2024 Newsletter Term 01 | Issue 03 – Farmhouse Montessori School

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families

Primary Class Parents & Preschool Social Committee

Parent social events have been underway at both campuses and we thank families for attending, organising, and suggesting events. Attending parent social events can be a great way to connect with other families especially for new families within our community. A reminder that we have a combined Parent Mixer on Thursday 4th April, 6:30 pm (North Balgowlah Campus).

Bobby-Jo, Cherie, and Tamara have offered to be class parents at the North Head Campus. At the North Balgowlah Campus, parents from each class have volunteered for the Preschool Social Committee. There will be numerous opportunities for parents to get involved and to help support class parents with events at the school. Contact your class parent, Harshitha, our Deputy Principal, or Chris Deery, our Primary School Coordinator, if you would like to support upcoming initiatives.

National Ride 2 School Day, Friday March 22nd

Please join us and more than 870 schools across the nation who will ride, walk, scooter, or skate to school on Friday, March 22. The purpose of the day is to encourage healthy habits and for children and families to be active on their way to school.

The day also provides an opportunity for reflection on bicycle and road safety, and some extensions in mathematics to collect data on modes of transport on the day and calculate total distances travelled.

Harmony Week

Harmony Day falls on Thursday, March 24^th and highlights the diversity within Australia. Throughout the week students have the opportunity to focus on the theme ‘everyone belongs.’ Respecting diversity and encouraging harmony are fundamentally core to the Montessori approach.

“If we truly want to achieve equality and harmony among human beings, we must not neglect the time of life when the social, idealistic and linguistic differences which separate human groups do not yet exist. ” Maria Montessori Citizen of the World, p. 55

NAPLAN

This week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will engage in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The assessment focuses on three domains of literacy: —reading, writing, and language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation)—and numeracy. NAPLAN provides only a snapshot into a child’s knowledge and skills .

Primary Campus Tours

School tours are continuing at the North Head Campus. It has been lovely to see our preschool families join. All families are welcome. Tours can be booked on our school website or email enrolments@farmhousemontessori.nsw.edu.au to book a private tour or observation.

Kind regards,

Alia James | Principal

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

It is very often that as parents you are met with ‘nothing’ as a response to your very enthusiastic question, “What happened at school today?” or “What did you do today”? Here are a few ways of navigating through such conversations.

Using the language of the child: As a Montessori school we refer to the materials and activities mostly as “work” and not “toys”. So if you ask them questions like, “What did you play with?” or “What toys did you play with?”, you are unlikely to get much of a response. However, if you say, “What did you work with?” or “What work did you do?” or “Which material did you take off the shelf?”, you may yield some responses.

Explore Different Facets: If discussions about their “work” bring minimal insights, your child’s most memorable moments may lie elsewhere. Inquire about their outdoor adventures, the friends they played with, the plants and pets they cared for or the songs they sang during group activities. Tailoring your questions to their interests can stimulate more engaging conversations.

Respect Boundaries: Just as adults appreciate moments of privacy after a long day, children may sometimes need space to decompress. If your child is not keen to discuss their day, allow them the freedom to share at their own pace acknowledging that silence does not equate to a lack of engagement or enjoyment.

Nothing

When children come home at the end of the day,
The question they’re asked as they scurry to play is,
“What did you do at school today?”
And the answer they give
makes you sigh with dismay.
“Nothing, I did nothing today!”
Perhaps nothing means
that I played with blocks, counted to ten, or sorted some rocks.
Maybe I painted or learned to tie my shoe
Or learned what happens when you mix red and blue
Maybe I learned to tuck in my chair and put my work away
Or maybe I learned to be kind to a friend while I was playing outside today,
Maybe my scissors followed a line and I learned to write my name.
Maybe I learned some sounds or numbers or learned to play a new game,
Maybe I made a craft or sang a song from beginning to end,
Or maybe I learned to play with a special, brand new friend.
When you’re in preschool
And your heart has wings,
“Nothing” can mean so many, many things.

(Author Unknown – Sourced from North American Montessori Centre)

Harshitha Ravikumar | Deputy Principal

Food preparation is abuzz in Elouera classroom, where our little ones love engaging in this hands-on activity. In a Montessori environment, food preparation holds significant importance, serving as a cornerstone of practical life activities.

In the classroom and at home, children can enjoy slicing bananas, cutting apples or pears, peeling mandarins, eggs, and oranges, making bread, and even making homemade pizza dough!These activities not only provide practical skills but also offer numerous benefits:

Through hands-on experiences and meaningful interactions, children in our classroom have discovered the importance of food preparation. It offers an excellent opportunity to expose children to a variety of fruits and vegetables. It also nurtures independence, fine motor skills and lays the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

— Corinne, Anniebelle, Nina, Sarah.

Our little adventurers have been immersed in a whirlwind of learning as we delve into the mesmerizing world of our lungs and senses. Through hands-on activities using paper bags and straws, our curious minds explored the mechanics of breathing. It was a sight to behold as our young learners watched in amazement, witnessing how lungs fill up with air just like a paper bag. In our quest to engage the senses, we embarked on a thrilling adventure with our smelling jars. From the invigorating aroma of coffee to the refreshing scent of mint and the sweet embrace of vanilla essence, our children journeyed through a sensory wonderland, learning to distinguish and appreciate the nuances of each aroma.

At Burbangana, we believe in nurturing not only the minds but also the hearts of our children. That’s why we instill a sense of care and responsibility for our environment as part of our daily grace and courtesy. From tenderly watering and cleaning our beloved plants to ensuring their well-being, our little caretakers take pride in fostering a nurturing environment where growth and learning thrive.

Our budding mathematicians master the art of sequencing numerals and matching them with their associated quantities. With each carefully placed number rod, our children build a solid foundation in numeracy, paving the way for future mathematical success.

— Kathleen, Teresa, Katherine and Yuko.

The children in Cooinda are expanding their friendships with all the new children settling in. Over the last few days we have been practising our routines, such as looking after our belongings, how to enter the room, hand washing, using placemats, packing away after we finish activities and using many Montessori materials.

Caring for our environment has been a topic of exploration over the last fortnight. The children have been particularly interested in caring for the playground and the garden.

It has been lovely seeing the older children help the younger children.

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

International Women’s Day was a week long event for us exploring the meaning of a person being ‘inspiring’. We investigated the fierceness and determination of Cathy Freeman, the kindness of Jane Goodall and the trailblazing Amelia Earhart, Florence Nightingale and Maria Montessori. The children ran like Cathy, flew aeroplanes like Amelia and discussed what they would want to take care of like Jane and Florence. The beautiful, thoughtful discussions about what women can do, the struggles they have overcome and the comment from a child “I can be anything I want to be, like if I want to do woodwork I can because no one can stop me!” says it all.

Here’s to the fierce, determined, kind women of the future learning from the past!

– Dawn

Greetings from the Aikya classroom at the North Head Sanctuary in Manly! We are delighted to share the exciting journey our students have been on during the past two weeks.

Exploring the Tapestry of Human History: The Third Great Story

In our continuous exploration of the broad canvas of human history, the students of Aikya have delved deeper into the Third Great Story. This captivating journey into the braided history of our world has sparked profound curiosity and inspired thoughtful questions. The children’s engagement with this foundational story has brought history to life within our classroom. Notably, a fascination in the Fundamental Needs of Humans and the evolutionary tale of Homo Sapiens has been evident.

Embracing the Arts: Poetry and Song at Circle Time

Our Aikya family has been immersed in the enchanting world of poetry and song during our circle time. Through recitals and shared moments of creative expression, our students have not only honed their language skills but also cultivated a deep appreciation for the rhythmic beauty of words. The joy and enthusiasm radiating from these sessions have truly been heartwarming.

Montessori Materials in Action: A Classroom Alive with Activity

A vibrant hum of activity fills our classroom daily as our students explore the Montessori materials with passion and focus. From the intricacies of math to the wonders of language, the breadth of our daily work showcases the commitment and dedication of our Aikya learners. The variety of activities on display highlights the diverse interests and talents within our close-knit community.

NAPLAN Practice: Nurturing Confidence Through Assessment

For our older students, the recent weeks have included NAPLAN practice sessions. While providing a glimpse into the standardised testing experience, these sessions have been crafted to instil confidence and resilience in our students. Learning to enjoy the process of test-taking is an essential part of their educational journey, and we celebrate the positive strides they are making.

As we wrap up these eventful two weeks, the Aikya classroom remains a space of joy, optimism, and knowledge. We look forward to the upcoming adventures that learning will bring us and are grateful for the continuous support of our Farmhouse Montessori community.

Wishing you all health, happiness and a peaceful fortnight ahead!

Warmest regards,

—Toby, and Chris and Amy Louise & Ella.

Over the past two weeks, the Yani classroom has been buzzing with excitement and collaboration with the successful bake sale held on Friday, March 8th, in honor of International Women’s Day. Children eagerly participated in baking delicious treats and worked together to raise funds for Local Kind, a Manly-based charity supporting the most vulnerable members of the community.

In addition to the bake sale, each child in Yani immersed themselves in studying a historically significant woman who inspired them. Through research projects, they delved into the lives and achievements of these remarkable women, sharing their newfound knowledge with their peers and families through an art gallery exhibition. The event fostered a deep appreciation for the contributions of women throughout history and provided an opportunity for the children to express what aspects of these women’s lives inspired them personally.

Meanwhile, within the classroom curriculum, the Yani children embarked on an engaging exploration of the Hand Timeline. This lesson, a key component of the history curriculum, offered the children a condensed glimpse into the story of human evolution. They learned how early humans utilised their hands for survival, innovation, and discovery, ultimately leading to the development of writing. The Hand Timeline lesson sparked curiosity and appreciation for the ingenuity and resilience of our ancestors, laying a solid foundation for further historical exploration.

—Laura, Thomas, Ella & Amy Louise.

Preschool Campus

In music time we have been working on fruit rhythms, creating different patterns we can clap and say.

We have also introduced 2 dynamics symbols & musical words for soft and loud (piano and forte). We had fun listening to ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ by Bjork and recognising these dynamics in a song!

We are still obsessed with hearing the story of Dr Foster and singing the song together, perhaps you could ask your child to tell you all about it. They can sing it to me these days!

Here’s the link to spotify, along with a couple of other group favourites:

Dr Foster
https://open.spotify.com/track/4F4Q2uSOA50n64duO55Toi?si=571f03ed70bf4755

When I Was a Little Fish
https://open.spotify.com/track/4ydZLgEExLXAe87GqfdnVl?si=1c928dcec443494b

Bubblegum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4zWauZFpyo

Primary Campus

On Friday mornings before school, we are running a Mixed Ensemble session.

Yani and Aikya sessions rotate on a fortnightly basis with sessions running from 8am till just before 9am in time for the school day to start.

If you’re interested in being a part of the sessions, register your interest via the google form below:
https://forms.gle/vZTz3KuZu18DSzoL9

— The Evergreen Music Team.