Greenhill School is a co-educational day school in Addison, Texas, United States. The school was founded in 1950 by Bernard Fulton. The 78-acre (320,000 m2) campus is located 12 miles (19 km) north of downtown Dallas, Texas. It enrolls about 1,270 students from throughout the Dallas Metroplex.[1] The school is the first co-educational, non-denominational pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school in Dallas and is a member of both the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC).
Greenhill School was founded in 1950 as a co-educational option among the independent schools in Dallas. From 1950 to 1976, Bernard Fulton served as the founding headmaster. At the time, he introduced the concepts of independent co-education, the primer program, and open-space education while the school grew from 62 students to 1,002. After he retired from Greenhill School, he became the headmaster of Lakehill Preparatory School, and later, Fulton Academy in Rockwall, Texas, was named after him as well. On October 20, 1990, GovernorBill Clements declared Bernard Fulton Day “for his dedication to the education of young people in Dallas, in Texas, and in the nation."[2]
From 1955 to 1959, late State RepresentativeFred Agnich of Dallas was chairman of the board of the Greenhill School and was instrumental in the early development of the institution.[3]
The original Upper School building was part of a pre-existing farmhouse in the school. It also housed Greenhill's library, cafeteria, and administrative offices. In 1963, a fire decimated the Upper School building; it was rebuilt in 1974. The building suffered another fire in 1987 but reopened the following year.[4]
The aftermath of the fire that destroyed the old Upper School in March 1987.
Academics
The school is divided into four sections: Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, and the Upper School, which houses about 470 students in grades 9-12.[1]
Students are required to complete 48 hours of community service before graduating. The school is commonly known for having a rigorous program.[5]
In addition to maintaining a top education program, Greenhill is home to several well decorated co-curriculars. Its Band, Orchestra, Debate, Film, and Quiz Bowl programs have all garnered numerous state and national awards for their efforts.
Traditions
The Water Tower
Each year, the incoming seniors paint the Water Tower in the parking lot with graffiti. They spray their names on it with an overriding theme and picture to depict their grade.[6]
First Day of School
On the first day of school, students come to school on campus with a painted water tower. The senior class comes to school with females dressed in white and males dressed in black. The whole school also attends an assembly in the Phillips Gymnasium to ring in the new year.[7]
Founder's Day
Founder's Day is the annual September 11 celebration of Greenhill's establishment on September 11, 1950. The whole school meets in the Phillips Gymnasium for an assembly to commemorate two teachers and honor five faculty members. The Student Council President (a senior) lights the Founder's Day Candle with the current longest working faculty member. During the assembly, the Service-Learning and Community Service Program announces the Estelle Dickens service project for the year. Legacy Heart of the Hill groups are named during this assembly. The Heart of the Hill program brings groups of students from each division—Lower, Middle and Upper—together to help instill a sense of community across the campus. [8]
Senior Breakfast
The Alumni Association holds the annual senior breakfast in the fall for the graduating seniors. During this time, the graduating seniors meet with alumni and are given their senior sweatshirts.[9]
Athletics
Greenhill is a member of the Southwest Preparatory Conference which includes private schools from Texas and Oklahoma. Students start playing athletics for the school when they enter the 7th grade and are able to participate in Basketball, Baseball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Diving, Golf, Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, and Volleyball.
Greenhill has had many prominent athletes. For example, Ashley Rape (Class of 2008) was selected as Gatorade Texas Girl Soccer Player of the Year and a Parade All-American who went on to play for played Duke University.[10] Chelsey Sveinsson (Class of 2011) was Gatorade Texas Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year for 3 consecutive years.[11] Sveinsson also won the 2008 Nike National Cross Country Championship.[12]
^From Humble Beginnings: The First Fifty Years of Greenhill School: 1950-2000. By Thomas R. Perryman & David E. Perryman. Copyright 2000 Stinehour Press.
^Greenhill. "Greenhill School-Overview". Retrieved November 13, 2008. Greenhill School also has some of the most prestigious photography, debate, acting and film programs in the nation. The film program annually leads in high school admissions to the famous South by Southwest Festival.
