HIGHLAND

Lower School students got a wonderful opportunity for hands-on
learning at The Lego Expo as part of our Robotics program.
Over the next two days, seniors enjoy a hike in Shenandoah
Park and canoeing in the Shenandoah River. Seniors have
opportunities to discuss their anxieties and to cement
friendships that will help them navigate the joys and pitfalls
of the year ahead. They return recognizing their role as
leaders of Highland and thinking about the impact they want
to make on Highland before they leave us at graduation.”
“Field studies remind us that we learn best when we are
willing to take risks and try new things, when we are in
relationships with each other, and when we approach
every opportunity with curiosity and an open mind,”
Bertke continued. “There is plenty that can be learned
in the classroom, but there is also much to be learned
outside the walls of school.”
In the Lower School, Students Take Field
Trips and Find On-Campus Opportunities
Lower School students can also expect to board a
bus to travel to locations near and far to further their
understanding of the community and world around them.
Lower School Director Lise Hicklin offers, “Experiential
education in practice are hands-on, authentic, and active
learning experiences. Whether it’s Kindergarten’s trip to
Rappahannock Park to study the changes of the seasons;
First Grade agricultural experiences at Cox Farms; learning
about tree growth and organic farming techniques at Oak
Shade in Second Grade; visiting the birthplace of Robert
E. Lee in Third Grade; or participating in a major rite of
passage at Highland-the Fourth Grade overnight trip to
Jamestown – students can expect to explore new places
and add first-hand knowledge to classroom lessons.”
Just a few steps from Lower School classrooms is the Village
Garden and Outdoor Classroom. In this unique space,
curricular and developmental goals direct the development
of hands-on activities including studying the life cycle
of plants, definitions of habitat, and soil health.
STEAM Night, Maker Space Offer Unique
Experiences to Our Youngest Students
Additionally, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Art, and Math) activities are incorporated into grade-level
and co-curricular programs. Family STEAM nights, which
are new this year, are designed to give parents a better
understanding of this educational framework, to promote
functional literacy in our students, to give families a fun
way to interact with each other while learning something
new, and to help build our Highland community.
“The Maker Space provides opportunities for
all students to hone their design, conceptualizing,
building, and trouble-shooting skills,” added Hicklin.
“Programs and places like the Garden and Maker Space
classroom, provide ideal environments for students to
share what they know, explore new concepts, and create
what they imagine.”
The emphasis on experiential learning at Highland helps
provide opportunities to reach different kinds of learners,
to challenge students and faculty to leave their comfort
zones, and to create unforgettable learning moments.
Stepping beyond the walls of Highland gives teachers and
students unique opportunities to add real-world relevance
to classroom learning, to see each other with new
perspective, and to connect the school experience to life
beyond Highland. This important and unique feature of
the Highland program strives to facilitate self-awareness
and personal growth, the creation of healthy, productive
relationships, and meaningful experiences that challenge
and broaden perspectives of school, local, national, and
global communities. n
Fall 2014 Highland Magazine 39