Hilltop Elementary
2007-2008
Hilltop School is one of two elementary schools in the Somersworth School District. It is a small neighborhood school in which the city has great pride. There are 150 plus students grades 1-4 educated at Hilltop on a daily basis. Kindergarteners who live in the Hilltop attendance area attend Kindergarten at Maple Wood Elementary School for one year before transitioning to Hilltop. There are 17 staff members who work in certified positions, either full or part time. Of these, 10 have Masters Degrees. Five are certified in more than one area. There are 4 Reading Tutors in the school who are all certified teachers. Eight staff members provide support as Mainstream Coaches or Special Education Aides. Hilltop has one Reading Recovery Teacher. Student teacher ratios average 19.1 to 1. The school is fully networked with a small number of computers in every classroom. The school possesses a state of the art communication system that allows teachers to be in contact with the office immediately and vice versa. The Hilltop PTA is a small but very dedicated group which contributes immensely to the positive environment of the school. Through fundraising efforts, the PTA supports Literacy and Math Nights, Artist Residencies and supplies equipment that might be unavailable through District funds. Parents also sign off on home reading as part of the ‘100 Books Program.” Students are challenged to improve their skills by reading at least 100 books at home over the course of the year. They are rewarded for their efforts at the end of the year and improve their reading expertise as well. We often have several generations of a family taking part in the program, serving as role models for the students.
The Hilltop Walking Club is a wonderful way for our students to be physically active everyday. Our students walk each day at recess, Last year our students collectively walked more than 3,000 miles. Hilltop School is fortunate to have a Parent Resource Center. Supplies, educational games, books and pamphlets about parenting, a monthly newsletter, books to read together, contacts with local agencies that can help solve issues, and everyday advice are available to parents before and after school at the Center. The School to Home Coordinator is in charge of the Center and arranges for all of these activities. Parents can come to school for a “Family Dining” experience at lunchtime to eat with their child in the Center which is quiet and decorated for their visit. At risk students and special education students who need extra support with homework or incomplete assignments are provided that support during recess time. They can be referred to an after school study/homework lab to receive extra help from a Reading Tutor three times per week for 40 minutes. The District offers a program specifically for at risk 4th graders who may have trouble meeting the 4th grade standards. It is called the Bridges program and meets for three afternoons per week for the entire year and during the summer.