It was wonderful to hold the much loved Grandparents and Special Person Days last week and welcome these important visitors to ‘our place’.  I spoke to our visitors and let them know that The Hills Montessori School is a place where we believe in respecting the child, treating them with dignity and placing trust in them. I talked about the fact that our school is a place where children and young people are encouraged to speak up, ask questions, be involved in their learning, developing agency and a voice.  Our place values independence, collaboration, diversity and kindness. Our place views learning as a positive, lifelong venture.  It’s a place where young people can thrive, be supported and be challenged.  It’s a place where practical, real life, applied learning occurs.  It’s a place where rich experiences and amazing opportunities are offered.  Developing strong relationships is key at our place. It’s a place filled with hope and promise, it’s a calm place, a friendly place and a safe place. 

At the beginning of this year our school applied for and was successful in winning a grant from Reconciliation SA. Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) committee discussed and decided to use this grant to produce a whole school book.  We decided to write a book about ‘Our Place’.  The RAP committee made up of seven Cycles 3 & 4 students, myself, two teachers and two parents talked about how we view our place through our senses.  What does it feel like?  What do we see and hear?  We came up with words that capture what our place means to us.  We then invited our whole school from the Infant Program through to Cycle 4, to illustrate the pages and held an exhibition of artwork during Reconciliation Week.  We asked Dr Robert Amery and Jack Buckskin to translate our story into Kaurna language.  At our recent Yultiwirra Exhibition of Work and Learning we proudly launched our whole school story book entitled ‘Our Place’.  It’s a wonderful celebration of this very special and unique place.  Our place is not just where we learn – it’s where we all belong, (adults, children & young people) and where we all grow.  You can view the book and hear the story told by some of our students here.

We sold the book ‘ Our Place’ at both the Exhibition of Work and Learning and Grandparents and Special Person Day and the first print run has sold out!  We are now offering only pre-order copies of this unique memento for $29.95 each.  A hard copy is available for viewing in the Yultiwirra office. $5 from each sale will go towards our Yarning Circle RAP project, which is being constructed in the Yultiwirra bush area early next term.

Orders will close on the last day of Term 3; Friday 26 September. Please indicate which campus you would prefer to collect your book/s from during checkout. Click on the link below to order through Humanitix.

Click here to order

Cathy France

Principal

In week 7 we hosted our Yultiwirra Exhibition of Work and Learning. The event was a vibrant celebration of our students' dedication and creativity, with each student excitedly sharing their projects and progress with parents, relatives, and guardians.

Parents and carers were warmly welcomed to visit their child’s classroom and explore the impressive displays of student work. It was a fantastic chance for families to see first hand the Montessori materials and methods that support our students' learning.

The Common Room buzzed with excitement as specialist teachers showcased their work in Indonesian, Music, and PE. It was a great opportunity to see the breadth of learning experiences our students engage in.

The event was a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of our students, culminating in a memorable performance by our Cycle 2 choir. Their spirited singing highlighted the incredible talent within our school community.

The new whole school picture book, 'Our Place' was launched following the choir performance, and guests had the opportunity to purchase the first copies of 'Our Place', while watching & listening to a video showcasing the story, read by our students. 

Following the choir performances, families had the chance to revisit classrooms and continue exploring the exhibits. The exhibition left everyone with a sense of accomplishment and pride in the students' achievements.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and to our staff who helped students prepare to make this event a resounding success. 

A record breaking $10,000 was raised at this year's Quiz Night, however it was the laughter & sense of community that really made the night such a rousing success! It's wonderful to see our school community embrace the theme each year, dress-up, have fun and be playful! Adam (our MC) was in his element, and we are so grateful for his wit, banter and adjudication skills.

Thank you to our generous sponsors and the tireless efforts of our Community Connection Group, who tirelessly planned, sourced prizes and silent auction items, decorated and set up the hall, organised and served food and drinks on the night and packed up. A great result of both fund-raising and fun-raising! Well done to all who were involved. We cannot wait until next year!

Community is at the heart of everything we do at The Hills Montessori School - and last week we were delighted to welcome grandparents and special people into our school across Wednesday and Thursday. Our students proudly presented a rich program of Indonesian and music performances, from traditional dances and songs to angklung orchestras and recorders. The joy on stage was matched by the joy in the audience, as our community came together to celebrate the children’s learning and creativity. After the performances, families were invited back into classrooms for special activities and to step inside Our Place - sharing in the everyday learning that makes our school unique. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for these memorable days. Your presence means so much to our students and to our school community.

We are having a beautiful time in the Infant Program and really enjoying some lovely connections as a little community. We have continued to work on our tasting activities with some spreading of salty vegemite on toast and then some cutting of bitter kale and cooking it with some sour lemon juice. The children have really enjoyed being involved in the process of cutting, cooking, spreading and then, of course, tasting. It has been lovely to see them trying new things for some or favourite flavours for others. We have also been getting out in the garden and getting excited for Spring.

For Father’s Day, our Extended Program children hosted a Father’s Day breakfast with their fathers or special person.

The morning was filled with joy and connection as they proudly welcomed their dads or special person into the classroom.

They set up the classroom to replicate a café, carefully laying tablecloths, plates, cutlery, bowls and mugs. The final touch was a personalised placemat made by each child highlighting activities they love to do with their dad / special person.

They shared a delicious breakfast together, with the children serving their dads and special people. This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to practice grace and courtesy – from taking their dads or special persons' food and drink order from the menu, to carefully serving their food, and clearing the table and washing the dishes. These small but meaningful acts are at the heart of Montessori education and help them build respect, thoughtfulness and independence in everyday life.

Preschool has been embracing the new season of Spring and has been creating some spectacular artworks demonstrating their artistic and fine motor skills including colour choice, cutting, gluing, painting with various tools including rollers, and experimenting with watercolours.

“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.” If one sense is isolated, it seems to be enhanced in its power of perception. The possibility of perception is more profound. It is the concentration of the conscious mind upon that sense”. Maria Montessori, The 1946 London Lectures, p. 80

The students have explored their senses this term in a variety of ways. They smelt different herbs, spices and scents which evoked feelings, memories and thoughts about people and places. They drew images through a window, a pair of glasses, or a magnifying glass of what they could see. They touched a variety of objects and described them of being rough or smooth, cold or warm, and heavy or light. The sounds of everyday life such as the train, people talking and animal sounds completed the sense of hearing. The most loved exploration was the sense of taste where they experienced sour, bitter, salty and of course sweet. The children made lemonade using fresh lemons, tasted honey, and enjoyed the vegetables they had prepared. Comments expressed included “You use more than one sense for almost every experience” and “If I close my eyes, I can use my sense of hearing and smell to find out what it is” and they described the lemonade as being both sour and a little bit sweet.

To accompany this learning was the introduction of the human body and the different systems which makes us unique. The children labelled the different parts of the body, learned that the head has so many different parts and the skeleton is what provides the framework for our bodies to move and protects our vital organs such as our heart, brain and lungs.

This term, Cycle 2 students have been inspired by the colourful and imaginative work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, often called the ‘Princess of Polka Dots.’ Kusama is famous for her bright, playful use of dots and shapes, many of which are inspired by the natural world.

To begin, students have created fish designs decorated with dot patterns, before moving on to organic shapes that echoed the curves and forms found in nature such as the shape of a leaf or a shell. They quickly discovered how repeating a simple shape or colour can create a striking visual effect.

Next, we’ll be turning our attention to sculpture, transforming Kusama’s playful ideas into colourful 3D works of their own.

Through this study, students are learning not only about an important contemporary artist, but also about how art can tell stories, connect with culture, and encourage us to see the world in new ways. Most importantly, they are building creative confidence and having fun experimenting with ideas.

“Yayoi Kusama is a famous artist from Japan. She is famous for her dot artwork” – Ned

“I used the dot technique to do the coral. We used bright colours so the fish would stand out” – Harriet

“My artwork has lots of dots. It was fun to do!” – Harvey

This term, our students have been on a journey through the history of writing technology. From the reed pens of Ancient Egypt to the elegant feather quills of the Middle Ages, and from the clack of a traditional typewriter to the smooth glide of modern pens, the children had the opportunity to handle and experiment with a wide range of writing implements. Each tool offered its own challenges and delights, sparking curiosity about how people across time have recorded their ideas, stories, and discoveries.

As part of this exploration, students conducted research and created timelines to trace the development of writing technology. This helped them see how human creativity and innovation shaped the way we communicate today—from the earliest marks pressed into clay to the digital tools we now use daily.

One of the highlights of the project was rediscovering the art of letter writing. With paper, ink, and plenty of thought, students slowed down to compose letters that expressed care and feeling. In a world of instant messages, this experience reminded us of the joy that comes from taking time to craft words with meaning and intention.

Students at both campuses celebrated the 80th Indonesian Independence Day by engaging in traditional games, tasting authentic Indonesian dishes, exploring the story of the Spice Trail, and unpacking the meaning and language of the national anthem.

They also took part in the Indonesian Language Learning Ambassador (ILLA) program—an initiative of the Australia Awards, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Guided by Language Ambassador Siti Sara, students immersed themselves in the language and cultural traditions of Medan, North Sumatra through interactive storytelling of the ‘Legend of Lake Toba’, and by practising the local Batak language, customs, and ceremonial practices.

At our recent Grandparents and Special Persons Day, several classes at the Yultiwirra campus shared a vibrant performance celebrating Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage—through singing, dancing, and playing the Angklung. I’m so proud of the way our students embraced the spirit of collaboration - showing patience, effort, and genuine enthusiasm as they prepared and performed. Together, we created a truly special day—one that brought our community closer, and one I know we’ll all look back on fondly.

TERIMA KASIH BANYAK SEMUANYA! (Thank you so much, everyone!)

Please join our Wellbeing worker Alice Bradley to talk all things parental - Stress, Guilt & Time, on Thursday 18 September at 9.15am in the Infant Program room at Yultiwirra.

A 2025 News Corp parent survey found that one in three parents feel at breaking point, while two-thirds are haunted by guilt that they're not doing enough—especially amid unrealistic portrayals of parenthood on social media.

We would love to provide a space for parents to support each other by sharing thoughts, experiences and strategies. Please RSVP via Audiri, by 17 September.

Look forward to seeing you there!

We wish to invite all parents/caregivers to our upcoming sharing assembly held in the Hall at our Yultiwirra campus, where students will have the opportunity to share their work.  Please make a note of the date.

Friday 19 September 9.30am - Cycles 2 & 4 sharing

Please click the link below to access a copy of the Vacation Care program & booking form for the upcoming October school holidays. Please return completed forms by Monday 22 September.

Please note that our last day of Term 3 is Friday 26 September, and we return for Term 4 on Tuesday 14 October 2025.

Our new set of Festival of Arts Greeting Cards are here! Each design showcases the creativity of our cycle groups and have been professionally printed. Cards are available for purchase from the Yultiwirra office: 

🖼  $4 each🎁

$20 for a bundle of 8

(Envelopes included)

All proceeds will support school-wide fundraising initiatives. As always, thank you for supporting our community!

Come along and see the Cycles 2 & 3 students who have private instrument tuition. 

Thursday 18th September at 6pm in the Yultiwirra Hall (12 Anderson Road, Aldgate).

Please RSVP via Audiri.

Have you visited our Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn pages? Social media is another way we communicate with parents.  Follow us to keep up to date with school community news, events and activities. We also aim to use our social media to help develop your understanding of the Montessori Philosophy. You might also like to let grandparents and friends know so they can also enjoy the news, photos and updates!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehillsmontessorischool.sa/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehillsmontessorischool.sa/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hills-montessori-school-sa

We’re delighted to share the joyful news that Emily and Attila Nandori have welcomed a baby girl, Ludivine, little sister to Alfie. Congratulations Nandori's!

We’re excited to share that Alex Hill has welcomed a baby boy, Henry. Both are doing well, and we congratulate Alex and Travis on this wonderful news!