The children were very quick to identify each hiding place – much quicker than the adults!

Afternoon snack was prepared daily by the children during kitchen science with Ms Wyn. We focused on “eating sunlight”—that is, preparing food in ways that preserve as much of the sun’s energy as possible. Campers enjoyed healthy treats including roasted vegetables, dip, fruit pops and banana ice cream!

A geometry scavenger hunt challenged our campers to find shapes such as circles, squares, pentagons and triangles around the school playground.  Through different art projects we demonstrated insolubility, made “plantable paper” and created “faux” fossil slabs.  And yoga with Ms Wyn kept us all grounded! 

We were thrilled with the response.  Parents were excited and engaged. They were fully involved in the experience, and enjoyed meeting other parents in the school.  We deliberately invited people who might not have met each other:  we wanted parents from each classroom, new parents and experienced ones, those who knew something of Montessori and wanted to learn more, and those who knew very little.

Here is a sampling of some of the comments from those who took part, when asked to describe the most wonderful or meaningful experience that they had on the Journey to Discovery:

• The silent part in the toddler room made me emotional. I was so proud of my son knowing he has his jobs and his world here.
• Several – the way math is explained is wonderful, providing such a solid understanding of quantities etc. I was so impressed with the breadth of learning topics that are covered at such an early age.
• Interacting with the materials that the children work with daily – now have better understanding of the experiences that the children have and can now converse about them.
• A better understanding of what goes on, ability to reinforce at home. Fun, vibrant, visual, touch, simple, variety…precisely what every child needs and deserves.
• Seeing the progression of learning from Casa to Elementary – the way that the blocks of organizational skills from Casa carry through into elementary work.
• Great experience – to see my children’s world that they live every day, very comforting and peaceful.
• The consistency of concept from classroom to classroom – and that the knowledge continues to grow and expand.
• Opportunity to experience the learning activities to appreciate how concepts are taught and how learning is experienced by the children.
• It was hard to believe that multiplication using an abacus (Mrs. Barbara’s class) could be so easy!

When asked what they would say to another parent about the experience of the Journey to Discovery, the responses were equally enthusiastic:

• It would turn a non-believer into a believer. It makes you wish you had the same experience.
• Definitely worth doing again – hands on experience with the Montessori materials has given me a much better understanding of the way my children are learning.
• Relaxed introduction to the Montessori tradition and mechanism of education. Enjoyable.
• Fantastic, necessary for all in order to have a better and clearer understanding
• Do it so you can go through your child’s world and experience it the way they do every day.
• I didn’t know the extent of my child’s learning until I experienced it myself, seeing, touching doing the activities.
• Learning is interactive. The child is able to learn at their own pace without feeling compared with others. The concepts build year to year so the foundation is strong.
• Do it! Free your mind!�
  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

REGISTRATION for the 2012 – 2013 school year has now begun!

For your consideration:

1.  You must submit the entire package to register your child. (Please note: The Ministry of Health has informed us that every student’s immunization form must be up to date for them to be allowed into school. The Ministry has provided waiver forms for those who choose not to immunize their children; ask at the office for more information.)

2. If you prefer, you may download the REGISTRATION FORMS and fill them out online before printing them to bring in to the school. A few pages need signatures – and there is a check list to make sure you have completed everything.

3.  If you are registering your child in our TODDLER PROGRAM, please note that our fee schedule only lists the cost for those children attending 5 mornings a week or 5 full days a week.  For the cost of other options (three mornings a week, or three full days a week, for example), please contact the office. Thank you.