2024 Newsletter Term 04 | Issue 04 – Farmhouse Montessori School

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

As we conclude this year, I extend my gratitude to all of you for being such an integral part of the Farmhouse Montessori community. Your commitment and support make all the difference.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our end-of-year Preschool Kindness Concert and Picnic. It was a joyful occasion to see our youngest learners share their songs and poetry, crafted by the children with the guidance of our educators and Evergreen Music. The messages of kindness they conveyed were a touching reminder of the core values we nurture here at Farmhouse Montessori. Thank you for participating and making this event a memorable community celebration.

We also celebrated the 2024 Graduation Ceremony and Concert at the Primary School, where we honored our graduating Year 6 students: Gustave, Arjomand, Tylor, and Callum. Some of our graduating students began their Montessori journey in our Preschool at age 2, and witnessing their growth over the years has been profoundly moving for all of us. The ceremony was filled with laughter, tears, and immense pride as we reflected on their achievements and the strong foundation our educators have provided. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Congratulations to our graduates and their families; we are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Lastly, I’m thrilled to share the results of our Trivia Night fundraiser—thanks to your generosity and the support of our sponsors, we raised an incredible $4,941.43! These funds will go a long way in supporting the outdoor resources across both campuses. Thank you to everyone who contributed, participated, or helped organise this fun-filled event.

Wishing you and your families a joyful and safe holiday. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2025 for another year of learning, growth, and exciting new opportunities.

Warm regards,

Alia James | Principal

Dear Families,

We have come to the end of another wonderful year at Farmhouse Montessori School. This year has been an incredible journey filled with learning, growth, and countless moments of joy and connection. None of this would have been possible without your unwavering support and partnership. Thank you for being an integral part of our school community.

To our children who are moving on to new schools next year, we extend our heartfelt congratulations. We are proud of your achievements and look forward to hearing about your future adventures. Remember, you will always have a place in the Farmhouse Montessori family.

This year’s End-of-Year Kindness Concert was a beautiful reminder of the strength and warmth of our community. It was wonderful to see so many of you come together to celebrate our children’s hard work and creativity. The songs and performances truly highlighted the values we hold dear—kindness, inclusivity, and gratitude. Your presence made the event even more special!

On behalf of the entire team at Farmhouse Montessori, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a happy New Year. May this time be filled with love, laughter, and precious moments with your loved ones.

Kind Regards,

Harshitha Ravikumar | Deputy Principal

The past year has been a remarkable journey for our toddlers. From initial moments of apprehension, they have blossomed into confident and curious learners. Through hands on experiences and nurturing guidance, they have developed strong bonds with their peers and teachers. Witnessing their playful interactions, shared laughter, and collaborative efforts has been truly heartwarming. We extend our sincere gratitude for your continued support throughout the year. We wish all families a lovely and safe holiday season.

— Corinne, Anniebelle, Nina, Sarah.

As the preschool year comes to an end, it’s always lovely to stop and reflect on our learning journey. Many of the children have begun to experiment with writing and some are now writing their names and copying short words. In our Montessori classroom, the journey to writing begins with metal insets, which are geometric shapes that children trace to create patterns. This activity lays the foundation for writing through the development of fine motor skills, hand strength, and pencil control.

With ongoing exposure to the metal insets, children combine shapes creatively, enhancing their understanding of lines and curves essential for letter formation. This exploration also introduces concepts of symmetry and patterns which stimulates cognitive development and artistic expression. Gradually, the skills gained from metal insets lead to writing some letters and words. It is great to see so many children confident in their skills as they transition to school next year.

Beyond academic readiness, the children have engaged with a range of Montessori materials across the year that have supported the development of their practical life and social skills. For the families leaving us at the end of the year, we wish you all the best as your children transition to school. We also look forward to welcoming back many families in 2025.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Kindly yours,

– Vanessa, Teresa and Katherine.

Children gain many benefits of nature play and child-led learning. Spending time in nature improves wellbeing and reduces anxiety. Spending time in our garden the children’s connection to the environment deepens. Using all their senses they are smelling, touching, hearing and looking at the mint growing in the garden and observing ladybugs on the leaves.

This week we also had a visit from Healthy Harold the giraffe who told us about all the things he does to keep himself healthy and how easy it is for us to do the same. He told us about the importance of healthy food and drinks, physical activity and rest in a day. How to make healthy choices and take responsibility for our own personal health for healthy personal growth.

This brings us to end of term and we wish you lots of kindness and happiness during the holidays and New Year

—Jo, Catalina, Rachel, Yuko and Claire.

Throughout the year our focus is to follow the interests of the child and we are lucky enough to have opportunities in abundance having such an amazing outdoor space to explore. This natural environment provides children with opportunities to learn about the world around them, improving both their physical and mental health. It helps children develop independence, a natural curiosity and an inquisitiveness to question and investigate. It could be, “ look at the different sizes and types of green in my leaves”

Or “Look the cucumber is a c for cucumber and a c for me Chloe!”

Or “Can I find what bird this came from, a Lorikeet?”

Or maybe it’s the joy of cutting open one of our homegrown tomatoes that had a hole in it to discover what’s been eating it!

Every day something new, every day a question, every day the joy of discovery.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday break exploring and spending time together in nature.

Best wishes for 2025

—Dawn.

As we approach the end of this vibrant school year, the Aikya classroom is a buzz with activity, joy, and reflection. It has been a privilege to watch the children grow, explore, and thrive within our Montessori community at North Head. Here are some of the highlights from the past fortnight as we prepare to bid farewell to 2024.

Preparing for the Christmas Concert and Graduation Ceremony

The children are eagerly preparing for our much-anticipated Annual Christmas Concert and Graduation Ceremony. The air in the classroom is filled with the sounds of rehearsals and a collective excitement for the opportunity to showcase their talents and honour our transitioning graduates. These events hold a special place in our hearts as they embody the joy, creativity, and community spirit of the school.

Welcoming Our Newest Community Members

This term, we warmly welcomed transition students to our classroom. Witnessing the growth of our second-year students as they stepped into mentorship roles has been inspiring. They’ve proudly taken on the responsibility of guiding new peers through routines, demonstrating the use of materials, and sharing the rhythms of our community. This exchange reflects the Montessori principle of multi-age classrooms, where children naturally learn from and support one another.

Celebrating Our Transitioning Graduates

We celebrate the accomplishments of our transitioning graduates who have begun spending time in the Cycle 3 classroom, preparing for the next stage of their Montessori journey. While they eagerly anticipate their transition, they are also savouring these last days in Aikya, reflecting on their growth and achievements.

Wrapping Up the Term’s Work

The children have been diligently bringing their work to completion and taking immense pride in curating their portfolios. Each week, during our Celebration of Learning ceremonies, we have observed moments of pride as the children reflect on their efforts, choosing pieces that showcase their growth and interests. These portfolios are a testament to their hard work, creativity, and determination throughout the year.

Wishing You a Joyful Summer Break

As we prepare to pause and embrace the festive season, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to all our families for your unwavering support and partnership. We wish you a summer filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments with your loved ones. May the holiday season bring you peace and joy, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2025 for another year of growth and discovery.

With warm regards and festive wishes,

—Toby, Chris and the Aikya Children

As the school year draws to a close, our classroom has been bustling with excitement and preparation for the much-anticipated graduation concert. Students have been rehearsing their performances to ensure a memorable event. Year 6 students, in particular, have been dedicating extra effort to crafting their graduation speeches, reflecting on their time at school and sharing memories. While we eagerly look forward to this celebration, it will be bittersweet to say goodbye to our Year 6 graduates, Gus, Arjo, Callum, and Tylor, who have been such integral parts of our community.

In addition to concert preparations, students have wrapped up their last surfing lesson for the term. The joy on their faces as they rode the waves one final time for the year was truly wonderful. Surfing has been a highlight, and the children are already excited for more water sports opportunities next year. Meanwhile, in the classroom, our exploration of fungi has sparked curiosity and lively discussions. Students have been captivated by these fascinating organisms, sharing intriguing fungi facts they’ve discovered. Their enthusiasm for learning continues to inspire us all.

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to welcome our transition students, Kaya, Esther, and Tristan, into Yani next year. We are confident they will bring their unique energy and talents to our vibrant classroom. As we prepare to conclude this year, we remain grateful for the hard work and creativity displayed by all our students. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to celebrating with you at the graduation concert!

—Laura, Thomas, Ella & Amy Louise.