Curriculum

Dr. Maria Montessori founded the Montessori teaching philosophy in Italy in the early 1900s.She shaped her approach to education around the individual needs of each child. Students map their own educational journey, with the guidance of trained Montessori teachers.

Learning in our Montessori School is characterized by self-directed activities that are focused on the child’s experience. Students use concrete materials to develop motor and sensorial skills and explore math, science, language, geography, culture, history, art, music and physical exercise. Technology is also used as an integrated learning tool. Students have access to laptops for research and publishing, SMART boards and more. Montessori learning materials feature self-corrective qualities that allow students to self-assess efforts In addition, the sequential nature of the curriculum provides for continual assessment of skill development and daily tracking of progress.

List of 4 items.

  • Faculty

    Each Montessori teacher holds a recognized Montessori teaching certificate from an accredited training program. They provide the dynamic link between the learning materials and the children—guiding students through the curriculum individually, planning challenges and encouraging discovery. Our Montessori staff works in partnership with parents to meet the educational needs of each child. There is an open door policy that invites parents for regular classroom visits.
  • Class Size

    Small class sizes are important to us. As students embark on their learning journey, individual attention is a crucial element in their discovery of what they love and how they learn. Most new skills and concepts are presented to our students initially in one-on-one lessons with the teacher. On average, our student to teacher ratios are 5:1 in the toddler program, 8:1 in the CASA program and 16:1 in the elementary program.
  • Outdoor Education

    Outdoor education and off-site field trips enhance students’ studies through real-life experiences. Past Montessori School trips include visits to Royal Botanical Gardens, Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium and more.
  • Character Development

    Our Montessori experience builds the emotional strengths of empathy, independence, resiliency and self-regulation. We develop respect for others by celebrating cultural diversity. We celebrate the environment by developing an awareness and appreciation of the natural world and the responsibility for its ecological sustainability.

Wellness Support Services

We give Montessori School students the means to achieve their personal best. To support the individual needs of each child, a full-time Montessori matron works with the College’s Registered Nurse.
Early Education Orientations:
Junior School Welcome Breakfast - September 5, 2023, at 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. 
Montessori School Welcome Lunch - September 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Middle School Orientation:
(All grade 5's and New Students in Grades 6 to 8)  - September 6
Students are in #2 Dress for Orientation
 
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Parents and Students Breakfast)
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (Student Programming in Middle School)
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Parent Programming in VFC)
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Optional Ambassador Lead Tours and Parents Guild Courtyard/Kemper Reception - Photo Op In Courtyard) 
 
Senior School Orientation:
(All Grade 9's and New Students in Grades 10 to 12)\
September 6, 2023
Dress code to follow

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  (Grades 9-12 Student Programming) 
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Parent Programming in VFC)  
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  (Campus Walk or Strategic Planning Presentation)
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (Parent Continental Reception Lunch Served in Student Commons. Parents Guild Courtyard/Kemper Reception - Photo Op In Courtyard) 

Parents' Guild Used Uniform Sale
September 6, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Parents' Guild Portable

The first day of classes is on Thursday, September 7!  
#2 Uniform Dress Required.  
Reminder Fridays, #1 Dress Required. 

Located in Hamilton, ON, Hillfield Strathallan College is a Canadian independent, co-educational day school.
The academic program runs from Montessori Toddler and Pre-K to Grade 12.

Hillfield Strathallan College | 299 Fennell Avenue West | Hamilton, ON L9C 1G3 | 905-389-1367