In many schools, the spring term for seniors is about taking it easy, loosening up on the standards, and enjoying the last days of high school. We at Hyde have officially begun the senior evaluations, a tradition at the school since almost its founding. These evaluations engage seniors in a rigorous process during which each student examines their time at Hyde and connects their learning to a vision for their future.
The faculty and seniors meet for approximately 50 hours of sessions where they explore the following themes:
- Moments of courage, leadership, and integrity
- Lessons learned from adversity and struggle
- Relationships with family and others
- Defining moments and lessons learned
- Giving and receiving feedback from peers and faculty
- Understanding one's strengths and gifts
- Intimacy
- Financial literacy
- Unique Potential and playing the hand you have been dealt
- Strengthening one's relationship with one's conscience and inner voice
Each senior is assigned a faculty guide who supports them throughout the evaluation process. During these evaluations, the faculty assumes a new role. For most of the year, they have been the "adults" in the students' lives; in senior evaluations, the faculty and seniors form an "adult-to-adult" partnership.
Another difference from most schools is that at a Hyde graduation, there are not just one or two student speakers. Rather, each graduating senior makes a speech while their family stands to bear witness to their growth. It is always a powerful moment for everyone.
The next eight weeks will be a time of hard work as all the students and faculty honor the great year that we have had. As one student shared during an exercise where they wrote a timeline of their senior experiences, "After looking at the defining moments I have had this year, I realized what I have really accomplished."
Laura D. Gauld '76
President