Thank you to all the families who helped out at the Community Work Parties!


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August 28, 2015

 
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Coming Up at Hilltop
Notes from the Head of School
Changes at the Front Desk
Important Dates
All School Community Picnic
Community News
Next Week at Hilltop

MONDAY 8/31
Elementary & MS Conferences

TP/CH Visiting Day for New & Returning Students

LE Visiting Day for New Students

TP Parent Orientation, 
 3-4PM

CH Parent Orientation, 4-5PM

TUESDAY 9/1

First day of school!

Tuesday-Thursday, TP and CH are on Orientation Schedule. See the Hilltop calendar or Summer Letters for details

FRIDAY 9/4
 
TP and CH regular Schedule starts

Community Picnic at Ware's Grove Beach, 4:30-7PM

Check out the 2015-16 School Calendar here.
Notes from the Head of School

The teachers and staff of Hilltop Montessori School are spectacular! It has been wonderful for us all to be back together this week again preparing the school for your children, and engaging in Professional Development. In other years, we have had an expert from the outside come in to educate and inspire us in a new way. This year, we decided to capitalize on all the knowledge, skills, experience, and inspiration that we have right here amongst our staff. Staff were asked to give a 15 minute presentation sharing some sort of Professional Development that they had done over the past year, a conference, a training class, a great book . . . 

WOW! We were blown away. We all wanted to be sitting in classrooms with these teachers. Highlights included:

- Kerstin and Jen demonstrating how Lucy Calkins had taught them to inspire young writers. 
 
- Cheryl showing how to do simple woodworking and felting projects to busy little hands and calm young minds.
 
- Paul and Finn demonstrating their excitement for literature and amazing ability to engage an audience as they talk about books. Finn discussed "H is for Hawk" by Helen Macdonald and what it tells us about the art of observation, while Paul engaged us with a discussion about Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman" and if a story really is always what it seems.
 
- Wendy sharing reading tips she had received from the "rock stars" of the Learning Specialist world who had presented at a conference she attended.

- Tom having us wonder, what are the three lessons that we each give over and over in different forms, because they are our mantras . . . 

We were all struck by the brilliance and dedication of our fellow Hilltop staff, and by the wonder that they create with their lessons and style.




Changes at the Front Desk

We are excited to welcome Rebecca Fontaine to the front desk, and we wish Sarah Freeman the best of luck at her new position at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center! Rebecca has been a Hilltop Parent for the past five years and is excited to join the Hilltop Community! 
Important Dates
Monday, August 31: Toddler Program Orientation for Parents 3-4pm, Children's House Orientation for Parents 4-5pm
(Because students are becoming acclimated to the school, we will not be having childcare, sorry for the inconvenience)

Tuesday, September 1: First Day of School- Orientation for Toddler Program and Children's House

Friday, September 4: Back to School Picnic- 4:30-7pm at Spofford Lake

Monday, September 7: Labor Day- NO SCHOOL

Thursday, September 17: Parent Orientation
Toddler Program, LE and MS: 6-7PM
Children's House: and UE 7-8PM
This is an evening meeting for parents to learn about the upcoming year's curriculum, program, expectations for students, and ways to be involved in your child's education.  Childcare will be provided. Please sign up for childcare at the front desk.

All School Community Picnic
Don't put away those beach towels and swimsuits yet! The HMS Board of Trustees would like to invite you to the Back to School Beach Bash Potluck at the lovely Ware's Beach in Chesterfield, NH! 

Friday September 4th, from 4:30-7pm.

The Board is providing the grillable items - hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie alternatives and buns. 

Toddler and Children's House Families: We ask that you bring a salad or side dish of your choosing.

Lower and Upper Elementary Families: You're on desserts.

Middle School: Please bring lemonade, iced tea or other non-alcoholic beverages to share.

The school will provide the condiments, plates, utensils and cups.

Hilltop will be hiring a lifeguard, but we ask parents to keep a sharp eye on swimming children.

Kowabunga! See you there!
Thank you!
Hilltop would like to send a warm "Thank You" out to alum parent and former front desk chief Ann Brehm for her donation of tools that now live in our garage/shop. They are a welcome shot in the arm to our practical life and art programs, theater productions and as well as the Middle School's micro-enterprises. They also make Ben Boyarko's job as campus handyman much easier. 
Thank you, Ann!!



Community News

House Rental in Brattleboro- 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house on a quiet neighborhood street, close to downtown. Office space or could be used as a fourth bedroom. Washer/Dryer and dishwasher. Off street parking, screened in porch, and large yard! Utilities not included. No pets or smoking. November 1st. $1550/mo. Interested parties, please email Adam Hubbard.


Brattleboro Woman's Chorus
In honor of 20 years of singing, the Brattleboro Women's Chorus has various celebratory events planned from now until May, beginning with the fall session of Chorus on September 2 and 3. New and former singers are encouraged to join and sing many of the most loved songs from past years.
There are two rehearsal times and places - either Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30 (new time) at All Souls Church in W. Brattleboro, or Thursday mornings from 10am until noon at Centre Congregational Church on Main Street in Brattleboro. Singers are welcome to go to either or both. 
The session will culminate in a concert the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 21 and 22. Though some singers choose only to sing at the weekly rehearsals and not perform, everyone is welcome at the big CD release party following the final concert.
As has been true for the past 19 years, there are no auditions or music-reading requirements. Most of the music is taught by ear by founder/conductor Becky Graber, making the joy of singing truly available to all women and girls over the age of 10. 
Financial aid is available, and there are reduced rates for family pairs and for students. And for anyone interested in trying out chorus without obligation, there are open rehearsals the first night and morning. 
More info can be found on the website,  www.BrattleboroWomensChorus.org or by calling (802) 254-8994.
Hilltop Montessori School