The Hills Montessori School in Aldgate, South Australia | School

The Hills Montessori School

Locality: Aldgate, South Australia

Phone: +61 8 8339 6842

Address: 12 Anderson Road 5154 Aldgate, SA, Australia

Website: http://Montessori.sa.edu.au

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25.01.2022 The Cycle 2 classroom caters for six to nine year old students which is typically Years 1, 2 and 3. The Cycle 2 multi-age classroom is a learning environment that encourages and inspires children to be attracted to, and in awe of the wonder of the world. Cycle 2 students commonly ask: Why? which directs the learning activities in the classroom. Students regularly work in small groups and the class is more community centered which reflects the development of this age group ...and their innate desire to interact more with their peers. For children to be able to explore and understand the world, they need to be able to read, write and calculate. We aim to expose students in Cycle 2 to a complete view of the world, physical and cultural, through visual and hands on activities leading to an understanding of abstract concepts. A particular focus is learning to respect studies of the past, develop an understanding of ethics, and value the contributions of others. These skills aid the child’s development, and confidence with themselves, their society, and their world as a whole.

24.01.2022 Update for parents from school Principal Cathy France regarding school closure effective 19-24 November Our school will be closed Thursday 19 November, Friday 20 November, Monday 23 November, Tuesday 24 November. These days will be classified as pupil free days. Please refer to Skoolbag App TODAY regarding detailed information around school closure and options for children of parents who are essential workers. ... School phone lines have been extremely busy today, which is understandable, and we ask that you please read through all the information on Skoolbag App before calling as many of your questions will be answered there. We wish everyone good health.

24.01.2022 Celebrate was our theme for 2020 and what better way to celebrate than with a 150th Birthday! Maria Montessori was born on the 31st August 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. Across the course of her life, she trained and worked as a physician, educator, and innovator, acclaimed for her educational method that builds on the way children learn. Students celebrated Maria Montessoris 150th birthday today with a morning assembly where our Year 6 leaders staged a play about her life.... Special thanks to our Cycle 3 students who ran birthday activities which all students attended across lunchtime. Of course no birthday is complete without 2 very large cakes and an exceptionally loud rendition of Happy Birthday! A very special mention to Vanessa Baryczka who assisted with cupcakes for the students who have dietary requirements. Happy Birthday Maria!

22.01.2022 If you would like to order your limited edition tea towel with each child’s individual artwork on it, orders can be placed via Skoolbag app until COB tomorrow.

22.01.2022 We are extremely proud of the way in which The Hills Montessori School has been inspiring, supporting and challenging students for the past 40 years. Students learn at their own pace, undertaking tasks appropriate to their level of development. The schools philosophy is based on universal values of respect for self, others and the environment by fostering a love of learning and commitment to community. Here is a snapshot look at our school which provides education from birt...h to 16 years across the Infant program (0-3 years), Preschool (3-5years) and Primary Programs (5-12 years) all located at the Yultiwirra campus in Aldgate. Our Middle School which caters for students 12 to 16 years of age, is located at the Wairoa campus in Stirling. Come and see the opportunities we offer students through a Montessori education https://montessori.sa.edu.au

22.01.2022 Independent projects are a much-loved part of the middle school curriculum, aimed at engaging students in a skill set or topic they would like to further explore. Macy, one of our Year 8 students in the Adolescent Program at the Wairoa campus, is working with our Cycle 1 students on a weekly basis. Through a variety of activities both in the classroom and outdoors, Macy is hoping to gain an understanding of how a Montessori classroom sparks interest in children aged 5 and 6..., to build independence, self-discipline and the ability to concentrate. Macy joined Ruths Cycle 1 class for their art lesson last week where theyve been looking at the work of visionary American artist Georgia OKeefe who lived from 1887 to 1986. Much of OKeefes work was inspired by the New Mexico landscapes with its mix of rocks, bones, animal skulls and desert. In the 1930s, Georgia OKeefe had a Model-A Ford that she customised into a mobile art studio and would head out into the desert on painting expeditions. Macy and the Cycle 1 students set up their own art bus in the classroom and together with their big imaginations, they headed off for an afternoon of desert painting just as Georgia OKeefe would have done many years ago.

21.01.2022 Looking for something to do these school holidays? Check out our school Geocaching Challenge below organised by the fundraising committee. Instructions and map can be collected from the school office this week only. Good luck!

21.01.2022 There have been more items added to the online auction which you can check out at the below link. And remember our Virtual Quiz Night takes place this Saturday 12 September! 1. Join a team or host your own and choose your own dress up theme... 2. Purchase tickets, $20 each from the office 3. Keep an eye out for the Silent Auction items which will be available online to browse and bid on here: https://www.32auctions.com/HMSQuizNight 4. Quiz Night packs will be available from the front office on the 10th and 11th September - one per team. See more

21.01.2022 Unfortunately our phone lines are currently down at Yultiwirra campus and we cannot receive external phone calls. Please email [email protected] with any requests. Absentees (including late drop offs and early picks ups) can be lodged through the Absentees eForm on Skoolbag. Telstra hope to have the issue resolved by 7pm Tuesday 18th August. ... We are able to make outgoing calls and calls internally. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

20.01.2022 Its the last day of remote learning before we welcome students back to school next week, so we thought what better way to go out than with a Dance Class! Join us at 3pm for a full school Dance Class which can be accessed via Facebook, Skoolbag App or the home page of the remote learning website. A link will be uploaded at 2.50pm.

20.01.2022 This mornings wild and woolly weather didnt deter team Winter Walkers - 9 adults, 17 kids and 2 very energetic pooches! Thank you to the students, parents and staff who took part in the Walk a Mile in My Boots Challenge, raising funds for the Hutt St Centre who support those experiencing homelessness. Thank you to those who have already donated, our team has so far raised just over $1800, if you would still like to support the Hutt St Centre you can donate to our school team on the below link. Special thanks to Nikki Green for getting us all organised. https://www.walkamile.org.au/fundraisers/WinterWalkers

19.01.2022 Stop Motion is an excellent way for students to begin exploring the world of movie making. The subject has great possibilities in a classroom setting because it engages students in collaborative learning, careful planning, creative decision making and problem solving across a range of disciplines including art, design, technology and maths. It is also a great skill to draw on for demonstrating understanding of concepts in subjects such as Science, by animating the steps of a ...complex process. Our middle school students (Years 7 to 10) have been exploring Stop Motion Animation as a part of their Creative Expression electives. They have used a range of different mediums and techniques, drawing on a white board, others have used cut outs, plasticine or LEGO models. With a fixed camera in place the sequence is photographed and recorded one frame at a time, and then played back to create an animation presentation. Year 9 student Marley has taken the Stop Motion elective a step further and combined it with her extraordinary skills as an artist to explore clay animation. Claymation characters, props and/or the decor are made from plasticine clay or similar, in order to manipulate them to move. Different stages of the movement are captured in sequence as images and then played back in quick succession to bring the model to life. Marley has constructed wax characters with wire skeletons that can be easily manipulated and is planning to create a gallery of clay facial expressions as part of her Independent Project.

18.01.2022 We are looking forward to seeing our empty, quiet classrooms return to their former glory on Monday when we welcome everyone back to school! Head to Skoolbag for all details on a return to face to face learning, changes to drop-off / pick-up routine, information regarding OSHC and returning of resources. For the budding statisticians out there, you may find the below facts and figures interesting which are based on 2 weeks + 3 days of remote learning - its been quite the r...ide! 462 Zoom calls were hosted 103 videos were created by teachers for the remote learning site (our particular favourite would be the Preschool musical statues video, check it out if you havent already) 1 x Health Hustle complete 1 x Dance Class to go (stay tuned for tomorrow!) Items that went home: 466 Take Home packs were distributed 150 skipping ropes 30 chrome books 70 insets with matching frames (thanks again Russell) 78 DIY moveable alphabets 40 stamp games 500 vegetable seeds 10 ingredient packs of curry paste, coconut milk and lentils (hope the curries were delicious Cycle 4!)

17.01.2022 To all the little MontiChefs out there, here comes round 2 of the MontiChef bake-off! Our fundraising committee is once again inviting students to submit their favourite recipes by September 6 with a photo and description of the dish to go into the running to win. Gold coin entry to the competition can be paid at the office and a padlet link will be supplied so photos and descriptions can be submitted online. YUM! ... Or for those want to get outdoors this weekend, our geocaching challenge has been extended. Head to the office for map and instructions.

16.01.2022 Our Virtual Quiz Night takes place this Saturday 12 September! What do you need to do? 1. Join a team or host your own and choose your own dress up theme... 2. Purchase tickets, $20 each from the office 3. Keep an eye out for the Silent Auction items which will be available online to browse and bid on here: https://www.32auctions.com/HMSQuizNight 4. Quiz Night packs will be available from the front office on the 10th and 11th September - one per team.

14.01.2022 Recent times have highlighted the importance of role models both for adults and children. Children learn from role models and mimic behaviours of those people they admire. Whilst parents are the primary role model in a childs life; friends, family and school peers also have influence. In a multi-age Montessori classroom, students are given the opportunity every three years to be one of the oldest peers in their cohort. They are considered the leaders and role models of the... class, cycle or community. Montessori educators consider it vital that students get to experience being a role model and we teach our young people that with it, comes great responsibility. Our Big Brother/ Big Sister program is just one opportunity for young people to be role models with our Year 6 students, the oldest in our primary school, assigned to a younger class for the year where they work with children in that class across the year.

14.01.2022 Wishing a very Happy Fathers Day to all our dads, carers, grandfathers and the special mums who do the job of both Mum and Dad, we salute you all. Enjoy the extra today.

13.01.2022 In a Montessori environment the introduction of fractions is one of a students first experiences with mathematical concepts. The Montessori Fraction Circles are key to introducing fractions to students. This material is an accurate, precise, hands-on approach to describing the concept and for introducing the terminology of fractions. The Fraction Circles are first introduced in the Preschool where students explore the activity as a sensorial puzzle to familiarise them with ...the material from a young age. Today our Cycle 1 students (Reception and Year 1) were using the materials to explore the relationship between the sharing of fruit - dividing an apple into halves, quarters, eighths and tenths and making comparisons with examples from the fraction circles. Students then explore the concept of equivalence, for example interchanging two quarters for a half, before moving on to addition and subtraction of fractions.

12.01.2022 Our Cycle 2 students in their learnings around STEM this term have focused on Simple Machines including gears, assembly lines, inclined planes, levers, pulleys, wheel and axle; but their inspiration has been to recreate simple machines in order to thwart holiday home intruders just like Kevin did in Home Alone! Home Alone lends itself perfectly to set the stage for STEM project inspiration with students trying to stump, trick and trap the likes of Harry and Marv. Students ha...d access to a range of recycled materials and working in small groups they were required to work through the engineering design process of identifying the problem, research and brainstorm, build, test, improve and then present the solution. At least two of the burglar traps had to model 2 different Simple Machines. The results were fantastic, and students particularly enthusiastic explaining how the contraptions worked (and some of the marvellous mischief they’d recreate) in order to beat the burglars! See more

12.01.2022 Were back for Term 3! Students were buzzing with excitement and energy this morning after a 3 week holiday break. Our preschool students in particular were thrilled to try out their new playground which was installed over the school holidays. Were looking forward to what will hopefully be a far less disruptive term over the next 10 weeks. A reminder to look over the letter sent out via Skoolbag yesterday which outlines updates for Term 3 in relation to COVID-19.

12.01.2022 The Adolescent Program provides an enriching and challenging environment for young people in Years 7 to 10, in which students work collaboratively with each other, the staff and wider community. The middle school is situated within the grounds of Wairoa, a beautiful thirteen-hectare estate in Stirling in the Adelaide Hills. The Adolescent Program allows students to develop a real sense of purpose for their education and solid base to meet their rapidly changing physical, spir...itual and academic needs. Learning is interdisciplinary which encourages students to apply their learning through practical projects, allowing time for discussion, reflection and debate about major philosophical, social and cultural questions. Our Adolescent Program philosophy is based on universal values of self-respect, respect for others and respect for the environment, fostering a love of learning and sense of community responsibility. See more

12.01.2022 This Friday 7 August is the Walk a Mile Challenge raising funds for the Hutt Street Centre. Each year Hutt St Centre serves around 40,000 meals and offers social work and support services to those facing homelessness. This year the event will be a little different, rather than taking part in a walk en masse in the CBD, organisers have encouraged those wanting to take part to do the walk closer to home. Nicki Green, a parent and staff member at our school, has registered for... the event and will be walking with her team (daughters Olivia and Molly) who have aptly named themselves the Winter Walkers. They will be meeting at Bridgewater Oval at 8.10am Friday morning and walking to school from there. If you would like to take part, you can join Nicki and the girls at Bridgewater Oval on Friday morning and walk to school, if you would like to donate to the Hutt Street Centre you can do so through Nickis team link below. https://www.walkamile.org.au/fundraisers/WinterWalkers

11.01.2022 Wishing a very Happy Mothers Day to all our mums, carers, grandmothers and the special dads who do the job of both Mum and Dad, we salute you all. Enjoy the extra today.

11.01.2022 Grab your sweatband, leg warmers and whole lot of H20 because were headed for Dance Class! Thank you to our special guest choreographers Lucy, Noah, Hunter, Summer and Michael for putting us through our paces. To our teachers and staff, a big thank you with a cherry on top for being such good sports when it comes to donning leg warmers, sweat bands and multicoloured unicorn wigs. See you on Monday! https://vimeo.com/416191575/5169f436d0

11.01.2022 There are still a few spaces available for our school fundraiser, adult electives - ‘Brew like a Beast’ with Brad West (this Sunday!) , and ‘Meat on Fire’ with Che Zahra (15 Nov) . Sign up via skoolbag by tomorrow if you're interested!

10.01.2022 The Infant Program is aimed at nurturing the interests, curiosity and developmental needs of children aged 0-3 years in a Montessori setting. Children and their parents attend weekly sessions which are designed to meet the developmental needs of the children by providing hands on, practical activities that develop skills of independence, self-discipline and concentration, and educate the visual, auditory and tactile senses. The program provides a calm, curated, supportive environment that helps lay the foundations for future learning. For parents, the weekly sessions are designed to further their understanding of Montessori education and philosophy.

10.01.2022 Take a tour of The Hills Montessori Preschool with Aurora and Charlie, where you can meet their teachers, see the classrooms and check out their favourite things to do! Our preschool classroom is built around the childs natural curiosity to encourage a lifelong love of learning. We provide a structured yet home-like environment for children aged 3-5 years. Each classroom uses Montessori materials designed to fit the developmental needs and characteristics of each child. The... Hills Montessori Preschool has a focus on early literacy and numeracy skills as well as an exploration of the curriculum geography, history, science, the arts and health. Developing social and work skills such as cooperation, confidence and concentration provide greater opportunity for group work and whole class activity, preparing the child for the primary school program. For more information visit: https://montessori.sa.edu.au/education/pre-school/ https://youtu.be/tBkxoKbY4fA

09.01.2022 Our Cycle 3 classes cater for students aged 9-12 years of age which is typically Years 4, 5 and 6. At this age, children commonly ask: How? and this directs the learning activities of the Cycle 3 classroom where students are involved in increasing levels of paired, small group and whole class discussions. Students typically have a strong sense of justice at this age and are keenly involved in class meetings, leadership task groups and regularly contribute to planning activi...ties. The Cycle 3 curriculum is in-depth and integrated. There is a strong emphasis on expanding student competency in literacy, numeracy and advanced mathematics; as well as a love and appreciation of the arts, health and PE, English, music, and Indonesian language and culture. This integrated approach with its foundations in global values encourages a cohesive community and promotes a sense of belonging for our Cycle 3 students. See more

08.01.2022 Our Montessori Preschool is a prepared environment, both indoors and outdoors, for 3 to 5-year-old children, built around a child’s natural curiosity. Each classroom is carefully curated with Montessori materials and activities which enhance the child’s understanding of numeracy, literacy and learning for everyday life. The Practical Life Curriculum provides a link between home and school where children develop concentration and independence through activities such as food preparation, cleaning and caring for the natural world. Our Montessori Preschool is a unique space that allows students the opportunity to explore, discover and learn in a structured yet home-like setting that is designed to encourage a life-long love of learning for the child as they embark on their educational journey.

08.01.2022 To all the little MontiChefs out there, we want your recipes! Our fundraising committee is inviting students to submit their favourite recipes by July 10, with a photo and description of the dish to go into the running to win a voucher from Angler Stirling. Gold coin entry to the competition can be paid at the office and a padlet link will be supplied so photos and descriptions can be submitted online. YUM!

07.01.2022 The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2020 #NRW2020, In This Together, reminds us that reconciliation is a journey for all Australians as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures. Yesterday we launched #NRW202...0 by looking at National Sorry Day, a day of remembrance to acknowledge the injustice experienced by members of the Stolen Generation. Today we share in a virtual Acknowledgement of Country. Thank you to Natalie Costello and our RAP team (Reconciliation Action Plan) of students and parents for their enthusiasm and organisation around Reconciliation Week. #NRW2020 #NationalReconciliationWeek #Reconciliation #InThisTogether2020 Reconciliation Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVIs8hzrAss&feature=youtu.be

07.01.2022 Our first day back to face to face teaching and learning and it a joy to see our students back in the classroom! Were going to hand over to them to tell us why its good to be back. I was looking forward to seeing my friends- Monty, aged 6 I missed my teachers Lauren and Ruth- Amelia, aged 6... I got to come back to school to see my friends - Mila, aged 5 I love school - Mia, aged 5 I was looking forward to learning new things- Audrey, aged 6 I missed seeing my friends and I was most looking forward to playing down bush - Olivia, aged 7 I missed playing with Olivia - Tabby (I am nearly 7!) I was looking forward to seeing my best friend Noa - Lilah, aged 10 I missed being able to use the Montessori equipment, I could see it on the Zoom calls but its so much better being able to use it in the classroom. I also really missed my friends - Oliver, aged 9 I was looking forward to seeing my friends physically rather than just on Zoom calls - Noa, aged 10 I missed my mates - Pepe, aged 11 I missed seeing actual people and I missed the library - Lucy, aged 10

06.01.2022 Cycle 1 Primary classes provide a calm learning environment for children aged 5 and 6 years of age. An important part of the Cycle 1 classroom is for children to develop a work ethic with allowances for freedom of choice. Materials are a key component in the Cycle 1 classroom, as children of this age learn through hands on activities designed to excite the child’s interest and motivate them to explore further. Students work individually or in small groups with the assistance of a teacher and school assistant, with a strong emphasis on developing early literacy and numeracy. Montessori educators believe that the aim of the Cycle 1 environment is to bring the world to the child through an integrated curriculum across the arts, music, physical education, science, geography, history and a focus on cultures around the world.

06.01.2022 Our Cycle 1 students have turned their classroom into the Deep Blue to explore the animals and plant life in our oceans, as a part of National Science Week this week.

06.01.2022 We all know the importance of handwashing, but how do you make it really fun? Eden and Finn are besties who attend our Infant Program which caters for 0 to 3-year-olds, and these two have most certainly mastered the art of hilarious hand washing!

05.01.2022 Parent update Following the press conference delivered by Premier Steven Marshall this morning, we are pleased to say that school will reopen and return on Monday 23rd November. We still ask that parents:... Limit their time within the school grounds. Please continue to drop your child off and pick them up at the gate if at all possible. Parents are asked to promptly exit the school as soon as is practicable after drop off/pick up and not to congregate in the courtyard. Continue not to enter the classrooms before or after school (unless pre-arranged). NOT send their child/ren to school if they show any signs of being unwell. OSHC (Before School Care) will resume on Monday 23rd November at 7.30am - bookings essential. Lunch orders resume on Monday 23rd November - orders in before 9am on Monday via the QKR app only. See 'parent information' on Skoolbag for details. We thank all of our students, staff and parents for their understanding and support during this past few days. We will communicate to students and parents next week, and as information comes to hand, concerning cancellations/ postponements/ amendments to end of term events, once we have further clarification regarding restrictions. Enjoy your dog walks and exercise, we'll see you Monday!

05.01.2022 Urgent information for Cycle 3 parents Due to recent restrictions in SA, Cycle 3 students will be returning from camp THIS AFTERNOON, they are aiming to arrive back at school at 4.30pm. Parents can collect their children from Yultiwirra campus.... A letter via Skoolbag is being sent home to families this afternoon explaining plans for the school closure over the next 6 days. We acknowledge the inconvenience this sudden lock down may cause families and the distress and disappointment to our Cycle 3 students who were incredibly excited about heading away on school camp. We appreciate your support in these trying times. Please stay up-up-to-date with the latest advice via Skoolbag App and our social media channels.

05.01.2022 It was a Quiz Night with a difference on Saturday night as we went virtual! There were bridesmaids from the 80s, a classroom of big school kids, elite athletes, trollers complete with Troll Doll hair, those who took to their pyjamas and the Gold MA-rias who placed first! A big thank you to our MC Pete Monaghan who was equally as quick-witted and hilarious over Zoom as he is in the flesh not an easy task with 80 people online but he rose to the occasion as always. Special... thanks to Georgia Richmond and the fundraising team for their organisation behind the scenes, running multiple online platforms and rallying sponsors. A big thank you also to all our families who donated and the sponsors who contributed to both the silent auction and prizes. We raised $4061 from the comfort of our armchairs, so well done to all! Wed like to thank the following families and sponsors The Zahra family The Bedson family Riposte - Wines by Tim Knappstein & Son The Rooney family Cibo Stirling Pete Monaghan Angler The Richmond family Red Cacao Chocolatier The Worth-Sierp family The Clark-Prance family Jimmies Restaurant and Aurelias Grandpa.

04.01.2022 Take an online tour of the Adolescent Program at The Hills Montessori School which provides an enriching and challenging program for young people in Years 7 to 10. Located at our Wairoa campus in Stirling in the Adelaide Hills, the middle school offers a unique opportunity for students to work collaboratively with each other, the staff and the wider community. Young people learn actively in a flexible, responsive environment that combines a rigorous academic program with rea...l-life experiences and work practices to bring the curriculum to life. For more information visit: https://montessori.sa.edu.au/education/middle-school/ [email protected]

03.01.2022 National Science Week 2020 runs from 15 23 August and the school theme this year is Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans. With this in mind, the theme embraces the innovative technologies, capabilities and skills needed to achieve economic, environmental and social sustainability of our oceans. It features insights and inquiries into workable solutions that generate healthy oceans, healthy economies and healthy communities. Each class will be celebrating... Science with different activities across the week. Ruths Cycle 1 class got started early this year with a STEM challenge around arthropods. Arthropods make up around 75% of all animals on Earth and are important members of marine, freshwater, land and air ecosystems. Were going to hand over to them so they can tell us everything theyve learnt about arthropods. Happy Science Week! See more

03.01.2022 This is Sunny! This week was Sunnys first ever week of preschool. Remote learning is probably not how Sunny and his family imagined his preschool journey would begin, however with the help of his big brothers he did a stellar job of Incy Wincy Spider, told us all about his digging in the garden and started his exploration of Living and Non-Living. Were really looking forward to seeing you in the classroom soon Sunny along with all your new preschool friends, until then we salute you!

02.01.2022 Online Quiz Night Saturday 12 September, more details to follow!

02.01.2022 COVID-19 Update Please refer to Skoolbag App regarding a letter from our Principal Cathy France in relation to the new COVID-19 outbreak in SA. We are monitoring the situation closely and seeking advice from the Association of Independent Schools SA (AISSA) and SA Health, as to how the current circumstances may impact schooling and planned activities over the next few weeks. Following advice, Cycle 3 & 4 camps will continue to go ahead this week. As we all know the situat...ion and advice can change on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. We will keep families informed regarding school events in coming weeks, please keep up-to-date with latest advice via Skoolbag App and our social media channels.

01.01.2022 At the end of Term 3, our Cycle 4 students presented their annual Coffeehouse Cabaret Festival. We weren’t sure that the event was going proceed in 2020 due to restrictions, so it meant the performance which also coincided with our 10-year anniversary of the Adolescent Program, was all the more special this year. To accommodate restrictions around social gatherings, the event moved to the school hall at Yultiwirra campus and even with shorter preparation time and change of v...enue, our Cycle 4 students entertained, amused, delighted and captivated audiences over two nights. Coffeehouse Cabaret is an opportunity for Cycle 4 students (Years 7-10) to showcase and celebrate performing arts through our musicians, bands, vocal ensembles, plays, poetry, dance troupes and media students. Students supervise all aspects of the performance including front of house and stage management as well as set, lighting and costume design. In addition to the performance component, students catered for the evening with an array of nibbles and treats. Audiences were entertained by acts that spanned the performing arts' spectrum, from Rick Astley to Rocky Horror Picture Show, stand-up comedians to International Youth Silent Film Festival finalists. It is incredibly rewarding to watch students flourish through the performing arts' program and to see the confidence, assurance and self-esteem it builds in young people. Congratulations to all our Cycle 4 students on a stellar performance. Special thanks to our Cycle 4 staff; Pippa, Tim, Dave, Alice, Wendy and Denise for their energy, enthusiasm and persistence in guiding our students.

01.01.2022 Congratulations to Mia and her chocolate and caramel slice, which was the lucky winner of the MontiChef competition, chosen at random. Thank you to all our chefs who entered and thank you to Angler Stirling for supplying the voucher. Keep an eye out for the next MontiChef competition!

01.01.2022 Our biennial art auction would normally take place at the Festival of Arts event. Each class from Infant Program, Preschool, Primary and the Middle School, is responsible for collaborating on an artwork which involves participation from members of the class. Unfortunately, this event was put on hold earlier this year, however students were still very keen to create the collaborative artwork which will be auctioned online. Bids are now open and will close on Friday 13 Novemb...er: https://www.32auctions.com/HMSArtAuction The painting categories are: Infant Program: Celebrating Love Preschool - Emily and Terri: Earthy Rainbow Preschool - Tristen, Narelle and Susan: The Shack Cycle 1 - Lisa and Debbie: Our World Cycle 1 - Ruth and Lauren: The Land of Lollypop Trees Cycle 2 - Rosi and Sam: Our Community Cycle 2 - Penny and Bonnie: I Love You to the Moon and Back Cycle 3 - Nat and Sam: We are all a Piece of the Puzzle Cycle 3 - Suzie and Lauren: Night Visions Cycle 4 Wairoa - Produce for All

01.01.2022 Learning to write letters and numbers is a gradual, natural, and tangible process in the Montessori Curriculum. The sandpaper letters and numerals are a fundamental part of the Montessori Literacy Curriculum which allow children to learn the mechanics of creating the shape of numbers and letters. Introduced during the Preschool years (ages 3-5 years), the sandpaper letters and numbers provide a tactile sensation that allows a child to form both a visual and sensory impression... of each letter/number shape. As the child uses their fingertips to trace the shape, a muscular memory is developed and reinforced which translates to confidence when the child starts writing. For smaller children a sensory tray lined with polenta offers an ideal opportunity to practise tracing letters and numbers by simply running their finger through the polenta to make a shape. Once the foundations of spoken language, letter-sound-knowledge, pencil grip and intellectual writing are laid, the child is ready to start recording their handwriting and numbers. A portable chalkboard with marked up lines, allows students to practise the placement of letters and numbers using spacial awareness and precision, it also allows the child to self-correct their writing with ease. Eventually lined paper and pencil are introduced as children progress and their confidence grows.

01.01.2022 This term, our Cycle 2 classes have been studying the Americas. Rosi and Sams class have looked at North America with a focus on the United States, whilst Penny and Bonnys class have been studying South America. The students revisited their knowledge of land and water forms, before being introduced to climates, native fauna and flora including national flowers, flags and cultures of the countries within North and South America. Students hosted a Zoom interview with two ...children from Nevada, USA. Olivia and Avi prepared their interview questions and found out information about schooling in the US, popular foods, climate and national sports. As often happens with children, the conversation around food is always interesting as they compared the lunch order system in Australia with the size of the cafeteria and different lunch options at the school in the US. As they discussed some of their favourite or occasional foods, our students were absolutely mystified that the dont eat fairy bread in America! See more