On Friday morning, first-grade students brought their yearlong composting efforts to life by filling raised garden beds with nutrient-rich soil they helped create. The event marked the launch of the Golden Bear Garden—a sustainability project rooted in global education, environmental stewardship, and collaboration with the PEAK Leadership Institute. Throughout the year, students have explored how food waste can be transformed into something meaningful, and this hands-on experience brought their learning full circle.

The project has been years in the making, inspired by a Round Square conference attended by Kaycie Merrihew, Middle School science teacher, and HIES alumni Sam Studley '24. Now a freshman at Georgia Tech studying to become an environmental engineer, Sam returned to campus to speak to the students and assist with the garden build. Last year, he completed a Global Capstone project on composting, helping lay the groundwork for this initiative, ultimately carried out by Ms. Merrihew and Middle School PEAK students. Be sure to visit the Golden Bear Garden, located between the Lower School and the Humanities Building!

On Wednesday, April 23, a group of HIES parents and faculty members embarked on a parent field trip to explore Atlanta's rich civil rights history. While the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is closed for renovations, parents instead enjoyed a walking tour of the historic Auburn Avenue with Abigail Graff, education coordinator at the Center, stopping at sites like Ebenezer Baptist Church, once pastored by both Dr. Martin Luther King and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Participants also enjoyed a tour of the King Center and lunch at the Municipal Market. It was a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect with other members of the HIES community, deepen their understanding of civil and human rights and have valuable discussions. Thank you to HI Cultural Awareness and Acceptance Partners (HICAAP) and the HIES Parents' Association for organizing this annual outing!

The red carpet was rolled out for a group of talented student filmmakers and their families this week at the 2025 HIES Film Fest! Hosted at The Springs Cinema, students got to watch their original short films come to life on the big screen—each one entirely produced by students and featuring student actors. It was a fantastic way to celebrate 15 years of the HIES film program! Congratulations to all our participants and the following award winners:

Best Poster: JohnHenry Mills '25, "Signal"
Honorable Mentions: Daniel Weaver '28 and Caroline Tucker '26 (Going Above & Beyond!); NiaGrace Sheats '30 and Sandifer Rocchini '30 (Middle School Entry Award)
Best Screenplay: Robert Simmons '25, "The Fortune of Misfortune"
Best Cinematography: JohnHenry Mills '25, "Signal"
Best Actor Male: Harrison Bramble '25
Best Actor Female: Katherine Busch '26
Best Editing: Brady Huesken '26, "Reformation"
Best Original Score: Julie Luttrell '26, "Time’s Up"
Best Picture: Wyatt Maiellaro '26, "Thumb War"