Photo courtesy of Michele Wilensky.
Hilltop Montessori
Hilltop Montessori students stand at the site of the school’s new building.
Hilltop Montessori has two milestones to celebrate this year: its 20th anniversary and a second building.
The school broke ground on its new two-story addition in September 2015 and it is set to open in fall 2016, just in time for the school’s anniversary.
“Where people normally have a ribbon cutting, we’re going to have a birthday party,” said Head of School Michele Wilensky.
The addition, which is part of phase three for Hilltop Montessori, is being built on land that was gifted to Hilltop Montessori by EBSCO Industries. It will include a community center, gymnasium, science library, classroom space, multi-media center, art and music areas and a teaching kitchen.
“The community center is really our way of giving back,” Wilensky said. “It’s really nice that someone did something nice for us and now we’re able to give back.”
To build the extension, which will cost $3.4 million, Hilltop received a $5.3 million loan from the Shelby County Economic and Industrial Development Authority (SCEIDA). The loan was approved by the Shelby County Commission in July 2015, and it will be used to refinance the school’s current investment as well as fund the addition.
Wilensky said the addition provides a life lesson for students, who can learn about giving through the land donation and can learn about sharing through the building’s availability to the community.
“This addition will further set us apart in the city and permit us to continue to fulfill our mission – to provide a quality Montessori education in an environment which fosters a child’s love of learning and a respect for self, others, community and the world,” Wilensky said at the building’s groundbreaking ceremony.
Mt Laurel residents will be able to use the community center when the school is not using it. The space will be available free of charge, although residents will have to hire a cleaning service to clean the space after it is used. North Shelby County residents can also use the community center with a small fee. Wilensky said the fee will be used to cover electricity and power costs in the community center.
The addition will incorporate the same “green” principles as the school’s existing building, helping to maintain the school’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification with the U.S. Green Building Council. Wilensky said they work to keep students involved in the project, which includes discussing environmental impact and the materials used in the building. Students will also have the chance to tour the construction site throughout the building process. They will shut down the construction site for a day, clear out any dangerous materials or equipment, and allow the students to walk through the project, Wilensky said.
“We have big plans for them to be involved,” Wilensky said.
The new extension will also allow for environmental educational opportunities, Wilensky said. The teaching kitchen will focus on local, fresh lunch preparation using food from the school’s gardens as well as gardens in the area.
