Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Fittingly, this year’s theme is Everyone Belongs. These values reflect the core values of Montessori education and very specifically the values we hold true at Forestville Montessori School. Within our small school community there are more than 27 cultural backgrounds. 48% of...
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If you’ve ever watched a young Montessori child build a word out of beautifully crafted red and blue letters, you’ve witnessed something profound. This is the moment when spoken language begins to take physical shape through the Movable Alphabet, a beloved Montessori material that opens the door to writing long before children’s hands are ready for a pencil. What Is the Movable Alphabet? The Movable Alphabet is a wooden box...
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With invitations shared this week for our parent-educator conferences, we thought we'd introduce all FMS families to one of the quieter, less visible practices in a Montessori primary classroom: the Child-Educator conference. You may never see it listed on a schedule or mentioned in a weekly update, yet it plays a profound role in children’s experience at school. Relationship Comes First The purpose of these conferences is to establish, maintain,...
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The school years are full of exciting growth but can, at times, be fraught with tricky social situations. This is all normal. Children are learning how to communicate kindly and effectively, make and maintain friendships, manage their emotions, and solve problems, all while figuring out their place within a group. It’s no surprise that challenges arise. As parents and caregivers, our instinct is to protect our children, especially when they...
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Our children are particularly sensitive to changes. Whether something as seemingly small as news day, or as major as a new sibling, our children feel the energetic shift of change, and we may see resulting (and perhaps frustrating) differences in their behavior. Starting the school year, moving to a new classroom and especially starting a new school are much bigger changes that may take your child a little more time...
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This Term at FMS, ten preschool students and 10 older adults from our community have been working an playing together with a hope to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of older adults now and in the future… In today's rapidly aging society, addressing the health and well-being of older adults has become a pressing concern. The George Institute for Global Health has embarked on an innovative journey to...
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This week at Forestville Montessori, we celebrate the 3rd birthday of one of our favourite furry friends, Monty! Monty is our unofficial school mascot. He is a source of endless joy and playfulness for students at FMS and a gentle, calming companion for children who need extra support from time to time. Did you know that Monty – and the team of other animals at FMS – are part of...
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Marking the end of Preschool and the first stage of Primary School, Kindergarten is a pivotal year in children’s lives and learning. Starting Kindergarten often means less time at home, more days at school, longer days at school and for some children, it might even be their first time at school! It’s a time of rapid growth and increasing independence. As with any period of change, moving to kindergarten can...
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As we help our children learn to navigate the world, we are supporting their journey toward independence. In Montessori, we often emphasise the importance of independence. But did you know that independence isn’t the end goal? Our Children’s Journey Dr. Maria Montessori observed four distinct planes of development, each representing a stage in the human journey toward greater maturity, independence, and ultimately, interdependence. At each stage, children have specific developmental...
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A common misconception about Montessori education is that it is entirely child-led. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Certainly, children feel like they are in the driver’s seat of their education, and that’s by design. Behind the scenes, Montessori-trained educators are skillfully guiding children through carefully sequenced lessons, ensuring they encounter and master all of the subject areas, strands, and standards they need. The true gift of a Montessori...
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