Keep It Happening at The Hague School!

Help Us to Keep It Happening at The Hague School!

     Hello, and welcome to The Hague School’s Donor Box Page! My name is Isa Wisotzki and I am a sophomore at THS. The Hague School is a small, independent, International Baccalaureate (IB) high school in Norfolk, Virginia. What’s unique about this institution is that it implements the Harkness style of teaching: a method in which students sit at a round table for conference-style discussion. The system encourages independence and critical-thinking skills while simultaneously enforcing great collaboration with peers and our community. Through this technique, I feel as though I’ve learned so much more than I could have at a school without it; it has given me a voice. In addition to the Harkness pedagogy, THS is an IB school, allowing students like me to develop a global perspective on the world, especially with our participation in Model United Nations conferences and connections with sister schools in both Mexico and Denmark. The Hague School has provided me and others with countless opportunities and the confidence to positively change the world in the future. To illustrate the dynamic of the school and its community, I’d like to tell you a little bit about a project some of my classmates and I are currently working on.

In the sophomore’s Visual Arts class with Mrs. Adelfio, we were assigned an artistic project that would last us until near the end of the quarter. Mrs. Adelfio instructed groups to paint a mural around the school in a noticeable area. She said that the piece could convey anything from a jungle to outer space, but it must be connected to the core values of The Hague School. I am working with two other classmates to paint the Commons’ (main room) doorway. The total scene is supposed to represent a jungle, with hidden meanings behind each element. On the right wall, we are painting three trees basking in the wilderness. The branches of the trees, quite literally, represent the connections of both ideas and students that blossom under the Harkness method and The Hague School in itself. Additionally, we plan to disguise “the four C’s,” which foster powerful discussions, painted in their leaves: Contribute, Connect, Challenge, and Collaborate. On the left side, we are painting a waterfall gushing into a body of water below, alongside mossy rock and thriving plants. Similar to the trees, the cascade symbolizes the innovation and creativity that students bring to the table each and every day – a literal pool of ideas. Finally, the ceiling portion will depict a parrot spreading its wings in flight against a cloudy blue sky. The soaring bird pulls the rest of the piece together and is emblematic of the unity we have in our small, yet growing, Hague School community. 

     Just like how “small classes spark BIG discussions” at THS, small donations truly make a BIG difference. As a school that is tiny by design, private, and new (only in its fifth year!), The Hague School would be incredibly appreciative for your help to enable us to continue our mission to educate and offer valuable opportunities for students like my classmates and me. We strive to share our community as much as possible, so please consider passing the word to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and more! Also, if you think you might be able to, please consider making a contribution or gift to this beautiful and impactful school. Thank you for your consideration and support of this school and its future. THS is a beacon of educational innovation and excellence, and I am excited to see what it will have in store for the years to come. 

This short, student-driven campaign is a fundraiser for Hampton Roads' only independent school offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. With class size capped at 14 students and the city of Norfolk as our campus, we use a discussion-based approach which pushes students to be highly engaged and deeply invested in their education. Visit The Hague School's website to learn more about our innovative approach to learning.

Here's what our students are saying about The Hague School: 

"This school helped me find my voice." 

"I feel a sense of belonging that I never felt at any other school."  

"The curriculum is rigorous, but it is internationally recognized, so it's worth it." 

Parents feel equally strong about THS' impact:

"The unique teaching methodology transformed our daughter into a confident, assertive leader." 

"THS was like a port in the storm for our son."

"Our child's academic focus and maturity level has changed dramatically since he started 9th grade at THS. He hadn't been someone who dedicated time to coursework. Now he strives for straight A's because he is engaged and wants to show up as a leader."

Students recruiting at Stockley Gardens Arts Festival  //  Budding scientists learning in our science laboratory

Academic Rigor + Strong Community = Impressive Results:

• 100% college acceptance / more than $1M in merit-based scholarships (and counting!) for the 24 total students from the Classes of 2023/2024 

• Class of 2023 graduates accepted to UVA, William & Mary, Virginia Tech, College of Charleston, Amsterdam University College, Mary Washington, Hampden-Sydney, George Mason, VCU, Old Dominion, Syracuse, Miami (OH), and James Madison.

• Students from the classes of 2023 and 2024 accepted into 5 different university Honors programs

• 15% of students receive financial aid / 20% come from military-affiliated families / 40% live outside Norfolk

The Hague School's inaugural graduating class, the Class of 2023

The Hague School Founding Principles:

Founded in 2019, at The Hague School we believe that secondary education should be focused on 21st-century skills: listening like leaders, thinking like scholars, and collaborating in the educational journey.  Small by design, The Hague School offers personalized instruction centered on the Harkness Method of instruction and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.  Students thrive under the expert leadership of lifelong educators who guide them on a journey of evidence-based inquiry, deep self-reflection, respectful discourse, and holding each other accountable for the group learning environment.

The Hague School's hallmark pedagogy, the Harkness Method, in action

A Global Focus with the City of Norfolk as Our Classroom:

The Hague School affords students unique cross-cultural and extracurricular learning opportunities, including international travel/exchange programs with our sister schools in Mexico and Denmark, Model United Nations events in the US and abroad, and interscholastic mock trial competitions.  Students also regularly conduct art classes at our Ghent neighbor the Chrysler Museum, recently interviewed for internships with 757 Startup Studios, participate in coastal restoration projects through the Elizabeth River Project and under the auspices of Norfolk Master Gardeners, develop original theater pieces under the tutelage of Generic Theater, and excel in interscholastic sailing competitions on local waterways.

THS students joined by students from Harkness Institute, our sister school in Mexico, on summer exchange cultural tour to Puebla, Mexico
THS students following successful performance at Harvard's 2023 Model United Nations competition in Boston

THS students departing for Denmark foreign exchange with Danish sister school Ikast Brande Gymnasium

The Hague School Difference: 

Since our inception, The Hague School has sought "high character, high potential" students, and has endeavored to ensure that no qualified student would be denied admission due to economic barriers. Helping us to achieve that objective is our comparably low tuition for this area market.  In 2023, we also established the Hague School Foundation to help administer and distribute donations to students with financial need.  The final component to our three-pronged approach to enabling all qualified students to attend our school is through our culture of philanthropy. This last ingredient is why we are asking for your help. In addition to funding our scholarship program, your unrestricted philanthropic contribution will go directly toward technology upgrades, educational programs, faculty professional development, financial aid, campus upkeep, and more.  

Chemistry students experimenting in our outdoor classroom

We need your help to keep it happening at The Hague School! 
Please consider making your gift today!