The goal of our curriculum is to develop educated students who actively enjoy learning, and who are able to analyze and think critically on their own. We believe that individual learning is best served by small classes. To that end, a low student/teacher ratio is maintained. In most classes, the maximum class size is 16 students.
While Hyla’s curricula will vary somewhat from year to year, our academic program is composed of mathematics, science, English, social studies, Spanish, drama, and fine art. All three grades also take a human relations course designed to help our students develop a healthy identity and relate positively with the world around them. We value opportunities to structure curriculum at Hyla to reinforce connections between subjects, believing that learning is more powerful if perceived as an interrelated process.
We use our own and community facilities for physical education and for after-school athletic teams which include soccer, track, and ultimate frisbee. We have our own playing field, sport court, and climbing wall. We encourage our students to participate in our sports program.
Since choice, diversity, and new experiences are important to middle school students, we try to meet these needs with specific programs. We have elective blocks three times a week which change offerings four times a year. One of those periods, which we call PE elective, features active choices such as running, aerobics, invented games, frisbee, golf, kayaking, and rock climbing.
The other two periods are called general elective and offer a wide choice of activities including cooking, debate, community service projects, bridge, backpacking, building model planes, art offerings such as mosaics, weaving, or book making, and drama offerings such as radio drama, improv, or set design. We also offer several after-school clubs and a week-long Exploration Week program at the end of the school year.
Developing personal responsibility and community awareness and service are important goals at Hyla. Currently, the students are responsible for cleaning the school at the end of each day and for recycling at the school. The school has a weekly commitment to Helpline House, Bainbridge Island’s nonprofit service agency. Each student works there two or three times during the year. In addition teachers each offer and students are each asked to choose one community service elective during the year. Examples of choices are working on the yearbook, sponsoring a dance to raise money for a charity, and baking treats for the local senior center. We see community service as an important connection to develop for our students.
Most middle school students enjoy variety, and we honor that in our schedule. The time each class meets varies through the week, and the mix of classes will also vary each day. In addition, every class uses a variety of experiences and approaches to teaching with an emphasis on active, participatory learning. Our day begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:10 PM, with a lunch period and a morning break. Classes are 40 to 50 minutes long, depending on the day, but we can be flexible and change the schedule to meet our needs.
Hyla uses a non-graded system of assessment. We rely on written comments and conferences to let students and parents know how a student is doing, as well as what areas need improvement and how that can be accomplished. While a numerical or letter-grade assessment may be used to evaluate daily work, we do not assign a letter or number grade to overall performance.
Hyla students learn in an environment which encourages academic excellence as well as the development of personal problem-solving strategies. Our students have shown they have the necessary tools and self-confidence when they leave Hyla to make the adjustment to a new environment. We find our graduates succeed in both public and private high school settings.
While Hyla’s curricula will vary somewhat from year to year, our academic program is composed of mathematics, science, English, social studies, Spanish, drama, and fine art. All three grades also take a human relations course designed to help our students develop a healthy identity and relate positively with the world around them. We value opportunities to structure curriculum at Hyla to reinforce connections between subjects, believing that learning is more powerful if perceived as an interrelated process. 
Hyla uses a non-graded system of assessment. We rely on written comments and conferences to let students and parents know how a student is doing, as well as what areas need improvement and how that can be accomplished. While a numerical or letter-grade assessment may be used to evaluate daily work, we do not assign a letter or number grade to overall performance.
