Enrichment

Science

Jeff Evans
Magician

May 7, 2026
Lower School Assembly

Lower School students experienced the science-filled magic of Jeff Evans! During his Science Magic assembly, students explored the fascinating properties of solids, liquids, and gases through engaging demonstrations and hands-on participation.

Jeff brought scientific concepts to life - like air pressure, static electricity, mass, and density - in exciting and memorable ways using plenty of magic along the way. The assembly sparked laughter, wonder, and learning as students discovered that science can be both educational and entertaining.

Music

Ashley Eriksson
Singer-Songwriter

April 21, 2026
Middle School Assembly

Ashley Eriksson is a Pacific Northwest-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and member of the band LAKE. She performed music for our Middle School students, including "Island Song," from Adventure Time, which many of our student recognized.

Ashley shared her creative process: how music is written and developed, how there's a connection between music, storytelling, and media, and also about the role of revision, persistence, and personal voice in artistic work.

Music

Bill Collins

March 24, 2026
Middle School Assembly

Bill Collins, husband of Katie Robinson Collins (and daughter of Hamlin Robinson), presented a mini lesson in bagpipe history and instrument how-to. A bagpipe musician for 30 years, Mr. Collins played several Scottish songs to give students a full experience of the instrument's potential. He also fielded student questions about types of bagpipes, length of practice, performing in parades, and more.

Hydroplane Racing

Brent Hall

February 12, 2026
Lower & Middle School Assembly

Brent Hall shared his life's journey as a young enthusiast in the motorsport of hydroplane racing to a competitor at Seafair. Highlighting racing equipment, safety protocols, speed, and perseverance in striving to make one's dreams come true, students held models, watched racing videos, and engaged in a lively Q&A.

Music

Seattle Kokon Taiko

January 28, 2026
Lower & Middle School Assembly 

January 28, 2026
Lower & Middle School Assembly

Seattle Kokon Taiko performed in assemblies for HRS Lower School and Middle School students. Introducing the fundamentals and history of taiko (Japanese drum playing), the incredible performances highlighted rhythm, movement, and spirit. Some HRS Middle School students were invited on stage to learn a few basics through hands on drumming. 

Writing & Illustration

Jessixa Bagley
Illustrator & Author

December 5, 2025
Lower School Assembly

Jessixa Bagley, author and illustrator of picture books and graphic novels, paid a visit to Lower School students! She shared readings from Daisy and Duel, as well as her journey to becoming an author and illustrator, her creative influences, and her workspace. She also demonstrated her illustration process—which delighted HRS students.

Writing

Kelcey Ervick
Author + Illustrator

October 22, 2024
Middle School Assembly

Kelcey Ervick, author of many books including the graphic novel The Keeper, visited the Middle School to discuss The Keeper, her life as a young soccer player, and the effect of Title IX on girls and women in sports. As an athlete, a writer, and an artist, she spoke to the interests of many middle school students in the room. She encouraged students to consider which of their own life experiences they could transform into art or action, as she did with her first-ever graphic novel.

Marine Biology

Donna Sandstrom
Author + Founder of the Whale Trail

November 22, 2024
Lower School Assembly

Donna Sandstrom was part of an incredible community effort in 2002 to return Springer, an orphaned orca whale, to her pod. The experience inspired her to found The Whale Trail, a series of sites to watch whales from shore. In 2021, she released her book Orca Rescue, which tells the amazing story of bringing Springer back to her pod. Lower School students were fascinated by Donna's story and inspired to do their part to protect the whales.

Music

Eleonora Karpukhova International Pianist

February 3, 2025
Middle School Assembly

Eleonora Karpukhova is an Associate Professor at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. She was born in Kazan (Russia) and began her musical studies at the age of 5. She is the winner of numerous international piano competitions and regularly performs in France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Austria, Chile, Brazil, Portugal, and the U.S. Middle School students heard five pieces, presented flowers in appreciation, and learned from a Q&A session.

Performance

Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lio Dance

February 7, 2025
Lower School Assembly

The Mak Fai Kung Fu Lion Dance group visited Lower School assembly and delighted students with a dance and drumming performance, as well as time for Q&A. Mak Fai specializes in the Hung Sing Choy Lay Fut style Kung Fu and Southern style lion dancing. Students also spent time in class learning about Lunar New Year traditions, including zodiac symbols.

Writing + Illustration

Kazu Kibuishi
Author + Illustrator

February 27, 2025
Lower + Middle School Assembly

Kazu Kibuishi, author and illustrator of the Amulet series, paid a visit to some thrilled Lower and Middle Schoolers! HRS is full of Amulet fans - the series is one of the most frequently checked-out at the library. Students learned about his path to becoming a graphic novelist, got inspired hearing about his creative process, and enjoyed a live drawing demo while he answered their questions.

Athletics

Jewell Loyd
WNBA Player

October 30, 2023
Lower School and Middle School
Assembly

Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm Guard, is a two-time WNBA Champion, two-time All-WNBA selection, and five-time All-Star. She visited HRS students to share her personal journey with dyslexia. Loyd prefers to view her learning difference as an asset, allowing her to look for unconventional solutions both on and off the court. Her visit was highlighted by a basketball skills competition with students and plenty of time for Q&A.

Law

Michael Fox
Retired Judge

October 11, 2023
Level 7 Social Studies Classes

Michael Fox, a retired King County Superior Court judge, shared his professional experiences. As a lawyer in the early 1970s, he became involved in the struggle for farmworkers' rights in Eastern Washington. His work for the the UFW continued until 1988, when he became a King County Superior Court Judge. On the bench, Fox called attention to the unequal treatment of minorities in the legal system, particularly related to drug-related offenses and sentencing.

Writing

Polly Holyoke
Author

October 9, 2023

Polly Holyoke is the author of the award-winning Neptune Trilogy (Disney/Hyperion) and Skyriders (Viking Children’s Books). She grew up in Colorado and wrote her first book with her best friend in fifth grade. A former seventh grade teacher, Polly has visited over 300 schools and loves getting students excited about writing. She encouraged HRS students to spend time reading, writing, staying unpluged from electronic gadgets and daydreaming!

Product Design

Zac West
Ideology

January 18, 2024
Level 6 + 7 Students

Zac West is CEO and Creative Lead at Ideology, an advanced research and design studio based in Seattle. Zac talked with HRS Middle School students about the design process for envisioning, building, and testing design prototypes for products that enhance human experiences and capabilities. Zac emphasized the importance of design team members who think outside the box, including those with dyslexia.

Writing

Julia Kuo
Author + Illustrador

January 24, 2024
Lower School Assemblies

Julia Kuo is the author and illustrator of Let’s Do Everything and Nothing and Luminous: Living Things that Light Up the Night. She is the illustrator of many picture and specialty books including the bestselling book RISE. Julia shared her creative process with students, moving from photos and experiences to final book illustrations. She then walked them through their own development of an illustration.

Illustration

Emma Steinkelner
Author + Illustrator

February 29, 2024
Middle School Assemblies

Emma Steinkellner is the author and illustrator of the middle grade graphic novel The Okay Witch. Working in print and webcomics, Emma has also illustrated projects  including the teen rom-com webcomic Aces and the Eisner-nominated superhero coming-of-age story Quince. She shared her creative process with students and answered questions about how to build a career in writing and illustration.

Writing

Brooke Anderson- Collie | Author
September 30, 2022

Brooke Anderson-Collie is a professional School Counselor, educator, wife and life enthusiast.  After earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL, Brooke went on to obtain her master’s degree in School Counseling from Southern University, TN.  

Brooke is an alumna of Hamlin Robinson School. With personal experience navigating her dyslexia, Brooke's book highlights a positive way of looking at learning differences. 

Sculpture

Richard Rhodes | Sculptor,
Stonemason, Scholar
October 13, 2022

A Seattle, Washington-based sculptor, stonemason, entrepreneur, and scholar of stonework world-wide, Richard Rhodes apprenticed as a stonemason in Siena, Italy after graduate studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. As the first non-Italian admitted into Siena’s ancient masonic guild in 726 years (operative branch of the Freemason’s, heirs to the cathedral builders of Europe), he is known throughout the sculpture and stone community as the “last apprentice.” Though now branching into other media such as cast bronze, Rhodes credits his guild training as the major influence in his sculptural practice.

Theatre

Seattle Shakespeare Company
April 2023 (multiple dates)

Seattle Shakespeare Company is the Puget Sound region’s year-round, professional, classical theatre. The company’s growing success stems from a deep belief in the power and vibrancy of the time-tested words and ideas of Shakespeare and other classical playwrights along with a commitment to artistic excellence on stage. The results have been provocative performances that both challenge and delight audiences while fostering an appreciation for great stage works.

Science

Science on Wheels - Pacific
Science Center
April 27, 2023

Science on Wheels travels across the Pacific Northwest to build excitement for science, math, and engineering through engaging, interactive learning experiences.

Middle school students took part in interactive classroom programs and a whole school assembly from the Space Odyssey program.

Writing and Illustration

Martha Brockenbrough | Author
Julia Kuo | Illustrador

December 14, 2021

Martha Brockenbrough (rhymes with broken toe) is the author of two books for adults and numerous books for young readers (with several others on the way), including YA fiction and nonfiction, picture books, and a forthcoming chapter book series. A faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, she's also the founder of National Grammar Day (every March 4), and she's written game questions for Cranium and Trivial Pursuit.

Julia Kuo is a Taiwanese-American illustrator based out of Seattle. She has taught illustration courses at Columbia College Chicago and at her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis. Julia was the visual arm of Chicago’s 2017 March for Science and has had the honor of being an artist-in-residence at Banff Centre for the Arts in 2014 and in 2017. She is currently the recipient of a 2019-2021 Gray Center Mellon Collaborative Fellowship at the University of Chicago.

Poetry

Janet Wong | Author, Poet, Publisher

March 28, 2022

Janet Wong, celebrated author and winner of the 2021 NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award, met with lower and intermediate students at Hamlin Robinson School on Monday, March 28. She shared a selection of her works encompassing expression, movement, and more – perfectly timed with the levels’ annual poetry unit. 

Janet started her career as a lawyer, transitioning to a writer, and even has her own publishing company. She speaks to students all over the world and shares her written work in ways that connect with students at their level. 

“I love to share the story of my transition from lawyer to author to publisher. I’m told that my keynotes, assemblies, and workshops are inspiring, which warms my heart. It is my hope that you will hear my stories and get going to make your own dreams happen for you.”  

Performance Arts

Lida Winfield | Dance
January 30, 2020

Lida Winfield is a professor of dance at Middlebury College. She is an innovative and accomplished dancer, choreographer, spoken word artist and educator. She creates original solo, duet and group work; merging storytelling, dance and visual art. She was able to visit our school as a part of the Joan Beauregard Endowment for Discovery and Enrichment, spending the entire day with our students and faculty. After sharing her story, she guided workshops with some of our middle school students and teachers.

Entertainment

John Curley | Filmmaker
December 17, 2019

John Curley is a Seattle radio and television institution. He was the former host of King 5 TV's Evening Magazine, the highest-rated regionally produced TV show in the country, for 15 years. He has been honored with numerous regional Emmy Awards and the Edward R. Morrow Award for excellence in Journalism. John also struggled with Dyslexia and has a passion to help youth come to terms with their learning differences and using them as an asset in life. John shared his story with our students to inspire them.

Music

Kate Kayaian
Cellist
October 26, 2018

Renowned cellist and Director of Chamber Music for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, Kate Kayaian came to HRS to perform for students and share her story as a person with dyslexia. Students were encouraged to engage their imaginations while listening to music from many different periods and styles.

Film

Krista Weltne
Filmmaker
November 30, 2018

Award-winning filmmaker Krista Weltner showed her stop-motion film, "Partially Compensated," inspired by her own experience with dyslexia. Through the course of the film, Violet must learn to embrace her differences and so doing finds that there are advantages to thinking differently. Krista is also an aspiring author, illustrator, and artist.

Architecture

John Savo
Architect
February 8, 2019

John Savo and his architectural firm designed the famous Amazon Spheres, conservatories that serve as an employee lounge and workspace. The domes house 40,000 plants, along with meeting and retail space. Savo shared the story of the Spheres from the initial design process to their construction on the Amazon campus. A weekend tour for HRS families followed.

Theater

The Odyssey
Book-It Repertory Theater
March 20, 2019

Book-It Repertory Theater performed The Odyssey for the Middle School, to connect their knowledge of Ancient Greece to the larger literary experiences in different cultures. Book-It is widely respected for the consistent artistic excellence of its work.

Film

Johnathon Schaech
Actor
March 22, 2019

Actor Johnathon Schaech visited HRS from Los Angeles to meet students and see our school. Johnathon has been in more than 100 films and TV shows and, as an actor with dyslexia, is on the board of NoticeAbility, a Harvard University accredited nonprofit dedicated to helping students with brain-based differences identify their unique strengths and build their self-esteem.

Theater

New Shoes
Book-It Repertory Theater
March 27, 2019

Book-It Theater performed New Shoes for the Lower School, a story about a young African-American girl in the Jim Crow-era south. This story reminds us, when students are free to be themselves, they will be accepted. Book-It is widely respected for the consistent artistic excellence of its work.