The school year is off to a great start at Hyde. In Discovery Groups and School Meetings, we have been discussing Hyde’s Five Words and Principles. Faculty and students have taken turns standing up in front of the community and sharing their experiences with certain words and principles, things they have learned, or people who have led by example in those areas.

We have asked the students to take one of the Five Words (Courage, Integrity, Leadership, Curiosity, Concern) and reflect on its role in their lives. Which word do they feel connected to, either as a source of pride or as a source of conflict at the current time? They spoke about this in Discovery Group and then related the word they chose to a variety of categories in an effort to understand on a deep level the part this word is playing in their lives now at the beginning of the school year. The students were asked to create an action step for how they can tackle the role of this word in their lives.

Later in the year, the students will complete a project, entitled, “Mid-Year Reflection.” This could be an essay, a slideshow, or some other creative presentation of their choosing, designed to show how they have grown over the course of the school year. Were they able to follow through with the action step laid out in September, and how is their relationship with the Five Words mid-year?

This Action-Reflection Cycle is something we pride ourselves on at Hyde. The ability to reflect on one’s actions, set goals, and evaluate personal growth is a life skill that sets our community apart in a positive way. In addition, being able to rely on the support and challenge of others in our community as we reflect and act is vital to reaching our unique potential.