Eagle Hill School welcomes Liza Elkin!

New Students Arrive to begin the 2022-2023 academic school year.

Elizabeth “Liza” Elkin comes to Eagle Hill after spending her early career teaching elementary school and then, most recently, five years living and working at a boarding school in northern Vermont. There she held numerous positions including the Director of the Learning Center, the Director of Residential Life, Head of the Middle School Division, and finally, the Assistant Head of the Upper School. While Liza served in these positions, she also continued to follow her passion for learning, completing three graduate degrees in education; one from Providence College, one from Plymouth State University, and the most recent from the University of Pennsylvania.

A summer camp person at heart, Liza traces her passion for working with, living with, and learning with children to her years as a camp counselor in western Massachusetts. As she continues to grow in her career as an educator, the principles learned as a camp counselor, the principles of fun, experiential learning, and personal development are the values that continue to guide her philosophy as a professional educator.

>We are thrilled to have Liza join our team at Eagle Hill School as the new Dean of Students. We look forward to all the incredible work and energy she will undoubtedly bring to her position. Liza was kind enough to document the first week of Student Life activities for all of us, and we look forward to seeing all the other programing she creates in the weeks and months to come.

The school year began when Student Life welcomed the Orientation Leaders back to campus on Friday, September 9th. The students moved in, went to a BBQ at Mrs. & Mr. Kelly's house, and participated in getting to know you and team building games! On Saturday, the NSOLs engaged in a full day of training on team building, SEL tactics, and new school policies with Dr. Perez as they prepared for the arrival of our new students on Sunday. After new students got settled in their dorms and parents said their final goodbyes, new students participated in a scavenger hunt to get to know campus and enjoyed an ice cream social!

On Monday, all new students took a trip to Springfield College's East Campus to participate in a low ropes challenge course. The students reported a fun day of getting to know each other and problem solving as a team! Meanwhile, the returning students got settled into their dorm rooms. Dinner on Sunday was the first time all students and staff were together. At dinner, Dr. McDonald made a speech about the school year, inviting all students to get involved and follow their passions! All students then participated in team building fun with Mrs. Kelly, culminating in each student putting their handprint on their class bulletin board as a sign of the coming together of the community.

In the days since students arrived, everyone has been busy with academics, participating in sports, joining community activities like fishing, hiking, and dog walking, and joining clubs like Coffee and Cards Club with Dr. Kim and Rugby Club with Coach Crossan! Everyone seems to be looking forward to a weekend of fun with activities like Six Flags, Movie night, and Deep-Sea Fishing on the docket! There are countless opportunities for the students to get engaged with their peers and active within our community at EHS. I am really looking forward to being a part of their personal growth as we continue this journey together.