Lower Elementary

Winter Break Extended

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New Winter Break Dates

12/21/20 – 1/8/21

Last day of school Friday, December 18

Students return on Monday, January 11

The main considerations for these changes are needing to:

  • Allow for safe quarantine time after possible increased travel/visitors/socializing over winter break
  • Close the campus for the final HVAC updates (testing and balancing)

However, we still need everyone to continue to make safe choices that are protective of our staff and families well-being and support continuing in-person instruction.

By extending our December/January Break by one week, families and staff will be able to quarantine after possible holiday travel or visitors in late December without missing school. We do not believe it is realistic or productive for us to police our community around travel and visitors. Please note that November break does not allow for this quarantining time, and risky behavior would require missing school to quarantine.  

We need to have the campus closed to accommodate ARC Mechanical doing final HVAC work safely without mixing with students/staff. They have been able to accommodate us by scheduling the work during this closure time.

We want to make sure staff are able to enjoy a full break as well as getting proper planning time before the Spring Semester. The week of January 4th – 8th will include inservice days for all staff.

There is no scenario in which we are able to meet the needs of every individual in our community. We have attempted to meet the needs of the greatest number of people as possible, while also being able to accommodate for adequate teacher planning and contractor time, as well as keeping our top priority the health and safety of all.

For a visual summary of the new schedule, please refer to the School Website Calendar.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Tamara or Zoe.

Oct 21-23, October Parent Conferences

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It is already time for parent teacher conferences! October conferences are for all families, new and returning, from the Toddler Program through Middle School.

Conferences will, like most things these days, happen over Zoom. Families will have received sign ups this week, and Zoom invitations will follow next week from your student’s teachers.

  • There will be a half day on Thursday, October 22, and no school on Friday, October 23, to accommodate for conferences. 
  • No childcare will be available this year, so please plan accordingly.
  • Lower Elementary families please note that LE will hold their conferences on Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22. 
  • If siblings are in the same classroom, you should have received this email yesterday for the opportunity to sign up for a double slot. 

If you have and questions, or any difficulty with your sign up, please contact Zoe at the Front Desk. 

Sept 21 – Sept 25: September Parent Meetings

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This is an evening meeting for all new and returning parents to learn about the upcoming year’s curriculum, program, expectations of students, and ways to be involved in your child’s education. This year, as with all of our community events, these meetings will be held over Zoom. With each program meeting taking place on a different day, we are hoping that families with multiple children will be able to attend each of their children’s meetings. We strongly encourage all families to attend. This is an important opportunity to learn about your child’s classroom, “see” and meet other parents in the program, and hear about what this year will be like for them.

HMS Re-Entry Plan Updates

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Dear Hilltop Families,
The classrooms, indoors and outdoors, are coming into being in their new distanced forms. Teachers have been very busy! And, as we gear up to start our daily health checks during next week’s orientation, we wanted to remind you of a few things. Firstly, we are being very cautious and careful as we get together in-person. We need to do everything we can to protect individuals within our community and our community as a whole. Please share our cautiousness with us by: 

  • keeping your child home if there is any chance of exposure or risk of sharing illness
  • answering all of the health questions truthfully and with the safety of the community in mind

We have also updated our HMS Re-Entry Plan (Updated 8/27/20) to align with new and changing Vermont State guidelines. We strongly encourage you to read through the plan thoroughly before coming to school for Orientation or for the first day of instruction on Tuesday, September 8th. You will note that all new information is in green. Taken from the plan, here are six key details to be sure to note as we being the year:

  1. We have plans for every stage of re-entry and are in a great position to meet in person, on campus, every day of the week, even if the State mandates we decrease group size down to as few as 15 people in a group.
  2. With every phase of this plan, Wednesday will be a half day for all students, a planning/meeting afternoon for teachers, and a deep cleaning day for facilities’ staff.
  3. Drop-off and pick-up procedure will require staggered timing and places, so check your children’s drop-off and pick-up times and procedures carefully.
  4. In accordance with the State guidelines, parents, guardians, and caretakers may not enter school buildings during any stage. 
  5. BeforeCare and AfterCare are available if the mixing of groups can allow for pods of 75 or more people, but not for the smaller groupings.
  6. All students must be in compliance with the State of Vermont Travel Restrictions in order to attend school.

Lastly, though certainly not least important, also ask that you please sign the HMS Shared Responsibility Agreement and hand them in to teachers during your student health check whenever your child first comes to school, during Orientation Week (full schedule here) or on Tuesday, September 8th. Students will not be let out of vehicles without a signed copy of the Agreement. 
If you have any questions regarding the HMS Re-Entry Plan or our Covid procedures, please feel free to reach out to Zoe Proctor, HMS’ Covid Coordinator.

Re-Entry Plans: Fall 2020

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Dear Families,


I hope this letter finds you able to enjoy the summer, despite the uncertainty and ominous news from other parts of the country. We, as a school, have been working hard to develop our plan for Re-Entry in September. Here is Hilltop Montessori School’s Re-Entry Plan for the Fall of 2020. I have great appreciation for the staff, teachers, Board members, and parents who offered and helped to develop this plan. It is nimble and able to adjust to changing situations. 


Many families have contacted me, Lauren, and Barb in the Business Office, in the recent weeks to discuss their particular circumstances and considerations. We welcome this communication!


In a typical year, re-enrollment deposits are made in February, and the first May tuition payment from each family is the final commitment for the enrollment and tuition for the full year ahead. This year we offered families the option to delay the first payment until July. We also offered COVID Hardship Requests, and about a dozen families have applied for and received those. 


At this point, almost all families have made their first tuition payments in TADS, and we are assuming you are on board for the year. We are making staffing and facilities decisions based on this level of enrollment. We are committed to being here in person if at all possible. Our teachers and staff are under contract and lined up to serve your children. We hope that this grace period, as well as the plan enclosed, have given you the time and information you need to feel confident in your decision to enroll your children in Hilltop programming during this uncertain time.


The year ahead will require a strong partnership between families and the school. Please read through the attached document carefully and thoughtfully to begin that shared commitment, and set both ourselves and our children up for a safe and successful year ahead. If you have any questions about the plan generally, or about your particular family circumstances, PLEASE reach out to us. 


So, have a good read, and know that we have planned for what we can predict might happen, and will be poised to respond to the unexpected too.
Stay well,

Tamara

Open House Wednesday, January 31, 2018 from 9 -11am A Look at the Montessori Environment and Experience

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Current and prospective parents are invited to join us as we observe the classrooms in action and talk with students, current parents and teachers about the programs, the school and the Montessori method of learning.

This is a great first step to learning about the school and hearing from our program directors and students.

The event is designed for parents and interested adults. RSVP at 802-257-0500 or [email protected]

Cancellations will be posted on our website if we need to cancel due to weather conditions at www.hilltopmontessori.org or at the WKVT or WTSA radio websites.

 

October 12, 2017 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Montessori Outcomes, Discussion with HMS Alumni

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High School students, college students and young professionals who attended Hilltop Montessori School, for middle school or starting in pre-school, return to share their Hilltop experiences. How did their education at HMS prepare them for their subsequent education and for life? Parents of our current students as well as prospective parents are encouraged to attend this event. Faculty will also be in attendance.

OPEN HOUSE Dec 6 for Prospective Families Tuesday, 9 – 11 am

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Open House Schedule

9am –  Welcome
9:15 – Tour and observations
10 -10:30 –  meet with program director for discussion and Q&A
10:30 – 11:00 wrap up session with representative students, Head of School and Admissions Director

Reservations are not necessary for Open Houses, but please be sure to sign in when you arrive. We welcome parents interested in the school, for their toddlers through middle school (students interested in middle school may also attend the open house).