Spring 2023

From the Desk Of: Katie DeProphetis, President, HPS Board of Directors

 It was about this time of year in 2018 that I first considered joining the Board of Directors at The Hill Preschool. I was at Garfield Park, pushing my daughter on the swing as my friend, a Board member and parent of one of my daughter's classmates, shared her experience with me. That year, the Board had worked diligently alongside Danielle as she set out to go above and beyond for HPS's teachers, to provide them with competitive pay, a solid set of benefits, a supportive work environment, and so much more. Our family was thrilled with the experience we were having at the school. Joining the Board, and that effort in particular, felt like the right way to give back to the educators who were making our daughter’s first formal schooling experience so special.

As I come to the end of my fourth year on the Board, I can say without hesitation that the experience has been incredibly rewarding, and just the right mix of challenging and fun. I've learned so much in these four years about how nonprofit organizations and early childhood education centers are run – under normal circumstances and during a global pandemic. I’ve met and worked closely with a number of amazing educators, parents, and community members, and made lasting friendships along the way. I’m proud of what this group has accomplished, and the stage it has set for the school’s future.

As we begin to look forward to next school year, I encourage you to consider joining the Board of Directors, to help shape the next chapter of this magnificent school. Next month, we will put out a call for applications to the Board, to parents and community members alike. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or any current Board member to take a closer look at what we're working on, and to get a sense for what your time with the Board might look like.

I wish you a wonderful Spring, and lots of good fun as we move toward the end of the school year!

Curriculum Corner with Ms. Jill: Green vs. Blue!

Even Hippocrates understood, over 2000 years ago, that “Nature itself is the best physician.”  He, like many past and present, are able to recognize the benefits to our physical, and now more than ever, our mental health, when we connect with nature.  The statistics are staggering.  According to the CDC’s data between 4.4%- 9.8% of children 3-17 were diagnosed with a mental health disorder, most common were ADHD, anxiety, behavior disorders or depression.  These were the numbers as of 2019 which is the most current data they have posted.   Here comes the staggering part.  Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, president and CEO of the research group ECRI, said in a news release. “Even before COVID-19, the impact of social media, gun violence, and other socioeconomic factors were causing elevated rates of depression and anxiety in children. The challenges caused by the pandemic turned a bad situation into a crisis. We're approaching a national health emergency.” As of 2020, the rate increased by 27-29% according to their annual report listing the top 10 patient safety concerns.  We are almost halfway through 2023.  Can you imagine the numbers today?  So, what can we do, as educators and parents, to combat all that the world is throwing at our young children? How do we beat the blue? 

At HPS, we are working to beat the blue with green- meaning that we are working proactively to manage big and difficult feelings by connecting every day with our natural world. Now for the good statistics.  Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being. “There is mounting evidence, from dozens and dozens of researchers, that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well being,” says Lisa Nisbet, PhD, a psychologist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, who studies connectedness to nature. “You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.”  Study after study reports on the benefits of spending time outdoors and here at HPS, we take that to heart. 

Whether we are out in the community or right here in our Children’s Garden, helping our kiddos connect to nature is a very important part of our program, philosophy and promise.  As the weather warms up we will be looking forward to our spring planting and April’s unit topic of “In Nature,” which will provide the children with plenty of opportunity to bask in the sun, discover a new bug, feel the wind in their hair and most importantly, connect with nature, which even the father of medicine recognized as important so long ago.

Spring into our Space

Enjoy a little fun with a peek into the HPS classrooms this month!

Thank you HPS Families! We are so fortunate to have this community - your support of our Love Treats Fundraiser added over $1000 to the Annual Fund! We look forward to our next sweet opportunity together.

Special thanks to Kristen Maruca, Nancy Shaffer, and Katie DeProphetis for their support in getting the kits together!

Harris Teeter VIC

Thanks to our Community Partners!

Ledo Pizza - Barracks Row

Stop in and say hi to Owner Dean and GM Paris! Ledo Pizza Barracks Row goes above and beyond - delivering for our kids every week!

Ginkgo Gardens serves as a lush oasis in the heart of bustling capitol hill. A full service garden center uniquely oriented to the urban gardener. Ginkgo Gardens offers high quality plants, flowers, garden products and services. Stop in to find special greenery for your home and thank their team for their support of HPS!

Are You a Business Owner in the Neighborhood? Let’s work together to support The Hill Preschool!! Please contact partnerships@thehillpreschool.org.