Elonera Montessori School Happy, Harmonious, and Hands-on

Working together to help our children to help themselves.

School Prospectus 2014-16

21 Mount Ousley Road Mount Ousley NSW 2519 Ph 02 4225 1000 Fax 02 4228 9525 admin@eloneramontessori.com.au

www.eloneramontessori.com.au

Elonera Montessori School Elonera Montessori School is a registered independent school providing a stimulating and positive learning environment for students from 3-18 years of age. Small classes ensure personalised guidance and attention. The students belong to a harmonious community and there is recognition of each child’s individual needs and learning styles. Education at the Elonera Montessori School offers your child an opportunity to develop independence, self-confidence and self esteem. The program encourages the development of personal responsibility, thinking processes and encourages a love of learning. We hope this prospectus will convey to you some of Elonera’s special characteristics. In 1987 Elonera Montessori School commenced a primary program with a Montessori teacher and eight children, following the vision of a group of dedicated parents who shared a dream of providing a Montessori Primary School education for their children. From this modest beginning, Elonera has grown to be a school which caters for the Parent Toddler Program (18 months to 3yrs), Children’s House (ages 3yrs to 6yrs), Primary (6yrs to 12yrs) and High School (12yrs to 18yrs). Elonera Montessori School is registered for Years K to 12 and accredited for Years 7 to 12 by the NSW Board of Studies and is an authorised IB World School by the International Baccalaureate Organisation. The school is also approved by the Department of Education and Communities to provide a quality onsite preschool and outside of school hours care service (OOSH). The Montessori National Curriculum has been endorsed by ACARA and is mapped to the NSW syllabus outcomes. Parents can be assured that children attending the school through their formative years will attain much the same levels of achievement as in other schools with the addition of the Montessori advantages, where educational achievement is a priority, however not at the expense of the development of the child. The curriculum is broad based and integrated and includes the six key learning areas for primary plus a language (Italian) and the eight key learning areas for high school with the option of several electives. If you would like to know more we extend a cordial and enthusiastic invitation to you to contact the school on (02) 4225 1000 and arrange either a tour of the school or an observation of one of our classes in action. You will be most welcome.

Our Vision Is a world that lives in peace, a global community based on interdependence, respect for all life and all people, reached through the only path that can truly lead there, our children. Our Mission

‘Working together to help our children to help themselves’ ● To inspire a passion for excellence ● To nurture the curiosity, creativity and imagination born within us all ● And to awaken the human spirit of every child

Our Program Rests on Four Objectives ● The cultivation within our students of a passion for excellence in everything they do, both in and

outside of the school ● The development of a strongly held set of universal values, which include self-respect, respect

for others, honesty, integrity, responsibility, empathy, compassion, kindness, peacefulness, a sense of concern for others, warmth and a love of community

● The development of a global perspective and a sense of international understanding ● And a lifelong commitment to give something back through service to others who are in need

Education Program – The Fundamental Nature of Our School ● The Montessori approach to learning provides our philosophical framework ● Elonera Montessori is a multicultural and internationally-minded school ● Elonera Montessori is designed to prepare students both for further learning and for life ● Our school teaches children to be at home in the world of nature ● Elonera Montessori is a school that is connected with the children’s families ● We are committed to developing character and values ● We are committed to diversity ● Elonera Montessori is a close-knit community of students, educators, parents, and friends of the

school

Please refer to our Blueprint of Fundamental Values and Beliefs for a more comprehensive understanding of our organisation and our approach to education.

The Montessori Philosophy Elonera Montessori School follows the educational philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) and provides a non-sectarian education at all school levels. Montessori at Elonera is a learning process where children are encouraged to develop within boundaries at their own pace in a safe and caring environment. Established world-wide, the Montessori Method has proved successful with children from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. There are thousands of Montessori schools in Europe, North America, Asia and many in Australia.

Montessori is based on the child’s innate need to develop intellectual and physical abilities and provides a carefully prepared environment designed to meet and direct this need. Elonera Montessori School therefore aims to assist in the total development of the child - social, emotional, intellectual, physical and cultural - so that the child will be better prepared for life and can adjust to the changing conditions of his/her environment. The Montessori approach to education is child centered and is based on mutual respect and cooperation. The teacher in a Montessori classroom is more of a guide and facilitator respecting the concentration and varied learning approaches of the children. Non-aggression and non-interruption, tolerance and concern for others are stressed. Montessori is about learning to balance responsibility with freedom of choice. It offers children the opportunity to realise their potential in a non-competitive environment and seeks to promote in them: ● Self confidence and self esteem ● A sense of achievement and self worth ● Initiative and self motivation ● Independence and adaptability ● Respect for work ● Concentration and persistence in completing a task ● A sense of responsibility for themselves and their actions ● Cooperation with others and a sense of community ● Respecting the rights and needs of others

A Montessori Education The philosophical foundation of the Montessori approach is based on the premise that education should be an aid to life. In order to develop their physical, intellectual and spiritual powers to the fullest, children must have the freedom to achieve this through order and self-discipline. Dr. Montessori realised that the only valid impulse to learning is the self-motivation of the child. Respect for a child’s personality and trust in their inner potentialities are prerequisite to the foundation of an adequate educational alliance, between parent and teacher, parent and child and between teacher and student. Our aim is to assist in the development of each child’s innate potential, by creating a school environment in which the child can do and think for him/herself. Patterns of concentration, focus and thoroughness established in early childhood produce a confident, competent learner in later years. Montessori teaches children to observe, to think, to judge and provides a framework in which intellectual and social discipline go hand in hand. Montessori education concerns itself with creating an environment, especially suited to the un-deviated development of the child’s psychic, physical, social, moral and intellectual potential qualities. Dr. Maria Montessori drew on scientific study of how children learn and her insights are reflected in their similarity to educational principles generated by current neuro-psychological research. The following principles list some of her major ideas about how children learn and develop:

● Movement and Cognition - that movement and cognition are closely entwined, and movement

can enhance thinking and learning ● Choice - that learning and well-being can be improved when people have a sense of control

over their lives ● Interest - that people learn better when they are interested in what they are learning ● Extrinsic rewards are avoided - that tying extrinsic rewards to an activity like money for reading

or for high grades for tests, negatively impacts motivation to engage in that activity when the reward is withdrawn

● Learning with and from Peers - that collaborative arrangement can be conducive to learning ● Learning in Context - that learning situated in meaningful contexts is often deeper and richer

than learning in abstract contexts ● Teacher Ways and Child Ways - that particular forms of adult interaction are associated with

more optimal child outcomes ● Order in Environment and Mind - that order in the environment is beneficial to children

Maria Montessori’s imaginative and innovative solutions to the problem of harnessing the school child’s innate curiosity and delight in discovery are no less relevant today than they were in her own time. What Makes Montessori Different from Other Education?

The child learns and is motivated through the work itself (not solely through the teacher) to persist in a given task. Each child has their own program suited to its developmental stage and needs. Each child receives individual attention, wherever possible and certainly wherever needed, all instruction is one on one in the early years or in small groups of similar ability for primary. One of the most important advantages is that each child can and does work at their own pace. Children are expected to work, and there is no competitiveness, only the child’s own drive and desire to learn. The child is neither pressured to keep up with the group, nor bored by having to wait for others to catch up, consequently the child is happy to learn and come to school. For more information on Montessori Education, please visit the Montessori Australia Foundation website at www.montessori.org.au.

School Structure and Organisation School Board Elonera is governed by a Board of Directors that are teachers, parents as well as external members who have a common mission of providing the Montessori Method of education, as clarified in the Elonera Montessori Blueprint of Fundamental Values and Beliefs. The operation of the school has been delegated to the Head of School who is responsible for the day to day operation of the school. Elonera Montessori School is a non-profit company, of limited guarantee that is owned by the members. The School Board and the teaching staff develop school policy, based upon the Board of Studies NSW requirements, as well as ensuring that it is aligned to the school’s blueprint of Montessori education.

Staffing One of the school’s strengths is their caring, committed and professional staff, who are very involved in fostering the growth and individual capabilities of each child. The school employs a staff of qualified teachers registered with the Institute of Teachers NSW. In addition, our pre and primary teachers are trained or qualifying in the Montessori methodology. The high school teachers are qualified in their specialty area, and have International Baccalaureate Diploma training.

The administration staff of the school comprises the Head of School, Deputy Head of School, office staff and part-time cleaning, maintenance and grounds staff. School support staff assists in all of the classes. Specialist teachers at times in the primary are contracted for music and Italian. Staffing is stable which ensures a team spirit within the school and a sense of security within the child.

Classroom Programs Years of patient observation led Maria Montessori to realise that children pass through very definite planes of development. Therefore in the Montessori learning environment children pass through stages rather than in Years: the Parent Toddler Program (18 months to 3yrs); the Children’s House or Stage 1 (3-6yrs); Stage 2 (6-9yrs); Stage 3 (9-12yrs); Stage 4 (12-14yrs); Stage 5 (14-16yrs) and Stage 6 (16-18yrs). The Montessori classroom is a vibrant community, where the child learns to interact socially in a variety of ways. The age and sex mix comprises a three year age range of both boys and girls and approximates a family environment. The older children will often act as models for the younger children thereby further increasing their confidence and knowledge. They also acquire a sense of responsibility through being leaders in the class, which further enhances their self-aspirations. Meanwhile the younger children are inspired to more advanced work through observing the older children. The variety of levels in the classroom allows each child to work at his/her own pace. The program facilitates the development of a caring community within which cooperative rather than competitive learning can flourish. In the Montessori classroom the child is presented with an orderly environment with a variety of especially designed simple hands on equipment that are easy to manipulate and are self correcting in nature. This helps children to understand from an early age many difficult concepts that are usually stumbling blocks such as fractions, units or verbs.

Parent Toddler Program The Parent Toddler Program is a Family Support Program assisting to lay a foundation for the child and adults in Montessori Education. The PTP Cottage is designed for children aged 18 months to 3 years and the activities are designed to meet the developmental needs of this age range. Each activity is specifically chosen to appeal to the children for the building of their psycho-sensory motor development and language skills. The Parent Toddler Program runs 3 classes each week: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 9am to 11am. The Parent Toddler Program is an opportunity for you to enjoy some special time with your child to assist their development of independence. As you learn more each week, you will be able to observe how your child is growing and changing with additional knowledge and respect. Sometimes you will be doing things with your child and other times you will be observing them. Either way, this is a time to enjoy the peace away from the pressures of the day and be together with other parents and children building a foundation in Montessori education. Dr Maria Montessori called her method, ‘Education for Life’. This specialised and nurturing environment will prepare your child’s growing independence, self-esteem, confidence and concentration span. The rooms are unchanged to give consistency and respect for the child’s love of order. This way the children soon learn where things belong (as will the adults). Here we introduce the concept of working on a mat or at a table. We are working together, respectfully, as a small community. The Parent Toddler Program is an excellent preparation for your child’s transition into Stage 1.

The Children’s House and IMPS – Stage 1 (Pre-Primary) The Stage 1 Montessori Program is designed for children from 3 to 6 years old. Children attend a daily session for five days a week. This provides a regular and established routine at an optimal time of the day for learning. As in a family, the children learn from and assist one another. They are free to move about, talk and work with familiar materials that can be divided into the five basic areas of the pre-school curriculum: 1. Practical life materials provide the link between home and school and enhance the development

of coordination, confidence, concentration and independence. They help the children adapt to their environment. The Practical Life activities include polishing, washing, pouring, dressing skills, food preparation, sewing and social skills.

2. Sensorial materials are designed to help children become more perceptive to understand concepts and focus on the details of the world around them, and are in direct preparation for later work. Activities involve grading and matching shape, weight, touch, taste colour and sound.

3. Language materials increase vocabulary, explore the sounds and syntax of the English language and help children to read and write. Activities commence with oral language work such as stories, speaking and sound games, through to working with sandpaper letters, writing with a movable alphabet and then reading.

4. Mathematical concepts are offered to children concretely. Hands-on materials create an enjoyable approach to arithmetic and geometry. Children will learn to count and then to operate decimal systems and fractions. From this solid base abstraction occurs naturally.

5. Cultural materials provide children with experiences in geography, history, music art and natural sciences. As in other areas the child first experiences culture on a concrete level. Activities include puzzle maps for geography, bells for music, personal time-lines for history, simple science experiences such as sink and float and a range of paints and materials for art.

Children generally move into more individualised sessions at approximately 5 years of age (this is a small group of older children working with the teacher on more formal schoolwork). It is usually during this final year in the program that the greatest progress in the development of the child’s social and academic skills can be observed. The first two years have laid a foundation of knowledge and experience which is consolidated and built upon in the third year leading to greater confidence and competence. Work in smaller groups also provides the opportunity to develop greater concentration and engage in increasingly more difficult tasks.

Children in Stage 1gradually develop a new level of social and emotional maturity, which usually indicates a readiness to enter Stage 2. To help in this transition, children are encouraged to spend more time in what will become their new classroom where materials and methods overlap from the pre-primary. In this way a gradual transition into Primary is achieved, as there is a continuity and logical progression through each stage.

Stage 2 and 3 (Primary) The Montessori Stage 2 is designed for children from 6 to 9 years of age (Years 1, 2 and 3) who preferably have attended the traditional Montessori Children’s House (5 day program). Stage 3 is similarly designed for children from 9 to 12 years of age (Years 4, 5 and 6). The children continue to learn from and assist one another in their classroom community, which is surrounded by an environment suited to their developmental needs. All subjects from the Children’s House are greatly expanded in the primary. Their minds focus not on facts and names but on relationships. The reasons ‘why” and the ‘how’ fascinate them. The materials found in the primary classrooms enable the children to explore past, present and future. The children see an overview of particular concepts and areas of knowledge and then focus on the specifics. Research is an important aspect of the Primary classrooms and the children explore alone, in cooperative groups and as a class, such subjects as astronomy, geology, physics, evolution, biology and history. As they study, the children begin to perceive the links between these fields and often find that new areas of study open for them. For example, the history of Egypt is tied to the Nile, geography, to art and to writing, hieroglyphics, to geometry, the 3-4-5 triangle to survey following the floods, to fauna, the crocodiles and so on, to flora, the papyrus, the writing paper to record the history which was the point we entered the chain. Mathematics and language (reading, spelling etc.) also form a pivotal part of the child’s experiences and learning. Concrete Montessori materials facilitate understanding, while a full curriculum embracing all of the elements of a traditional curriculum, approaching them from a Montessori perspective, however, is experienced. The primary Montessori classroom utilizes a modified contract system wherein certain areas and amounts of work are covered within a set time. The child is responsible for ensuring that their work is covered. Each child is therefore able to develop his/her own work patterns. For example one child may spend very lengthy periods of time on one subject then another, whilst a classmate may work for a shorter period on a wider variety of work. Yet each child will maintain a similar spread of work overall. In a Montessori classroom the teacher is constantly on the move, overseeing, advising and assisting as necessary. The teacher may give a lesson to a small group here, to an individual there and always with reference to the individual needs of the children in the class. Throughout these Primary years social awareness grows. Stages 4, 5 and 6 (Secondary) The Montessori Secondary class is designed for students from 12 to 18. The students continue to learn from and assist one another in their classroom community, which is surrounded by an environment suited to their adolescent needs. The classes continue to operate with the three-hour work cycle in the morning, which is similar to the primary school. A timetable operates to cover the 8 key learning areas, and is staffed by part-time and full-time staff members. Students in Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8) study all mandatory Board of Studies subjects. All subjects are studied in a two-year cycle, except mathematics, where each student is on an individual program, and Italian, where subjects are offered in year groups. Students in Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) are offered electives in addition to the mandatory Board of Studies subjects. Electives generally offer students the opportunity to pursue and/or consolidate their interest and skill in a particular area of learning. Elonera Montessori School now offers both the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and the

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme as options for Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12). As an IB World School, we join a global community of schools that share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Elonera believes is important for its students. Please refer to our HSC Course Outline and IB Course Outline for more detailed information. Independent research is an important aspect of the Secondary classrooms and the students explore alone, in cooperative groups and as a class, such subjects as science, philosophy, literature, history, cultural studies, mathematics, humanities, and earth studies. As they study, the students begin to perceive the relationships between these fields and often find that new areas of study open for them. The Montessori classroom utilizes a modified contract system wherein certain areas and amounts of work are covered within a period of time. The student is responsible for ensuring that their work is covered. Each student is therefore able to develop his/her own work patterns. In a Montessori classroom the teacher is constantly on the move, overseeing, advising and assisting as necessary. The teacher may give a lesson to a small group here, to an individual there and always with reference to the individual needs of the student in the class. Throughout these adolescent years, tolerance, cooperativeness and social awareness grow.

Special Programs Music, Language and Drama Music in all its forms plays a great part in all classes. Percussion instruments, ukuleles, keyboards are available in the primary school classrooms. Drama is explored and presented at a yearly concert. Elonera also offers one-hour tuition of Italian as a language other than English for the Children’s House to Stage 3 and for two and a half hours for Stage 4 and 5.

-School Choir -Mandarin -Drama Club

Outdoor Activities An important part of children’s development is their activity in the outdoor environment. Concepts explored with classroom materials are applied to the wider outdoor environment. Nature and its fascination for the young child are brought into the classroom from outside. A range of exciting outdoor play equipment fosters physical activity. In Stages 1 to 3, outdoor activity takes a further step and includes development of specific physical skills such as catching techniques, swimming, dance, fitness and a variety of games. Sports Program Stages 2 to 5 participate in sport one or two afternoons a week. We have in the past utilized the facilities at the University, Beaton Park Leisure Centre, the PCYC, Northern Bowl, the Wollongong Tennis Club, Circus Monoxide and Hawks Basketball stadium. Sports, at times have included swimming, athletics, gymnastics, dance, yoga, basketball, circus skills and tennis. (There is a separate charge for off site or contractual sports, due to the transport and entry fees). Excursions For all Stages, taking children on excursions broadens the program. These may include trips to the botanical gardens, to museums, the library, galleries, recitals, theatre, national parks, historical exhibits and the like. Additionally, visitors with special skills and interests to share, who are expert in a particular field, may be invited into the classroom (e.g. a musician, person from another country, craftsperson, visiting entertainer as class or individual interests warrant. (There is a separate charge for excursions and these must be paid in advance). School Camp Stage 3 to 6 often attend an annual school camp. They organise and participate in their own fundraising towards the cost of the camp. Outside of School Hours Care (OOSH) To assist families, the school provides Before School Care and After School Care for a small charge. Child care Benefit and Child Care Rebate available to eligible families.

In General Hours of Operation Elonera Montessori School operates from 8.45am to 3pm for the High School and 9.00am to 3.00pm for all other stages during normal NSW school term dates. There are breaks for morning tea and lunch. In addition to these school hours, Before School Care operates from 8am to 9am and After School Care operates from 3pm to 5.30pm. Uniforms There is no uniform at Elonera Montessori School, however if children wish to wear a uniform, they are welcome to make that choice. Students are expected to be sensibly and neatly attired and are required to wear a hat when they are outside. Closed-in shoes are required when accessing most speciality rooms (eg. Science labs, art room etc.). Newsletter The school has a weekly newsletter, ‘Elmonti’, which includes reminders of school activities, fundraising events and other important information for the coming week and beyond. Canteen The canteen is open on Monday and is run by a roster of volunteer parents. We rely on the goodwill of parent volunteers, who provide a wonderful service. Parent Involvement In a growing parent-managed school such as ours, parent involvement in support of the school’s goals is essential. The success and development of the school has been to a large extent due to the willingness of parents to give time and energy to work and contribute in a variety of ways. The continuation of this success will depend heavily on our future parents and it is for this reason that parents are actively encouraged to become involved. Whilst personal and business commitments may make it difficult to participate in many activities, all parents can contribute in some way. Involvement can mean: ● Helping with school canteen ● Nominating for School Board ● Becoming a member of one of the various school task groups ● Assisting teachers (e.g. donating time, services, goods etc) with the making and/or maintenance

of classroom materials ● Giving administrative, or organisational assistance as required such as book fairs and running

the school library ● Supporting and assisting in the various fundraising activities (an important revenue raiser and

each family is required to participate in fundraising activities. ● Assisting in working bees (There are 4 working bees per year and a roster is drawn up to allow

everyone to participate equally. It is compulsory for each family to attend one per year) or taking on a job outside of working bees.

The families of the school provide the energy and direction that will ensure our children can receive the high quality Montessori education we wish for them. Parent commitment means that you acknowledge the need for all families to help the school run smoothly and are available when help is needed. Along the way, you will learn more about your child’s exciting life at school and the wonderful influences of a Montessori curriculum.

Enrolling at Elonera Children tend to settle more readily and adapt better to the situation and environment of the Montessori classroom if they enter close to their third birthday, depending on the individual readiness of the child. However, if a vacancy in an older age group does occur, subject to consultation with the class teacher, such children may be accepted into the school.

The hours of attendance of a young child new to the class may be varied in the first days (or weeks) in class to facilitate a smooth transition to the Montessori environment. The teacher in consultation makes decisions on the timing of entry of children into the class with the parents and on the basis of an assessment of the needs of each individual child. The first two weeks of enrolment are a mutual trial period for both the school and the family.

Waiting List As a general rule entry to the school is from the School waiting list upon completion of the Application for Enrolment form. Children may be registered on the waiting list at any time but it is recommended this be done after the child’s first birthday.

School Tour Taking a tour before enrolling is most beneficial and can be arranged by phoning the school office to make a booking.

Enrolment Interview In preparation for periodic intakes or when an occasional vacancy occurs, applicant parents and their child are invited to attend an interview after their completed Application for Enrolment has been submitted. At this meeting the teacher will familiarise the child with the environment and, in discussion with the parents gauge the child’s readiness for school. Such information as the child’s health, interests, family background and prior experiences are discussed. Children usually have a trial day before they are enrolled. A decision on placement will be communicated shortly after a successful trial day and a formal offer will be made.

Enrolment Criteria The school takes the following criteria into account in the enrolment process: ● Date of application ● Age of child ● Child’s social and emotional maturity ● Readiness to commence school ● Sibling of a child already at school ● Prior Montessori schooling

Making the Decision Elonera will have provided a range of information to ensure that families are able to make an informed decision when accepting an offer of a place at Elonera Montessori School. This will have included the Parent Information Package, a tour of the school, the enrolment interview and consultations as may be necessary.

Accepting and Securing a Place A place in the school will be secured and formalised when the Acceptance of Enrolment form together with the Enrolment Conditions form are completed and returned to the school along with an Enrolment Fee. The actual commencement date will be advised at the relevant time. Accepting a place indicates a commitment to keeping up to date with fees and the Enrolment Conditions clearly state the withdrawal notice requirements.