Hyla Middle School

Hyla Middle School invites parents and daughters (ages 9-18) to join us at Hyla on Thursday, May 3rd, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm for a fun, interactive evening of discussion about the ups and downs of middle school with 25-year-old author and activist Haley Kilpatrick.

The FREE evening will engage parents and girls in a conversation about friendships, bullying, brands, body image and more, and provide concrete strategies for navigating these common challenges with confidence. The workshop format is based on Girl Talk, a non-profit peer mentoring organization founded by Haley in 2002.

After the workshop Haley will sign copies of her first book, The Drama Years. Hyla Middle School counselor, Kris Rogers, was interviewed for the book, along with a number of Bainbridge middle school girls.

Questions? Call Hyla Middle School at 206.842.5988

GIRL TALK
http://www.desiretoinspire.org/

THE DRAMA YEARS
http://www.desiretoinspire.org/HaleyKilpatrick/TheDramaYears.aspx

Join Hyla Middle School and Just Know Coalition for a Screening of Miss Representation (for parents and Students Ages 11+)

When: May 23rd ~ 7:15 – 9:00 PM
Where: Hyla Middle School, 7861 Bucklin Hill Road NE, Bainbridge, WA
Admission: This is a free event

Brief Description: This powerful documentary explores how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. Miss Representation uncovers a glaring reality and pattern we live with every day, but may fail to see. The film challenges limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, making it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel empowered. Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective.

Break out discussion sessions following documentary.

What Parents Need to Know: We will be screening the high school version of this documentary. Anyone under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Expect some strong language describing women and photos and clips presenting women in sexual situations used to drive home the movie’s message. The documentary has been rated TV 14 DL. For more information on rating go to www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/miss-representation.

The Hyla teachers are excited to announce this year’s Exploration Week trips. Signup forms are due to the office by Monday, April 16th. Students will begin planning their trips during the last elective cycle, which begins May 1.

Canoeing Ross Lake
Leaders: Cami Holtmeier and Mike Fosmark
Dates: Monday, June 4th – Friday, June 8th

Do you enjoy back-country travel, wildlife, hiking, canoeing? If you can answer “YES” to any of these, then you will love the adventure we have planned on Ross Lake for Exploration Week! We will spend five days and four nights paddling the pristine waters of one of America’s most beautiful lakes and camping among the trees in North Cascades National Park.  In addition to getting around by canoe and exchanging stories while cooking s’mores around the campfire, we will explore some lakeside trails, do some orienteering, and cook on camp stoves. Campsites are rustic with pit toilets and no running water, but offer amazing lakeside camping with breathtaking views and a sense of solitude.  Prior to leaving on the journey, all members of the Ross Lake team will develop skills in paddling technique, setting up and dismantling tents, packing a backpack, tying selected knots, and reading back-country maps. Coming back from the journey, you will have strong shoulders and many memories of beautiful moments and fun times.

Flying Horseshoe Ranch: Horses, Hikes, History, and Bikes
Leaders: Jennifer Haase Williams and Jill Elliott, with Mike Lund
Dates: SATURDAY, June 2nd – WEDNESDAY, June 6th

Smell the Ponderosa Pines, hear the campfire crackling, ride horses and bikes along mountain trails, hike into the backcountry to see the snow-capped peaks of the Stuart Range, go swimming, explore the coal mining history of Roslyn, sleep in a tipi… Join Jill, Jennifer and Mike (Jill’s best friend) for an adventurous week on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. We will be staying in the tipi encampment at Flying Horseshoe Ranch near Cle Elum, Washington. Our group will be sleeping in beds under Indian blankets inside four 16’ Sioux-style tipis (lit by lanterns). We will be cooking meals in a cowboy-style cookhouse and spending our days and evenings exploring the ranch and surrounding mountains on foot, horseback, and by bicycle.

Each day will bring a new adventure. We will go on two different two-hour trail rides right from the ranch (the horse trail goes through the meadow next to our tipi camp!). Other adventures include a mountain hike in the Stuart Range, exploring the Coal Miner’s Trail and the Roslyn Museum (we will see old mine entrances and other artifacts from the late 1800’s at the museum and on the trail), mountain biking (we will rent bikes) and swimming in the pool at the ranch. There will also be time for night hikes, plant identification, reading, and field games.
No horseback riding experience is necessary, as the trail rides will start with a riding lesson. Also, the mountain biking is for all abilities. We will be riding well-groomed trails…nothing overly difficult once you get the hang of riding on trails. Participants will need to bring jeans and sturdy boots for horseback riding, sturdy hiking boots or trail sneakers for our hike, and tennis shoes for biking.

VancouvArt, British Columbia
Leaders: Laura Jones and daughter, Caitlin Jones
Dates: SUNDAY, June 3rd – WEDNESDAY, June 6th

VANCOUVER is our destination! Explore with us the culture, history, and fun of one the most culturally diverse cities in the world on a trip designed to bring the artist out in us all. Each morning, after a bounteous breakfast at our hostel, we will board the ferry to Granville Island. Our mornings will be spent creating art at the world famous Emily Carr University of Art and Design (established in 1925 as the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts), which has had an enormous influence on the development and growth of the arts in Canada and the world. The alumni and faculty are among the most influential and important artists working in their respective fields, and each day we will work with a different artist who will immerse us in specialties such as Aboriginal Arts, charcoal stencil or large-scale charcoal drawing, and the creation of a graphic novel.

After a morning of creating art, we will explore Vancouver. Students will not only plan where we visit, but how we will get there. We will take our budget for the day into account and decide if we will splurge on lunch, ride a gondola up Grouse Mountain, or go to the theater. One of our challenges will be finding how many FREE activities we can fit into our schedule. We might bicycle along the sea wall, go to the beach, play frisbee in the park, or finish our day by watching the sun set over the Straight of Georgia from The Lookout (167 meters above sea level, where you can see as far as Mt. Baker).

We will travel by train to Vancouver with passports in hand, and we will stay at the HI-Vancouver Downtown Hostel, a short walk from Sunset Beach and Stanley Park.

Portland. Delicious.
Leaders: Elana Riffle and Etai Alves

Dates: Monday, June 4th – Friday, June 8th

Join me and my friend Etai on our Exploration Week trip to Portland! If you love food, cooking, and history, this is the trip for you. We will explore lots of different aspects of cooking and eating. Both of us are passionate cooks and we care about what our food looks like, where it comes from, and the stories behind different dishes. We will be attending a cooking school called Portland’s Culinary Workshop, where we will take the following classes: Knife Skills, Basic Culinary Techniques, Sauces, International Cooking, and Baking. Each day we will make and share our meals together there and where we are staying.

We will also visit a local organic farm to see how farming practices relate to the food we eat, and we will often be visiting that all-important resource: the grocery store! When we are not cooking, we will have so many possibilities. We could exercise our bodies by walking and exploring local parks, read cookbooks at Powell’s Books, visit the Oregon Science Museum, play music, and we will definitely try out some of the local food carts. If you like cooking and eating, playing some, cooking and eating some more, playing a little more, and then turning back to cooking and eating, this is the experience you have been waiting for.

Growing up Wild: The Yoga Lodge, Whidbey Island
Leaders: Kimberley Trick & Wendy Dion
Dates: Monday, June 4th – Friday, June 8th

It is the peace of the forest that I keep inside.  
~ Jane Goodall ~

I’ve been growing up wild for the past forty years.  While I’ve lived in large cities like Toronto, Washington D.C., and London, I’ve always found home in the cries of the loons on the Rideau River and the creaks of the Eastern white cedar on a cold, wintry Canadian night.  This magical connection with nature nourishes and balances our minds, bodies, and spirits.  But how do we sustain our lives and the world when we take from them so readily?  At The Yoga Lodge, we will examine the connection between our health and the health of our planet.  Our holistic approach to “retreat” includes exploring yoga, meditation, cooking, farming, hiking, and art.  Under the tutelage of Wendy Dion, the Innkeeper of The Yoga Lodge, and the wise inhabitants of Whidbey Island (human and otherwise), we will learn how to balance life’s stresses and strengthen our connections with nature.

The Yoga Lodge provides refuge for all.  Tucked away on five secluded wooded acres on Whidbey Island, the property hosts an abundance of wildlife and is a short walk from the beach.  There are orchards, gardens, a pond, and plenty of secret and sacred places in which we can relax.  The yoga and meditation center is a beautiful open space with radiant heating.  Sleeping rooms are rustic and homey, and the food is amazing.  Chef Nattress creates masterpieces from local and organic ingredients.  You can learn more about the lodge, Wendy, and Chef Nattress by visiting www.yogalodge.com.

During our stay, we will learn more about our connection to nature and how to balance our lives through yoga and meditation practice.  We will visit with organic farmers in the area and cook some of our meals with the guidance of Chef Nattress.  We will spend time on the beach and visit other individuals in the area who have their own views on sustainability, including Chuck Pettis, founder and developer of The Earth Sanctuary, a 72-acre nature reserve and retreat center on Whidbey Island.  Pettis is an award-winning eco-artist and designer who has built labyrinths and stone circles both at the sanctuary and throughout the United States.  

If this trip interests you, be warned.  The FUNdamental principles guiding your decision should be a strong sense of
humor and play.  Ask yourself whether you believe in tree fairies and flying monkeys. 

Surfing 2012
Leaders: Skyler Vella and Kris Van Gieson, with alumna (and daughter) Kira McGieson.  We will bring two other adult surfers or alumni to help keep the trip safe and fun.
Dates: Monday, June 4th – Friday, June 8th

This year we’ll be surfing at Hobuck Beach, 4 miles west of Neah Bay, Washington. The campground at Hobuck is 50 yards from the ocean. Hobuck is a great place to learn to surf because it has a gently sloping, sandy bottom. The beach is south-facing so the larger northwest swells are reduced in size as they wrap around the point. We will be living, camping, and surfing outdoors all week. There is running water for toilets and drinking water. We’ll rent surfboards and wetsuits from a surf shop in Seattle. This requires that we go to Seattle one evening before the trip to get correctly fitted wetsuits. We will also hold an optional (but very helpful) practice session in the pool. That gives us an opportunity to practice some of the basic skills away from the challenges that waves provide.  No previous surfing experience is necessary but it is important to be a strong swimmer and to be willing to be dunked under by waves. There are some inherent risks in surfing. We will do our best to minimize those risks by teaching and emphasizing safe surfing practices and having watchful adults surfing with the students.   

Surfing is physically demanding. It is challenging to push out through waves, turn, paddle, and get up on a surfboard. It also requires mental focus. Surfers have to read the ever-changing size and shape of waves as well as the location of other surfers. Since the watery terrain is constantly shifting, surfing teaches a relaxed and focused concentration and an ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions.  

There are group learning opportunities as well.  Simply living outside requires dealing with whatever nature provides. The challenge of being tired and hungry and needing to cook for the group emphasizes the importance of putting forth effort for the good of the group.  We also take time at the end of each day to share our successes, challenges, and our appreciations for others .

Walla Walla, Washington: A Photographic Expedition
Leaders: Paul Carroll and Vicki Jenkins, with Colleen Carroll
Dates: Monday, June 4th – Friday, June 8th

Walla Walla is a town in the far southeastern corner of Washington, and it is a special place, very different from Bainbridge. It is close to the Blue Mountains, nestled in gorgeous farmland and typically has a feeling of wide-open space. Especially because it is so different, we are enthusiastic about getting middle schoolers to have a camera in their hands that operates as an invitation for them to really look at this new world around them. Each day, we will go to different situations or environments to take photographs. Sometimes that will involve some drive time in the cars. There are abandoned farms that inspire intriguing photographs, and we will definitely take some time to photograph nature and landscapes on hikes in the area. We will visit the Palouse Falls, which is an impressive waterfall, especially at this time of year, and is set in a wonderful canyon. We will also be photographing the wheatfields in the area, which, especially at sunset, are fantastic. Part of the fun of a small town is getting to know it, and we will be exploring the downtown area and the Whitman College campus through photography.

We intend to be in a rented house near the college, so we will be sleeping indoors and will have access to showers. Some meals we will cook, but we will also be enjoying the inexpensive and wonderful restaurants of Walla Walla.
So in a short form, this trip is about exploring Eastern Washington, and small towns, and fun outdoors, with cameras always in hand. You should definitely be interested in taking pictures if you sign up for this trip, because we will be spending lots of time taking and discussing photographs.

Deschutes River Expedition
Leaders: Thomas Weber and Melissa Dempsey, with Amy Weber
Dates: Monday, June 4th – Friday, June 8th

Ride foaming white rapids on a professionally guided adventure down the Upper Deschutes River in north-central Oregon, and learn what it means to be a “River Rat”. We’ll drive down to Oregon and camp and explore the high-desert area near our put-in on the Deschutes. Then we will spend three days and two nights with guides on the rafts provided by Orion River Expeditions (they provide needed gear, food, and shelter for the river portion). The river runs through high desert country on the eastern side of the Cascades, and typically is sunny and even warm at this time of year. The rapids in the river increase in size as we descend, so you will get comfortable on the river before going through the class III rapids towards the end of the trip. Even people who have never done white-water rafting should feel that this is a great introduction. The rafts are steered by a guide, but each person will have a paddle and will be helping to move the boat. You will feel like you are a part of the river by the end of the trip, and not just because of the perennial water fights that happen on the way.

Before our trip we’ll learn about the high desert environment, the river and its status as a world-renowned trout-fishing stream, and the different types of rapids. We will find out fun things to do in the area before we are on the river, and will organize our camping plan, our gear, meals, and a budget.

If you’ve found a Hyla journal, consider yourself lucky.  Right now there are only 38 in existence and they’ve begun traveling–hopefully around the world.

Last Friday, the sixth grade class at Hyla Middle School distributed 38 blank journals in Winslow and Poulsbo.  The students included a special message on the inside cover:

Claim a page or two and add your thoughts, ideas, stories, paintings, drawings, recipes or anything else that expresses your creativity.  When you’re done, please pass it on to family, friends or strangers.

When the journal is filled, and hopefully well traveled, the students have requested it be returned  to the school–the address is given on the back inside cover.  In the meantime, entries can be scanned and sent to an email account where they can be viewed prior to its return.

All the students know they could be waiting months or even years before they can place their hands on a filled journal, but the anticipation in the air remains palpable.

Three journals, that they know of, have been found because three entries have been scanned and sent back to the school: two created right here on Bainbridge and the other from Texas. The creators from Texas are passing it off in Canada.  And that’s how it’s supposed to work.

So what’s the lesson?  Like all great lessons, it can’t be measured in objectives and percentiles, but connection would have to be one.  Connection with humanity.  Something most everyone would agree we can all use more of.  In addition, the students have become collectors of more than they probably realize–history, wisdom, beauty, humor, art, and literature. These will become the handmade artifacts of our time. The Hyla journals are a place where anyone can make his or her creative  mark on the world and then pass it on.

The students cover the journals by hand and the goal this year is to launch 100.  But the demand has become so great, they now have a waiting list. So again, if you’ve found a Hyla journal, consider yourself lucky. Share something of yourself, and pass it on.

Dear Hyla families,

In keeping with our efforts to be green, we are asking all participants to bring a bowl and plate for Friday’s luncheon.  Bowls and plates will be washed after lunch and left on the kitchen table for pick up at the end of the school day. Be sure to label your bowl and plate. Thanks so much for helping reduce our trash on campus!  We will send out this reminder next week as well!

Wednesday April 18 – 20, 2012

To increase understanding of our community and culture, this year’s mini-term focuses on exploring the diversity and uniqueness of Bainbridge Island and the surrounding area.  Through study and contact with these cultures, we seek to improve our understanding of our neighborhood.  To be sure, our definitions of culture are broad but inclusive.  From the original inhabitants of our island to the eclectic mix we have become, we will examine our similarities, differences, traditions, and new beginnings. Students are asked to read through this year’s offerings below and indicate their top three choices to their clean crew teacher by Friday, March 23.

 A Japanese Journey – Laura Jones & Jill Elliott:

We begin our journey through Japan as Gaijin (foreigners).   We will visit with the Japanese American community in Seattle, and find our way back to Bainbridge Island to learn from the Japanese community in our own backyard.   As we follow our path, we will gain knowledge of the Japanese language, the art of Shuji calligraphy, the Way of Tea, and the Jodo Shinshu tradition of Buddhism.  We will also gain a stronger appreciation of what led to the departure of the Nisei (first) generation of Japanese Americans from Japan.  We will explore the developments that precipitated a generation of Japanese Americans being interred in detention camps during WWII and how these events affected this group of American citizens.  Finally, we will look at the Japanese traditions that are maintained and cherished by the Sansei (third) generation Japanese Americans on Bainbridge Island.  We are very grateful for the assistance of Amy and Vern Nakata on this very special voyage!

A Way of Life – Understanding Judaism – Elana Riffle & Julia Fradkin

What makes someone Jewish? Is it a race? An ethnicity? A culture or a religion?  For a people in diaspora– spread out through different geographic locations, Jewish culture is varied. Yet, it also has nourished and sustained the Jewish people for thousands of years. Through the power of food and symbol, we will discover the values of a people who have flourished in the face of adversity through education, humor, questioning, food, and joy of ritual and intentional community. In our three day mini-term, we will explore “being Jewish” with an emphasis on being. Using the symbol of a Magen David, or Star of David, we will assemble the seven puzzle pieces together to form a unified whole. Each day will involve cooking, discussion, hands-on activities, inquiry, and service.

Filipino Americans on Bainbridge Island – Kris Van Gieson & Joyce Mycka-Stettler

 We will explore the history, background, cultural values, and contemporary life of folks from Bainbridge and the surrounding region who share the Filipino heritage. Our interest begins with the migration of different people to the Pacific Northwest.  We will watch documentaries made by Bainbridge Island filmmakers, Lucy Ostrander and Don Sellers. Lucy will join us during mini-term to share her thoughts and passions about filmmaking and especially creating documentaries that are deeply respectful of people’s personal and cultural stories. We will invite Gina Corpuz, a cultural scholar featured in Don and Lucy’s film, Island Roots, to join us and share her insights into First Nation and Filipino cultures.  According to Gina, it is the small stories within the big events that are so valuable to understand.  So we will look for the small stories and explore our own cultural heritage to discover the role we play in the ongoing story. Maps will play a large role in our investigations. We hope to expand our understanding through tracking and mapping our journeys to Bainbridge and the surrounding region.

 Go Fish – Immigrating to the Northwest – Paul Carroll & Skyler Vella

We will explore the different peoples that historically fished as they entered the Northwest, to learn about their cultures and how those cultures and their influences still are present today. We will use this topic as a starting point to look at what the transition has been for different groups into the American working world, particularly regarding what happens when the jobs from the native land are able to be duplicated here versus when that can’t occur, whether for the fact that language barriers stop the immigrant or that the job simply doesn’t exist in the U.S. We would also like to explore the connections or lack of connections that different cultures establish among themselves and with the American culture as they enter the U.S., the dynamics behind that process, and how that eases and hinders the process of transition into a new country. We will be visiting museums, researching on our own, and talking to people about their experiences as they started to build a new life in the Pacific Northwest.

 Latinos in the Northwest  – Teri Jellad & Mike Fosmark

Latinos have a long history in the state of Washington, going back to the early Spanish explorers. Since 1970, they have been the largest minority in the area. According to Puget Sound Trends, since the 2000 census, the total minorities in the Puget Sound have increased by nearly 50%, with the Hispanic-Latinos experiencing the largest increase (89%) in population.

In our group, we will focus on learning about the legacy and present influence of the Latino population (mainly Mexican born) in the Northwest. To make the investigation accessible and experiential, we will focus on the impact that the increasing Mexican American population is having in the Poulsbo area. We will watch videos, read articles, research news, visit Latino-owned businesses, and interview people to learn about their experience as immigrants to this country. We will write questions and conduct interviews.  The process will be filmed with the goal of making a short documentary on the Latino population in Poulsbo.

Our Island’s First People - Jennifer Williams & Vicki Jenkins

 Who were the original stewards of this island we call home and what legacy have they left? Did you know that the Suquamish were the first people to live on Bainbridge Island? The Suquamish are a Lushootseed (Puget Salish) speaking people that traditionally lived along the coast of the Kitsap Peninsula, including Bainbridge and Blake Islands. While many of you have had a brief introduction to local Native American cultures, in our mini-term group, we will deepen this knowledge by looking at traditional Native American culture and its connection to Bainbridge Island.  We will spend a day on the Port Madison Indian Reservation learning about the Suquamish culture, both traditional and modern. During this visit, we will go to the Suquamish Tribal Museum, meet with Suquamish Tribe members and eat traditional food. We will also go to the Burke Museum to investigate the connection between cultural values and food in an exhibit called Salish Bounty: Traditional Native American Foods of Puget Sound.  Finally, we will uncover our island’s early history and connection with the Suquamish Tribe, and visit the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum. Join us to immerse yourself in Native American culture and uncover the secrets of our island’s past.

Ukrainian Culture in the Northwest – Melissa Dempsey, Cami Holtmeier, & Chris Johnson

Come explore the art, history, and language of the Ukraine, one of the largest nations in Eastern Europe.  Ukrainians immigrated to the US in two major waves, the first beginning in 1887, when 350,000 Ukrainians were drawn to the US. After WWII, the Ukraine lost its sovereignty and became part of the Soviet Union. At this time, many refugees fled their homes for temporary housing in the US and Canada.  Most Ukrainians never returned to the Ukraine, even after the Ukraine regained independence when the USSR collapsed in 1991.

We will explore the Ukrainian culture through dance, music, visual arts, and food.  We will visit a Ukrainian dance troupe in Bellevue to watch their middle-school-aged dancers.  We will also learn the art and history of Pysanky, Ukrainian Easter eggs.  This traditional method of designing eggs uses beeswax and vivid dyes to design eggs.  We will learn some of the history of this art form, the different methods for making intricate designs on eggs, and the symbolism of the patterns and colors used.  We will also look at food as an expression of cultural identity by cooking some traditional Ukrainian foods, such as Varenyky.  In addition, we will spend a day in Seattle exploring Ukrainian architecture and food.

In February, several Hyla students attended a student diversity leadership retreat sponsored by PNAIS.  Eighth graders Lucas Weyand and Mateo Florez and seventh graders Chloe Manville, Willa Jones-Irwin and Sam Casad created a PSA (public service announcement) as part of the retreat in response to seeing  Miss Representation, a film about the impact of the media on women and girls.

They showed this film at Morning Meeting, and Hyla’s 6th and 8th grade science teacher, Elana Riffle, was moved by the simplicity and power of the PSA.

“Though I teach at Hyla, I actually live in Seattle. My housemate Hannah had seen Miss Representation as well. She was excited to see the positive action taken on by middle schoolers.”

With Hannah, Elana helped organize an event called Join Me on the Bridge, which took place in Seattle for the first time ever on March 8th, International Women’s Day, to raise awareness and to stand in solidarity with women all over the world.

Join Me on the Bridge began in 2010 when women from Congo and Rwanda met on the bridge connecting their two countries. In doing so, they created the possibility of a new future, one of peace and equality. Their action sparked a massive global movement, and last year these women were joined by thousands of people on hundreds of bridges worldwide. In cities all over the world, men and women come together at an event called Join Me on the Bridge to honor the power of a woman to change the world around her.

Elana recounted to Hannah how eloquently the Hyla students spoke at Morning Meeting and thought it would be great to show the PSA and have them speak for a few minutes as part of the “joining generations and living for future generations” piece of the event.

Elana asked Willa and Chloe questions and typed what the girls said. They edited during lunch. This is an excerpt from their speech:

“At our age, it is hard to change what we have been exposed to. It will take a lot of work and we have set goals to help change the perception of women not only in the media but how we perceive ourselves and we want to empower all of you to help us.

1. We will not compare ourselves or to feel bad about the images that we see in the media.

2. We refuse to let the media change us and make us into something that we are not.

3. To still see make up as something fun, but not always necessary to make yourself feel better or more acceptable.

4. To not let our friends or boys, pressure us into looking or acting a certain way, and do the same for them.

5. To always remember that we are just as powerful as any man, and as perfect as every woman.”

Elana said, “It is simply incredible for thirteen year olds to see the world with such clarity, responsibility, and drive to make a difference.   It was inspiring to me and I really get the impact of being a middle school teacher! Powerful young people making a difference!”

With the permission of the parents and the students, with Thomas’s enthusiasm and the speech,  Chloe, Sam, Willa, and Elana went to the bridge.  They gathered at the southern end of the Montlake Bridge, to honor the powerful women who make a difference in their lives.  They wrote the names of powerful women in their lives, joined arms, and rallied support of others. Sam brought energy to the march, singing and dancing. Chloe and Willa walked with wide-eyed wonder.

“It was truly extraordinary for me to see something so diverse and powerful come from one idea. That journey would never have been possible without everyone who assisted.”

It truly took a village- Mateo, Lucas, Sam, Chloe and Willa made the film. Willa and Chloe and Elana worked during Get Stuff Done Time, during lunch, and on the ferry, giving up gymnastics and soccer practices to write the speech. Thomas dropped them off at the ferry. Laura watched Elana’s Clean Crew so they could catch the ferry. Sarah Casad generously provided snack for the journey. Willa’s aunt, Jill, took pictures. Rhonda Manville gave Chloe, Sam, Willa, and Elana a ride to UW and marched as well.

Rhonda said, “Thank you, Elana! It was such an inspiring day. The kids are lucky to have such great teachers and mentors.”

When reflecting on this process, Willa said, “For me, writing this speech was my way to get people to realize that women are equals–we’re not just pretty faces any more. In my life, I’m going to make sure I get an equal job and that my children do too.”

This is testament to the Hyla community; everyone gave their time, passion, experience, and energy for something bigger than ourselves.  ”The rising of the women is the rising of us all.”

Thomas Weber and Kris Van Gieson spoke on the topic of  “The Media: How It Encourages and Discourages Empathy & Emotion In Our Boys” at the Bainbridge High School library on Tuesday at an event sponsored by the Just Know Coalition.  Thomas and Kris, along with BHS Seniors and Hyla grads Jeff Laws and Izak McGieson, talked about the characteristics and needs of boys, giving context for their use and misuse of electronic media. The subsequent discussion focused on parenting approaches regarding the use of computer gaming and social networking.  The following Powerpoint was part of their presentation.

(PDF) Boys&MediaWebVersion

(PPS)  Boys&MediaWebVersion

Award-winning Poets to Read at Hyla Middle School

Ireland’s Geraldine Mills and Washington’s Susan Rich to present evening of poetry and global insights

Bainbridge Island, WA – Award-winning poets Geraldine Mills, from Galway, Ireland, and Susan Rich, from Seattle, Washington, will read at Hyla Middle School, 7861 Bucklin Hill Road, on Thursday, March 1st, 2012, at 6:00 P.M. A book signing will follow the reading. This unique literary event is open to the public.

Geraldine Mills is author of four collections of poetry, including An Urgency of Stars, recipient of a Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship, Toil the Dark Harvest, and The Other Side of Longing, with Connecticut poet Lisa C. Taylor. In addition Mills has penned two collections of short fiction, Lick the Lizard, and The Weight of Feathers, for which she was awarded an Arts Council Bursary. This is her first trip to the west coast of America.

“My city of Galway is twinned with Seattle so I feel this will be a very special trip for me,” said Mills, whose tour is being supported by Culture Ireland.  “It’s a case of West meets West.”

Joining Mills for the reading will be Washington poet Susan Rich, author of The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a book named as finalist for the Foreword Prize and the Washington State Book Award. Her other collections of poetry are Cures Include Travel, and The Cartographer’s Tongue/Poems of the World, winner of the Pen Award for Poetry.

“Ten years ago I first met Geraldine at the Tyrone Guthrie Center on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland,” said Rich. “We’ve been friends ever since.”

Many of Rich’s poems focus on the places she worked as a human rights activist and electoral supervisor. She has lived as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa; as a Fulbright Fellow in Cape Town, South Africa; and has done short work stints in Bosnia, Herzegovina, Gaza and the West Bank. Rich returned to Galway in 2008 for the Cuirt Literary Festival and is returning to Ireland to teach at the Anam Cara Retreat Center in August, 2012.

Since their first meeting, Rich and Mills have resonated as artists. Their first reading together at the Guthrie Center was a ‘call and response,’ a format where their poems dialogued with one another. Mills characterizes her poems as more “local” than Rich’s, dealing with personal history and the natural world, but said “many of the themes have a universal resonance and complement Susan’s global themes.”