2022 Newsletter Term 02 | Issue 04

— Corinne, Sarah & Nina

Through the Montessori Curriculum areas of Practical Life, Sensorial and Mathematics, children experience the concepts of order, measurement, calculations, numeric symbol recognition, counting, and exactness. The maths materials available in the classroom allow the child to practice each concept in isolation before extending their skills and knowledge. Numerals are introduced after the child has an understanding of quantity (with the golden beads) and working with the hundreds board highlights the pattern of counting which is reinforced by the short bead chains, counting by 2’s, 3’s etc.

— Amanda, Teresa and Claire

We all want to raise thoughtful, grateful children and a way to encourage this is for them to participate in charitable work.  During this year we have raised money for a school affected by floods in Lismore, we have collected shoes for a local charity that clean and distribute them to people in need and more recently we have focused on ‘One Meal’ a local charity.  Children have brought in food stuff and last week we had a Teddy Bears picnic and children brought in a fiver for their friends in need.

To see the children begin to learn the value of generosity, to know they are making a difference to their community and experience the joy of giving we realise there is as much benefit to the children as there is to the charities they are supporting.  Thank you to all our families for your continued kindness and generosity.

– Dawn

The early years lay the foundation for learning mathematics, at this age children can access powerful mathematical ideas relevant to their current lives and learn the language of mathematics, which is vital to future progression.

In kindergarten this term, the children have been learning about the decimal system. Once an understanding and knowledge of numbers to ten (units) is consolidated, the whole decimal system can be presented. The decimal system helps children to understand the concept of units, tens, hundreds and thousands. Once this concept is grasped, the children can begin to make and read composite numbers using the golden bead materials and number cards.

— Helen

We had the opportunity to attend the Montessori Sports Carnival and the children had the best time. It was a great opportunity to get to know children from different schools and to learn new skills and sports. It was wonderful to see everybody having fun and making new friendships and we are looking forward to next year’s event.

Some of the students had the opportunity to build an outdoor bench with Nick last week. They were encouraged to use their own building skills and to work collaboratively as a team to finish the product while reading and interpreting the instructions booklet.

We would like to wish everybody a lovely school break. Enjoy the sun and see you soon back at school.

— Laura.

PRE-SCHOOL CAMPUS
In music, the kindies have continued working on a song of their own about some animals and the community they live in. We have worked on our song using the glockenspiels, body percussion, splitting into teams with different parts and adding in some dynamics. I think we have concluded that if you ever come across a pig that cuts hair, you should just keep on walking.

The younger groups have loved learning our musical words for fast and slow (presto and largo) and take great pleasure in proving me wrong when I challenge them to tell me if the animals on our flash cards are presto or largo!

We have been practicing breathing techniques and vocal warm ups at the beginning of each session and had a lot of fun singing a bubblegum song and making pizza!

NORTH HEAD CLASSROOM MUSIC
This term Akiya and Yani have been learning all about the sounds and style of Surf Rock Music. They have turned into a surf rock choir and are sounding wonderful on Surfer Girl by The Beach Boys. They have also been playing and singing a modern surf rock song by The Drums called Lets go Surfing. Akiya has been playing it on Xylophone and Yani have been playing it on the Ukulele.

MONTESSORI BAND
This term the band has been working on two songs Cloudy Day by Tones and I and Minds Eye by Wolfmother. Rehearsals have been coming along very nicely and they are really starting to gel together as an ensemble.

It’s been great to continue a relatively un-interrupted term of music and watch all of the children develop their musical skills, and also their love of music.

Learn to PLAY Music
Learn to LOVE Music
…Be a Musician for LIFE!

James, Angie, Ben & Deb
(The Evergreen Music Team)