Health and Wellness
At Hill, our goal is to ensure our students have the skills required for success at school and beyond, including the capacity to maintain their well-being and to experience an optimal quality of life. We do this in a variety of ways, including access to student wellness and counseling services; a strong adviser system; participation in the well-being program, Eudemonia; and more.
The Elliot Menkowitz, MD Wellness Center
The Elliot Menkowitz, MD Wellness Center, one of three health-based, on-campus clinics, is available 24/7 while school is in session, with medical providers present on campus at all times. The School’s Medical Director, a licensed and credentialed physician, oversees the Wellness Center, Counseling Center, and Athletic Training Clinic, all services staffed by a caring team of healthcare professionals.
- 24/7 medical care while school is in session, with a healthcare worker on site
- A medical provider (MD or NP) is always available
- Our medical director is a licensed and credentialed physician in the state of Pennsylvania
- We have three health-based clinics on campus that all operate under the Medical Director’s supervision: Wellness Center (directed by a nurse practitioner with several RNs), Counseling Center (directed by a psychologist with four licensed counselors), and an Athletic Training Clinic (three athletic trainers)
- Hill is located one mile from the closest hospital (Pottstown Hospital Tower Health) and 15 miles from the closest pediatric hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- All faculty are certified in CPR and EpiPen administration
- A medical driver available on-call at all times during the school year
Counseling Center
The Hill School counseling services provide immediate support through short-term, solution-focused sessions. These sessions are led by licensed mental health counselors or those working towards licensure under supervision. Please note that our counselors at The Hill School do not provide formal diagnoses of mental health conditions. We will refer you to an external provider for further evaluation if needed.
The Hill School does not offer counseling services over breaks or during the summer. The cost of counseling sessions at the Counseling Center is fully covered by tuition and fees. Our on-campus services are intended to be short-term and solution-focused. Students who need longer-term therapy during the school year may be directed to off-campus support at the family's expense and involvement. Students needing external care are expected to follow through with appointments and recommendations. Failure to seek recommended mental health support may result in the student taking a medical leave or other measures at the School’s discretion.
Students Advocating for Mental Health
Students Advocating for Mental Health (SAMH) is a student-led committee of students in the fourth through sixth forms. Under the guidance of the Counseling Center, the SAMH Committee serves as a platform for members to inform the student body about the parameters of The Hill's various mental health programs and for community members to voice concerns. The SAMH Committee is an action-oriented student group that raises awareness of mental health among the student body through events, visual engagement initiatives, and advocacy for students' voices.
Adviser Program
Each Hill School student is assigned a faculty adviser with whom they meet weekly, both in small-group meetings on Thursday mornings and at adviser-seated lunches on Monday. Students also meet with their advisers one-on-one throughout the year, and the group sits together for many of the School’s assemblies, visiting speakers, and special events held in the Center For The Arts. An adviser usually has a group of five to seven students each year, and in most cases, students remain with the same adviser throughout their time at The Hill.
While an adviser’s formal responsibilities include distributing grades, assisting with class selections, and making periodic reports to each advisee’s parents, the adviser’s primary role is to support and encourage the students in their charge and to make a positive, genuine impact on their lives—both at The Hill and beyond. Many of the most meaningful connections between advisers and advisees are made through casual conversations, sharing snacks and laughs, celebrating birthdays and achievements, participating in community service activities, enjoying an off-campus trip to the movies, or having dinner in the adviser’s home.
Learn more about student character and well-being, as well as our Eudemonia program, by visiting our Character in Practice page.
Eudemonia
Eudemonia (Greek word used by Aristotle to denote happiness, or ‘the worthwhile life') is a well-being program for third, fourth, and sixth form students designed to educate them on how they might capitalize upon their human resources to make the most of their potential. Students learn about topics such as empathy, conflict management, resilience, and judgment.
Third Form Curriculum:
Third form students will participate in a course once a week during the fall term. These classes are referred to as the "Grit and Gratitude lab" and focus on grit, gratitude, resiliency, mindfulness, and other skills that will help bolster a student’s sense of self.
Fourth/Fifth Form Curriculum- Eudemonia Health+:
Fourth and fifth form students will be engaging in Eudemonia Plus, an enhanced one-term course consisting of class sessions that address aspects of social/emotional health, sexual health, and drug and alcohol prevention education.
Sixth Form Curriculum:
Sixth form students will participate in a curriculum offered once a week, focused on transition to adulthood. Topics reflect more advanced sexual health education around affirmative consent, and drug and alcohol prevention education that reflect real-life challenges during the transition to college. Additionally, topics will include budgeting, managing credit, and other financial literacy topics. Students will hear from post-high school graduates who have successfully navigated their freshman year of college.