Sadness Kept in Check at Upbeat Hill Graduation

More than 160 kids graduated from Hill Middle School on Wednesday in the final commencement ceremony in the school’s history.

On the last day of school before Hill closes for good — a decision made in January by the Novato Unified School District board of trustees — there were a few tears and a lot of hugs but most of the emotions seemingly had been expressed at some point over the past six months. In fact, much of Wednesday’s events were upbeat.

Here are some thoughts about Hill Middle School written by students in the final few days of the school’s history. Special thanks to Patty Maher for compiling them.

Marcus B.

8th Grade

Over the last three years at Hill Middle School, I have had some of the best experiences a student could have. I have had the pleasure of meeting new friends, teachers, and staff. All the people I have ever encountered have shaped me into what I am today. Without friends, family, and this school year. I don't know where I would be. If I had to choose my favorite year at Hill, 8th grade would be the one. My 8th grade was the year I really tried for straight A's, and, even though I didn't make it, I felt like I had tried. My teachers have been great to me all year. Even when my behavior was a little not perfect, they were patient and caring. Even though Hill is closing, if students still had the chance to stay at this school, they would because they realize how incredible this school really is. Hill Middle School will go down in history.

Sami M.

7th Grade

My two years at Hill have been amazing! I went from being the worst part in a play to being the lead in the musical "Annie." I've gotten my first boyfriend, and he's amazing! Ms. Killeen is very nice and thoughtful. Some of my teachers -- the really hard ones -- I wish I didn't get, but almost all of my teachers were fantastic. I'm going to miss Hill so much. Middle school won't be the same without all my friends from Hill with me.

Sam W.

7th Grade

My favorite memories of Hill were taping Mr. Saisi to the wall on the blacktop and the Husky Days I went to at IVC.

Drew T.

8th Grade

What I will remember most about Hill are all of the fun times I had with my friends. I will miss my awesome teachers and I will especially miss dodge ball!

Ryan F.

6th Grade

I am very sad that my school is closing. I will miss the new friends I met, and my teachers.

Bryson S.

6th Grade

I’ve had a very good experience here at Hill and I’m going to miss it. 

Mia B.

7th Grade

I am going to miss everything about Hill. My friends, my teachers, and the whole place. It is my school, and I am sad to say goodbye. For the first time EVER, I don't want summer to be here.

Sean B.

8th Grade

I will miss the amazing teachers and the end of the year party. I will also miss the day on the green and all of the other fun activities that we did. Hill was an awesome school and I am going to miss everything about it.

*

And here are some thoughts from two teachers …

Gina Schilling

7th-8th Grade Science Teacher & MESA Advisor (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement)

As many students wrap up their final science projects, they help me sort and pack up seven years of middle school science supplies. So far the students have counted 73 boxes, but we’re not done yet. They took the most care removing thumbtacks that held up our classroom photo collage—a wall that captured the moment of every fun lab and activity in which they participated throughout the year. Only now, can I go through the photos and reminisce on the most memorable times I’ve had here at Hill Middle School. 

I’d have to say that I have always relished in the organized chaos of labs in my science classes, especially when my students didn’t know what to expect. In 7th grade, students viewed blood pulse through a goldfish tail under a microscope, tracked sea turtles and polar bears using satellite imagery, and dissected albatross boluses (sea bird vomit) only to find out that sea birds often ingested more plastics than food. In 8th grade, students made fistfuls of fluffy “fake” snow from the smallest amounts of polymer, shared in their astronomy posters how they were disappointed about Pluto’s demotion to a dwarf planet, and could use the sun to cook as we made s’mores in recycled pizza boxes that we turned into solar ovens.

I always treasured our science field trips when I could bridge hands-on learning to real-world applications such as our mole crab monitoring trips in SF to determine the health of our beaches; canoeing in nearby sloughs as we learned about our wetlands and restored our watersheds; summer marine biology snorkeling trips in Key Largo, Fla., where we were always captivated by sea turtles, nurse sharks, and colorful schools of tropical fish; and Physics, Science & Math Days where students finally came to appreciate physics as they experienced forces in excess of 3 G’s on Great America’s many roller coasters.

Finally, I was Hill’s biggest cheerleader during academic competitions where I served as an advisor or coach, such as in MESA Day at Dominican University and the Junior Solar Sprint solar car races at the Lawrence Hall of Sciences. My students were always a little embarrassed by my loud, enthusiastic cheering on the side lines as their mousetrap cars and solar cars sped past those of students from other schools. But I know that they, like all my students, always felt the special pride I had for each of them and our school because we are and will always be Hill Middle School Huskies.

Sharon Zwerin

Teacher

NOVA Independent Study

Hill has long been Novato’s best-kept secret when it comes to education. In a time when education seemed to be all about test scores, Hill never lost sight of the individual inside each student. I am happy to have called Hill my home for almost 20 years and wish all our students the best in their new homes.