At Hillside Academy, we believe that each child has unique gifts and purpose. Our mission is to nurture every student's heart and character, fostering growth in knowledge, compassion, and resilience. We recognize that all children and families are on a journey and are honored to support each child as they discover their value and potential in our world.
While founded and based on Christian values, Hillside is an open-enrollment school that accepts students from a wide variety of backgrounds, religious and non-religious.
Our guiding principles include:
- Celebrating Beauty and Wonder: Whether in nature, music, or quiet reflection, we encourage students to connect deeply with the world around them, discovering beauty in everyday life and developing gratitude and curiosity.
- Recognizing Inherent Worth: Each child is inherently valuable and deserving of respect. This belief forms a strong foundation for self-worth, empathy, and mutual respect among peers and educators.
- Reflective Practices: We cultivate mindfulness, inner peace, and resilience through positive affirmations, moments of stillness, and prayer. These practices empower students to grow in clarity, self-awareness, and a sense of purpose.
- Community and Traditions: Shared traditions such as our daily pledge, monthly chapels, and the Rose Ceremony at the beginning and end of the year celebrate milestones and strengthen our sense of belonging. These practices foster unity and a lasting connection to our community.
- Living as Light: We encourage students to be a light in the world through their actions, guided by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.*
Together, these principles shape students who reflect God’s love, bringing light, kindness, and purpose to the world around them.
*You are the light of the world… – Matthew 5:14-16
*The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23