Creating the future, without fear.
Welcome to summer at HPMS! Every Friday we'll post photos from the week's activities & events. Click the button(s) for your child's program, and don't forget to check out our weekly 'Did you know?' post below to learn more about the HPMS community.
Happy Summer!
Our Montessori Model UN (MMUN) students formulate, present, debate, and revise positions on current issues that are affecting people of the world. By assuming the perspectives of a citizen of their selected countries, MMUN students not only develop an understanding of the needs and rights of others, but also learn to respect cultures, political views, and beliefs of others.
Taking on their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN simulation, students research the issue that their UN committees will address. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the rights of the child, child labor, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization.
HPMS is taking Montessori into the 21st century by thoughtfully and meaningfully incorporating technology & digital media into classic curriculum areas in grades 3-8. Michele Spiezia, our Technology & Digital Media Specialist, has created a holistic curriculum that 'Starts with Why,' and focuses on a values, placing specific skills in the context of content being covered in the classroom.
We are excited to see what's to come, but below is a snapshot of students creating in DEL!
Maria Montessori blazed a trail for children and educators to experience a unique, meaningful and grounded educational experience focused on the whole child. Montessori materials and the philosophy behind them presents a rich learning environment that was well ahead of its time. Research continues to prove that mixed age groupings, open learning spaces and support for critical thinking at a child's own pace are some of the best practices for the future of education. Luckily for us, Maria thought of it a century ago!
Here are some films describing some elements of the Montessori Curriculum.
While SO much happens within our Montessori curriculum, HPMS has TONS of extra-curricular classes that students participate in before and after school. Our community also loves the fact that so many of these activities take place at HPMS and within Hamilton Park (say goodbye to after school chauffeuring!), and are taught by our amazing teachers, parents of students and community friends.
Below are highlights of some of our extra curricular programs at HPMS.
The HPMS Basketball Team
First Lego League Competition
Video Production
While many people have a pre-conception of Montessori as a primarily pre-school philosophy, Maria Montessori actually addressed a child's planes of development well into adolescence. Though HPMS started a decade ago with a few sets of tiny hands and feet, we've now grown into a family bursting with curious elementary students and multi-faceted middle schoolers.
Check out this short video of the Upper Elementary students revealing our brand new 5th floor space last fall! (and stay tuned for more news on how HPMS will be expanding in the near future!)
Michele, our Director of Early Childhood here at HPMS is also our in-house gardener & beekeeper extraordinaire!
Her Instagram account, 6_stories_up, documents our many rooftop happenings from herbs to honey-making. Early childhood and elementary students who arrive early help take care of early morning tasks, and Middle School students have the opportunity to choose gardening & beekeeping as an elective! Having this special environment and someone even more special to help create and care for it is a unique and engaging experience for our urban dwelling students.
See a few shots from Michele's Instagram below. If you are part of the HPMS community, you may request to follow 6_stories_up!
Over the past year and a half, HPMS has worked tirelessly to create a robust & engaging STEM program for our Middle School students. Progressive, collaborative and project based, this curriculum seamlessly integrates with Montessori philosophy, giving students hands on experiences to learn, fail and iterate together.
Our yearly weather balloon project is a highlight of the STEM program (and a student fave!). Students build a weather balloon armed with mini cameras, onboard computing and 3D printed housings and then send it off to space, reaching heights of 120k feet!
Check out this film of our maiden voyage, and stay tuned for this year's recap!
See more photos under each program page.
In this weekly summer series, we'll be highlighting the community, crafts and culture of life at HPMS. If your child is already a student or if you're part of the greater JC community, this series will give you a peek into our unique approach to educating the whole child-- body, mind and spirit!
But enough telling... let us show you who we are. Enjoy!
