2023 Newsletter Term 03 | Issue 01

In Elouera the children have all been very helpful preparing fruit and eggs to share with their friends at morning tea time. They are very proud of their hard work and even more excited to taste the food they have prepared. The children peel and cut bananas and eggs. They peel mandarins and cut apples and pears. At morning tea time they all like to talk to each other about what they helped to prepare. The children are extending their concentration and developing their fine motor skills. These are also very productive for the child because they know they can eat it or share it with their friends. The children are building both self-confidence and self-sufficiency and it is amazing to watch their skills and abilities continue to grow.

— Nina, Rachel, Sarah and Yuko.

Over the past few weeks the children in Burbangana have enjoyed working with the puzzles. Puzzles are not only fun, they can support the development of problem solving skills, visual discrimination, fine motor strength and perseverance. The children have enjoyed exploring the puzzle maps to learn about the continents and working together to complete our new animal puzzles.

— Helen, Teresa & Claire

Football / soccer fever has taken over North Balgowlah campus.  We are closely following the Women’s World Cup, each day noting the scores, looking at which countries are playing each other and especially supporting The Matilda’s. Children have made flags, listened to national anthems, learnt about the players positions and the importance of teamwork.  Everyone has been involved in practising gross motor skills, kicking at the goal and leaning to dribble the ball.

Following such an event, children, especially the girls are seeing diverse role models in a spectacular sporting event.  There are new young players, the experienced, Indigenous players, a new mother and a hearing impaired player. Together they send a message that diversity is celebrated and anyone can play for The Matilda’s or The Socceroos.

Go The Matilda’s (or The Lionesses, true to my roots! )

– Dawn

We would like to welcome Alex Ryd, our new Kindergarten student, to the Farmhouse community.

The transition to the North Head campus has been a pleasant experience for the kindergarten children. They are settling well into the new environment and are happy with the change. Both Aikya and Yani students have been extremely helpful in helping the kindergarten children settle into the new environment. It was lovely to see the kindergarten children’s interactions with the older children. Thank you, parents, for your cooperation throughout the process.

Our very first excursion first week back of Term 3 to Glen Street Theatre was an enjoyable trip for the children. The children enjoyed the performance and had a good laugh. For the past couple of weeks, the kindergarten children have been focused on language works where they have had lessons on writing, learning to practise using the upper case, comma, and full stop, singular and plurals and noun lessons where they learnt that noun is a word that describes a person, place, animal, and thing.

The kindergarten children also look forward to the trips to North Balgowlah on Thursdays and Fridays, where they get to have playtime with the younger children, interact with their siblings, and work with some children in both Cooinda and Burbangana classes. This interaction helps empower them as they work with the children, where they feel proud to lead them to some activities such as reading, peer support and various lessons. The younger children also enjoyed the company they had with the kindergarten children. The kindergarten children continue to enjoy sports and are now doing sustainability with Dawn.

— Samantha.

We hope this newsletter finds you all in good spirits as we kick off another exciting fortnight at Farmhouse Montessori School. Our picturesque campus, located in the North Head Sanctuary, Manly, has been buzzing with energy as our students returned to school with renewed enthusiasm. It’s been heartwarming to see them reconnecting with their friends, diving into their independent learning, and immersing themselves in the wonders of Montessori education.

Cosmic Exploration: Unraveling the Beginning of the Universe

In the spirit of cosmic learning, this fortnight, our Aikya classroom delved into the fascinating topic of the beginning of the universe. Through the Black Time Line presentation and exploration of time concepts, our students gained a profound understanding of our planet’s history and our place within it. It’s truly awe-inspiring to realize how relatively short a time humans have been part of Earth’s timeline, emphasizing the importance of cherishing and caring for our planet.

Embracing Nature: Bushwalks and Cricket Lessons

With our school nestled in the beautiful North Head Sanctuary, we have taken full advantage of our natural surroundings. Our students enjoyed invigorating bushwalks, connecting with nature, and deepening their appreciation for the environment. Additionally, we kicked off our Cricket lessons on the top oval, providing our young athletes with an opportunity to develop their skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork.

Nurturing Artistic Expression: Term of Art Lessons

We are thrilled to announce the commencement of our Term of Art lessons, guided by Ela, the delightful teachers’ assistant from Yani (Cycle 3). Our students will have the chance to express their creativity and explore various artistic mediums, nurturing their imagination and self-expression.

Welcoming Kindergarten Next Door

Excitement fills the air as we extend a warm welcome to the new addition of Kindergarten next door to our classroom. Witnessing our students interacting and supporting the younger children as they integrate into their new learning space is heartwarming and embodies the spirit of the Montessori community and cooperation.

Montessori Philosophy in Action

As a Cycle 2 Montessori class, Aikya fosters an environment encouraging independence, self-discovery, and respect for one another. Our students have been engaging with the Montessori materials, exploring their interests, and taking charge of their own learning journey. We continue to provide a supportive atmosphere that allows each child to flourish and develop their unique potential.

Thank you for being a part of our wonderful Aikya community. We look forward to another fortnight of exploration, growth, and joy as our students continue to embrace the Montessori philosophy and discover the wonders of learning.

Warm Regards,

—Toby, Amy and the Aikya Children.

Welcome to Term 3 at our Montessori school, where excitement and enthusiasm fill the air as our students eagerly engage in their lessons! In our Mathematics explorations, the students have been captivated by the world of Roman numerals and have been working diligently to understand and master this ancient numeric system. Additionally, the students have been exploring the concepts of area and perimeter, discovering the beauty of geometry through hands-on activities and interactive learning.

We are also thrilled to announce that our students have embarked on an enriching “Food Safari Unit” as part of their cultural studies. This unique project has students forming groups to travel the world and research various cuisines they would like to cook and share with the class. This “going out” project encourages independence and resourcefulness, as the nominated group members independently research and plan everything they require for their chosen dish. From timetabling buses to purchasing the ingredients from the local grocery store, they will also showcase their culinary skills by preparing the dishes at school. The first stop on our Food Safari is Japan, where Gustave, Callum, Arjo, and Anony will surprise us with their culinary delights. We are eagerly looking forward to what they have prepared for us!

—The Yani Team.

Preschool Music (North Balgowlah)

We’re excited to be back with all our mini maestro’s this term.

Our Tuesday and Thursday sessions will continue to look at the metronome (helps us keep a steady tempo), while moving into exploring the Orchestra.

Looking forward to bringing some real life orchestral instruments for everyone too!

North Head Campus

This term our Monday in-class sessions will be taking a deep dive into one of the world’s most influential bands of all time both musically and socially, The Beatles.