Issuu

MAY/JUNE 2026

"The

mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions." -Ralph

Waldo Emerson

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HEAD’S HIGHLIGHTS

Some of the questions faculty explored were:

How can data become a tool for creativity, communication, and inquiry rather than simply calculation?

How can we best both challenge and support students with different learning needs within the same classroom?

How can invention education help students become more innovative problem-solvers?

How do we prepare students to think critically and ethically about artificial intelligence?

How can mathematics become more relevant and connected to the real world?

How do we help students listen more carefully, engage more courageously, and navigate difficult conversations with empathy and skill?

Different questions. Different disciplines.

Yet beneath them all was the same commitment: to better understand how young people learn and how we can create experiences that challenge, support, and inspire them

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:

"The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions."

Each year, Hyla teachers engage in that stretching. They read, research, revise curriculum, examine student work, study emerging ideas, test new approaches, and challenge themselves to think deeply about their craft

Much of this work is invisible.

Yet it is among the most important work we do, as the world our students live in- and the one we are preparing them for- continues to change and evolve

And because the academic and intellectual vitality we hope students experience in our classrooms begins with educators who are themselves actively learning, questioning, exploring, and growing.

As we celebrate our graduates, our 8th graders, and all that our students have accomplished this year, I also want to celebrate our faculty who never stop learning on behalf of their students It is one of the reasons Hyla remains such a vibrant place to learn.

Warmly, Suzanne

SNAPSHOT: MIDDLE SCHOOL HUMAN REALTIONS

BY:BOBBY

CURRICU INSIGHT

Education with a Purpose

SNAPSHOT: UPPER SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS

BY:CHRIS

With warm spring weather and summer around the corner, bubbling energy in the classroom has presented new challenges to holding a calm space where thoughtful HREL discussions can take place Hands on projects, arts, and crafts have helped harness this energy and direct it towards some great reflections on our semester’s major themes. Moreover, students who shy away from getting involved in discussions often come to life when a project gives them a more comfortable mode of expression It is a great feeling as a teacher to see a student, whom I had once thought ambivalent about the class, experience a natural spark of inspiration about the material

Students in 8th grade studied mental health this spring. Lessons and discussions about stress, depression, and feeling isolated led way to a graphic novel study Critically acclaimed manga series, A Silent Voice, follows the story of a young man who bullies a classmate as a child, and later seeks to repair the harm he caused

SNAPSHOT: UPPER SCHOOL

MATH

BY: ERIK

From a math teacher’s perspective, Math 124 is an enjoyable class to teach, covering differentiation and its many applications to physics, science, and economics The course is pedagogically designed around building an advanced problem solving toolkit, which is then tested in many different contexts to build a resilience mathematical approach. Many problems involve a close reading of a word problem, deriving a system of equations to describe the scenario, applying the rules of differentiation appropriately, simplifying complex equations algebraically and finally checking (or justifying) the solution

This problem solving approach requires students to holistically apply a deep conceptual understanding of Calculus at the macro level and precisely apply rules of differentiation algebraically at the micro level Their cultivated toolkit with a year full of experience is then put to the test, during their 3-hour Math 124 final (same exact final taken by students at UW)

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH

BY: MERCEDES

In the 6th/7th grade Spanish classroom, students have been exploring family, house, and household chores vocabulary during our La Familia / La Casa unit through games, skits, outdoor activities, songs, and creative projects Throughout the unit, students actively practiced speaking and using new vocabulary in meaningful and engaging ways.

As part of the family section of the unit, students created a slideshow about their families and presented it to the class in Spanish. Each student took pride in sharing their family members with classmates, and the presentations allowed students to practice descriptive vocabulary and speaking skills.

For the house portion of the unit, students designed a poster of their ideal house using the vocabulary learned in class.

PURPOSE Learning with

ANNA MYTKOWICZ CLASS OF 2031

WHO INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg for her strong sense of justice and for doing what is right in the world

Cornelia Funke for writing very wonderful stories

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU LOVE LEARNING — INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM?

Fun new words! Or word facts- astronaut translates to star sailor

IF YOUR LIFE WERE A BOOK, WHAT WOULD THIS CHAPTER BE CALLED?

Start of summer!

FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO YOU LIVE BY?

Favorite Quote: Oscar Wilde “Only a fool trips on what is behind him” and my favorite motto: life happens just keep on walking.

WHAT’S A GOAL YOU’RE WORKING TOWARD — BIG OR SMALL?

Getting into prelim for Irish Step Dance competitions.

WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?

I don’t like eggs

IF YOU COULD START AN ORGANIZATION OR MOVEMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Probably an anti-banned books organization because everyone should have the right to read.

CINDY

MATH 6-8

Describe your classroom in three words

Productive, colorful, busy.

What’s one lesson (academic or life) you hope every student takes from your class?

To embrace your pace, no matter how fast or slow, you can still do it if you put in the work.

If your class had a theme song, what would it be and why?

I think I can, I think I can

What’s a book, experiment, or project you teach that always sparks excitement in your students?

Probability games- making the carnival games in 7th grade is a highlight Student also enjoy the art projects (building houses, drawing comics and mandalas)

How do you hope your students remember you years from now?

That I had funny rhymes or songs that helped students learn, that I made math fun, that I was clear and easy to learn from, that I believed in them

What's one tradition or routine in your classroom that your students love?

Playing a set game at the beginning of class, regular projects that happen every year, knighting ceremonies (when students get a new math book- it is a celebrated milestone), getting candy for FOILing and Factoring

MERCEDES

SPANISH 6-8

Describe your classroom in three words

Interactive, colorful, welcoming

What’s one lesson (academic or life) you hope every student takes from your class?

Learning a new language takes a lifetime keep learning and growing!

What’s one thing you do differently than most teachers?

I am not a musician, but I play the cuatro, a Venezuelan instrument, by ear and encourage students to practice Spanish pronunciation through singing. Even students who say they do not like singing eventually give in and end up enjoying the experience The enthusiasm is contagious and it works!

What's one tradition or routine in your classroom that your students love?

Singing and our daily warm-up activities such as saying the date, day, weather, and sharing an activity they are doing after school have become an important part of our classroom routine I am not sure every student loves it, but this year I have seen incredible growth in students’ pronunciation, confidence, and fluency in Spanish.

If your classroom had a mascot, what would it be and why?

It would be the Coquí, a Puerto Rican frog because of its beautiful singing sound that connects us to Puerto Rican culture and brings a sense of joy and identity to our Spanish classroom

THANK YOU OUR DONORS,PARTNERS, AND VOLUNTEERS!

Annual Fund Donors

Andrew and Maria Metzler

Anna and Bill McClain

Anna Sperling McAlvanah

Anna Sun Choi and Leo Sooter

Asaph Glosser and Hilary Benson

Barbara Schaefer

Bobby Neal

Brenda Hodges-Howell

Brian and Jenna Strully

Brian and Katie Stoll

Bridget Pearl

Cami Holtmeier and Peter Korytko

Carlos and Linn Costa

Caroline and Dave Browne

Caroline Little

Chaitee Sengupta and Berg Danielson

Cherie Levan

Chip McDermott

Chris Soldevilla

Cicely Wedgeworth

Cindy Schacht

Cindy Sulc

Claire Willeford Carrillo and Jorge Carillio

Cortney and Sam George

Dale and Carol Sperling

Daniel and Caitlin Kogan

David Hunting

David Maron

Deb Furlan and David Kane

Elizabeth Houghtaling and Andrew Allender

Erik Visher

Frank and Mary Stowell

Gretchen Steidle and Daineil Ellis

Hannah Wright

Heather Dewar and Benjamin Langner

Heidi and Chris Blair

Helen and Rob Burke

Ian Saunders and Alissa Kozuh

James and Jenny Sheldon

James Rufio Hill

Jamie Baldwin

Jana Morris

Jene and Charles Grandmont

Jennifer and Jeff Sharp

Jenny and Shaun Morber

Jessica and William Flitter

Jessica and Wayne Reed

Jim and Sarah Hopper

John Bonow and Carol Ann Davidson

John R Davis

Julie and Steve Matthews

Karen Anderson Natrop

Karolynn Flynn and Roger Katz

Kathleen and Jim Phillips

Kelly Webster

Kevin and Rebecca Miller

Kris Rogers

Kylie and Chris Cromrich

Laura Dwelley Samant and Jaideep Samant

Lee Harper

Leigh Noffsinger Family Law

Leslie and David Brown

Lindsey and Dan Camarena

Lisa and David Glaze

Lynn and Bill Agnew

Maggie and Luke Hemphill

Mairead and Jason Shutt

Meg and Bill Bromfield

Megan and Fred Eiden

Mercedes Morales

Michael and Valerie Tweiten

Miche Jones and Thomas Orwiler

Nigel and Brooke Tunnacliffe

OCFA

Pat and Kellie Elliott

Paul and Betsy Carroll

Phedra and Matthew Elliott

Ralph Derricksen

Robert Weschler

Robin Supplee and Mike Derzon

Rosalys Peel

Sallie and Andy Maron

Sandra and Bill McIver

Scott and Lori Kruse

Shannon and Dimitri Boss

Shaunna and Tim Duffy

Shonna and David Lemke

Soomie Ahn and Casper Sorensen

Susan and Mark Shaffer

Susan and John Tomlin

Suzanne Messinger

Tamara Connie

Tara Powers-Hausmann

Teri and Nick Bicknell

Teri Bellamy

Thomas Backer

Tom Neal

Turi Widsteen and Kevin White

Vicki Culp

Gather & Give

Donors

Ann and John Ellis

Ann and Ryan Daughtery

Barbara Schaefer

Bonny Danielson

Cami Holtmeier and Peter Korytko

Carol Ann Davidson and John Bonow

Chaitee Sengupta and Berg Danielson

Chris and Kylie Cromrich

Cortney and Sam George

Cynthia Rossi and Scott Bass

Dan and Lindsey Camarena

Emilie and Todd Mytkowicz

Emily Bancroft and Andy Johnson

Gretchen K Steidle

Hazel Tudryn and Dan Gebow

Helen Burke

Henry Indvik

Ian Saunders and Alissa Kozuh

Jeff Pontes

Jenny and Shaun Morber

Joe and Mary Madia

John and Susan Tomlin

Katherine Kilcher and Gene Seligmann

Kevin and Rebecca Miller

Kimberly Maney

Laura Samant and Jaideep Samant

Lauren and Joan Scout

Leo Sooter and Anna Choi

Lisa Barley and Jonathan Williams

Lynda and Bill Baxter

Maggie and Luke Hemphill

Mairead and Jason Shutt

Marcela Sandoval and Richard Ragan

Matt and Phedra Elliott

Meg Bromfield

Melissa and Reed Blanchard

Narendra and Vanathi Siddaiah

Paul and Betsy Carroll

Peggie Dickens Zuckerman

Roger and Sarah Townsend

Tamara Connie

Terace Yeatts and Jesse Hufstader

Thomas Backer

Thomas C Neal

Virginia Davidson

Wendy and Erik Indvik

Local Partners

American Legion Hall

Bainbridge Arts & Crafts

Bainbridge Island Fire Department

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Bainbridge Prepares

EcoAdapt Helpline House Island Fitness

Sustainable Bainbridge UW Resilience Lab

Washington State Ferries

Global Partners

Global Online Academy

Global Routes

One Schoolhouse

Volunteers

Abby Rappoport

Andy Maron

Ann Fite

Anna Choi

Bonny Danielson

Brittany Sulc

Emilie Mytkowicz

Jeff Pontes

Jenny Morber

Lindsey Camarena

Maggie Hemphill

Mairead Shutt

Narendra Siddaiah

Valerie Tweiten

THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR!

*We have made every effort to ensure this list is complete and accurate If we have unintentionally omitted your name, please accept our heartfelt apologies and know that we greatly value and appreciate your generous support.