Karuna Montessori School

[EduCativ]

Welcome to Karuna Montessori Preschool. We provide an authentic Montessori Education through two critical programs, our Under 3's Playgroupcaters, for the child's urge towards independence and offers parents opportunities to increase their awareness of their child's capabilities. Our 3-6 years Preschool draws on the Montessori principles and methodology to offer a rich learning environment where children absorb, explore, and develop.
Our Vision supports children to become well-rounded individuals ready to take on life's challenges with verve, compassion, and responsibility. Our Mission is to encourage the development of the whole child by providing a comprehensive Montessori education. We will support establishing the intellectual and emotional rigor needed to become a confident, self-directed learner, lateral thinker, and creative problem solver. This will cultivate independent thought, an awareness of the environment, and empathy for others.
We want to acknowledge the Guringai people who are the traditional custodians of this land. We would also like to respect the elders' past and present of the Guringai nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people present.
All children are interested in practical activities, such as the tasks they see accomplished at home and wish to imitate, e.g., pouring, polishing, washing, and squeezing. These Practical Life activities are satisfying for the children and support the development of concentration, orderly work patterns, hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor skills – all essential skills for writing and reading. Also, children learn to care for themselves and their surroundings and behave with grace and courtesy.
The Sensorial materials break down abstract concepts into concrete activities. Concepts such as dimension, color, form, texture, volume, weight, and shape are easily understood using materials that isolate each concept. Children spontaneously choose these materials because they fulfill their desire to explore their world through all their senses. The development of writing is enhanced through the manipulation of these materials.
Karuna Montessori School is an independent, professionally operated, non-profit making, non-denominational, community-based preschool established in 1984 by the Northern Beaches Montessori Association. It closely follows the Montessori philosophy with AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) trained Montessori teaching staff. It is registered and accredited with the NSW Dept Education Board of Studies as a school catering for children in Kindergarten and is licensed by the Department of Community Services (DoCS). Karuna Montessori School is a member of the Montessori Australia Foundation. The school is administered by a Parent Council, which is elected each year at an Annual General Meeting. The Council holds parent meetings twice a term.
Ideally, Montessori classes have a three-year age range, i.e., 0-3 years, 3-6 years, 6-9 years, 9-12 years, 12-15 years, and 15-18 years. Children usually start at Karuna in the term after their third birthday and attend only during the mornings for the first two years. When they approach their fifth birthday, they are invited to join the group in the afternoons depending on their readiness. This third "extension" year is the equivalent to the Kindergarten year in the primary schools. However, it has the great advantage of excellent child-teacher ratios, with approximately ten children with one teacher. The Board of Studies recognizes the curriculum in the same manner as other primary schools. However, the teaching approach is different, building on and extending the skills already learned in the early years.

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