Hackley is a K-12 community, but can you recount the times Hackley actually gathers as an entire unit – every grade and faculty member represented? The first week of school is a time of high excitement and debuts, whether that is cheering on the new student body president or playing “name games” invented by Mr. Franklin. A short thirty-minute segment called Convocation is where all these feelings and goals coexist.
Convocation marks the start of a new school year, but also represents the attitude students should carry on throughout the year.
Nostalgia set in as Seniors held hands with a Kindergartener, leading them to their front row seat on the turf. This fairly new tradition debuted during the 2024-25 school year and marks the start of Convocation. Hackley’s a cappella group, represented by the Lower, Middle, and Upper schools, followed this event with the singing of the Alma Mater.
“It was a really heartwarming, full circle moment…just seeing the big, big, big kids walk with the littlest kids holding hands was really, really sweet,” said Senior Grade Dean Melissa Stanek.
Mrs. Stanek has a daughter in eighth grade as well as two sons who have graduated from Hackley. The image of a senior walking hand in hand with a Kindergartener represents growth, a foreseeable milestone, and dedication.
Associate Head of School Dr. Cyndy Jean welcomed Hackley’s newest student president, Ben Iaderosa. Ben delivered his speech in chapters, each chapter representing a different motto unique to Hackley.
“What you will remember is the story you write here- the friendships, challenges, and moments that shape you. Hackley isn’t just a school; it’s a story we’re writing together.”
The central theme of Convocation was understanding a sense of togetherness. Ben recognized the importance of leaning on each other and being open-minded to help shape one’s story at Hackley.
Ben Iderosa has been at Hackley since second grade, making this Convocation speech especially meaningful for the seniors.
“I felt really honored to be able to speak on behalf of the students at Hackley School. I’ve been working really hard for a long time, and I’m glad that I’m finally able to say my thoughts and share some new perspectives with everyone,” he said.
Ben has one concluding chapter left in his Hackley story, and along the way, has collected many insightful pieces of advice. He felt fit for this speech as he understands what it was like to be sitting in the crowd while moving through the Lower, Middle, and Upper schools.
Following Ben, Charles Franklin gave his third annual Convocation Speech. Mr. Franklin reiterated what Ben said and said that the lessons learned on the Hilltop go beyond the classroom and will exist in any scenario.
“We exist as a school to provide you with a foundation to live a life of meaning, of purpose, of service to others and humankind, and to go forth from the Hilltop and lead with character, respect, empathy, and civility.” Hackley’s four mottos do not just represent the school’s morals and values, but set students up with a foundation to build connections.
After his speech, Mr. Franklin noted the students’ faculty’s tendency to set goals, and to build off this theme, he challenged the students to set a goal to learn everyone’s name. To put this to the test, Mr. Franklin called two teams up to the podium to play a “name” game. Both teams consisted of a Lower, Middle, and Upper school student, and together they would try to write a student’s first and last name beginning with the Hackley letters. To make this a competition, each team played with a Hackley Hornet-shaped stress ball.
The final speaker during Convocation was Dr. Cyndy Jean. Dr. Jean spoke on the theme of togetherness, saying, “alone you can accomplish a great deal. But together, you can push each other to grow, and create something greater than the sum of its parts.”
A Hackley student’s story is composed of embedding Hackley’s mottos into everyday use, and then learning how to grow and question with the support of others.
To kick off these community goals, all students, faculty, and staff worked together to shout “Go Hack,” marking the beginning of a new year.
