INFANCY PROGRAMME
Parent Toddler 18-36 months

Southside montessori provides an infancy programme for toddlers along with the parent. This programme assists foundation for the child and adults in montessori. It is an opportunity for you to enjoy some special  time with your child  to assist their development.

The room that we meet in is a "prepared environment ". The activities meet the developmental needs of the age range. This means that each activity is specially chosen to appeal to the children for the building of their psyco sensory motor development and language skills.

We also prepare for your child's growing independence, self esteem, confidence and concentration span.

The programme is 10 sessions per term. Sessions run for 2 hours once a week.

For enrolment and further information please contact Denise on (02) 9533 1229.

STAGE ONE
3 - 6 years old

At Southside Montessori School, children choose their own activities and work independently at their own pace under the gentle guidance of the class director. In this way they develop concentration, independence, self-motivation and a love of learning.

The classroom contains five interconnected areas of activities, which allow for self-expression, exploration and repetition:

PRACTICAL LIFE - These exercises allow the child to continue to develop self-control and co-ordinated movement over tasks seen around the home. Also to develop inner discipline, organisation, independece and orderliness of the classroom.

SENSORIAL - Activities in this area are designed to bring order to the wide range of sense impressions - sight, taste, touch, smell and sound.

LANGUAGE - from a solid basis in spoken language, reading and writing are developed using a variety of tactile materials.

MATHEMATICS - The programs lays the foundation in maths concepts with concrete materials. The materials are designed to take children from a physical concept of numbers, through to an abstract level of understanding
of mathematics.

CULTURE - Activities give the child early experiences in arts, craft, music and movement, science, geography, history, fauna and flora.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES - Concepts explored with classroom materials are applied to the wider outdoor environment. Nature and its fascination for the young child are brought into the classroom from outside. A range of exciting outdoor play equipment fosters physical activity.

STAGE TWO
6 - 9 years old

As the 6-9 year old child gradually moves from the concrete learning pathways of Stage One to the more abstract ones of the Stage Two environment, Southside Montessori School meets his developmental needs each step of the way.

The Stage Two Montessori environment balances the child's developing imagination and powers of abstraction with down-to-earth, concrete, hands-on materials in the areas of English, Mathematics, Geometry, Biology, Geography, History and the Creative and Practical Arts. Each material has its structured sequence designed to lead to discovery and understanding.

Stage Two integrated programme at Southside Montessori School:

• Mathematics
• Sciences
• Languages
• Arts & Social Studies
• Music
• Physical Education
• Personal & Social Development

The programme is further enhanced by excursions that complement areas of classroom study. Visitors with special skills and interests are also regularly welcomed into the classroom.

Children are fully prepared for NSW Government's Basic Skills Tests & Primary Writing Assessment and high school selective and entrance examinations.

STAGE THREE
9 - 12 years old

The transition from Stage Two to Stage Three is the final progressive step in a Montessori Primary School, with an increasing emphasis on preparation for high school in the final year. Children are fully prepared for NSW Government's Basic Skills Tests and Primary Writing Assessment and high school selective and entrance examinations.

Children in Stage Three are more independent and tend to work more abstractly as a stepping stone that paves the way for the preparation for high school.

Children who begin from Stage One and continue right through to Stage Three at Southside Montessori School benefit from a totally integrated curriculum. As children progress at their own pace, according to their own individual gifts and abilities, they often extend far beyond what would be average for their age.

As the children complete Stage Three, we see the emergence of a child ready for their adolescence, changing rapidly, but with the self- esteem, confidence, and knowledge required to adapt smoothly to High School. The values of independence, self-esteem, self-discipline, respect for themselves and for others, and passion for learning, are things which will continue to assist the Montessori graduates throughout their adult life.