Student work

Junior High Summer Work—Chickens and Fences?

Junior High Summer Work—Chickens and Fences?

Long before the first day of school, the Junior High (which we call the Adolescent Program—AP) campus at Hollis Montessori was already buzzing with energy. Over several days this summer, AP students, guides, and families came together for hands-on work that keeps our small community thriving. They repaired the chicken tractor, weeded and tended the garden, began building a protective fence around the beds, and organized tools and supplies in the shed.

At first glance, it might look like simple manual labor. But in Montessori education — and especially in the Adolescent Program — there’s always more happening beneath the surface…

Learning Support in the Classroom

Learning Support in the Classroom

At Hollis Montessori, our goal is to provide an environment where all students can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe every child deserves to thrive at their own pace and in their own way. As our community has grown, so have the diverse learning needs of our students. This year, we are very pleased to have hired Nicole DeRosa in the newly created position of Learning Support Specialist.

Nicole supports both students and teachers in creating an inclusive, responsive learning environment, and ensures that each child receives the individualized attention and strategies they need to reach their fullest potential. We interviewed Nicole about the path of her career and how she came to Hollis Montessori School.

Learning Responsibility in Elementary Classrooms

Learning Responsibility in Elementary Classrooms

Elementary-aged children need a feeling of responsibility, and the need to be active contributors to their community; whether that community  is their family, a group of children they are working with at school, all of the people in their classroom, another group like Scouts or a sports team, or even humanity as a whole. Learning how to care for their environment is one way that Elementary children practice responsibility to themselves and others.

So Much Science!

So Much Science!

If you have been on campus at Hollis Montessori School at the end of the day lately, you may have noticed Adolescent Program (AP) students and guides hiking up from the pond looking wet, tired, and happy. They have been studying Dunklee Pond in the Hollis Town Forest. This fall they are doing a water quality assessment of Dunklee Pond to submit to the NH Department of Environmental Services. The Adolescent Community has taken on a water quality study every few years so they have now begun to accumulate long term data and can begin to look at the trends.

The Upper Elementary Keeps Us Up To Date

The Upper Elementary Keeps Us Up To Date

At the beginning of this year, some of the oldest students in Upper Elementary had the idea of reviving a school newspaper that had been written by UE students in the past; they remembered getting the editions of the “HMS Press” when they were in Lower Elementary, and they wanted to start it back up. What a big work they were about to embark upon!

An Exciting Time to Learn about the Government!

An Exciting Time to Learn about the Government!

What an exciting time to learn more about government! It seems to be working its way into all levels here at HMS. Last week, the Lower Elementary community went on a wonderful field trip to the New Hampshire State House in Concord. This is a politically charged time of year, and with the Presidential election coming up this year we really wanted to spend some time learning and thinking about how our government works. We are so fortunate to be close to Concord, and jumped at the chance to see this government building in action.