Hilltop School

Yesterday we celebrated Employee Appreciation Day with some special treats for our amazing staff!

We are so thankful for our team of dedicated early learning educators who show up each day with patience, creativity, and care for the children and families we serve. The work they do helps build strong foundations for lifelong learning, and it truly makes a difference in our community.

It takes all of us working together to create a nurturing, supportive, and engaging environment where children can grow, explore, and thrive. We appreciate everything our team does—today and every day.

🌟 Join Hilltop School’s Board of Directors! 🌟
Hilltop School — a beloved part of Bangor since 1869 — is currently welcoming new community members to join our volunteer Board of Directors to help support our mission! Our Board of Directors meets bi-monthly (third Tuesday of the month for one hour), and members serve on a sub-committee which meet as needed.

We seek individuals with diverse skill sets to strengthen our nonprofit’s leadership and sustainability — including expertise in:
🧮 Finance & Accounting
⚖️ Legal & Compliance
🏠 Facilities & Historic Building Maintenance
💬 Marketing & Communications
💼 Human Resources
🩺 Medical, Health, or Safety
🛡️ Insurance & Risk Management
💡 Education & Child Development
🤝 Fundraising & Community Engagement
💻 Technology or Nonprofit Management
Plus more!

This is a volunteer opportunity and a meaningful way to make a difference in your community. Whether you’re a professional looking to share your expertise, or a Hilltop alumni wanting to stay connected, we’d love to hear from you! If you know anyone that may be interested, please feel free to share with them!

Interested? Please send a short letter of interest to [email protected].

* Please note that board openings are limited, and expressions of interest will be thoughtfully reviewed as we work to fill the vacant board positions.

Help us continue Hilltop’s legacy of nurturing young learners — and be part of something truly special!

🎨 Color Mixing Fun + Storytime Magic!

Our preschoolers in Room 5 had an amazing time today exploring color mixing through a hands-on activity inspired by the classic book Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni. In the story, Little Blue and Little Yellow are best friends who hug so tightly they turn green! After reading together, our friends became little scientists, experimenting with colors to see what new ones they could create.

This playful activity supported many areas of Maine’s Early Learning Standards:
*Early Literacy – listening to and discussing the story, making connections between the book and their own discoveries
*Fine Motor Development – squeezing, pouring, and mixing while building hand strength and coordination
*Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving – predicting what would happen when colors combined and testing their ideas
*Language Development – describing their observations and new discoveries
* Science Concepts – exploring cause and effect, learning that colors can change when combined, and making real-world connections through hands-on experimentation
* Social-Emotional Skills – sharing materials, taking turns, and celebrating discoveries together

It’s amazing how storytelling, science, and play can come together to spark curiosity and joyful learning.

Hilltop School
NOW ENROLLING!
A legacy of learning, a future full of wonder.

Looking for high-quality early education with a sprinkle of fun and a whole lot of heart? You've found it at Hilltop School – a place where children learn, laugh, and grow every day!

Why Families Love Us:
✅ Trusted care & education since 1970
✅ Open year-round | M–F | 6:30am–5:30pm
✅ Only 11 planned closures a year
✅ Accept Self Pay, CCAP, & other subsidy programs
✅ Emergent, play-based curriculum aligned with Early Learning Standards
✅ Daily updates via our parent app (photos, videos, learning activities, naps, meals, and more!)
✅ 3 HUGE outdoor play areas + summer water play fun!
✅ Preschool and PreK Nature Education Program that visits monthly Sept through June & other surprise special guests center wide throughout the year!
✅ Special school wide events for the children throughout the year such as a harvest carnival, teddy bear picnic, scavenger hunts, the Hilltop Olympics, etc..
✅ Recently renovated with new floors & in the process of setting up ALL NEW shelving, cubbies, etc.. that’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified – safer, cleaner air and healthier spaces for your little ones!
✅ Fresh air exchange system = cleaner air, better focus, fewer germs, and a healthier learning environment!

All staff are qualified, passionate professionals who are here because they LOVE what they do and an administrative team that has been with the organization for 12+ years.

As a non-profit 501(c)(3) early education center, we’re mission-driven — not profit-driven. That means our focus is 100% on providing the highest quality care and education, continually investing in our teachers, classrooms, and learning tools to better serve your child and community.

💬 Spots are limited and filling fast! For more info or to schedule a tour, contact us today or visit 👉 www.bangorhilltopschool.com

Come see why generations of families have trusted us for over 50 years – and why your child will LOVE it here too!

🌟 Join our team!🌟

Looking for a rewarding role in early childhood education? We’re on the lookout for passionate, caring, and dedicated individuals to join our amazing team!

Whether you're searching for flexible per diem sub opportunities or a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position with benefits, we’ve got options to fit your lifestyle!

We’ve been a trusted staple in the community for years, offering high-quality early education in a warm and supportive environment. Come be part of something special!

✨ Check out our current openings:
https://bangorhilltopschool.com/employment

Ready to apply? Call us today or email a resume to [email protected]— we can’t wait to hear from you!

Please share and help us spread the word!

🎉 Today’s the day! 🎉

Head to Chipotle between 4:00–8:00 PM to support Hilltop School’s fundraiser! Just show the screenshot of the flyer when you order, and 25% of sales will go directly to Hilltop! You can also order for pick up on the app using the code listed on the flyer.

Great food + a great cause = a win-win!

Please help spread the word—share this with your friends and family.

Thank you for your support!

🌟 Skip the Cooking—Support Hilltop School! 🌟
Help us spread the word by sharing with family and friends!

This Saturday, August 9, 2025, Hilltop School is teaming up with Chipotle Mexican Grill for a delicious fundraiser!

✨ 25% of sales will go directly to support Hilltop School when you show our flyer at checkout — it’s that easy!

📍 Where: Chipotle Mexican Grill
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📲 How:
✔️ Show the flyer digitally or grab a physical copy from Hilltop ahead of time.
✔️ Ordering online or through the app for pickup? Use Promo Code: 3AJMJY3 during checkout so Hilltop gets credit!
*Delivery orders are not eligible for the fundraiser.

💥 Pro Tip: This is a great night to gather with friends, treat yourself to dinner, or surprise the family — all while supporting early childhood education in your community!

⚠️ Important: Please do NOT hand out flyers at the restaurant — it could disqualify us from receiving funds. Be sure to share ahead of time with friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family!

Thank you for supporting Hilltop School — we can’t wait to see you there!

🌟 Skip the Cooking—Support Hilltop School! 🌟
Help us spread the word by sharing with family and friends!

This Saturday, August 9, 2025, Hilltop School is teaming up with Chipotle Mexican Grill for a delicious fundraiser!

✨ 25% of sales will go directly to support Hilltop School when you show our flyer at checkout — it’s that easy!

📍 Where: Chipotle Mexican Grill
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📲 How:
✔️ Show the flyer digitally or grab a physical copy from Hilltop ahead of time.
✔️ Ordering online or through the app for pickup? Use Promo Code: 3AJMJY3 during checkout so Hilltop gets credit!
*Delivery orders are not eligible for the fundraiser.

💥 Pro Tip: This is a great night to gather with friends, treat yourself to dinner, or surprise the family — all while supporting early childhood education in your community!

⚠️ Important: Please do NOT hand out flyers at the restaurant — it could disqualify us from receiving funds. Be sure to share ahead of time with friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family!

Thank you for supporting Hilltop School — we can’t wait to see you there!

🌟 Join our team!🌟

Looking for a rewarding role in early childhood education? We’re on the lookout for passionate, caring, and dedicated individuals to join our amazing team!

Whether you're searching for flexible per diem sub opportunities or a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position with benefits, we’ve got options to fit your lifestyle!

We’ve been a trusted staple in the community for years, offering high-quality early education in a warm and supportive environment. Come be part of something special!

✨ Check out our current openings: http://www.bangorhilltopschool.com

Ready to apply? Call us today or email a resume to [email protected]— we can’t wait to hear from you!

Please share and help us spread the word!

🦎🐢 What an unforgettable Friday at Hilltop! 🐍🕷️

On June 20th, the children were thrilled to welcome Mr. Drew and His Animals Too for a wild and wonderful visit! They were absolutely amazed to meet all kinds of fascinating creatures—snakes, cockroaches, lizards, tegus, tarantulas, frogs, tortoises, and turtles! Laughter, curiosity, and excitement filled the room as children engaged with the animals and listened to fun, educational facts from Mr. Drew himself.

Experiences like this enrich our play-based, emergent curriculum by bringing learning to life. They spark natural curiosity, support language development, and encourage thoughtful questions—all while helping children build empathy and understanding of the world around them. Animal encounters also create meaningful connections to science and nature, giving children real-world context to concepts like habitats, textures, and movement. Most importantly, they make learning fun—and when learning is joyful, it sticks!

Did you know? Mr. Drew runs a nonprofit science education center? Formerly located in Lewiston, the center is relocating to Poland and will reopen this August. According to their website, The Education Center features over 200 rescued, rehabilitated, or relinquished animals, many of which visitors can touch or hold. The center also includes a geological exploration area with fossils, rocks, minerals, bones, and more—perfect for hands-on, interactive learning that aligns beautifully with our educational philosophy here at Hilltop.

We encourage families to check out their page for updates on the grand opening and to show your support for this amazing nonprofit doing impactful work in their community. For more information, visit:
🔗 https://www.mrdrewandhisanimalstoo.com/education-center

We love supporting other non profit organizations who share our mission of meaningful, child-centered experiences and learning through discovery, empathy, and exploration!

Wow — What a Day!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our Kick Off to Summer Fundraising Event on Saturday! Because of your incredible support, we were able to raise $1,128.00 for our early education program — and we couldn't be more grateful. ❤️

Whether you shopped the yard sale, bought raffle tickets, grabbed a treat from the bake sale, or just came to enjoy the fun — your presence made this event a success.

We hope you had as much fun as we did, and we’re so thankful to be part of such a generous and supportive community. Here’s to a great summer ahead! 🌼