Form Retreats

This is the first year in which all Upper School Forms have a retreat. Form I had their bonding experi­ence at Mo Ranch from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3; Form II had an afternoon of games and group work at Hockaday on Sept. 19; Form III had an afternoon of bonding with an appearance by a grilled cheese food truck, Ruthie’s, on Sept. 4; and Form IV went to Allaso Ranch from Sept. 29 to 30.

New Biology Course

In the new junior biology course taught by Dr. Barbara Fishel, students are working with the Small World Initia­tive, a global group of college level lab courses. Students work to isolate soil bacteria with the aim of solving the antibiotic crisis due to the resistance of many bacteria to currently used antibiotics. The Small World Initiative has been only taught at the col­lege level but Hockaday was invited to pilot the program at the high school level.

Lower School iPads

All Lower School teachers received an iPad at the beginning of the school year in order to begin integrating technology into the teaching atmosphere. They have un­dergone training to learn the best applications and uses for elementary education.

Eighth Grade Musical

The venue for the Eighth Grade Musical has been announced. Due to the new auditorium construction, it will be held in the First United Methodist Church in downtown. Instead of a traditional musical, the grade will be performing a variety of Broadway songs.