming Together

4th & 5th grade students and teachers enjoy Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

Bob Dylan shares his personal story during the Civil & Human Rights Living History Museum.

Having fun at A Journey Around the World, our biannual Gala.

The HMS Rock Band shows off their talent.

Spinning yarn on Earth Day.

Congratulations to our 8th grade graduates!

Our young peacemakers celebrate Dr. King’s legacy at the Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” World Peace Rose Garden.

7th grade students immerse themselves in their trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.

6th & 7th grade students showcase their projects and experiments to students, parents, and staff during the Science Fair.

The delegates from the 2023 United Nations Climate Summit present resolutions that inspire action and change for a better world.

Celebrating Grandparents & Special Friends Day!

2023 High Meadows Gala

Thank you to everyone who supported A Journey Around the World!

On April 15, current families, faculty & staff, newly accepted families, and alumni families gathered in Alpharetta at The Metroplitan Club for an evening of dinner, dancing, and raising money for High Meadows School. For the auction, each class made a basket and art project, teachers donated special experiences called Teacher Treasures, and community business donated items to round out the offerings. Brilliant Jewelry designed and donated one-of-a-kind earrings and a necklace for the Jewelry Raffle, and the Fund-A-Need portion of the evening raised $13,000 for new garden beds.

Thanks to each of you, we were able to raise over: $100,000

Sponsors

We are very grateful to the following sponsors.

Jewelry Sponsor Printing Sponsor

Brilliant - The Jaffe Family Nova

Platinum Table Sponsors

Colonnade Custom Homes - The Myers Family

Amazing Lash Studio - The Austin Family

The Bobbitt/Lovatt/Mitchell/Phelps/Valera Families

Gold Table Sponsors

Baker/McRoberts Family

Latitude Flexible Legal Talent - The Hartnett Family

Law Office of Adam D. Brown - The Brown/Faust Family

Majestic Home Improvement Services - The Munder Family

The Martinez Family

The Riznyk Family

Smart Health - The Miller Family

Summit Coffee Co. - The Logan Family

Warrington Network Consultants - The Warrington - Reed Family

HMS Class of 2023

Our 2023 8th grade graduates are heading into their high school experiences not only with a strong academic foundation, but also with the flexibility, perseverance, and sense of humor that was required to navigate middle school. As they prepare for their next chapter in high school, we asked our 2023 graduates to reflect on “What is your favorite thing about High Meadows?” Read on to hear their responses.

My favorite thing about High Meadows is the teachers.

The way the teachers interact with their students and how inclusive everyone is. Also, the way we get to learn and develop outside in an environment with animals and fresh air.

The students' freedom and different responsibilities, because this allows us to explore, express ourselves, and take ownership of our learning.

The animals. I have grown up with them, and High Meadows gives you the ability to learn how to act with them, and learn to love them.

Gaitee Abbas Roswell High School

Isa Amezqua Woodward Academy

Santi Anaya Centennial High School

Sophia Babiar Wheeler Magnet

My favorite thing about High Meadows is spending time with my friends on the meadow.

The 8th grade Colorado trip shows how much fun it is to be at High Meadows. It is an amazing experience and is something for all students to look forward to.

The freedom students are given and the trust and encouragement to be ourselves. We learn by doing and are constantly surrounded by nature and our animals. Every school day is exciting and unexpected!

The responsibility instilled in you. Teachers give you room to make mistakes but want to see you pick yourself back up and keep trying. Teachers at HMS believe that each student has the ability to carry themselves as a kind, respectful person.

The community created because of the program. It's very tightly knit and everyone knows everybody else so it's very friendly and kind. You also go on trips with everyone and it builds unique bonds.

I like that during the day we not only have classes, but we get a break in the middle with two classes we get to choose. I love that we get to do cooking or help with the animals.

My favorite thing about High Meadows is the people.

My favorite thing about High Meadows is the loving and welcoming feeling I got when I first arrived at High Meadows. I loved that so much because I have felt that every day since then!

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Ducan Baker Roswell High School

Cobi Beresin The Galloway School

Jamie Berzack The Mount Vernon School

Taylor Berzack The Weber School

Charlotte Brown Walton High School

Fiona Brown Mount Pisgah Christian School

Jonah Brown The Weber School

George Campbell Wheeler Magnet

Mini courses! Students get to choose 2 classes every 6 weeks of their choice from a variety of courses. From theater to barn animals to debate to band to sports to tech. You learn so much from them and the skills stay with you forever!

The people. Everyone there, including teachers, are always welcoming. Everyone I have met at HMS has always made me smile even if I barely know them. The HMS community is filled with people I will never forget.

The teaching style. The way that information is taught makes it so it's absorbable, and not just a vocalization of a textbook, and there are genuine conversations that the class chooses to learn more about.

I don't think this is a "one answer only" kind of question. But something I love is the fact that when I'm at HMS I'm speaking my truth and I don't feel that I need to be someone else.

My favorite thing about High Meadows is the patient, supportive, teachers at High Meadows.

My favorite thing about High Meadows is the relationships I've made with teachers and students over the years.

My favorite thing about High Meadows is the positive, non-violent environment.

My friends. I became so close to my friends and we share so many great memories together. I am so grateful for the friendships I made at my time at High Meadows.

Atzi Carrillo Centennial High School

Ellie DeCarlo Milton High School

Ella Gonenne The Galloway School

Milea Hibberd North Springs High School Art Magnet

Sylvie Hoffer Marietta High School

Samantha Jaffe The Walker School

Sarah Johnson Pope High School

Sebastian Kros Walton High School

At High Meadows you are outside a lot unlike other schools.

The community of inspiring people. The teachers have always encouraged me to speak up and have confidence in myself, and that has changed my life.

I like the community and the teachers at High Meadows. Because everyone is very kind and makes you feel happy. Going to school at High Meadows makes you want to come back the next day.

Going to Colorado because of once-in-a-lifetime memories and experiences that I'll never forget. I also really appreciate HMS for helping my family by providing a meal train and other assistance during tough times.

The community is very supportive and High Meadows' very unique approach at education, especially for younger kids.

The amazing bonds you create there and all the support the teachers give you.

High Meadows School is a very welcoming place that has allowed me to know myself and embrace my individualities and features. I always felt in a very safe and inclusive environment! Made life long friends along the way!

The teachers take us seriously and my friends are amazing. I love social studies and how much we have to work and how much freedom we have. The campus is beautiful.

Ryan Lupinski Roswell High School

Mya McGinley The Galloway School

Maya Mercy Woodward Academy

Roman Odil Blessed Trinity Catholic High School

Cooper Reed Innovation Academy

Maya Reeder The Mount Vernon School

Sophia Sanchez Johns Creek High School

Clare Stonebraker Roswell High School

My favorite thing about High Meadows is the friendships that I have made and the trips that help bring the grades closer together.

What I liked best about High Meadows is how hospitable the community was when I first started and the opportunities it gave me to embrace for the future.

Chloe Tapasak Blessed Trinity Catholic High School

Abe Wachter The Weber School

HMS Class of 2019

As High Meadows graduates, you soared through high school with confidence, creativity, determination, and a love of learning. Congratulations on your high school graduation! We heard from a few of the members of the Class of 2019 alumni, "What skills, values, and habits did you learn at High Meadows that you have found beneficial during your high school experience?" Read on to hear their response.

HMS taught me how to engage in social settings and create friendships. It also helped me become confident in any subject.

HMS taught me how to organize my time, speak up for myself, and have empathy for others.

HMS not only taught me valuable time management and critical thinking skills but also self-advocacy, teamwork, and independence, while instilling a love of learning.

High Meadows taught me how to think for myself and to always stay curious.

Nicholas Anderson Mount Pisgah Christian School University of Arizona

Bill Braine Ashville High School Elon University

Annie Bushey Centennial High School University of North Carolina

Kate Cave Centennial High School University of Denver

At HMS, I learned valuable life lessons, formed lifelong friendships, and learned the value of incredible student-teacher relationships. HMS also cultivated my love and appreciation for the outdoors

High Meadows School taught me a love and good understanding of math.

Advocating for myself and keeping an open mind when working on project-based work with students who had different perspectives than myself.

Value of a personal relationship with your teacher, how to talk to adults, how to be a good friend, connection to the environment.

Agnes Scott

Organization, discipline, and teamwork are among the many skills that I learned at High Meadows.

The ability to research and speak at a high level on a myriad of topics. High Meadows instilled the ability to gather, organize, and present information in a compelling manor.

My appreciation for learning gained at High Meadows has made my time in high school pretty interesting.

Community

Hadley Collier Roswell High School University of North Florida

Izzy Denning Fusion Film and Television at NYU

Zach Gordon Walton High School Indiana University

Charlotte Ivey Roswell High School Georgia College

Allison Meyer Galloway High School

Carmi Nemhauser The Weber School New England Institute of Technology

Aviv Newman The Weber School University of Georgia

& creativity

Josh Pearlstein The Weber School Berklee College of Music

HMS Class of 2019

High Meadows taught me how to be a good person who benefits not only themselves but also society as a whole.

Time management, teamwork, and critical thinking.

High Meadows not only taught me how to speak up for myself, but also how to form meaningful relationships with my teachers and peers.

Time management, study skills, being myself, and having fun!

Auburn University

I learned time management, prioritizing school, thinking with different points of view, study skills, test taking strategies, and being open minded to different things.

Accountability, leadership, self-advocation, to ask questions, to love to learn! Great relationships with my teachers.

Thomas Rhodes Roswell High School University of Georgia

Barrett Riley Mount Vernon Dickinson College

Sandra Schmitz The Walker School Tulane University

Sophia Schwartz Roswell High School Georgia Southern

Katie Sorensen Greater Atlanta Christian School

Ana Waller Blessed Trinity NC State University

Congratulations to the entire class of 2019!

Nicholas Anderson

Sophia Bernitt

Bill Braine

Annie Bushey

Samuel Cardiel

Kate Cave

Hadley Collier

Davis Daniell

Isabella Denning

Ryan Frommer

Zachary Gordon

Skylar Haimes

Charlotte Ivey

Madison Kaul

Ashley Martin

Layni Martin

Allison Meyer

Lyriq Najm

Carmi Nemhauser

Aviv Newman

Kimberly Olascuada

Joshua Pearlstein

Sebastian Philbin

Thomas Rhodes

Barrett Riley

Sandra Schmitz

Sophia Schwartz

Henry Smith

Katie Sorensen

Ansley Strain

Sara Strobeck

Robin Tierolf

Emily Waldrop

Ana Lucia Waller

2022-2023 Annual Report

Board of Trustees

The governing body of High Meadows School is the board of trustees. The board is a self-perpetuating group of volunteer parents, past parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends, all committed to setting the course for the school’s long-term success.

The board identifies and studies issues that will impact the school’s future. Through standing committees as well as strategic task forces, it focuses on governance and mission-centered areas of interest. Stewardship of High Meadows’ resources is a primary duty of the board, not the daily function of the school.

We thank the following trustees for their service and dedication to High Meadows School throughout the 2022-2023 school year.

Executive Committee

Javier Estrella, Chair

Theresa Robison, Secretary

Amy Jewett, Vice Chair

Lisa Baker, Head of School & Camp

Lisa Tilt, Treasurer

Members

Joe Crowley

Katie Johnson

Erica Davis

Geoff Knapp

Derek Deskey

Margaret Lamb

Jody Holden*

Mital Patel

Kate Pearson

*Denotes Lifetime Trustee

Financials

Operating Income

2022-2023 School Administration

Lisa Baker, Head of School & Camp

John Dovic, Director of Camp and Auxiliary Programs

Michelle Epstein, Executive Assistant to the Head of School

Lori Kennedy, Lower Years Principal

Angela Lockard, Associate Director of Development & Communication

Laura Nicholson, Director of Enrollment & Advancement

Matt Nuttall, Middle Years & Connections Principal

Michael Rhodes, Director of Technology

Roslyn Terrell, Business Manager

Danielle Wright, Director of Equity and Justice | PYP Coordinator

Operating Expenses

2022-2023 Financial Contributors

High Meadows Fund

The High Meadows Fund is the school's annual giving campaign that raises critical philanthropic dollars to support the daily operations of the school. Thanks to the generous support of our community, the High Meadows Fund raised over $300,000 this year. Thank you to the following donors whose gifts during the 2022-2023 academic year helped every student at High Meadows School.

$10,000 & Above

$5,000-$9,999

Key:

B = Board Member/Founder

P = Current Parent

A = Alumni/Alumni Parent

G = Grandparent

F = Friends

S = Faculty/Staff

$2,500-$4,999

2022-2023 Financial Contributors

Thanks to the passionate support of our High Meadows Fund Grade Chairs, we were able to meet our fundraising and participation goals for the 2022-2023 school year. Their hard work and dedication raised the funds necessary to ensure High Meadows has the resources it needs to “Ignite the Wonder” for the children on a daily bases.

Matching Gift Companies

2022-2023 High Meadows Fund Grade Chair Committee

Zachary Prescott, Chair

Claire McAden, Pre-K

Leigh Borda, Kindergarten & 1st Grade Chair

Zachary Prescott, 2nd/3rd & 7th Grade Chair

Sarah Gibbons, 4th/5th Grade Chair

Katie Jaffe, 6th & 8th Grade Chair

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Some donors are able to increase the value of their donation by utilizing an employee matching gift benefits program at the company where they work. Thank you to the following companies who provided matching gifts to High Meadows School.

Ameriprise

AmerisourceBergen

Aramark

Arch Insurance

AT&T

Bank of America

BlackRock

CBRE

Cigna

Crum & Forster

Delta Airlines

Equifax

F5 Networks

Goldman Sachs

Google

IBM

Jacobs Engineering

Marsh & McLennan

McKinsey

Microsoft

Moody's Corporation

Publicis

Samsara, Inc.

Merrick Hardwoods

Stanley Black & Decker

The Home Depot Foundation

T-Mobile

Truist

United Health Group

WarnerMedia

Wells Fargo Westrock

*The 2022-2023 Annual Report is published by the Development Office to express gratitude to those who have generously given to the school during the fiscal year (June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023). Every effort has been made to ensure that each contributor's name is properly listed. Please accept our apology if your name was omitted, listed incorrectly, or misspelled. Please advise us of the error by emailing development@highmeadows.org.

Bill & Bonnie Braine

Joel Deitch & Corey-Jan Albert

David & Shelley Reed

Barry Levy & Jackie Wolf

Pat Wolf

June Hinerfeld Restler Campership Fund

Kevin & Cherie Restler

Bill & Sandra Crawford

Wolf Memorial Scholarship Fund

Jack Gilliom Campership Fund

Georgia GOAL Tax Credit Program

The state of Georgia has set aside $100 million for taxpayers to redirect a portion of their state tax liability to provide tuition assistance to students matriculating into independent schools from the public school system. Thank you to those who have participated in the Georgia GOAL Tax Credit Program. Your support makes a positive difference for families within our community, and your contribution will continue to strengthen our school in countless ways. The additional financial aid funding created by the tax credit program frees up High Meadows School’s operating budget for other important initiatives. As a result, every

student is positively impacted.

Thank