Thank You, Briles Family and Horizons Supporters! Horizons Atlanta at HIES is thrilled to share that an incredible $200,000 was raised on Giving Day, Wednesday, May 15! Our Horizons site was the top fundraising program in the U.S. We’re deeply grateful to every member of the HIES community who contributed to this success. A special thank-you goes to Jim and Stefanie Briles for their exceptionally generous $100,000 matching gift, which will help Horizons Atlanta at HIES continue to thrive this summer and beyond.

Watch: Episode 1 of Bear Talks! Learn more about two of the amazing members of Golden Bear Nation, Evie Price '26 and Danielle Elms, Upper School English teacher. Check out Episode 1 of Bear Talks now!

House of Andes Takes Home the Win! All year, our Lower School students have been competing in their annual House Competition, earning points through Town Hall challenges, showing good character, academic competitions and more. Last week, the final points were counted, and the House of Andes were named the 2025 House Cup champions!

Bears Give Back with Food Drive! During Lent, the HIES Against Food Insecurity club donated over 75 food items to support Meals on Wheels Atlanta through Trinity Presbyterian Church. This meaningful initiative was led by Julie Luttrell '26, president, and Caroline Tucker '26, with faculty support from Upper School teachers John Baum and Megan Mavity. Way to go, Julie and Caroline!

Congratulations, Eighth-Grade Grads! The Class of 2029 is officially headed to the Upper School! Before heading into a week of end-of-year exams, the eighth-grade graduates celebrated one more time with an amazing end-of-year party, complete with a silent disco!

Bravo, Third-Grade! After months of hard work, the third-grade class took to the stage last week for the annual “America is Beautiful” performance. The students did a great job presenting the history of the 50 states and many gave impressive vocal solos. Every scene celebrated our nation’s history while honoring the military veterans in attendance! Click here to see photos from the performance.

This week, the HIES girls golf team captured the State Championship title, capping off an outstanding season with a thrilling two-stroke victory. Molly Spector '28 earned Runner-Up Low Medalist honors for her individual performance, contributing to the team’s overall success. The boys team also had a strong showing, finishing fourth overall, with Logan Skaggs '28 also named Runner-Up Low Medalist. Congratulations to all our golfers—Go Bears!

On Wednesday, May 21, we honored the Class of 2032 at Fifth-Grade Honors Chapel! We are so excited for these Golden Bears as they conclude their Lower School journey and prepare to be the newest members of the Middle School. Student awards were presented for academics and leadership, and Braxton Briles '32 received the Alan A. Lewis Memorial Scholarship, the highest honor in the Lower School. Congratulations to Braxton, to all of the award winners and to the entire fifth-grade class!

This week, the Kindergarten class had their Moving-Up Ceremony, where they celebrated the end of their time in the Primary School! The students each crossed the stage in Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church, shaking hands with their teachers and receiving a special "t-shirt diploma." When the ceremony concluded, the students paraded through the Lower School building, where the current Lower School students welcomed them with cheers and high-fives. They then joined their fellow Primary School students for an amazing end-of-year party on Baker Field!