Hilltown supports the sense of school community by holding a
weekly gathering of all the classrooms. This varies from week
to week and involves some combination of singing, sharing of
something learned during the week and museum visits to other
classrooms. Parents and families are encouraged to attend. Historically
it has taken place on Fridays at 8:45am.
“Il Teatro”
Several times a year, students are encouraged to share music
or poems that they write or love, skits or other self-initiated
creative performances with the entire student body. These productions
are rehearsed outside of school hours and the performances are
greatly anticipated within all of the classes. Parents are invited
to attend, or participate with their children. Dates that proposals
for performances are due, screening schedules and performance
times are distributed through the parent mailboxes.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special occasions for young children and are
celebrated by the whole community with a song at the “All-School”
closest to the actual day. Summer birthdays are celebrated
during the month of June. Some classes permit a birthday child
to bring in a special snack to share with the class. Check
this policy with your child’s teacher.
Birthday parties, of course, are usually limited in size and
cannot include all of the children in the school. In order
to prevent hurt feelings, the distribution of invitations
is not permitted at school, either in person or in the parent
mailboxes. Please also be careful when arranging transportation
to an after-school party. A group of excited children leaving
together can easily make others feel left out.
Holidays
Hilltown holds special school-wide celebrations at the beginning
and the end of each school year and at the beginning of our
winter break. Other than these, the school does not celebrate
holidays in any formal way, although discussion of special
family traditions in class is encouraged. Some classes may
share valentine’s cards or dress up at Halloween, but
each teacher makes these decisions independently. Check with
your child’s teacher.
Special Events
School-wide events that include whole families are one of
the ways that our community grows and stays strong. They are
a great opportunity to make connections with other parents
and get involved in the school community.
Community events of all sorts are scheduled at least once
each month. Look for: Classroom orientation meetings, potlucks,
fundraising parties, evening workshops, class and all-school
performances and the coop meetings.
At after-hours school events, the school’s basic policies
regarding student behavior: no running, shouting, climbing
or going outdoors without an adult remain in effect. Parents
are responsible for supervising their children at all times.
Staff members are not on-duty after hours. In the event that
students’ behaviors become dangerous or distracting during
an event, the activity will be stopped and parents will be
asked to re-establish order before it resumes.
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