One small task can make an impact on somebody’s life.

Community Service

written by the Hamilton Park Montessori School Middle School Students

The students of the HPMS Middle School believe that community service helps to maintain a healthy structure in our community, which then goes on to help it thrive in a multitude of ways. HPMS students perform community service tasks often, both in the smaller community of the Hamilton Park Montessori School and in the larger community that is the world around them. This Martin Luther King Day, the HPMS Middle School would like to recognize all the hard work they have done to benefit the community, in and outside of school. These students take pride in their work and would like to share their accomplishments with the greater community. By sharing these stories, they hope to educate and inspire others on the many ways they can do their part in helping the community.

Students of HPMS have the choice of what community service they would like to do. One of those options is to help in early childhood classrooms. There are many tasks, simple or tedious, that are in need of being completed. The most requested job, reading to the younger children, is a large part of helping out in early childhood classrooms. The students of HPMS enjoy helping out in the early childhood classrooms because of the mental reward, seeing the smile on the child's face when someone they look up to helps complete something or does something that the child enjoys.

            The 2018 YSOP (Youth Service Opportunities Project)  trip was a big opportunity for the 7th and 8th graders of HPMS. It helped them get away from their phones and help the homeless community of New York City. They made a bunch of food for the people and after everybody ate, they played board games and had conversations with the guests. They then had a debate about homelessness and what it does to people. The hour and a half long conversation gave them a better perspective about homelessness. The next day they had a community breakfast and were then separated into five groups to go to the five different boroughs of New York City. They made and served food to the guests and got to listen to the people’s stories and got to know them.

As you have no doubt seen in the previous paragraphs, community service is a big part of our school community, and it allows students to hone skills they have learned in the classroom while applying them in practical life. One such example is when last year, a group of students used their knowledge of 3D printing to print replacement parts (on custom order) for whichever Early Childhood classroom needed them. This involves replacement beads, cubes, number squares, puzzle pieces, and much other stuff that is used in the building, by HPMS’s very own 8th graders.

As you can tell throughout the first few years of the HPMS middle school program, we have worked with the younger students and staff members in our school and we have also worked with those outside our own four walls. Working throughout the school we have learned to care about the community. We’ve seen how it works and have gotten a better understanding of what it takes to run a school. At YSOP we learned about others who don’t have enough money to put a meal on the table. We also learned about their living situations and how heavily these people depend on their communities. We have gained skills and have learned how our skills can affect our school. Not only have we done all of this, but we have become better people from it, too. Just like Martin Luther King, Jr., we understand that some things are worth the time and effort to achieve. One small task can make an impact on somebody’s life.           

Closing the Opportunity Gap One Student at a Time

School expands its efforts at increasing its socio-economic diversity

Jersey City, NY, May 22, 2018: In 2006 when Hamilton Park Montessori School (HPMS) opened the doors of its two early childhood classrooms, it committed to a whole-child approach to education— one that meets the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of each child. 12 years later, and well into its expansion into Middle School, it continues to nurture each child’s love of learning. As part of its ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of a diverse student body, HPMS recently changed its status to a 501(c)3 non-profit entity. This will enable the school to expand its efforts at increasing the socio-economic diversity of its student body through a giving program and scholarship fund.

“Dr. Maria Montessori was globally acknowledged for her advocacy toward peace and social justice. Since day one, it’s been our commitment to meet the needs of our diverse student body, and to support every student’s curiosity and passion for learning. And now, with our new non-profit status, we will be able to even more closely mirror the diversity of the larger city and world around us,” commented Samantha Trice, founder of HPMS. “We love watching students learn to work hard and to persevere, to solve problems, and to find joy in learning everyday.”

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Hamilton Park Montessori School educates children from infancy through eighth grade, following the vision of Maria Montessori, who was thrice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of children and her work toward world peace. Built on Montessori’s values and her scientific observation of the nature of learning, HPMS’ curriculum lays a sound foundation in mathematics, language, geography, science and social science, creative arts, physical movement, sensory learning and practical living. HPMS believes this strong foundation is the key to academic success, personal growth and global awareness.

Poet, Activist, Writer. I am in 8th Grade. I am Aparna. I am Hamilton Park Montessori School.

The four eighth grade HPMS students came into the school at different times. Some have been with the school since it was first opened. Others came in when the school had become more developed. No matter when they came in, HPMS helped them discover their passions and grow as people. I am one of the eighth grade students. I have been in HPMS since first grade, and being a part of its community has given me the opportunities to shape who I am now.

When I first joined HPMS, I was instantly welcomed by a group of compassionate, hardworking teachers and warm, embracing students. Even from that age, HPMS was already building confidence and compassion in kids. We had research projects and presentations where we spoke in front of our class. Sometimes the older kids would read us passages from science or other topics and would help us answer questions about them. I feel that this helped to shape who I am because having those memories makes it more personal to me when we do things like that, since we are the older kids now. We have reading buddies and showcases to give the younger kids a sense of mentorship. To this day I love working with kids and others in my community, and these values came from HPMS.

HPMS also offers many hands-on resources for kids to learn practical life skills, learn concepts, and strengthen their creativity. When you are little, you get practical life works that kids learn from and enjoy doing! This happens a lot in HPMS, because the kids here love to learn. When you get a little bit older, you start doing works that help you visualize mathematical and scientific concepts and strengthen your understanding. Upon reaching middle school, you get to show your creativity through art, building, writing, science, math, and humanities based projects. The STEM program is a huge part of this, because the kids can create actual models of the ideas that they create, but each class offers many unique ways to express your individual thoughts.

Speaking of individuality, HPMS has a group of dedicated teachers who support the school’s philosophy of giving the students the independence and freedoms to grow into confident, kind, accepting people. They also support the interests of students and provide a safe, loving community to try other things out. That’s another reason HPMS is wonderful. The community is so closely knit that no one has to be afraid of judgement or ridicule from classmates if they want to try unique things.

My personal experience has consisted of all of these factors and so much more. My friends and teachers have been incredibly supportive of me and my goals, which are to be a writer and an activist. In a nutshell, HPMS is an amazing school, one built on compassion, confidence, independence, and student-driven passion. I feel especially lucky to have had the opportunity to be able to grow and live in this community.

--Aparna Packer will be in the first graduating cohort of 8th Graders at Hamilton Park Montessori School. When asked what she remembers from her early years at the school, she muses: "I remember when I was younger, I really liked the long chain work. That helped me with math facts and I remember it very clearly. I feel like it was more effective than plain memorization. It gave me a clearer visualization to work with. I also remember Ms. Kathy telling stories about farmers during geometry lessons to help explain certain concepts." 

So, what makes it "Montessori"?

Soaring to New Heights: Hamilton Park Montessori School Middle School Program has Launched!

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! Then, the data analysis begins so that the process can be fine-tuned for the next voyage.

Check out this film of our maiden voyage, and stay tuned for this year's recap!

Watch our Very First Balloon Launch!

Come See What's Growing Here... Six Stories Up.

Challenge: How to share the valuable life lessons and experiences of a great ecology curriculum at an urban school lacking the open space and litter/canine waste control of a private yard?

Hamilton Park Montessori School Solution: Take to the sky! What we lack in acreage, we make up for in height—well above street level, we now have a working vegetable/herb/flower/fruit rooftop garden and apiary that our students get to explore, work in and study all year long. Success!

Students in our Enrichment Program this summer have been digging in the dirt, planting, watering and harvesting... and beaming with pride to watch their seedlings grow and thrive (just like the teachers do watching students evolve over the course of the year). If you are walking by, you can also see our Sunflower Project up against the exterior of our building, just across the street from beautiful Hamilton Park

Celebrating 110 Years of Innovation & Passion 

in Education

The Children of Blue Room sewed this banner for the 110th Anniversary of Montessori Education

What do Hamilton Park Montessori School children have in common with today's most remarkable innovators, such as the Google co-founders and the creator of Amazon.com? The foundation of a Montessori education.

Maria Montessori: A Visionary for the Ages

This week, we celebrated the 110th anniversary of Montessori Education during Montessori Education Week. Thank you to all who came to our workshops and to all of our teachers who took time to prepare such thoughtful presentations!

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that each child learns at his own pace and in his own way. This innovative thinking shaped a new type of learning environment designed to kindle the individual interests of each learner. 

When Barbara Walters asked Google co-founders what they felt was a major factor in their success, they credited their early childhood Montessori education: "We both went to Montessori school," Mr. Larry Page said, "and I think it was part of that training of ...being self-motivated, questioning what's going on in the world, doing things a little bit differently."

At HPMS, it is our commitment to help children build the skills and confidence to respond creatively to new challenges, resolve conflicts effectively, and relate well to others. It just so happens that these are the very 21st Century skills that employers say are most important for success in the workplace. 

Here's to Dr. Montessori--a child advocate and a true visionary!