KALONA

Hillcrest Academy experimented with a sixth grade program last school year, introducing a class of students who will end up being great ambassadors for the program. That is because next school year, all eyes will be on Hillcrest when they introduce a new group of sixth graders as well as a new seventh grade program and a class of eighth graders to boot.

The seventh grade class, sandwiched between the other two grades, will help integrate their fellow middle-schoolers as it’ll be their second year in the school.

This integration will lead to exciting, positive ripple effects felt throughout the entire building.

The first ripple effect is extracurriculars. Year one hosting just a sixth-grade class allowed Hillcrest to carefully plan for the extra activities that will be taken on by the seventh and eighth grade classes.

Because of this preparation, the school already plans to offer cross country, volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, baseball and softball with some events already scheduled.

Another ripple effect is Hillcrest’s student population.

The Hillcrest student body used to much larger. Because of declining/lower enrollment, parts of the building were underutilized in recent years. With the addition of middle school grades, more of the school can be used once more without the need to build on.

Many Hillcrest staffers, such as art and P.E. teachers, are moving from part-time to full-time to help accommodate the extra classes.

Despite these positive ripple effects, some concerns do exist, like how will the middle school wing interact with the high school wing, if at all? Will the middle schoolers need to adhere to the high school bell schedule, or can they craft their own schedule? Will the middle schoolers need additional space for extracurriculars? What will athletic practices look like for the middle schoolers? How long will it take to fill new middle school staff roles? How will this new staff create a positive atmosphere/culture? Will this addition be a positive one for the entire school?

These are all questions being considered by the Hillcrest staff as well as Middle School Director Beth Swantz. Swantz understands not all questions can be answered in year two, noting this is a work in progress.

Whether it takes one day, one year, or many years, the Hillcrest staff is still excited to continue this process of growth and development.

“I'm excited to think and reflect about what went well this year, and what didn't go well, [to] see how we can make the sixth grade [and] middle school experience at Hillcrest better next year, and have it continue to grow,” sixth grade teacher Megan Walsh said.

“[I am] thinking ahead to, what does the middle school look like? I am really looking forward to having my job only be the thinking part and not the full-time teaching part because it's enough of a job just to teach full time,” Swantz added.

Educational offerings

The Hillcrest staff made it abundantly clear that they will be offering a plethora of options for their middle school students.

The regular classes offered will not differ much from other schools. Hillcrest plans to offer science classes, language arts classes, reading classes, social studies classes, math classes and specials like music, art, family consumer science and physical education, to name a few.

“We are accredited. [Most] of the things we teach are [standard based] curriculum you'd see in a public school,” Swantz said. “We have made the decision that academics are a really high priority, so this is the path we've chosen to go down. [It] has worked well for the high school, and we will continue that path for the middle school.”

Of course, as a private Christian school, spirituality will play a major role within the curriculum as well. Hillcrest will offer Bible classes and chapel for their middle schoolers as well as daily activities that correspond with religion.

Hillcrest also gives their sixth grade class a daily recess monitored by Learning Support staffer Sheri Martin.

The high school wing benefits from the middle school as well. Interested high schoolers can volunteer in the middle school wing. If they complete all requirements, they’ll earn a silver cord that they can wear during graduation.

All of these educational benefits help Hillcrest standout. Their staff is working hard to make sure the middle school is a desired program from day one.

Notes

This story is the third and final installment of the Hillcrest Academy mini-series documenting Hillcrest’s sixth grade and middle school programs.

For part one, see the Thursday, June 6 edition of The News. For part two, see the Thursday, June 13 edition of The News.

Hillcrest Academy is a private Christian school with a “Christ-centered” educational system, based in Kalona, IA. The school is accepting applications for the upcoming school year. You can contact Rebecca Beachy Miller, Director of Enrollment & Transportation, at rbeachymiller@hillcrestravens.org if interested in enrollment, though any enrollment requests for the middle school will likely lead to a waiting list since the school, as of May 20, has hit their cap, though this could change with time.