The Hilltop buzzes with new changes for the upcoming school year; from the unveiling of the Johnson Health and Wellness Center to the new makerspace, there is much to look forward to. However, the largest change to take place this year has been the addition of the New Head of School, Michael Wirtz. Mr. Wirtz closes a successful first school year on the Hilltop and is already looking forward to the future of Hackley School.

Though the position of Head of School is demanding and involves countless meetings with faculty, staff, and Trustee members, Mr. Wirtz does his best to be as present in the community and in his children’s lives. “My typical day starts with breakfast with my kids and then I walk with Charlie to school and take Frances home,” described Mr. Wirtz. “Afterwards, it is often filled with meetings with parents and teachers. I started going to classes lately to get a feel for what is happening.”

Despite the daunting tasks accompanying the position of Head of School, Mr. Wirtz sees his involvement and participation in the Hackley community as a few of his biggest successes. From attending Lower School performances, watching sports games, and attending the UNITY end-of-year barbeque, Mr. Wirtz leaves his first year having formed solid relationships with all the students. Bujana Mulosmani, a senior and member of UNITY appreciated Mr. Wirtz’s attendance at the end of year barbeque and various other club meetings.

“Mr. Wirtz stops by a lot of different club events. It shows that he takes an interest in the students and what they are doing without being asked. He also invites the boarders over for dinner sometimes or will stop in to say hi, which is very cool,” said Bujana.

His strong presence on campus attending student or club events has not gone unnoticed by the Hackley community. “Mr. Wirtz is very vocal around campus. He is very much aware of what the student body wants and is generally involved in student life. He is super friendly and always greets me around school,” said senior Jordan Patrick.

In addition to his daily routine of parent, teacher, and Trustee conferences, Mr. Wirtz hosted a Q and A panel for the Hilltop series, which was initiated by the Hackley Parent Association. In it, he answered questions about a variety of topics concerning the school ranging from gender neutral bathrooms to diversity issues on campus. Junior Connor Larson, who was in attendance, noted that, “to have that level of student involvement from the headmaster directly was really neat.”

Community events like Convocation provide a break in Mr. Wirtz’s schedule and a way to connect with the Hackley community on a more personal level. “Convocation was very memorable for me– having the whole community together and being able to share a book that I really enjoy,” recalled Mr. Wirtz. “My parents were also there which was amazing. I will always remember that.”

While the opening of the Johnson Health and Wellness Center will introduce many changes to the campus next year, many students look forward to the unveiling of the new makerspace. The makerspace will allow students and faculty from all three branches of the science division to combine creativity with the ease of constructing different designs through 3D printing and woodworking. Its strategic placement in room S111 in the Saperstein building will allow for its easy access for lower, middle, and upper school students and will serve as yet another creative outlet for many students.

Regarding the future of the school, Mr. Wirtz looks forward to the strategic planning process next year, where “students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and trustees will start to think about the future of the school.” This collaborative process will involve many different voices, “but none of the changes are going to feel drastic or radical. Rather it seeks to strengthen the academic program, the areas that we want to explore as a school, the things that we think are important for students, not only in preparing for college, but beyond college, like the life habits and skills that we want them to develop.”

As summer break approaches, Mr. Wirtz and the Administration is already projecting and planning for next year’s term. For graduating seniors and the incoming freshmen, Mr. Wirtz offered a piece of advice, which he heard from an alumni speaker during the UNITY barbecue, “Do something that you are comfortable with and that you know, and then do something that pushes you out of your comfort zone.”