As of this year, time has not been good to us. But no matter how the circumstances are, Hill always continues their traditions. One tradition that usually takes place at the beginning of the school year is Convocation, which is now scheduled for Sept. 15. Headmaster Zack Lehman believes Convocation is the most inspiring event of the year.

“Traditionally, Convocation is the official start to the academic year. It’s the moment when our faculty takes responsibility for our students’ education, and when our students commit to their academic journey ahead.  It’s also a celebration of our community and what we stand for at Hill.  We celebrate Convocation by form and it is an especially important milestone for the Sixth Form,” he stated in an email. 

This event is important to a lot of students, mainly the 6th formers. Mr. Lehman is doing everything he can to continue the tradition of Convocation. “Though it is being held back, Convocation remains an important celebration and a way for us to acknowledge our community being together for the first academic rotation. If anything, it is more important this year than ever!”

This year’s Convocation will look different this year. The 6th form will be the only grade present during the ceremony, while the other grades will attend on Zoom. Together the school will watch a skit that Mr. Lehman and his team have worked on for the past few weeks.

Though it has taken a while for Convocation to happen, the students are still excited as ever for this special event. Aidan Dunn ’21 is a returning senior this year and, though it was postponed, he still has high hopes. “It’s a tradition we’ve always had. Convocation from the beginning brings people together. Right away we’re a family and we’re a community.” 

Convocation has always been a part of Hill’s history. Like many traditions the school has, it’s not known exactly when it started. However, Louis Jeffries, the Hill School’s archivist, does have an approximate guess of when Convocation began.

 “Though I don’t know when it started, I have a feeling it goes back to the 1800s, knowing the school and knowing John Megs was the headmaster from 1876 to 1911. I would say it started very far back to the opening days of the school.”

Community is something The Hill School proudly represents. That’s what the majority of its traditions convey: community. 

“Considering the circumstances,” Senior Master of Mathematics John Dollhopf said, “I think it’s more important to get as many students there as possible. Obviously we can’t celebrate like we normally would, but anything that allows the whole school to be whole in some way is important.”