The philosophy at Hilltop is based on the belief that self-esteem is the foundation upon which all learning rests. Young children develop it naturally when they believe in themselves, their abilities, and their worth. It happens in an environment where they are allowed to make choices, decisions, and sometimes mistakes. Learning always involves feelings. Young children must be allowed to freely express their emotions in a safe and validating environment if they are to learn and grow emotionally, as well as develop a healthy sense of self. If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, and learn to trust and share their feelings. If they are taken seriously, they will develop the ability to respect others. If their emotional needs are met, they will have the ability to develop empathy.
The environment Hilltop strives to create is one that encourages children to explore, discover new ideas, and make choices and decisions to develop independence and autonomy. Hilltop provides freedom for maximum physical, mental, social and emotional growth. We help each child to fit individual needs into group experience by imposing gentle, flexible limits.
Because children learn best through hands-on experiences, we provide opportunities to explore by tasting, touching, smelling, hearing, seeing and doing in the areas of science, literature, art, music, and dramatic play.
We want each child to feel that Hilltop is another place besides home where they feel cared for and protected, where adults there are helpful, loving, and fair people, who are informed and interested in children as important people with worthwhile ideas, legitimate feelings, and capabilities.
We hope that each child will become aware of his/her inner feelings and learn how to express and act on them in acceptable ways. We strive to foster an environment, which will encourage creativity, respect for all individuals, friendships, and self-esteem.
Our goals are for each parent to become more knowledgeable of child development, behavior patterns, and positive guidance techniques and basic needs that parents and children have in common. Through observing, assisting and conferencing with the Director and teachers, and experiencing each other’s successes and failures, we will become more effective parents and teachers assistants.
Parent involvement and family interest in a co-operative nursery school are crucial links in the educational process. By enhancing the parent-child relationship, providing continuity between school and home, offering education, better perspective, and personal growth for the parents, and assuring the best possible individualized program for your child, we will create a school in which both child and adult can thrive.
