Full Time Programs
2007 Summer Camps Program
18 months – 3 years The first three years of children's lives are the most formative. During this period, children absorb innumerable impressions from their surroundings as their inner development takes place. Very young children are happiest when their living environment is familiar and constant. They thrive on routine, external order, encouragement, acceptance and respect for their individuality. The Toddler Programme is a nurturing socialization experience designed to foster the development of movement, independence, language and creativity for children 18 months – 3 years of age. While not a pre-requisite, the Toddler Programme is an excellent preparation of the Casa Programme designed for children 3-6 years of age. The Casa (Primary) Programme3 – 6 years The Casa programme is for 3-6 years of age, who are fully toilet trained. It involves young children in a series of activities that are sequential, manipulative and sensorial. These exercises bridge the gap between concrete and abstract learning. Practical Life tasks help the children to develop gross and fine motor skills. These activities offer the children the means to take care of themselves and their environment. Sensorial exercises develop and enhance sense perceptions and logical thinking vital to growing minds. Following these early exercises, the children soon seek to gain an understanding of the academic materials present in their classrooms. The letter sounds are being taught with Sandpaper Letters, followed by word building which leads to reading. Number Rods and Golden Beads foster a concrete understanding of the mathematical concepts. As the children's interests grow and develop, they move from one level to the next. Each step of the way is prepared to ensure success. Cultural activities include music, physical education, basic science, French, geography, zoology, botany and art taught at a sensorial level. These activities assist the child to become a compassionate, knowledgeable and loving citizen. To take advantage of the sensitive periods, new students must start school before the age of 4, and preferably by 3 years of age. Ideally, each child should start in the Toddler Programme. The Casa programme consists of a 3-year period. The first year, children usually attend for half a day, five days per week. Readiness for the full-day programme is decided by the teachers in consultation with the parents. Most children develop the ability to focus and concentrate at the end of the Casa Programme. At this time, the students proceed to Elementary Level on recommendation of the teachers/Principals. Elementary School6 – 12 years The Elementary School extends the opportunity of a Montessori education to children 6 to 12 years of age. Due to differing rates of maturation, children whose ages span two chronological years are grouped together in one classroom. The child's developmental needs are met and at each level, role modeling and motivation are provided to the younger students by the older ones. The Elementary School is divided into grade 1 through 3. Throughout the day, students at the elementary level may be seen building time lines, recording science experiments, writing book reports and compositions. They solve mathematical problems or work on the computer. At other times, they may be modeling with clay in art class, performing in a dramatic presentation or expressing themselves musically on their choice of instrument. The classroom is established as a miniature community where students work individually and learn together in harmony, retaining their individuality while cooperating with the group. They are encouraged to strive and become responsible for their own behaviour, and in so doing, they help their community by observing the rules necessary for a peaceful, constructive coexistence. As the students progress through the Elementary School, they depend more on auditory and visual experiences as they move away from concrete materials to abstract concepts. Montessori aims and goals include furnishing the students with the keys needed to further their research and the necessary academic enrichment to satisfy their insatiable mental appetites. Also provided is a rich variety of work, freedom of choice and movement, social interaction, and the establishment of classroom ideals of a free democracy.
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