2024 Newsletter Term 02 | Issue 04 – Farmhouse Montessori School

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

Big Work

While walking to one of our primary classrooms, Aikya, it was a delight to see some of the “big work” going on. Some children had been working with phonograms and had written their lists of words on lined paper and had glued each list to the previous one. The work, which may have started initially on an A4 sheet of paper, was now approximately 15 metres long and continued down the hallway.

What is significant about “big work” in Montessori settings is not so much about the size of the work but the joy, focus, and motivation that accompanies the work. The children were not asked to complete the challenge but, with an uninterrupted work cycle, had the opportunity to explore such work. Seeing moments like these in the classroom and children working until a task is complete or repeating something until they have mastered a skill is an underpinning component of the Montessori approach.

Semester 1 School Reports

This week, all families will receive their child’s Semester 1 Report via email. Reports are issued twice annually, and we hope that the upcoming reports will provide greater insight into your child’s progress so far, particularly into how our new students have settled in.

A reminder that parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Term 3. If you would like to schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher outside of regular conferences, please get in touch with reception or email your class teacher.

Parent Survey

Parents, your feedback is invaluable to us! As a school, we are always striving to improve and enhance our collaboration with you. By participating in the upcoming parent survey, you will be providing us with crucial information that will help us better serve our school community. The School Board will soon send out the parent survey online, which should take about 10 minutes to complete. We sincerely appreciate your time and effort in participating in this survey.

Twilight Art Gallery

Thank you for joining us for our Cocktail Party and Twilight Art Gallery in May, the art gallery will continue at the new primary campus in Term 3 until the end of July and families are welcome to purchase your child’s portrait (if you haven’t already done so). A total of $4405.00 has been raised so far and all preschool portraits have been sold. These funds will be used for upgrades to our outdoor play areas. Thank you for your support!

Save the Date, September 21st Trivia Night

Save the date for our annual fundraising Trivia Night on Saturday, September 21st! The event will be held at Wakehurst Golf Club. If you would like to volunteer for the event or if you have some donations in mind please email pa@farmhousemontessori.nsw.edu.au. We look forward to seeing you there.

Owna

Thank you again for supporting digital signing in and out each day for our preschool families. Remember to download the app so that you can use additional features, such as completing forms. We will be adding new features and communication tools next Term. You may download the Owna app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Owna will be phased in for primary families next Term.

Kind regards,

Alia James | Principal

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

Assessment and evaluation are ongoing processes in Montessori classrooms. Teachers monitor children’s growth and development to guide them through the environment. This approach respects the individual pace of learning of each child and creates a nurturing environment where all children are supported.

Throughout the year, teachers engage in observations and record-keeping of each child’s engagement with Montessori materials, social interactions, progress in various areas, and their overall development. Over the last few weeks, our teachers have worked together to write comprehensive and insightful reports for each child. The reports are individualised and personalised focusing on each child’s developmental journey.

This week, your child’s reports will be sent out through EDUCA. Please read through the reports and share any thoughts or feedback you may have. Your insights are valuable as we continue to support your child’s growth and development.

Kind regards,

Harshitha Ravikumar | Deputy Principal

Toddlers are having a blast exploring science through hands-on activities involving magnets and sink or float experiments. These interactive experiences spark their imagination and encourage them to discover the world around them.

With magnets, toddlers are given the opportunity to explore magnetic attraction and repulsion on their own, after an initial demonstration. This hands-on approach allows them to learn which objects are magnetic and how magnets interact with various materials.

The sink or float activity introduces toddlers to basic concepts of density and buoyancy. By observing which objects sink to the bottom and which remain afloat, they begin to understand the underlying principles at play.

While some toddlers may quickly grasp these scientific concepts, others might need more time and revisiting the activities in the following term.

— Corinne, Anniebelle, Nina, Sarah.

Over the last couple of weeks, the children have been investigating The Winter Season.

They have looked and learnt about animals that live in cold climates. Made Observational discoveries regarding the weather and how the climate has changed over this term.

Made comparisons to summer clothing and winter clothing that they are now wear to school.

We have discussed foods and drinks that we may have in winter compared to summer and have finished with making a winter Leek and Potato Soup.

— Teresa, Katherine and Yuko.

Celebrating international days with the children broadens their perspective of the world beyond their own. Discussing Refugee Week we focused on our rights as human beings. Our right to be happy; to feel safe; to have the right to speak out and defend ourselves. We role played, drew pictures and talked. Children described how they felt safe with their families, at school, with grandma, in the car with their seatbelt on and on their boat with a life jacket!

This was also an opportunity to learn about how we use the Peace Rose in our classrooms to help resolve disputes. One child suggested the refugees should use the Peace Rose if people weren’t being nice to them! You have to love the innocence of children.

It was agreed that everyone in the world should just be kinder to everyone else because we are all human.

—Catalina, Harshitha, Jo, Claire & Rachel.

In the Amaroo classroom we use art as a form of expressing our learning. Children use fine paintbrushes, scissors and various mediums. Using different mediums like, torn paper, items from the garden, textured fabrics or smooth paints helps to develop fine motor skills and strength in their hands for writing. It also provides an opportunity for imagination, creativity, focus and concentration. This is often done sitting in a group situation with opportunities to share ideas, thoughts and knowledge.

I will often hear the children repeating what we have talked about in the group before we begin the artwork e.g., “I like the waterholes and the mountains you have painted, see my tracks and trees?” (During reconciliation week when we wrote stories, painted pictures and told stories using finger puppets using aboriginal art symbols).

– Dawn

Greetings from the Aikya classroom! As we approach the end of Term 2, we are delighted to share the latest happenings and highlights from our vibrant learning environment. The past two weeks have been filled with enthusiasm, discovery, and growth, embodying the Montessori spirit of joyful learning.

Daily Poetry Recital

The children have embraced a daily ritual of reciting poems that spark imagination and enhance their linguistic expression. It’s a heartwarming period in our day, fostering a love for language and rhythm.

Group Reading: The Tale of Despereaux

Our collective journey through “The Tale of Despereaux” continues to captivate the students. The tale of the brave little mouse has sparked deep discussions on courage, empathy, and resilience. The children’s engagement with the story is a testament to their growing literary appreciation.

Geometry Focus

Geometry lessons have been particularly exciting as we’ve delved into the parts of quadrilaterals and polygons. The introduction to angles and exploration of equivalence has ignited curiosity and analytical thinking. The hands-on materials and visual aids have been instrumental in helping the children grasp these concepts effectively.

Numeracy Focus

In numeracy, our focus has been on operations with fractions and dynamic operations with Golden Beads. The children have shown remarkable progress, displaying confidence in their mathematical abilities. The Montessori materials have once again proven invaluable in making abstract concepts tangible and understandable.

Language Arts Focus

Language arts have been a dynamic area of exploration. Our word study sessions, sentence analysis with Montessori sentence analysis material, and grammar study with Montessori grammar boxes have all contributed to a rich linguistic experience. The children are developing a strong foundation in language, enhancing both their written and verbal communication skills.

Cosmic Focus

The Winter Solstice provided a perfect opportunity for cosmic education. We engaged in discussions and explorations on how the Winter Solstice impacts seasons and the scientific reasons behind it. This cosmic perspective nurtures a sense of wonder and interconnectedness with the natural world.

As we come to the end of Term 2, we reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had. The children have worked diligently, demonstrating perseverance and pride in their efforts. It has been a pleasure to witness their growth and to be part of their educational journey.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our classroom community. We look forward to the new adventures and learning experiences that await us in the coming term.

Warm regards,

The Aikya Children and Teachers.

In the past two weeks, the children in the Yani primary classroom have been engaged in a variety of activities. A highlight was an incursion by Alex from Monkey Baa, who conducted an exciting workshop on improvisation. The session began with warm-up exercises, where the children learned about the neutral pose, a fundamental concept in acting that helps actors become a blank slate ready for any role. The children thoroughly enjoyed playing different games that required them to work together to create various shapes and objects. These activities not only sparked their creativity but also fostered teamwork and communication skills.

Improvisation and art are very beneficial for children. Through improvisation, children develop quick thinking and adaptability, learning to respond spontaneously and creatively to different situations. These skills are invaluable in fostering problem-solving abilities and building confidence. Additionally, art activities like those in the improvisation workshop enhance fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and provide a joyful outlet for self-expression.

The older children in the classroom have been delving into the Powers Material to explore the concept of cubing binomials. Despite the abstract nature of this mathematical concept, the hands-on materials and colorful cubes have made the learning process engaging and enjoyable. This material helps them visualize and understand complex mathematical relationships.

Meanwhile, some of the students have started learning about procedural writing. They are enjoying writing recipes and other instructional pieces, channeling their creativity into illustrating posters and making booklets. This combination of artistic and academic activities has created a dynamic and stimulating learning environment for the children.

—Laura, Thomas, Ella & Amy Louise.

July	22nd	Staff Development Day – Whole School – Pupil free
July	23rd	First Day of Term 3
Aug	5th-9th	Primary Parent Observations
Aug	13 & 15th	School Photos – Preschool
Aug	14th	School Photos – Primary Campus
Aug	15th	Preschool Tour 4.15pm
Aug	19th-23rd	Primary Parent Conferences

Farmhouse News

2024 Newsletter Term 02 | Issue 04

Upcoming events & Important Dates

Principal’s Message

PRIMARY SCHOOL COORDINATOR’S MESSAGE

ELOUERA | Stage 1 Infant Community

BURBANGANA | Stage 1

COOINDA | Stage 1

AMAROO | OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

AIKYA | Stage 2

YANI | Stage 3

Recent News

2024 Newsletter Term 02 | Issue 03

2024 Newsletter Term 03 | Issue 01