Highland Park Presbyterian Day School just hit senior citizen status!
Good thing they have an amazing playground where generations of Park Cities “kids” of all ages can celebrate the school’s 60-year anniversary. This community landmark, located on University Boulevard next to Williams Park, has been the educational launch pad for many area families. Some have sent three generations of children to through the HPPDS program.
“It’s pretty funny to pull up to the carpool line and see my old pre-school buddies unloading their own pre-school-aged kids,” said Taylor Hunt, a graduate of HPPDS who now sends son George, 5, and daughter Hailey, 4, to the Highland Park icon. Son, Wilson, 2, is already gearing up to attend next year. “I remember that the teachers were always challenging us, and I see the same commitment to great education with my own kids. They come home excited about books and learning.”
Although much of the Christian-based curriculum has remained unchanged since the school doors first opened, today rolling iPad labs bring 16 touch tablets right to classrooms of kids from Beginners (age 3) through fifth grade. And with the introduction of applications such as Glogster, for safe online searching, and Skype, students are able to interact with school kids around the world.
“We used to have record players and tape decks in the class,” said Carrie Parsons, executive director of the school for the past 19 years. “Today, we see the young kids take to technology like ducks take to water.” Tablets and technology aside, the school’s number one mission has stayed the same since the first students (now grandparents) walked through the front doors. “We are committed to developing disciples of Jesus Christ through academic excellence,” Parsons said.
“Every child has been gifted by God, and it’s our job to recognize
those gifts and take them as far as they can go,” Parsons said.
Perhaps another 60 years or more…
The school will celebrate the diamond anniversary at “Camp Bingo,” a glamorous camping event to be held on February 8 at Brook Hollow Golf Club. Money raised at the event will go toward items for the school’s computer lab, teacher benefits and a Smart Table for the kindergarten class.
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