After their first semester at Greenhill, Upper School Dean of Students George Heinrichs and Upper School Student Activities Administrator Kira Rivera have settled into their roles, bringing innovative changes and adapting to community feedback.   

Rivera, known for her energetic approach to student events, has focused on refining activities like the Homecoming and Winter Formals.    

“It has been cool to try new things and make each time a little bit better,” Rivera said.   

Her work with the Student Council, particularly on event logistics, has been oriented around creating more engaging and smoothly run events. This includes restructuring and simplifying the registration process for dances in order to be responsive to student feedback.   

“It has been so cool to watch the Student Council fully plan the Winter Formal,” Rivera said. “I ask, ‘what do you want at the party?’ and then they come up with the ideas.”   

Rivera says she is looking forward to further enhancements to student life in the Upper School, including a club showcase to highlight student achievements and provide clubs with a platform for greater visibility and support.   

“I know that clubs are doing really cool things, so it would be cool to see at the end of the semester what each club has been up to,” Rivera said. 

Heinrichs has concentrated on ensuring the consistency and clarity of existing policies, particularly around attendance.   

“Most of what I have been doing is around the communication and consistency of policies that already existed,” Heinrichs said.    

Heinrichs says his approach aims to align students and faculty with the school’s expectations, emphasizing fair and equitable policy enforcement.   

One significant challenge Heinrichs says he faced was adapting to the community’s longstanding but unwritten rules.    

“It is always hard to get to know a new community,” Heinrichs said. “You need to know what to even be curious about since there are things that are not necessarily written down, because it is so well known within the community.”   

His focus remains on facilitating a supportive environment where discipline is a part of general student support.    

“I hope that, over time, students understand that coming to my office is not about being in trouble,” Heinrichs said. “It is about bettering a student’s life, and that I am a resource for that, and that it is either I can help you or I can help you find the resources that can help you.” 

Both Rivera and Heinrichs say they are committed to their roles not just as administrators but as facilitators aiming to create an environment where students not only succeed academically but also thrive in their extracurricular activities.