Hilltop Montessori School's mission is for students to practice responsible independence in a caring community of curious, critical learners and thoughtful citizens.

Friday Newsletter December 21, 2018

Winter Break, December 24 - Jan 4 Students return Monday, January 7

For your viewing enjoyment over the break, here is a compilation of some awesome dances by the Lower El and Upper El P.E. classes:

Notes from the Head of School

Dear Families, We hope you have a wonderful winter break. As we think about the new year that is just around the corner, please note a few upcoming dates: RETURN TO SCHOOL on MONDAY, January 7th (Not the traditional Tuesday return) Financial Aid Applications Due in to SSS by January 15th! Progress Reports to families of Elementary and MS students at the end of January Curriculum Morning - Saturday, February 9th (9 a.m. - Noon) Re-Enrollment for next year is just around the corner! New contracts will be out by February 1.  We are working on materials that will better explain how state funding and school tuition reductions help to set the amount of tuition that families pay for Hilltop Montessori School. We are also adjusting the schedule for Financial Aid/Indexed Tuition notification: January 15 - Applications Due to SSS February 1 - Re-enrollment contracts out to all current families with the Notification of Indexed Tuition level (Financial Aid answer) when applicable February 15th - Re-enrollment Contracts due back with Indexed Tuition acceptance Enjoy the two weeks with your children! Happy Holidays, Tamara

Notes from the Board

The Board of Trustees met this week, for our final meeting of 2018. Among the highlights: Solomon Ponzio and Ben Berg from the Middle School presented about the MS micro-economies. We were so impressed by the composure, enthusiasm and articulate expression of these Middle Schoolers! Thank you! The Board continues to engage in deep discussion about equity and diversity, both as the indexed tuition conversation continues and as we start looking for new Board members to join for next year. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please contact Tamara, Alix, or Kim Lier. Kegan presented an updated draft of the Facilities Use Agreement to the Board, which incorporates some revisions to both ensure that Hilltop is implementing its rental use policies in a way that is compliant with federal and state law AND to provide more equitable access for our community through an indexed pricing structure. We are really impressed with the thoughtfulness and clarity that Kegan has brought to this important legal document for the school. In addition to affirming the practices which Hilltop already has in place, Kegan expressed how Hilltop’s practice of accessibility has had an impact on people and groups in our community, furthering our strategic vision of diversity and equity. Thank you, Kegan! As we head into the winter holiday break, we want to wish everybody a safe, warm happy time with your families! See you next year! In your service, Vanessa & Alix

Toddler Room

Children's House

Thank you for joining us at the work share!

Lower Elementary

Thank you for joining us at the poetry reading!

Upper Elementary

Thank you for joining us at the museum and for gift making!

Middle School

Humanities Jeopardy with the help of a few alum

A graphic novel tells of family history. Culinary explication of an immigration story

Ana builds a story house of her family immigration story. A project film helping to remind us of how to wash dishes

Humanities Jeopardy with the help of a few alum

Hilltop Helpers

THANK YOU to everybody who donated cookies and items for the raffle! We are so grateful for this generous, artistic and creative community!

BIG THANKS to Brattleboro Tire for donating our Hilltop van's winter snow tires and for rotating them each year!

Community

Missing: Star Wars Darth Vader umbrella from the Children's House. If you picked this up by accident, please return it to the front desk!

Congratulations Adrienne, Natalia and Ben and welcome baby Shiloh!!!

To be held at Hilltop: Study Group 2019 - Rural Racial Justice Organizing Are you are interested in . . . Learning about racial justice organizing in small towns and rural areas? Connecting with others who are also invested in this work? Taking collective action for racial justice? If so, please consider joining Lost River Racial Justice (LRRJ) and Green Mountain Crossroads (GMC) for the 4th Annual Rural Racial Justice Organizing Study Group in 2019! Click here for more information and to register and apply! Applications are due by Sunday, January 6th.

Please click here to register for the Sound Playshop.