Experience the Hilltop Difference

Hilltop Honored for 50 Years By Sparta Town Council

Hilltop Country Day School was honored on September 12 by the Sparta Township Council with a proclamation recognizing the independent school’s 50 year history in Sparta. The proclamation states that Hilltop has “fulfilled its mission by providing small class sizes with personalized attention and a flexible curriculum by the administrators, faculty members and staff.” Head […]

Is My Child Ready For Preschool?

We are all aware that children are capable of learning at an early age. Most schools accept preschool students at age two and a half. But is that a magic age? Is your two and a half-to-four year old child ready for preschool? As a seasoned preschool teacher for 33 years, I ask parents to […]

Hilltop Launches New Summer Reading Program

Hilltop Country Day School unveiled a new summer reading curriculum to its students this year. Instead of reading two assigned books and doing a book report, every student in the school, from preschoolers to eighth graders, will be reading books on a shared theme: Friendship and Tolerance. “The theme we have selected is timely and […]

5 Parenting Hacks For Life With Toddlers That Are Guaranteed To Make Your Life Easier

When you run a preschool program bustling with 20, 2.5 to 5-year-olds, you develop a few life hacks over the years to help the classroom run smoothly. Here are some of our favorite hacks you can use at home to make life with toddlers easier. Comment below to share you favorite parenting hacks, too!  Save […]

Make Sunscreen Part of Your Outdoor Gear

Summer is almost here! We can’t wait to be outside enjoying the beautiful warm weather! We need to protect ourselves and our children from overexposure to the sun and its harmful rays. Your best defenses against getting too much harmful UV radiation are protective clothing, shade and limited time in the sun: Hats, shirts, shorts […]

Hilltop Country Day School Celebrates 36th Commencement

It was a momentous occasion for the Hilltop Class of 2017 on Friday, June 9 as they became the 36th eighth grade class to graduate and become Hilltop alumni. More than 100 people gathered on the campus to cheer and celebrate as the Class of 2017 received their diplomas and set forth to begin a […]

Hilltop Holds Lower School Closing Ceremony

Whether first year students or Hilltop lifers, the positive impact of a Hilltop Country Day School education was clear during speeches by the graduating fourth graders at the Lower School Closing Ceremony on June 8.   Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends gathered on the campus to cheer and celebrate as the Class of 2021 officially […]

3 Tips for Traveling This Summer With Kids

Over the past 12 months or so, my “tangible” skill set has grown exponentially thanks to my job search.  Writing cover letters, developing résumés, and keeping my composure in Head of School interviews has even surprised me.  But when I think about perhaps the greatest “skill” I’ve cultivated during the past year it is, without question, […]

7 Questions To Ask When Choosing a Summer Camp

Summer is the perfect time to explore, relax, and try something new.  A summer camp provides a place for children to develop friendships, learn new skills and investigate unexplored areas of interest.  Summer camps support a parent’s desire for their child to get up and move.  A summer camp routine breaks up the cycle of […]

12 Reasons to Choose An Independent (Private) School

One of my favorite educators, the late Priscilla Vail, used to talk about “the rightness of fit.” She referred to the choice of a school when you know that it is the place where your child will learn, grow, thrive and make friendships that last a lifetime. What do you look for when choosing a […]

8 Ways to Foster a Toddler’s Love of Music

Do you want to nurture your child’s interest and excitement in music? Does you child show potential talent for music? At this age your child will learn best through exploration that’s fun. Here are a few age-appropriate ways to encourage your preschooler to get jazzed about music. Listening Listening to music of all genres stimulates […]

11 Tips to Make the Most of Your Kid’s Spring Break

This year your spring break may be more along the lines of the staycation, but that’s OK! Here are 11 great ideas for setting aside intentional time for creating memories for the WHOLE family.: 1. Make some rules: such as, no phones and other electronic devices during activity times 2. As a family make a wish list […]

Kindergartners Explore World of Dinosaurs

On March 17 the kindergartners transformed into junior paleontologists to host a Knowledge Sharing Exhibition about dinosaurs.  Parents, faculty, and peers were invited to ask the paleontologist questions about dinosaurs they had discovered, explore dinosaur fossils made by the students, and play an interactive game designed by the class to discover which teeth belonged to […]

First Graders Travel to Australia

The first graders at Hilltop Country Day School hosted a Knowledge Sharing Exhibition on Friday, March 17 to culminate their recent study of all things Australia.  During a Knowledge Sharing Exhibition, parents, faculty and staff and their peers are invited to experience all the students have learned about a topic.  The students sang an Aussie […]

Hilltop Student Art Chosen for Art Educators of NJ Spring Exhibit at NJPAC

A Hilltop Country Day School student has been chosen for the second consecutive year to display a piece of student artwork in the Art Educators of New Jersey Spring Exhibit at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.  Richard Cort ’18 has been chosen to display his mixed media piece in the exhibit beginning on May 1.  […]

3 Easy Morning Exercises For Kids

I wanted to share a fun morning exercise that your child can do before starting their day prior to eating a healthy nutritious breakfast. The exercise is called Training for a Triathlon. It can be done in your own home either inside or outside, requires some really great music (maybe your playlist has some Coldplay, […]

CAPITOL HILLTOP: Monuments, Newseum, and Wizards!

Greetings from Washington, D.C.! I’ve come to appreciate a special characteristic of our eighth graders: patience. It all began with breakfast at 9:30 a.m. which was actually closer to 10. Because of our day early arrival this is the best the hotel could do. Next, delayed opening for the Smithsonian Museums (thank you #stella) and […]

Antonio Puopolo Named February Student of the Month

Hilltop Country Day School is pleased to announce that Antonio Puopolo ’20 was chosen by the faculty and staff of Hilltop Country Day School to be Student of the Month for February. Nominations are solicited from all faculty and staff for Upper School students, grades 5-8, who have exhibited exceptional academic success in all of their […]

CAPITOL HILLTOP: D.C. Trip By The Numbers

CAPITOL HILLTOP: Eighth Graders Visit Air and Space Museum

#Stella didn’t stop us! The “adventure bus” trip to Washington D.C. was quiet for the most part – lots of napping and being “plugged in” with favorite music and streaming TV shows. There were a few Pokemon sightings along the way. We took a break to stretch our legs at the Chesapeake House in Maryland.  […]

Hilltop To Welcome New Head of School

The Hilltop Country Day School Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Kevin Folan, currently the Assistant Head of School and Executive Director of Enrollment at Hyde School in Maine, will be the next Head of School. “In Kevin, we have found an innovative, dynamic collaborative leader who motivates and inspires,” said Board Chair […]

Hilltop Welcomes Students from China

Hilltop students were honored to host four Chinese exchange students for a home stay program in January and February.  The school is proud to partner with International Educational Opportunities to offer international students the opportunity to study in the United States for either short-term or yearlong programs.  “Hosting international students complements Hilltop’s global curriculum by […]

Jessica Wilm Named January Student of the Month

Hilltop Country Day School is pleased to announce that Jessica Wilm ’17 was chosen by the faculty and staff of Hilltop Country Day School to be Student of the Month for January. Nominations are solicited from all faculty and staff for Upper School students, grades 5-8, who have exhibited exceptional academic success in all of […]

Fifth Grader Wins School Geography Bee

Antonio Puopolo, a fifth grade student at Hilltop Country Day School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on January 30, and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship. The school-level Bee, at which students answered questions on geography, was the first round in the 29th annual National Geographic Bee. “We are so […]

Corrine Wilm Selected As November Student of the Month

Hilltop Country Day School Eighth Grader Corrine Wilm was chosen by the faculty and staff as November’s Student of the Month. Nominations are solicited from all faculty and staff for Upper School students who have exhibited exceptional academic success in all of their classes during the month, but who have also modeled the school’s Core […]

Tips for Successful Toilet Training in 10 Days

Are you counting the days until your toddler is fully potty-trained and can enroll in preschool? Have no fear! Hilltop’s Preschool teacher Mrs. Christine DeStefano is coming to your rescue! With more than 30 years of experience with preschool-aged children, and successful toilet training of her own two children, three grandchildren and hundreds of other 2 ½ […]

Hilltop Kicks Off 2016-17 School Year With 6.25% Enrollment Increase

Hilltop Country Day School kicked-off the 2016-17 school year on Wednesday, September 7 with a record enrollment increase and a full slate of new programs. While other local schools are cutting programming and experiencing overcrowding, Hilltop is flourishing while maintaining the school’s signature small class sizes and nurturing environment. “Hilltop has been committed to providing […]

Best Homemade Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

Looking to bring home a piece of Hilltop’s Outdoor Classroom curriculum? It is not too late in the summer to put out a hummingbird feeder. Here in northern New Jersey, the only hummingbird that is native is the Ruby-Throated. These beautiful little birds migrate south to the tropics sometime in late September or early October, […]

4 Tips for High School Success from Graduation Speaker Emma D’Amico ’12

The graduation address for the Class of 2016 was delivered by Emma D’Amico ’12, a recent graduate of Sparta High School. While at Hilltop, Emma was in the Instrumental Ensemble playing trumpet and violin. In her eighth grade year she was the student council president and was the recipient of the presidents volunteer service award Gold […]

5 Reasons Private Kindergarten Is Worth The Cost

Experts believe 90% of brain development occurs by age 5 . That’s why choosing the best early childhood education for your child is critical. Our expert educators have put together a guide on the characteristics that quality kindergarten programs should have and why paying for a private kindergarten is worth the cost. Download the free […]

5 Elements of Cutting-Edge Exhibition Assessments in Schools

It is no secret that the traditional educational model that existed for centuries is no longer effective in today’s 21st Century landscape. At Hilltop we realize that our students will eventually be entering a workforce where the jobs have yet to be imagined. Therefore, it is our responsibility to provide an education and schoolwide experience […]

The 7 Things Worrying Your Soon-to-Be-Middle Schooler and What We’re Doing About It

If you think back and remember what it was like to be a new student at a new school or a student new to the middle school years, you will recall a variety of feelings and emotions, many good, some not so good. It is never easy entering a new environment, especially one where the […]

5 Tips for Visiting Museums/Art Galleries With Kids

Spring is in the air and that means new shows are popping up in many area museums and galleries.  It’s a great opportunity for a family day out and seeing art through a child’s eyes.  At Hilltop, we discuss with students how to look at art, what questions to ask, and even etiquette for such […]

Best Rustic Potato Soup Recipe

At Hilltop Country Day School we take pride in our outdoor classroom and environmental science curriculum. Our fourth graders harvested a wonderful crop of potatoes from our potato patch this fall and from that haul we whipped up a delectable rustic potato soup. From our Hilltop table to yours, enjoy! Ingredients Potatoes, washed well, cut […]

Cultivating Grit in Our Children [Replay]

Hilltop Country Day School’s Head of School Peter Gordon presented a talk titled, “Cultivating Grit in Our Children,” in which he offered insight as an educator and a parent on why sometime’s it’s OK to let children fail as it develops a key characteristic for success in today’s world: grit. Click on the play button below to begin the video.

3 Ways to Decrease Separation Anxiety in Nursery School

I’ve often heard it said that the job of being a parent is to spend 18 (or more) years raising a child so they don’t need you anymore. It’s the most selfless job in the world especially when you think about it that way. ­This could not be more evident than during morning drop-off. As […]

3 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Keep Your Child’s Binder Organized

Your child’s binder looks like a bomb exploded. Papers are crumbled into balls at the bottom of the backpack, the spine on the binder may already be breaking, and your student’s grades may be suffering from this lack of organization. Don’t stress. With just a few minor adjustments and a commitment to a maintenance plan, […]

6 Book Recommendations for Elementary School Readers

The holidays are over and now you have a ton of gift cards burning a hole in your pocket, right? Why not spend them on something educational for your child instead of just another toy? We’re here to help with 9 of the best books for kids ages 5-10. Read on for some of our […]