2025 Newsletter Term 02 | Issue 01

Upcoming events & Important Dates

TERM 2

June 6th Combined Montessori Staff Development – Pupil Free Day
June 9th King’s Birthday – Public Holiday
June 27th Term 3 Fees Due
July 4th Term 2 Student End date

TERM 3

Jul 21st Term 3 Student Start Date
Jul 25th Parent Information Session 8:15 a.m. – Primary School
Aug 12th School Photos – Preschool
Aug 13th School Photos – Primary School
Aug 14th School Photos – Preschool

See more Important dates here

Principal’s Message

Dear Farmhouse Montessori Families,

A very warm welcome to all our families, especially those who have recently joined our community this term. I would also like to express my sincere thanks for the kind and warm welcome I’ve received from the children, staff, and parent community in my new role as Interim Principal.

Mother’s Day Celebrations

It was heartwarming to see our classrooms at both campuses filled with the joyful presence of mothers, aunts and grandmothers. Children were proud to share a moment with loved ones offering handmade cards, warm hugs, or proudly showing the work and materials they enjoy. Events like these are a beautiful reminder of the special role mothers and caregivers play in a child’s life. Thank you for joining us.

Independent School Expo

Farmhouse Montessori School participated in the recent Northern Beaches Independent School Expo, where we had the opportunity to share our unique Montessori approach with prospective families. It was a valuable chance to connect with the broader community to highlight our child centred philosophy, and answer questions from families interested in an authentic and nurturing educational environment. A big thank you to Suzanne, who thoughtfully prepared all the show bags for the event, and to Bryony and Chris for their support and presence on the day, it was a wonderful team effort.

Montessori Professional Development Day

Both our campuses will be closed on Friday, 7th June for a pupil-free Professional Development Day. These days are important for our team to reflect, learn, and continue growing in their practice.

Speaker Series Event: Positive Discipline with Mark Powell

This week, we were delighted to host Mark Powell for a session on the Positive Discipline method as part of our Speaker Series. Families joined us to explore respectful strategies that support children’s emotional development and cooperation at home and school. It was a valuable and engaging event, and we thank all the families who participated and contributed to the conversation.

Primary School Open Day

We warmly invite all families to join us for our Primary School Open Day on Friday, 13 June. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore our classrooms, meet the teachers, and learn more about our Montessori approach for primary-aged children. Whether you’re considering enrolling or simply curious, we look forward to welcoming you and sharing what makes our Primary program special.

Look forward to your participation.

Warm regards,

Harshitha Ravakumar  |   Interim Principal

 

Preschool Coordinator’s Message

Freedom and Responsibility in the Montessori Classroom

Over the years I have had opportunities to work in different Early Years and Primary School environments. Many schools today speak of offering children “freedom” – The freedom to explore, choose work and express themselves. While these are admirable goals, the Montessori approach offers something deeper: freedom within limits. This is a freedom that is thoughtfully guided to nurture both independence and responsibility. Freedom here does not mean doing anything, at any time. Rather, it is the freedom to choose meaningful work within a structured and respectful setting. The balance is guided by the Montessori directress/director, a guide who carefully observes each child, meeting them at their point of need.

The main contributing factors in a Montessori classroom are its environment, the Montessori materials and the guides in the classroom. As the children grow in this environment, they begin to move with intention, choose work with focus and contribute with kindness. They are not taught responsibility through rewards or consequences, but by living it each day through the structured environment, the beautiful materials and the gentle direction of the guide. It is truly a joy to watch them take initiative, care for their space and support one another, thus laying the foundation for lifelong respect, responsibility, and inner discipline.

Kind Regards,

Merrill Tilwani  | Interim Preschool Coordinator

ELOUERA | Stage 1 Infant Community

In the Elouera toddler classroom, we deeply respect the capabilities of even our youngest children. At the heart of our Montessori philosophy is a belief that toddlers are not only capable but eager to contribute meaningfully to their community when given the chance.

Here, the classroom belongs to the children. It is their space—a place where they create their own community through daily acts of care and collaboration. Each day, our toddlers prepare the fruit for morning tea, set the table with real plates and glasses, bake bread to share for afternoon tea, and take pride in cleaning up after themselves and each other. These tasks are not assigned as chores; they are chosen joyfully and embraced as part of belonging to something bigger than themselves. Through this, the children build a strong sense of responsibility and care for their environment and one another.

The carefully prepared environment is designed to allow freedom within clear, consistent boundaries. Materials are child-sized and thoughtfully arranged to support independence and exploration. Children move through their day following their own interests, choosing their work, and engaging in purposeful activity that supports their development.

Underlying all of this is our unwavering belief in the capability of the child. Yes, even our toddlers! In Elouera, children are trusted with ceramic plates, real glasses, and knives and scissors that actually cut. We do this not because it’s convenient, but because we hold high expectations. When we trust children with real responsibility, they rise to meet it.

Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. In the Elouera classroom, our toddlers experience both and through them, they grow into confident, capable, and connected members of their community.

Warm regards,

Elouera – Nina, Corinne, Sarah, Karen, Anniebelle

BURBANGANA | Stage 1

In a Montessori environment, the concept of freedom within limits is central to how children learn and grow. One of the daily routines where this balance is beautifully visible is during our lunchtime transition.

Before lunch, each child has a role to play. Some are rostered to turn off the lights, arrange water bottles on the small table, or retrieve lunchboxes from the fridge and place them on the large table for others to collect. The rest of the class has the responsibility of preparing themselves by applying sunscreen, collecting their hats, and sitting on the mat, ready to transition to lunch.

Within this structured routine lies the freedom to make choices: where to place a lunchbox, where to sit, who to sit beside, and even where to put on your hat. These small decisions support the development of independence, self-regulation, and social awareness. Children learn that with the freedom to choose comes the responsibility to respect others, maintain order, and follow through on tasks. It’s a simple yet powerful example of how our Montessori classroom helps children become capable, thoughtful members of their community.

Warm wishes,

Burbangana educators – Vanessa, Annabelle, Helene and Katherine.

COOINDA | Stage 1

Freedom and Responsibility in the Classroom

In the Montessori classroom, freedom and responsibility work closely together.

Children are given the freedom to choose their activities after a lesson with an educator and to work at their own pace.  This freedom comes with the responsibility to care for their choices and actions in their work.  To show self control, respect for others and the environment.  Children can choose their activities that they have been introduced to which allows them to follow their interests. They have a personalised space represented by their mat and can work and repeat for as long as they want.  They have the freedom to work alone or in a group and are encouraged to share their stories at group time.  Educators encourage children to be considerate of each other and to be respectful of their classroom by taking care of materials, completing tasks and putting things away properly.

—Jo, Catalina, Rachel, Yuko and Claire.

AMAROO | OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

By integrating freedom and responsibility into the Amaroo classroom we can help the children develop a sense of agency and a continued commitment to creating a more sustainable future.

Encouraging children to take ownership of our recycling centre teaches them the value of recycling, waste reduction, and resource conservation, fostering responsibility for their environment and their community’s future.

By offering opportunities for exploration and self-directed learning in nature children can develop and deepen their understanding of sustainability themes such as gardening, recycling or composting.

As Greta Thunberg says “you are never too small to make a difference” this empowers the children as our ‘little eco warriors’ are happy to step up and help to save the world be that one bread tag to be recycled or an apple core for the worms!

—Dawn.

ORANA | Stage 2

In our Montessori kindy classroom, freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. Children are free to choose their own work each morning, selecting activities that interest them and meet their developmental needs. With this freedom comes the responsibility to complete work with care, return materials properly, and respect the learning of others.

This balance is also seen in how children manage their snack times. Rather than a set break, children decide when to eat, sign up for the snack table, and use a sand timer to manage their time. This encourages independence, time awareness, and consideration for others waiting their turn.

Freedom with responsibility also guides social play. Children often collaborate with peers from other classrooms, especially during outdoor time. They learn to include others, solve problems together, and take care of one another. These experiences help children grow into confident, respectful, and responsible members of their community.

Warm regards,

Laura

AIKYA | Stage 2

As we reach the middle of Term 2, our class has been actively engaging with the Montessori theme of Freedom and Responsibility. This guiding principle shapes our environment, where children make purposeful work choices, take ownership of their learning, and build awareness of their impact on the community. From choosing where and how to work, to contributing to group activities with care and focus, students are learning that true freedom comes through responsibility.

Our learning snapshot so far includes deep explorations in mathematics through the Decanomial, multiplication and division operations using concrete materials. In literacy, children have worked creatively with similes and personification in poetry, while continuing to build skills through word sorts, guided reading, and independent book projects. These activities develop both self-expression and accountability, as students are guided to complete, revise, and reflect on their work. Our daily work cycles have helped children build stamina and focus, reinforcing the value of following through on commitments.

Highlights such as our Friday Jiu-Jitsu sessions and shared Friday lunches are also part of this learning journey. These experiences foster grace, courtesy, and self-regulation, giving children space to grow socially and physically. As always, this is just a snapshot of our rich and varied term. The children continue to show growing maturity in managing their choices, caring for one another, and embracing both the freedoms and the responsibilities of classroom life.

Warm regards,

—The Aikya Team – Toby, Chris, Nicole

YANI | Stage 3

This term, the theme of Freedom and Responsibility has been front and centre in the Yani classroom – on the mat, in the dojo, and everywhere in between. Our Jiu Jitsu sessions have been a brilliant way to explore the freedom to engage in dynamic manoeuvres and the responsibility to practise with focus, control, and respect. Just getting to the dojo is an exercise in independence – navigating bus routes, arriving on time, and walking with purpose (and maybe a little excitement) through the door.

Back at school, we’ve been grounding ourselves in the basics: responsibility for self, for our environment, and for the way we interact with one another. We continue to come back to our three guiding messages – Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? – as we reflect on how we move through our days as individuals and as a class. And with the start of sewing workshops with Ella, students are quite literally threading together patience, precision, and responsibility – one stitch at a time. We look forward to seeing our final creations!

— Thomas, Ella, Nicole & Bruno.

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Farmhouse Montessori School

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