Hilltop gets donation of athletic equipment

SPARTA — When Head of School Peter Gordon recently was passing through Hilltop’s main foyer, he discovered a pleasant surprise: $1,000 worth of brand new athletic equipment.
Hilltop recently received $1,000 worth of basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, pinnies and a parachute from an alumnus who has chosen to remain anonymous. The unexpected gift couldn’t have come at a better time as Hilltop is in the process of broadening its athletic program to include more competitive level sports.
“We are so fortunate to receive this wonderful gift,” said Gordon. “This brand new equipment is a game changer for us; it really helps us to get the ball rolling with our new athletic program initiative and help bring Hilltop athletics to a higher level.”
The school plans to take it up a notch by offering the beginnings of a comprehensive competitive athletic program starting in the 2016-2017 school year. The initial stages involve creating competitive co-ed tennis, golf and soccer teams for middle school students in fifth through eighth grades. In addition, Hilltop also offers many non-competitive enrichment programs for students to explore athletics such as Kiddie Soccer for students in preschool through kindergarten (check this), ski club, and karate.
Hilltop will also be amping up its physical education curriculum. The upcoming school year will feature a focus on movement education in elementary school Grades 1-4 in addition to a focus on team sports, skill building and overall fitness in Grades 5-8.
In addition to the gift of athletic equipment, the same anonymous alum expressed interest in providing another donation in the future. Director of Development Martine Romano ’00 also expressed her gratitude for the athletic equipment and stressed the importance of continued alumni participation and how it helps to expand Hilltop’s programs.