Groundwork: finding the school for your child
In conversation with Cycle 3 parents - Why they choose Montessori?
With parent, Angus Babidge
From the beginning, both Anna and I were looking for a learning environment that fostered creativity and respect for the individual. We knew we wanted to find a school that would encourage curiosity and establish an environment where kids wanted to learn and develop. Where we would meet teachers who inspired us as well as our children. Where the walls of the classroom were brimming with passionate work.
Having relocated back to Sydney from overseas, we knew finding the right school for Teddy was our biggest priority. His previous school was grounded in the Reggio Emilia philosophy of exploration, curiosity, respect, community and the importance of the environment. We wanted his new school to echo this mindset and found Montessori to be a natural next step. We loved the concept of blended age classrooms. That was something new to us. We loved how a small cohort allows students to develop meaningful connections, especially with their teachers. Something that has always been important to Teddy, and now Bo who is in Cycle 1. We loved how much respect is shown between the teachers and the students. And how looking at the whole child allows for a more comprehensive schooling experience.
Child led passion
I often say to people who don’t know about this style of education that Montessori East is child led when it comes to teaching. That the teachers steer the lessons around the passions of the class and individual students to create projects the children are excited to complete. I love how a smaller student body have greater capacity to do inspiring term long projects that include the whole cycle.
What’s incredible is the macro focus of preparing each individual child for the world they will enter through fostering confidence and respect.
Teddy never says he doesn’t want to go to school. I often give people, when they ask, the example of when Teddy first started, how he was given a day in each of the two cycle 2 classrooms, so he could decide which classroom would be the best fit for him. The school empowered him from the get go and gave him a voice in that decision. It’s fantastic to see a school live and breathe their philosophy in every way.
With parent, Jane Howes
I had a pretty average primary school experience and when I was pregnant with Gus I was interested to see how I could offer a different experience for my child. I was just lucky I lived around the corner so it was easy to investigate. The more I learnt about the school’s philosophy the more excited I got. When I actually had Gus it became more important that I chose a school that nurtured their light rather than shut it out.
Meeting my child where they are at
Every experience I’ve had with Montessori East has validated my decision. The way the school meets both my children where they are at, the care that goes into preparing the lessons, the environment, the conditions the teachers create that work for my child; rather than my child having to fit into a particular way. It’s honestly the best school experience I can offer my children.
Whenever I have an interaction with either of my children's teachers it is always about what they have done to be able to present the work to my child, or space out the work, or which partners they’ve chosen for them to do the work with. Every detail in the process of teaching my child is really well thought through.
Small and warm community
What I have come to value more and more is the school is community based. It gives the teachers the time and space to meet the child where they are at and really get to know them as the individuals that they are. The school is warm and small and it’s like a nest. The parents and community are very like minded people; feels like an idyllic oasis in the centre of what I could describe as a rough and tumble city.
Academics vs love of learning
Academics are important to me, I won’t lie I do compare my children’s level with other children that I know from other schools. Honestly though I do feel like I get enough feedback from the teachers to know where they are at which is nice. At the end of the day it’s about you and your child and your experience. Nothing else is more important, not even academic level.
What’s important to me is that the kids love to learn and enjoy learning, something I never had at my age. School was something to be endured. My kids have not once said they don’t want to go to school - they have loved going to school since the first day. I feel like loving learning is what will set them up for success and I feel confident the school is following the curriculum. There’s no evidence that they are not.
When there are challenges the teachers are onto it straight away and they are making the necessary adjustments and offering options. You don’t feel like as a parent that you have reached the end of the line when you hit a challenge, you’re working it out together as a team with the school.
It’s a whole family experience
What’s important to me is how the school has nurtured and loved the children, and they have both had similar experiences. It’s a whole family experience. We feel cared for too as parents.
I am sure I am making lots of parenting mistakes but I know hand on heart I will go to my grave knowing that sending my children to Montessori East is the best parenting decision I have made; the sense of community and the friendships we have made with other families, will stay with us forever. It’s a really nice place for all of us as a whole family.