Letter from the Head of School

It is with great excitement that I welcome you to Haile-Manas Academy. We opened our doors for our inaugural class of 35 promising 9th graders, the Class of 2024, on our newly constructed campus on January 11, 2021.  This talented group of young men and women are the founding members of a world-class institution.  

As a residential school, HMA is committed to creating a community of learners where meaningful relationships with fellow students and faculty will be formed and nurtured. We know that living and working alongside a diverse student and faculty population allows us to see multiple perspectives, value differences, and appreciate what is truly universal. We are a student body recruited from across Ethiopia and we form an inclusive community committed to working together in service of our world. Every student is celebrated for what he or she uniquely contributes to the school, challenged to consider alternate world views, and ultimately prepared for a global future. 

The result of forming trusting relationships as a school is the most rigorous and engaged classrooms one can experience. Many of our science classes take place in a state-of-the-art Q&A Lab where students test their understanding of the natural world through hands-on labs and design projects. Humanities classes are thoughtful discussions led by brilliant minds where students vigorously interrogate texts as a group. Because students feel secure in their place in the community, they use their deep content knowledge to address issues of real world significance. Students engage in projects of their choice supported by faculty who are experts in their fields, and present their work to their classmates. Learning at HMA is an iterative, active process, bolstered by the joy of discovery and meaningful work.

Whether you are a parent, live in the area, or are just interested in the great work youth can do, I hope you are able to see our students’ work. We accept the challenge of bringing positive change to our communities-local, national, continental and global - and we will start the moment we are enlivened by our students’ presence.

-Kari Ostrem