This fun friday was a nice, halloween themed journey to Bates Motel. Before we even boarded the bus towards the scares, the fun had already begun on campus. We watched Coraline, were served either of two choices of pizza (pepperoni and plain), and even had our own mini haunted house set up in the basement. 

Hawk News Interviewed Hill Top Alum Chris Lyons. Lyons Graduated from Hill Top in 2013. He went to Stevenson University, and majored in Computer Information Systems while specifically focusing on Network Design. He also took several classes in software development, cyber security, and business. This year, Lyons was voted on to Hill Top’s Board of Trustees and is currently the only graduate serving on the Board. The Board of Trustees at Hill Top is responsible for managing the operations of the School and for developing strategic plans for the School. The Board of Trustees meets regularly with Headmaster Needham who is responsible for leading many of the plans that are set/approved by the Board throughout Hill Top. As a team, the Board of Trustees offers advice and counsel to Mr. Needham. The Board of Trustees is also responsible for approving the annual budget and therefore along with other factors helps determine and approve the tuition fee for each year. 

Chris has stated that one of his favorite classes was 9th grade English with Mr. Sedgwick due to the many activities and ways of learning he did throughout the class. When asked about his time at HIll Top, Lyons said, “I really enjoyed my time at Hill Top as it was a small community that really understood and respected one another. Hill Top really allowed me to discover and understand my strengths and challenges which has helped me in everything I have done since graduating from Hill Top.”

Divisions by Starset

Starset is an interesting band, to say the least. Their first album, Transmissions, was an untamed, weird, and overall messy experience that touched on hard rock, electronics, classical, and pop. Their sophomore effort was much better as the band seemed to find themselves and clean themselves up with their 2017 release of Vessels. It was an impressive and well-done album, so I had high hopes for their third addition to their discography.

After repeated listens of Divisions, I still can’t put my finger on how to describe it. It seems more poppy than their previous two albums, but I would hesitate to call Starset a sell-out. It maintains the lyrical quality of Vessels yet lacks the same angst. It is weak for the most part, yet is still powerful in the very same places as well. It isn’t all-over-the-place, like Transmissions, and keeps the tidy feel of Vessels, but seems different. Divisions isn’t a bad album though. It is their weakest effort, but for reasons unknown, it keeps calling me back for another listen. But every time I hit play, I feel like it is missing something. I don’t know what it is, and I doubt I ever will, but as long as it keeps me listening, I guess it’s not terrible.

Photo Credit: covermytunes.com



You cry

and lightning

strikes your heart.

You are exposed, now settled there.

The lying show you’ve made, now ashen and bare.

You are no longer 

what 

you’ve 

built.

Not. To. Me.

So hear it, you. A fine reprise.

Amy Gillespie, Director of Postsecondary Transition, Advisor

Zephyr Markley ‘20

Michele Minicozzi, Director of Advancement, Advisor

Will Morrissey ‘21

Elijah Osborne ‘21

Lee M. Norton ‘22

Hawk News Header designed by Elijah Osborne '21