Classics Department | The Hill School

The Classics department is, strictly speaking, a "language" department offering elementary and advanced courses in Latin and Greek for the successful fulfillment of The Hill School language requirement. Moreover, the department is keenly aware that these two languages constitute the verbal repository and mirror of two important civilizations that have had a profound influence upon our own Western culture.

To guide the student to experience language in its cultural context is the primary mission of the department. Through our extensive technological resources and our long-standing tradition of academic excellence, courses at all levels are tailored to bring into sharp relief the debt we owe to our past.

At the beginning levels, importance is placed on developing the habits of accurate analysis and understanding the fundamentals of morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. As the student progresses through readings, increasingly less adapted until original texts can be read, the emphasis shifts to a cultural assessment of historical and social contexts together with an appreciation of literary styles and themes. We endeavor to develop skills of clear thinking, memory, analysis, understanding, and self-expression. Ideally these skills lead ultimately to the plausible and justified interpretations of classical literature and to an awareness of their relevance to the human condition in our own time.

For more information about the Classics Department, please contact Mr. Edward Turner, Chair of the Classics Department and Athey Family Master Teacherof Classics, at eturner@thehill.org.

Faculty Spotlight: Melissa Toomey, Ph.D.

Melissa Toomey, Ph.D. serves as Isaac Thomas Instructor of Classics for The Hill. Before coming to Hill, she received her bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross in Classics. She took a brief hiatus from teaching to earn her doctorate from Johns Hopkins University and returned to Hill three years ago. She currently teaches AP Latin, Advanced Latin and Greek Seminar, and Humanities 3 AP.

"The students are the number one thing that I talk about to my family and friends. I consider myself so lucky to teach such high-level kids who are so motivated and so genuine; their interest is just so pure. I really thrive working with those kids."

Read a Q&A with Dr. Toomey

Hill Classical Review

The Hill Classical Review is a student-run Classics journal which publishes original research in the areas of classical philology, history, society, religion, philosophy, and cultural/material studies related to Greek or Roman literature or culture. Submissions are open to all high school students. Learn more about the Hill Classical Review.