Co-Curricular Activities

The following activities do not fulfill the Interscholastic Athletic Requirement. All students participating in any non-athletic programs are required to complete a regular exercise program in that term. 

The Dial: Fall and Winter Terms 
Are you interested in creating history at The Hill School? If so, join The Dial as a member of the editorial board! Working alongside other students, you will design, plan, edit, and create a volume of our school’s yearbook—something that students have done for over 120 years! This is an important task that allows you to create a permanent printed keepsake that records and celebrates the lives of hundreds of students, faculty, and staff members. Students in every form can participate in The Dial, but spots are limited to 10 students each term. Approval by the faculty adviser is required. 

Hill News: Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms 
Students participating in The Hill News afternoon activity will have an opportunity to shape their own role inside our student-led journalism program. Any student wanting to work on a special project for The Hill News (writing a weekly column; launching a podcast; creating multimedia packages for the website; etc.) is welcome, regardless of prior experience. Current editors can use this time to accomplish their production goals. Students hoping to take a leadership role in the future can use this time to shadow editors and to receive training specific to their chosen paths. Afternoon activity is also a good time to cover breaking news stories, so this is a great place for students who want to quickly up their experience with reporting, including photojournalism and videography. Current staff members who would simply like to write or produce more and receive immediate feedback and subsequent publishing are also welcome. 

Speech and Debate: Fall and Winter Terms
Hill Forensics, also known as Speech and Debate, is a competitive team. This afternoon activity brings together a diversity of interests in arts, academics, argumentation, acting, public speaking, current events, and other individual interests of students at Hill under the umbrella of a single team that practices, travels, and competes together. Much like Track and Field, there is a wide range of competitive options. In addition to a decade of success across these events, Hill has a strong group of returning team members in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, where individual competitors address philosophical questions, and Public Forum Debate, a partner event about current events. Just as in any sport, team members are expected to attend daily practices, prepare for their given event(s), and attend competitions regularly as representatives of The Hill School. 

Engineering and Design: Winter and Spring Terms
Students participating in Engineering and Design are able to work in the Fabrication lab, learn and work with different rapid prototyping machinery such as CNC router, 3D printer, and Laser Cutter to design and produce products of their own. Students are guided through the design and manufacturing of products. Students learn about mass production and ways to market their products. 

During the winter term, students interested in competing at the Technology Student Association (TSA), will be provided the space, training and materials to work on their project. *Teams are only allowed to compete at TSA if the team members are enrolled in this co-curricular activity or upon Director’s approval. Students who are competing in individual competitions must be enrolled in this program.   

QED robotics program is offered in both winter and spring. Students attending this program will be prepared to participate in different selective robotics competitions. *No prior experience is needed. In partnership with Hobart’s Run, QED provides opportunities for students to teach engineering/STEM to the Pottstown Local Community. 

Afternoon Arts and Community Service also are considered non-athletic/non-interscholastic afternoon activities. Learn more in the panels below.

The following activities do not fulfill the Interscholastic Athletic Requirement. These activities require two seasons of interscholastic athletics. 

Fall Sculling and Learn to Row: Fall Term
The Fall Sculling program aims to provide a fall training opportunity for all rowers, with a focus on small boat skill development and sculling. The development of small boat training skills is crucial to the athlete’s long-term development and will improve their overall boat-moving ability in any boat class. The program will also include cardio and strength components, so that athletes will improve technically and physiologically over the fall. 

Strength and Conditioning: Fall, Winter, and Spring Term
Requires approval. Admission to this program is contingent on approval by the Athletics Department. Students in S&C participate in two seasons of interscholastic play at Hill and make a varsity-level commitment in at least one of those sports. Priority is given to upper form students. Sixth formers may have the option to participate in two terms of strength and conditioning if they are committed to playing their primary sport at a higher level. Sixth formers that decide to do two seasons of this activity will be asked to assist the Athletics Department with additional responsibilities during the week and on weekends. Strength and Conditioning is for The Hill student-athlete who wants to improve athletic performance and sport-specific skills in their only off season. Student-athletes will have the support of our Strength & Conditioning Coach and priority time in the Hill weight room; will have a weekly yoga class to work on flexibility and core strength; are encouraged to do sport-specific skill work; and may pursue opportunities for club team play, after fulfilling S&C program commitments.  

The following activities DO NOT fulfill the Interscholastic Athletic Requirement

Dance: Fall, Spring 
This afternoon activity focuses on enhancing dance training in the following techniques: ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary. Dancers will focus on improving their technical ability and performance quality.  Afternoon dancers will participate in a recital at the conclusion of each term. 

Intramural Ultimate: Spring Term
Co-ed athletic activity in which students will learn the primary styles of throwing discs and play the game of Ultimate. Students will also learn disc golf, other games, and compete against other schools. 

Recreational Squash: Fall Term
Students participating in this co-curricular activity will learn the game of squash and will have the opportunity to improve their skills daily under the direction of our head squash coaches

Spin & Barre: Fall, Winter, Spring Terms
This afternoon activity will focus on providing students with a unique exercise experience utilizing Hill’s newly purchased spin bikes. Participants can expect a variety of challenging spin classes three times per week, and two barre classes each week. 

Rock Climbing: Winter Term
Learn how to climb! Attend the Philadelphia Rock Gym 2-3 days/week and learn skills of top rope, bouldering, movement and positioning, footwork, handwork and team building. Rentals, transportation and instruction are included in this activity! No climbing experience is required. Learn to climb on Hill’s top rope wall and Kilter Board right on campus. 

Game Management: Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms
Students in Game Management assist the Athletics Department in all aspects of game day operations. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills such as broadcasting, social media, graphic design, scorekeeping, and more. Students should expect to present for all home competition days and possibly select away games. This co-curricular will fulfil the interscholastic athletics requirement for fifth and sixth formers. 

Pottstown Community Service: Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms | Contact Mrs. Skitko at cskitko@thehill.org

Opportunities with service learning in engineering and financial literacy. This afternoon activity provides an opportunity to serve the greater community as well as learn about The Hill’s distinctive Hobart’s Run neighborhood improvement initiative. A 501(c)(3), Hobart's Run was launched by The Hill in 2016 to work with residents through projects that create a clean, safe, and inclusive community; provide incentives for home ownership and improvements; and generate positive, sustainable commercial and retail development. Opportunities may include visiting residents of the Manatawny Manor or Keystone Villa care communities; contributing to the restoration of historic Edgewood Cemetery; mentoring children and youths at the Ricketts Center; and tutoring children of immigrant families. We also encourage participants to identify their passions and design their own service projects.  From time to time students will assist with publicizing community events and take part in neighborhood clean-ups, and they will be asked to share reflections about their experiences. In addition, speakers who represent local nonprofits and other service endeavors will be invited to speak to students throughout each term.  Learn more about our Community Service program.

New opportunity for fifth and sixth form students: The Hill Varsity In Pottstown Service leaders (Hill VIPS) are a select group of committed fifth and sixth form students who will participate in volunteer activities across all three terms, replacing the one-term interscholastic athletic requirement. VIPS will mentor other service students, engage with nonprofit partners, and may participate in weekend service activities, with approval based on prior community service and a demonstrated interest in giving back to the Pottstown area.

Afternoon Arts (Media Art, Music, Recording Studio, Visual Art, Theatre, and Theatre Tech): Fall, Winter, and Spring | Contact Mrs. Lim at ylim@thehill.org

Application or Audition Required. This program is for serious and dedicated students who will consistently demonstrate excellence, discipline and artistry. Driven and committed fifth and sixth form students may apply to participate in three-terms of Afternoon Arts in one discipline. This application process is slightly different. The deadlines to apply are August 15 for the three-term distinction, September 1 for the fall term, and by midnight before varsity tryouts for winter and spring terms. Learn more about Afternoon Arts.