HMS Makes the Grade in Environmental Sustainability!
June 5, 2021Each year, High Meadow undergoes an audit of our energy efficiency as part of efforts by The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to “assist New York schools in controlling their energy costs and to help protect our environment by reducing statewide energy consumption”. Our annual audit report was just completed, and this year we … Read More
From New Head of School, Michelle Healy
June 2, 2021Hello, Everyone! First, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Pride month! I am committed to maintaining a school environment where LGBTQ+ voices are centered in our curriculum and where LGBTQ+ students, family members, and staff feel valued, elevated, and supported. Second, I am thrilled to officially join the High Meadow … Read More
Student Art Hung at Local Gallery!
May 22, 2021The 2nd-grade family interview and portrait project is being shown at the Black Dot Cafe from May 20th – June 3rd. Black Dot is our new neighborhood coffee shop, right on Main Street in Stone Ridge! Our art teacher, Kimberly, also had postcards printed to be sold, and the proceeds will go to a local charitable organization. … Read More
Community Service at HMS
May 6, 2021“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ― Mahatma Gandhi We at HMS are aware that these times are trying for all of us people, however, it is important to remember that we are a school based on a model of community and service. This does not … Read More
Celebrating Our Earth
April 25, 2021Our celebration on Thursday was a beautiful reminder of the connection that exists among all the individuals in our community, and the connection that exists between our community and the Earth that nurtures us. Each grade group participated in several activities, braving the chill to show love and gratitude for our planet. We walked the … Read More
Our Resilient and Creative Kids!
March 28, 20218th grade is typically a year defined by traditions developed over the years, each one anticipated with excitement a sense of “we made it!”. This year, many of those traditions are either missing completely or have to be adapted to align with COVID protocols. Back in January, several of our 8th-grade students, realizing that the … Read More
Hope for the Future Scholarship
March 22, 2021Exciting News! As you may know, we have been fortunate enough to partner with the Helen’s Hope Foundation as we continue to work towards building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Part of their incredibly generous donation earlier this year was $50,000 specifically aimed at establishing a scholarship fund, and we are excited to … Read More
Condemning Hate
March 19, 2021We are heartsick and devastated by the recent killings in Atlanta which targeted Asian American women and left 8 people dead in all. We want to express our solidarity with the members of the Asian community that are here with us at HMS, in Ulster county, and around the world. For all those who are … Read More
Alumni Spotlight: Dahlia Rosen
March 17, 2021We were thrilled to hear that one of our recent graduates has been named Valedictorian of the Class of 2021 at Rondout Valley High School! The announcement from the RVHS website reads: Our Valedictorian is Dahlia Rosen, ranking first in her class with a GPA of 101.33. She is the daughter of Ari and Randi … Read More
Our Community of Writers
February 12, 2021In the High Meadow classroom, writing is approached as a means of strengthening our connection with the world around us and with ourselves. Students lean into the excitement of creating unseen worlds and characters, finding the right words to express their opinions and observations, and communicate with those they know best and those they wish to know. Through … Read More
A Threat to Democracy is a Threat to Us All
January 16, 2021At the core of High Meadow is our commitment to empowering each child to be an independent thinker by providing opportunities to authentically and compassionately participate as a member of a diverse, democratic school community. The insurrection we saw last Wednesday at our nation’s Capitol was a direct threat to Democracy; a travesty and a … Read More
The Light in the Darkness
December 27, 2020The importance of taking time to honor the elements and the gifts of the natural world has always been central to the High Meadow way. Celebrating the return of the light feels particularly poignant right now, as we move into the coming year and prepare to find more light in our world. We were so fortunate … Read More
Our Community of Musicians
December 18, 2020Last month, we celebrated the visual artists in our community, and hopefully brought everyone a taste of what it will feel like when we can all get to know each other when we are able to mingle on campus once again. As promised, we are continuing to dedicate a few Feature pieces to different parts of the HMS community, so … Read More
We Are Greatful
November 25, 2020As we head off to celebrate A Day of Gratitude, we want to recognize that we have so much to be thankful for in this community! Gratitude for Generosity Robert Kodsi (dad to Jacob in Nursery 2s, David in PreK, and Julia in 1st Grade) has generously donated 300 KN-95 Masks for our staff. We thank Robert as … Read More
Our Community of Visual Artists
November 20, 2020HMS has always had a strong and unified community, and we recognize that due to COVID we have found ourselves a bit at sea. By necessity, we are fragmented into smaller circles, and disconnected from the larger community at a time when that sense of belonging and knowing one another would be a balm for our … Read More
Get Out the Vote – HMS Style!
November 2, 2020Tomorrow is Election Day nationally as well as here on campus. Even the youngest of our kiddos are so excited about using their voice to make an impact right here at school – and the best part is that Spirit Day will be a hoot no matter which theme ends up winning! Elsewhere on campus, in … Read More
We Love HMS Teachers!
October 14, 2020Monday, October 5th, was World Teachers Day! We are immensely grateful to all the students and families who so thoughtfully shared their love and appreciation for our incredible teaching staff. Teachers Are Learners, Too Over the past two weeks, our teachers have engaged in three separate professional development days. Here is a snapshot of their purpose … Read More
New Circumstance, New Faces, New Traditions
September 5, 2020Over the course of High Meadow’s 36-year history, numerous back-to-school traditions have evolved – some brought by past teachers, staff, and parents, some born out of specific groups of students and their interactions with the campus. We take pride in upholding these traditions and honoring our roots. While this year may look different, and some of … Read More
Our Teaching Staff for the 2020/21 School Year
August 11, 2020This summer has required more planning and idea-juggling and outside-the-box thinking than any other school year preparation of my 40-year career. The fact that I am doing that work here at High Meadow, in the service of bringing this community back together, imbues the complex and sometimes painful work with immense value. Knowing the work … Read More
What Are We Celebrating Right Now? Campus Improvements!
July 24, 2020We have some truly amazing people doing some truly amazing work on campus right now. Leading our illustrious team of Campus Improvement Rockstars is Ann Ganter (mom of Tallulah in 5th grade and August in 6th grade). We caught up with her to find out what projects are in the works; here is her report: … Read More
Sticking Together Through the Uncertainty
July 15, 2020As we continue to monitor all the information available to us around COVID-19 and School Reopenings, we want to be as transparent and clear as possible. We understand how challenging this is for everyone – school leadership, teachers, parents, and kids alike. Answers to your questions, and any “decisions” that we make could be changed … Read More