The Hills Montessori School

At today’s Sharing Assembly, our Cycle 2 and Cycle 4 students stepped forward to share work they are proud of, speaking with courage and confidence in front of a large audience.

Through their presentations, we saw the depth of planning our Year 7 students undertake in preparation for the recent Twilight Market, offering a meaningful glimpse into their process and learning.

We also acknowledged students who proudly represented our school in the Courier Cup and SAPSASA events.

It was a privilege to welcome Paul from the St Vincent de Paul Society, who reflected on the impact of our community’s support during last year’s Christmas Hamper Appeal, which provided for 103 Adelaide Hills families.

Thank you again for your ongoing support and generosity.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came to the Twilight Market! It was wonderful to see families, friends, and past and present students enjoying the stalls and supporting our students’ efforts.

The event gave students a chance to put their skills into practice, from serving food and running stalls to engaging with visitors. Seeing their creativity, organisation, and confidence on display made the evening truly special for our community.

Our Year 7 students spent the term preparing for the Twilight Market as part of their Feeding the Community occupation.

This occupation introduces them to responsibility and collaboration in a real-world context. Working in small groups, they selected cuisines, adapted recipes to serve large numbers, and prepared ingredients and components for their dishes in advance.

Planning and preparation required careful organisation, timing, and attention to detail.

Students had to consider how to serve a large number of visitors efficiently, anticipate potential challenges, and coordinate tasks with their peers. Beyond the kitchen, they practised communication and teamwork, supporting one another and learning to work effectively in a group.

On market day, students stepped into the role of hosts, serving food to families and community members outside the school. They interacted with a wide range of people, practising courtesy, adaptability, and confidence while seeing the tangible results of their efforts.

Year 8 students took on the critical role of logistics for the Twilight Market, coordinating stall layouts, designing signage (made with our new laser cutter), the Kids' Zone, managing parking, and overseeing purchasing.

Throughout the event, students planned ahead, problem-solved, collaborated, adapted to challenges, and supported the other year levels. They assisted with food stalls, guided visitors, and managed the bump-in and bump-out of the event, ensuring everything ran smoothly from start to finish.

Their preparation and teamwork made it possible for the Twilight Market to operate seamlessly, creating an enjoyable experience for students, families, and the wider school community.

The Twilight Market is a major event in the calendar of the Adolescent Program. Our Cycle 4 students spend the entire term working towards, planning, and preparing for the event day. They research, organise, and coordinate every aspect.

For our Year 9 stallholders, the market requires students to research and present their products, set prices, plan advertising, and consider what will appeal to the markets' audience.

Beyond the products themselves, students have to manage their budget, make their stall profitable, design signage, and think carefully about how to set up and present their space.

This experience gives them a real understanding of economics, entrepreneurship, and financial independence, while developing creativity, planning skills, and confidence.

Every detail is an opportunity for students to practise thinking critically, making decisions, and taking ownership of their work.

Parent involvement is a pivotal part of our community at The Hills Montessori School. Children thrive when they engage with parents and school adults, fostering a sense of value for their ideas and an appreciation for diverse interactions.

Families from both campuses gathered for breakfast at Yultiwirra, enjoying hot cross buns, coffee, and music from our recorder and choir groups.

Thank you to the Community Connection Group and parent volunteers - your time and energy make mornings like this possible. 🐰

Our Cycle 4 students in the Adolescent Program invite you to their Twilight Market - an evening shaped by student initiative, creativity, and real-world experience.

Enjoy food, music, market stalls, and activities for children, all planned and run by our students as part of their learning.

📍 Wairoa Campus – 142 Mt Barker Road, Stirling (top of the driveway)
🗓 Thursday 2nd April
⏰ 4pm – 7pm

Here’s a sneak peek of what will be on offer. 👀

Everyone is welcome - we look forward to seeing you there!

Today, our Cycle 4 students welcomed Paige and Cameron from Simple Integrated Marketing for an in-depth look at the world of marketing.

Through real case studies and direct interaction with these industry professionals, students explored how brands build emotional connection, capture attention, and differentiate themselves within a competitive landscape. They began to consider how to position a product in front of the right audience, while also unpacking the role of colour, layout, and typography in shaping brand identity.

Students learned about the different roles within a marketing agency and how diverse skills and interests contribute to successful campaigns.

This learning was brought together through a deep dive into the ADL Grand Final - examining how a brand is built from the ground up, how clarity is established, and how a strong identity is carried forward with purpose.

Strawberry the turtle spent her first morning exploring beyond her tank - and with that came an opportunity for meaningful learning within our Cycle 1 community.

When the bell rang, it signalled a shared responsibility. The children were asked to move with care and awareness as Strawberry explored alongside them during the work cycle.

Some paused to observe her quietly, while others continued with their work, adjusting naturally to her presence. In both responses, there was learning.

As Bryn thoughtfully shared, “Did you know there is a difference between turtles and tortoises? Turtles have flippers and tortoises have legs.”

Experiences like this support the development of responsibility, self-regulation, and courtesy - while also sparking curiosity and knowledge through real encounters.

Today, our adolescent students worked with our groundsman and guides to restore the garden after summer, developing practical skills while contributing to the care of their shared environment.

Gardening is an integral part of the curriculum from Primary into Middle School.

Students explore plant anatomy, observe seed germination, and learn about seasonal changes while caring for herbs, vegetables, and other plants.

Activities such as watering, weeding, and harvesting develop responsibility, patience, attention to detail, and helps students understand the importance of caring for the environment as part of their school community.