2024 Newsletter Term 01 | Issue 01 – Farmhouse Montessori School

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

Welcome to the academic school year.
A warm welcome to our families, especially to our new families who have just joined our community. I also appreciate the warm welcome from the parent community, children, and staff as the new Farmhouse Montessori School Principal. I have had the opportunity to visit the classrooms to see the children engaged in meaningful activities in our indoor and outdoor environments- a delight to see.

Starting the new year, especially after a long holiday break, can bring a significant change of pace to the mornings. Your child’s teachers are here to confidently greet your child and help them settle in each day. Practical life skills for your child, such as helping to prepare lunch, preparing snacks, or setting out shoes and socks the night before, help with independence and might even help with getting ready in the mornings.

Appointment of Harshitha Ravikumar as Deputy Principal/Preschool Coordinator.
Harshitha Ravikumar has been a familiar face at Farmhouse Montessori School over the years and was our Primary School Coordinator last year at North Head. This year, I am pleased to announce that Harshitha is taking on the Deputy Principal and Preschool Coordinator role based at North Balgowlah. Harshitha has more than 20 years of experience in education in Australia and India and holds a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s in Teaching (Birth to 12). Her Montessori qualifications include the Montessori 6-12 Diploma and the Montessori Teacher Diploma for 3 to 6-year-old children.

Appointment of Chris Deery as Primary School Coordinator
I am also pleased to announce that Chris Deery, based at North Head, has been appointed Primary School Coordinator. Chris holds a Bachelor of Philosophy and Writing from the University of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) from Monash University, and a Montessori 6-12 Diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale. Chris has extensive Montessori teaching experience in lower and upper primary classrooms in Australia and the United States. Primary families will hear from Chis with fortnightly housekeeping emails and at parent information sessions.

I look forward to you getting to know Chris better during the year.

Returning Staff
We are thrilled to have Suzanne back in the office at North Head full-time. Thank you to all the families who have checked in with Suzanne; she is thriving.

We welcome back Corinne Dawson, Lead Educator in Elouera (Wed-Fri), from maternity leave. There was quite a bit of excitement among parents and grandparents learning of Corinne’s return at the end of last year.

Sarah Staples re-joins the primary campus once a week for the Term 1 athletics program. Welcome back, Sarah.

New Staff
At our North Balgowlah campus, we welcome educators Kathleen Lam (Burbangana) and Anniebelle Vergel de Dios (Elouera), and our receptionist Kathie Palamara.

School Events
Thank you to our families who attended the Orientation sessions at the North Balgowlah Campus. We have just had our Band Orientation and NAPLAN Information Session for parents at the North Head campus. Further events will be shared on the website and through regular school newsletters and emails.

This year, both campuses will have opportunities for parent-teacher conferences later in Term 1. Conferences are an excellent opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher. As always, if you have any questions or would like to meet with your child’s teacher before conferences, please contact them to arrange a meeting.

Social Media
If you have yet to like our social media pages, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

I am looking forward to a productive and joyful year ahead.

Alia James | Principal

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

A warm welcome to all our children and families.

The beginning of the school year is filled with excitement as children begin to settle into routine, form new relationships and reconnect with friends over all the growing and change that has happened over the long break!

This time of year, also marks a significant transition for many children and families as they embark on their first journey to preschool. It’s a time filled with enthusiasm, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of apprehension as they navigate new faces and environments. Every child is unique and they go through different stages which might change how they react to parting with their parents in the morning. Children find comfort in consistency and predictability, using the same language and implementing the same routine each day as part of the drop off routine helps build trust and a sense of security. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for support with the drop offs.

Although not new to Farmhouse, it has been a delightful experience connecting with all the families at the North Balgowlah campus. I look forward to getting to know you all better in the weeks to come.

Harshitha Ravakumar | Deputy Principal

Welcome back to all our families and welcome to all our new friends! We have had a busy start in Elouera this term and have been enjoying exploring the classroom and the outdoor areas.

We hope you’ve all been enjoying the photos and videos of our week on Educa. Educa is a great tool for connecting with your child about their day. Often the little ones (and sometimes the big ones too!) forget what has happened throughout the day, sitting with your child and looking at the photos and encouraging them to point out things or tell you the story can help connect home and school – and lets them give you a little insight into their world.

— Corinne, Anniebelle, Nina, Sarah.

We are delighted to welcome back our returning families and extend a warm welcome to all the new families joining our school community.

The past few weeks have been filled with joy and learning as we’ve embarked on various activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The children participated in the beautiful lion dance, rhythmic drumming and dragon paper craft. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to learn about this cherished tradition and appreciate the artistry behind it. Our budding chefs showcased their culinary skills to slice vegetables as they prepared and savored the delicious flavors of San Choy Bao.

We look forward to the adventures that lie ahead, as we continue to nurture a supportive and inclusive environment where every child can thrive.

— Kathleen, Teresa, Katherine and Yuko.

After a restful holiday, we are thrilled to welcome back the children into our precious Cooinda class. During the last couple of weeks, we have seen beautiful social interactions between children and educators, creating a warm atmosphere where every child feels valued and supported. In our prepared environment, we foster the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities that encourage cooperation, empathy, and mutual respect among peers, such as language games, building activities, and exploration of natural resources. We will continue to promote these activities throughout this term in order to support the children to reconnect and get familiarized with our environment.

We look forward to a wonderful term filled with laughter, learning, and memorable moments together.

—Harshitha, Catalina, Jo, Rachel, Claire & Angela.

Welcome back everyone, it’s so wonderful to see new and familiar faces. Everyone has been very busy this week, exploring our beautiful outdoor environment. Putting together a working bee to tackle the weeds in our veggie garden was great fun. We’re now ready for planting.

We also began an enquiry based project into Kelp forests, long story on how we came to that but the children have enjoyed investigating and then creating a Kelp forest.

Exploration of materials from the shelves, catching up with friends and overall having fun while we learn has been a priority. Wonderful start to our year!

– Dawn

Welcome to 2024

Welcome back to Aikya! The joy of reuniting with familiar faces and embracing new additions has set the tone for an exciting year ahead. The energy and enthusiasm in our Montessori learning space promise a journey filled with growth and discovery.

Easing into Routines

These initial weeks have been dedicated to gently settling back into our classroom routines. Establishing a sense of order and security is paramount, creating the perfect environment for the exploration and engagement that defines our Montessori approach.

Montessori’s First Great Lesson

Our academic journey has kicked off with the Montessori First Great Lesson. This foundational story has ignited curiosity, leading to hands-on experiments and deep dives into various subjects. The children have eagerly delved into the universe and its composition, explored states of matter, uncovered the earth’s layers and plate tectonics’s layers, and dived into the fascinating realms of volcanoes and the formation of land and water forms across the planet and the relationship the earth has between the sun and the moon.

Looking Ahead and Building Connections

As we look forward to the rest of the year, we anticipate a tapestry of experiences, relationships, and growth. The strong connections we build within our Montessori community, with each other and our extended families, will shape our collective journey.

Warmest regards,

—Toby, and Chris and Amy Louise & Ella.

The first two weeks of school in Yani have been exhilarating. The children have started the school year with boundless energy, eager to see their friends and share tales of their adventures during the holidays. Elsie-Jean took the initiative to give a presentation on her trip to Thailand, describing exotic landscapes and cultural experiences. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and her peers had many questions, which, in turn, sparked discussion about their own experiences traveling both in Australia and overseas.

Amidst the buzz of excitement, the students were happy to begin the academic year and to delve into lessons on different subjects. Mathematics became a strong focus as children engaged with Montessori materials such as the Decanomial Square, Racks and Tubes, Golden Beads for Divisibility, and Geometry Sticks. They used these hands-on materials to deepen their understanding of different abstract concepts.

Meanwhile, Ella illuminated the classroom with tales of the Lunar New Year, weaving together history, tradition, and folklore. In addition, she shared typical sweets, igniting a sense of cultural appreciation and curiosity among her peers. The children were deeply engaged in the stories and eager to continue their own research on the Lunar New Year. We are looking forward to seeing where their exploration will take them.

—Laura, Thomas, Ella & Amy Louise.