At Southern Cross Montessori we embrace our Montessori history of over 100 years of helping children to learn about the world in the most comprehensive curriculum with a world class standard. The additional experiences were nuances that Dr Maria Montessori encouraged her directors to include, specific to where children were taught. At our centre we therefore include the same areas of learning offered by local centres, using the Montessori Method as we are accredited to do.
At Southern Cross Montessori, the classroom is enriched with these additional programs:
Spanish: The children learn conversational Spanish through direct contact with a Native Speaker on an everyday basis. Children are immersed in the language through play, songs and stories.
Getting to know the World’s Greatest Artists: Children are immersed in the work of each artist and become familiar with their style, methods, and images. Children learn through open discussion and hands on experimentation.
Getting to know the World’s Greatest Composers: Children are immersed in the work of each composer so that they are well familiar with their style, methods and music. Much of your time studying will be through open discussion with students and listening to compositions.
Nature Based Sensorial Experiences: Southern Cross Montessori is fortunate to be situated on the Surf Coast which boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Surrounding us are some of the world’s most coveted surfing beaches and hidden bushlands. Our program looks at ways to explore and enjoy these beautiful, natural play spaces while being careful not to disrupt their delicate ecosystems.
Physical Education: Children are constantly on the move. Our program focuses on the Fundamental skills in three sub groups:
Gymnastics: – leap, roll, balance, run, jump
Dance – twist, turn, bend, leap, dodge, skip, slide
Games/Sport Education – throw, catch, kick, dodge
Library: Southern Cross Montessori has strong ties with the Surf Coast Library, having regular visits to and from the library.
Animals: Children at SCM develop a strong connection to animals through our Care of Animals practical life studies. Having animals in the classroom creates a real life experience for the children. It fosters responsibility, social interaction, caring and nurturing skills and an internal understanding of the relationship that humans have with animals. We currently have three animal families represented in the classroom.
Chickens: Children explore the life cycle of the Chicken from egg to egg. Each year we incubate 12 eggs and watch the 21-day cycle of the chicken egg. The children watch the chickens hatch from their eggs, they are responsible for feeding, watering, cleaning and replacing straw and socialising the chickens from brooder box to outside. Once the chickens begin to lay eggs, the children collect the eggs and take them home to cook and eat.
Turtle: The classroom has an Eastern Long neck turtle that the children take turns feeding. At times, the turtle is taken out of his tank so the children can observe the turtle’s shell and movements. The children are involved in the total care of the turtle including cleaning the tank and rocks to keep the turtle healthy.
Insect: Our insect tank currently has a stick insect that children can observe either in the tank or on an observation tray.
Gardening:
We have a small community garden at the front of the kinder. Children are encouraged to grow foods we eat from seed. This allows real life observations of the life cycle of a plant from seed to seed. Each year, we plant sunflower seeds and watch them grow over the summer. Children get to see first-hand the growth of a plant and harvest the seeds for the next planting in October.
Bunnings Torquay is also a huge community collaborator, helping us out with garden design and seedlings. Each year a representative from Bunnings comes to visit and talks to us about seeds, plants and how to care for them.
Our garden also has a worm farm that children can add their food scraps to daily. Inside the classroom, we have a designated food scrap bin which encourages discussion about what is worm food and what is not. The children develop an awareness of worm farming through everyday experiences. Every so often the children drain the worm farm of its juice and use it to fertilise the veggie garden.
Our Principles
The objectives for which Southern Cross Montessori preschool was established are to:
- Provide a high quality educational facility which is independent, co-educational, and non-denominational. To offer education to children from 3-6 years using the principles of Dr Maria Montessori.
- Provide learning environments that will:
- Enhance a child’s willingness to learn
- Develop focus, concentration and curiosity in the child
- Promote individualism and use of initiative
- Provide a safe and encouraging experience for the child
- Build the child’s self esteem
- Develop the cognitive and physical skills
- Provide nurturing social opportunities
- Preserve the child’s imagination and creativity
- Integrate current educational and psychological theories and practice into the educational facility, where practicable.
- Promote public understanding and acceptance of Montessori education and Modern approaches to learning