The mission of the Global Education program at HIES is to cultivate students who have the knowledge, dispositions and skills to act ethically and creatively in the world. It is an education of compassion and conscience, centered on the human dignity inherent in our relationships with family and community, both locally and abroad.

Upper School students have the opportunity for global travel, international exchange and semester-away experiences. All of these develop in students a global mindset, at the C.O.R.E of which is to develop courage to be uncomfortable, openness to new experiences, reflection on their journeys and empathy for others.

Read more about Global Studies at HIES

Community Service is more than a graduation requirement at HIES. At HIES we believe you are never too young to make a difference in your community and the world. By exposing our students in the Upper School to required community service hours each year, it is our hope that they will carry these experiences beyond HIES and see service to others as a key part of their personal development and identity. It is a graduation requirement that students complete 15 hours of community service per year while in attendance at HIES, and National Honors Society students must complete 65 hours of community service per year. The Director of Community Service will make service opportunities known throughout the school year.

Clubs and organizations are an integral part of student life in Upper School at HIES. The Upper School offers more than 60 clubs and organizations for students in grades 9-12 that include a wide range of interests, from astronomy to knitting, robotics to trivia, Model UN to Film/Movie Club.

Clubs generally fall into one of four categories: Academic or Department-affiliated, Special Interest, Honor/Leadership/Service and Mentoring Groups. The great variety of clubs and organizations exist to provide students with opportunities to continue their education outside of the classroom. Involvement in organizations is a great way to enhance social skills, problem-solving, leadership qualities and other important life skills. Leaders of clubs and organizations play an important role in helping students build relationships and strengthen their connection to the entire HIES Community.

At a Holy Innocents’ chapel service, each student is called to celebrate and share the radical loving presence of God, as we gather together in prayer. In essence, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School is a praying school! We are a school community of faith that encounters the Living God through the proclamation and sharing of His Word in all divisions. We pray for ourselves; we pray for one another; we pray for the world, and we pray especially that the good gifts we have received will empower us to be a blessing to others.

The entire Upper School gathers as a community each week to reflect on what it means to be children of God, to be good citizens, to act in service to others and to live out our individual faith traditions. Chapel services affirm both our Christian traditions and religious diversity. The Upper School chaplain leads chapel services, often with the help of the students themselves and parents are welcomed to attend.

By exposing our students in the Upper School to required community service hours each year, it is our hope that they will carry these experiences beyond HIES and see service to others as a key part of their personal development and identity. It is a graduation requirement that students complete 15 hours of community service per year while in attendance at HIES, and National Honors Society students must complete 65 hours of community service per year. The Director of Community Service will make service opportunities known throughout the school year.

Learn more about Community Service at HIES