2023 Newsletter Term 01 | Issue 01

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

Welcome to the academic school year.
In particular, I welcome the fifty plus families who have joined us for the first time. I do hope your child has settled well into school. Today, a letter was sent to all parents outlining several important matters. I will refer to some in this newsletter.

Social Welcome.
We are planning a parent social event to be held in the coming weeks. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the Farmhouse community to come together. Further information will be shared later this week.

Appointment of Alia Rogers as Deputy Principal.
I am delighted to announce that Alia Rogers has accepted my offer to be Deputy Principal at Farmhouse. Alia will commence Term 2. She is currently overseas and will return to Australia during Term 1. Alia is an experienced and qualified Montessori educator. She is currently completing her second Montessori degree, this time in zero to Years 3 Education. Alia will oversee operations of both campuses, with a special role co-ordinating North Balgowlah Campus.

Jenny Bensted retires 3rd March. Jenny has, for so many years, been such a strong and stabilising force, and advocate, for North Balgowlah. I am finalising a suitable date to thank, acknowledge, and farewell Jenny.

Elizabeth and Catalina will oversee daily staffing needs. I am most grateful for their assistance.

Harshitha Ravikumar, based at North Head, has been appointed Primary Co-ordinator.

At the end of Week 2 we farewelled and thanked Sunny Mallanoo for her work at North Balgowlah. This week we welcome Ashley Gilchrist who has taken over Sunny’s role.

The School Term dates are published on the school website. 

North Balgowlah and North Head Social Parent Groups.
Each campus will have a separate parent social group designed to foster community within each campus. During this week you will receive an email from North Balgowlah parent group informing you of some suggestions and planned activities. I do hope that you are able to join them in their planned social activities.
Jesse and Bobby-Jo of North Head Campus have offered to be class parents. They would like to have a small committee to support the initiatives for this campus. I encourage you to reach out to them, Harshitha, Tom, or me, if you would be able to join us.

Music Lessons.
This year, Kindergarten children from North Balgowlah Campus will travel to North Head Campus for the class music program with Evergreen Music. This will be a wonderful opportunity for Kindergarten students to experience both the music and the engagement with students at North Head.

Parent Opportunity for Classroom Observations at North Head Campus.
This year we will open our classrooms for observations during the morning work cycle. This will give the families an opportunity to view a Montessori classroom in operation. The planned observation sessions dates are: Week 6:  6th March to 10th March, and Week 8: 20th March to 24th March. Harshitha will provide more details in the coming weeks. I encourage all parents to take up this opportunity to join us for the Montessori experience at North Head. I am looking for a similar experience for the North Balgowlah campus for Term 2.

Parent Education Week.
Last week an email was sent to all Farmhouse parents inviting you to join us for a week of daily sessions on the topic of Montessori education. These sessions are designed to provide parents with a deeper understanding of the Montessori philosophy and how it supports your child’s holistic growth and development.

Each day, our teachers will lead a discussion on a different aspect of the Montessori method, including its philosophy, principles, and the implementation in the classroom.

All sessions will be held at the North Head Campus from 8:30 a.m. to 8:55 a.m.
All preschool and primary school parents are welcome.

Supervision. 
Supervision will be available for children at both campuses.

Preschool: Parents, according to the enrolment day your child at North Balgowlah can drop your child off at the North Balgowlah Campus at 8.00am. You may also bring your child to North Head for the duration of the sessions and drive your child back to North Balgowlah.

Primary: Aikya and Yani, children will commence their school day early, at 8.30am.

Dates and Topics of discussion for the sessions.
– Monday 20th Feb:  Montessori Cycle of Work
– Tuesday 21st Feb:  Assessment and Evaluation
– Wednesday 22nd Feb: Learning Support
– Thursday 23rd Feb: Stages of Development
– Friday 24th Feb:  Practicing Freedom and Independence

We ask that you plan to attend all five sessions in order to get the most out of this educational experience.
We look forward to sharing our passion for Montessori education with you!

Board IT Committee. To assist Farmhouse technological development, the Board is focused on forming an IT committee. Please contact me, through my PA, Suzanne Lyle pa@montessori.nsw.edu.au if you are able to join this small sub-committee.

The Farmhouse Montessori Annual General Meeting will be held Monday 1st May at the North Balgowlah Campus. Further information and the agenda for the meeting with be presented in the coming weeks.

Parent Survey: At the end of last year, I sent a survey to all parents on why they selected Farmhouse Montessori to educate their child. The purpose of the survey is to assist the Board and the Marketing Committee with the strategic focus on how we promote, communicate, and engage the community to ensure its ongoing success and growth. Thank you for taking time to complete the short survey. I have written to the families who have joined Farmhouse in 2023 offering them the opportunity to complete the survey. Once these responses have been received the results will be collated and reported back to the Board. All response is treated with the upmost confidentiality.

Kind regards,
Bruce Rixon  |   Interim Principal