Please select an item below to view the frequently asked questions for that division.

 

To enter our Preschool program, students must be at least 2 ½ years old and fully toilet-trained. Children entering Pre-Kindergarten must be four years old by October 1, 2010 and are generally expected to enter the program with previous school experience.

The minimum schedule for a Preschool student is three half-days, which are typically mornings (8:30 – 11:30).  In certain circumstances, we may allow a half-day afternoon schedule (12:30 – 3:30). Students may be registered for any schedule beyond the minimum up to five full days. Pre-Kindergarten students must attend all five morning sessions and can also extend their schedule up to five full days.

In Preschool, due to the varied schedules, the student/teacher ratio ranges from 6:1 to a maximum of 10:1.  For Pre-Kindergarten, the student/teacher ratio is 12:1.

The Preschool class is designed as a child's first school experience. Their classroom day is divided among opportunities to choose an activity to work on and organized group activities such as circle time. Students work on thematic projects and early learning skills (math, language arts) by working in a small group directly with a teacher.

 

The Pre-Kindergarten program is designed to be a more structured Kindergarten readiness program. Students work on their early learning skills such as phonics, math and numeric skills, handwriting and fine motor skills through teacher-directed class activities. The teaching and reinforcement of these skills continue to be developed in a small group setting.

In addition to the highly educational focus of the classroom and because Hilltop is an elementary school, serving students through Grade Eight, our Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten students get to utilize other resources within the school. Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten have Physical Education classes with our Physical Education teacher, Art and Art Appreciation classes with our Art teacher, and Music classes with the school's two Music teachers. In addition, our Lower School French teacher works with the students in their classrooms, and both Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten children enjoy going to the library for story time with our school librarian. (Children that attend less than full-time are not guaranteed all specials.)

 

In addition, our younger students also enjoy interacting with our older students during such special supervised activities, such as Read Across America, multi-grade level assemblies, and the school-wide Monday Morning Meeting.

In addition to the weekly informational sheets sent home by the classroom teachers, below are some of the other ways that the school keeps parents up-to-date on their child's latest activities:

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten issue written progress reports at the end of each trimester. Conferences are held three times per year midway through each trimester. In addition, Pre-K sends home a brief report at the end of each week. At the request of either the parents or the teacher, supplemental conferences can be held at any time during the year. Parents are always welcome to speak with the Assistant Headmaster concerning any issue related to school or their child's education.

 

Voice Mail/Email: All teachers and administrators at Hilltop have voice mail and email, allowing parents to communicate any questions or concerns they may have in an efficient manner.

 

Grade Centers: The Grade Centers at Hilltop's website (PreSchool Page) keep parents informed of what their children are currently studying.

The school provides snack. Full-day Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten students may participate in the school's optional hot lunch program several days per week. Allergy charts are posted in each classroom, and all food served, whether it is our daily snack, birthday treats, or food sent in for a classroom celebration, are checked against this information. Hilltop also has a full-time, registered nurse on staff.

Morning Kids’ Club is available from 7 a.m. until class starts. The afternoon session of Kids’ Club runs until 6 p.m. There is an additional hourly charge for this service with the exception of Preschool. Morning Preschool students may attend complimentary Kids’ Club prior to the beginning of their class, and afternoon students may stay for complimentary Kids’ Club at the end of their program. Full-day Preschool students are not charged for participating in morning and/or afternoon Kids’ Club. Hilltop also runs enrichment courses for our students after school, including offerings for sports instruction, music lessons, computer classes and art programs.

For both the Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs, the first step is to schedule a tour/classroom observation with the Director of Admissions. You may then send in the application form that is enclosed in the admissions packet. For potential Pre-Kindergarten students, the Admissions Office will contact you to schedule a Pre-K screening for your child once we have received your application. For additional information regarding enrollment, please see the 2010-2011 Admissions Procedures included in the information packet.