Bannockburn School Prospectus

BANNOCKBURN SCHOOL

Brilliance from the very beginning

Welcome to Bannockburn A leader in Montessori education since 1993 Our Vision Welcome to Bannockburn! Our school’s vision is to provide a well-rounded education for our students through the application of the Montessori philosophy, principles and methodology.

We are a community of learners, families, and educators that support and contribute to the lives of our students by helping to develop responsible, nurturing, and peaceful young people who are self-motivated and curious. Our staff of skilled and compassionate teachers and support personnel contribute to the vision of our school through their knowledge, abilities and care. Follow the path to learn about our Bannockburn education journey.

Program Overview Montessori education is rooted in the knowledge that children are unique, have their own interests and needs, and walk the school path at their own speed. This guiding principle begins with our youngest students in the Toddler Program, a foundational time for learning.

The independence, language, social skills, motor abilities, and academic grounding that takes place in the Toddler Program sets the stage for the Montessori education in the Primary and Elementary Programs. By design, the building blocks used, quite literally in Primary, are intended to build on the skills introduced to our youngest learners. In Primary, independence takes the form of knowing how to self-correct and work as an individual, as well as in a group activity. The uninterrupted two-to-three-hour academic work cycles offer daily practice in the optimal environment for learning, with an emphasis on purposeful and respectful cooperative education. These skills serve the students well once they enter the Elementary Program. The Lower Elementary Program is for 6-9-year-olds, and the Upper Elementary Program is for 9-12 year olds. The academic framework our students have built over the years provides them with a means to explore abstract concepts and imaginative ideals. A full complement of beautifully designed Montessori materials are utilized in Montessori accredited classrooms at every age and stage of learning. Bannockburn graduates are confident, connected, and academically prepared young people.

Toddler Program Our serene, pristine, and joyful toddler classrooms provide a nurturing setting suited to the developmental needs of your young child. This begins with a small (1:5) teacher-student ratio, which ensures the specific individual attention required for this age group (18-36 months).

The classrooms mirror a home environment with separate areas for preparing and eating food, changing clothes, enjoying books, and having a quiet moment. Our students take significant pride in helping to contribute to the activities of their day. Toddlers are welcome to attend either the half-day or full-day program.

What should parents expect to see in the Toddler Program?

• A safe, caring, and consistent routine focused on the “Help me to do it myself” Montessori approach • An opportunity to develop independence and skills for self-sufficiency • An immersion in language, stories, and hands-on learning • Learning to care for one self and care for the environment with practical life activities • A time for delight in making friends, exploring outdoors, and sharing experiences

Primary Program Bannockburn’s Primary Program is open to children between 3 and 6 years of age, with halfday and full-day options available. The half-day option is available to students until they turn 4. Per the Montessori educational framework, the learning path of the primary student is reinforced with classrooms designed from the child’s perspective. This includes natural, wood furniture scaled to size and manipulative materials accessible for everyone. Each primary classroom at Bannockburn is guided by two qualified Montessori teachers. They carefully observe each child to create and modify lessons according to the needs of the individual student.

What should parents expect to see in the Primary Program?

• An ability for your child to cultivate an internal focus due to uninterrupted work cycles • Daily learning and practice of mathematics, language, culture, practical life skills, sensory activities • Development of the ability to balance work and social times in the classroom • A sense of community in sharing a multi-age classroom that allows children to learn from each other • An appreciation for the expectations of the classroom, including care of the classroom environment and the larger school community

Elementary Program The Montessori path through the Toddler and Primary Programs is designed to culminate with Bannockburn’s Elementary Program. Here, the principles of structure and self-directed learning lead to imaginative, critical thinkers. Our spacious and intellectually rigorous classrooms create environments in which inquiry-based learning and dynamic social experiences are celebrated. Children at this age, who are inherently more social, are often encouraged to work with partners or in groups to complete their assignments or to do their research. This project work sparks the interest of the children and enables them to constructively communicate with their peers to achieve shared goals.

What should parents expect to see in the Elementary Program?

• A rich Montessori curriculum with studies in language, mathematics, geometry, geography, history, botany and zoology • A continued focus on the meaning of moral understanding and social responsibility • A Montessori approach to expand the understanding of reading, writing, mathematics, geometry and culture • Collaborative skills on complex research projects • Opportunities for leadership and to make meaningful connections in the school community

Specialists Our specialist classes—Music, Art, French, and Gym—are woven into our academic curriculum. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children should be “charmed by and invited to make music.” Our specialist programs follow that approach: that children learn best through sensory experiences. These classes introduce visual, auditory, tactile, and physical activities that reinforce our principles of self-expression and guided learning to match the individual child’s abilities and strengths.

What should parents expect of the Specialist Program?

• An integrated lesson plan that complements the overall curriculum • An ability to perceive, express and create beauty • An introduction to new ways of achieving project-based goals • An inspiring program that allows children to create things they may not have thought possible • An opportunity for different types of learners to thrive

French Curriculum

Music Curriculum

In the Primary Program, the main goal of French is to spark curiosity and a desire to learn. Lessons in French involve different themes like courtesy and manners, weatherrelated terms, days of the week, parts of the body, and words connected to home and school. Vocabulary is acquired gradually using manipulative materials and songs. At the elementary level, students become more proficient in reading, writing, comprehension, and expression with an interwoven program of listening, literacy, dialogue creation, and pronunciation practice.

The Primary Music Program consists of movement, listening, singing, and playing.

This combined physical, social, and cognitive approach teaches musical appreciation and radiates joy. The musical path in Elementary builds on this by including an over-view of Western music history, from the medieval period to modern times. Music reading is reinforced in the Lower Elementary Program and culminates in Upper Elementary Program where students learn how to play an individual brass instrument.

Art Curriculum

Physical Education

The Art Program for primary and elementary students focuses on three key aspects of development: creation, expression, and appreciation. Students receive weekly classes in our dedicated studio and work on large and small scale projects throughout the school year. Creation and expression are realized through drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, and fabric design. Appreciation is honed through both the acknowledgment of the work of their peers, as well as the great artists in history.

Physical education plays an important role in the Bannockburn curriculum. Lessons are framed as part of healthy living, fundamental movement skills, and active participation, or a combination of all three. It is during gym that teamwork, goal setting, and conflict resolution tools are taught and reinforced.

Team sports include soccer, basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, track and field, softball, and badminton. Opportunities to participate in competitions with other Independent Schools happen throughout the year for our elementary students. The overarching goal of our Physical Education Program, even during competitions, is to have fun and try our best in a supportive environment

Graduates We are exceptionally proud of our Bannockburn graduates. Not only are they intellectually curious and academically prepared for their next school of choice, but they are also responsible, kind and self-motivated individuals. As the student leaders of our school, we recognize their hard work and myriad accomplishments with several special programs throughout the school year, including leading mentorship programs, fundraising initiatives, and having a direct hand in planning their graduation trip.

What should parents expect to see from a Bannockburn Graduate?

• Young adults who respect their role as leaders and role models for younger students • Students well prepared for their next stage of their academic life • Confident and reflective individuals with strong leadership skills • Young people who embrace critical and divergent thinking • Proud alumni of Bannockburn School

Community Our Bannockburn community includes students, parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, administrators, the Bannockburn Parents’ Association (BPA), the Bannockburn Board of Directors, and the Bannockburn Foundation. Each of these groups is an integral part of our Bannockburn community that contributes many dedicated hours to ensuring the stability and continued success of our school. The Bannockburn community facilitates strong and lasting connections and relationships that support our students along the path in their education journey.

Community Events

Annual Fun Fair

Ice Cream Social

For one Friday each June, our school grounds becomes a carnival,

This is a popular back-to-school event for the entire school

complete with food trucks, games, prizes, rides and more!

community because everything is better with ice cream!

Family Skate

Parent Appreciation and Picnics

Lace up your skates and join us at our annual Family Skate

Every year we invite our parents to come and join their children in

complete with treats and hot chocolate! First time skaters

various picnics or appreciation events!

welcome!

3080 Bayview Avenue | North York, ON, Canada | M2N 5L3 www.bannockburn.ca | (416) 789 - 7855