HMS School marked its 125th anniversary during the 2007-2008 school year. We celebrated the vision of Helen Innes, who founded HMS in 1882, and all that HMS has achieved through the decades. It was a busy and exciting year. Anniversary events encompassed diverse audiences and venues.

We kicked off festivities with an outdoor party for our University City neighbors.

HMS students performed at Walnut Street Theatre as part of Independence Starts Here: A Festival of Disabilities Arts and Culture.

Students made 125 valentines and a small group personally presented them to veterans living at the VA Medical Center Nursing Home.

HMS mounted an exhibit of student artwork in Philadelphia City Hall as part of the Art in City Hall program. The show included work by every student and opened with a festive reception, including remarks by Mayor Michael Nutter.

We hosted a conference for educators, health professionals, parents and caregivers that presented two days of interactive workshops, “Putting the Pieces Together: Empowering Children with Complex Medical and Educational Needs.” Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy was keynote speaker.

HMS’s annual Art Show opening kicked up a notch for our anniversary year. The late Anne d’Harnoncourt, then Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, visited with students and helped to judge the show.

Something Magical, the enduring HMS/Germantown Friends School collaboration, marked its 25th anniversary.

We ended the year with a birthday bash for the extended HMS family—former and current students and staff, administrators, board members and their families.

Happy Birthday HMS and many more to come!