Programs continue at Sage Hill

In less than a two-hour span, Sage Hill School students showed the school’s new head, Judith Glickman, why she accepted the position.

When the ninth-grade students from the Newport Coast high school visit Killybrooke Elementary School in Costa Mesa once a month to tutor fourth-graders, there is little the teachers have to do, Glickman said.

“It gave me a very clear sense of how the independent thought and sound preparation at Sage Hill allows them to be comfortable to lead and direct the learning of some young people,” Glickman said. “Most importantly to me was how much they valued the experience. I sat there and literally watched as the students and tutors ‘chose each other.’”

As if by a sixth sense, described Glickman, the fourth- and ninth-graders always matched in demeanor, learning habits and communication. Learning was uninterrupted for nearly two hours, she said.

“What I plan to do in my first semester is immerse myself in the school and the community, like the service learning program that is quite active,” she said.

Once a month, every student at Sage Hill School, from ninth to 12th grade, goes to an elementary school to work with kids.

The program gained momentum under Interim Head of School Jacqueline Smethurst.

Smethurst’s mission was having advantaged Sage Hill School share resources, be it knowledge or time with under-privileged schools in Costa Mesa and Santa Ana.

Sage Hill School students tutor kids at Killybrooke, Wilson Elementary School and El Sol Charter School in Santa Ana.

Glickman said the strong relationship between faculty and students, intellectual curiosity, interest in citizenry and service learning prevalent at Sage Hill is a foundation for international outreach.

She was inspired by summer trips to Peru and India, and her time educating in London, she said.

“Having lived overseas, we can make this global. Our students can experience other cultures, language-immersion programs and cultural exchange programs. It will fit so beautifully into taking a leap,” Glickman said.

“It is a very realistic goal because the value system is here. The programs you need in place to broaden, it’s all here.”

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.