Hinsdale South Wins Top National Award

DARIEN, IL — Only one high school in the United States wins the Golden Psi Award annually from the American Psychological Association, and that honor goes to Hinsdale South this year. "We are immensely proud and excited about this recognition of our work," its principal, Arwen Pokorny Lyp, said in an email to Patch.

Hinsdale South received this award largely because of its ability to flexibly adapt to the needs of individual students, while maintaining high standards for all of them, according to a news release from the association. This is highlighted by the partnerships that the school has formed with organizations such as the Center for Childhood Resilience at Lurie Children’s Hospital Center and Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence.

Through its work with Lurie, Hinsdale South has successfully established trauma-informed practices across its entire building, the association said. Meanwhile, its efforts with Yale University have resulted in the effective integration of evidence-based social and emotional learning strategies into the school’s holistic curriculum, according to the release.

Hinsdale South was also cited for its work in the area of relationship mapping. To help ensure that students have at least one adult in the building they feel connected to, the school conducts a formal relationship mapping activity in November, when teachers review a list of every student and give a green indicator to those who would come to them if they had a problem, and a red indicator to those who may need extra support or intervention, the release said.

In addition, the association said, Hinsdale South was recognized for the efforts it has undertaken to close the gaps that exist between white students and students of color. In order to provide every student with access to a supportive and rigorous academic experience, the school has eliminated all lower track levels in their core classes, according to the release. It has implemented an interventionist support model to help meet every student where they are, and provide extra assistance to those who need it, the release said.