coddiewompler
CentralCoastMontessori
Inthis Issue
MONTESSORIFORDOGS
Yeswecanapplywhatweknow withpetstoo!
FAMILYFOCUS
TheNikolenko’s
FROMTHEGUIDES
Whywecallit‘handcraft’
coddiewompler
VISITOURSITE
WWW.CCM.NSW.EDU.AU
PRINCIPAL
DIMITRINICOLAOU
DEPUTYPRINCIPAL&LEAD GUIDE(PRIMARYCYCLE3
TINAFORSYTH
DIRECTOR(PRESCHOOL0-6)
ALISONBOTTELL
CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS
DRJENNIFERNESBITT-HAWES
THENIKOLENKO’S
PHOTOGRAPHY-THANKYOU DEREKABEL(YOURSTORY)
FromthePrincipal
WelcometothisnewchapterofThe Coddiewompler It’sapleasuretoreintroduce ourbiannualpublication,whichsitsalongside ourweeklySawubonanewsletter WhileThe Coddiewomplermadeaquietdebutin2024, thisrefreshededitionreflectsarenewed commitmenttocapturingthelifeofour learningcommunitywiththought,care,anda littlemorestyle
ThenameCoddiewompler,drawnfromanold Englishtermmeaning‘totravelpurposefully towardanunknowndestination,’speakstothe Montessorijourney Eachchildmovesforward withintention,supportedbytrust,guidedby curiosity,anddeeplyconnectedtothose aroundthem.
Thisissuebringstogetherhighlightsfrom Semester1 thework,gatherings,andquiet momentsthatshapeourcollectiveexperience Itoffersaconsideredglimpseintotherhythm andrichnessofourdaystogether.
Dimitri
DIMITRINICOLAOU
Sawubona
Mysonseemsalotmoreconfidentin showingushiswork
Heseemsalotmoreconfidentinthe processesinvolved I'mquite surprisedthathe'sonlybeeninthe stageoneenvironmentforayear (sinceSakura)
Hisindependenceisdevelopingwell, howeverhestilllikesthereassurance ofsomeonebeing:closetohimor workingwithhim
TheCentralCoastMontessoriSchool hascompletelychangedmychildto amostlyselfregulating,more thoughtfulchild.
Myfavouritepartabouttheschoolis howpresenttheyarewithkids.Mygirl hasbeguntogrowinsomany beautifulwaysundertheguides shiningpresence IfthereisonethingI didrightformygirlitwasputtingher inthisschool Sogratefultoeveryone there
SincebeginningCycle3thisyearour childhasgrowninconfidenceand independence
She’stakingprideinherwork, managingherchoicesthoughtfully, andreceivingjusttherightamountof challenge
Whatstandsoutmostishowpresent theGuidesare trulyseeingeach childandmeetingthemwithrespect Thankyou,Tina,AshandKathy!
MONTESSORI FORDOGS
BYDRJENNESBITT-HAWESBSVCMVSTMANZCVS(VETBEHAVIOUR)(AKAVIVIANDRAFA’SMUM)
Hi!YouknowmeasJen ViviandRafa’smum My undercoveridentityisDrJenNesbitt-Hawes,avet withfurtherqualificationsinbehaviour I’dloveto sharewithyouhowtheMontessorimethodcanbe appliedtoourinteractionswithdogs(orreally,any animal)
Dogsaren’tchildrenandshouldn’tbeexpectedto behavelikepeople,butthefundamentalsof teachingaresurprisinglysimilar:respectforthe learner,fosteringindependencewithinlimits,and buildingonsuccessratherthanusingpunishment
Let’slookatoneofmyfavouriteMontessoriconcepts: GraceandCourtesy
GraceandCourtesyisabeautifulconcept,embodying qualitieslikecalmnessandcontrol,thoughtfulnessand respect bothforoneselfandwheninteractingwith others
InMontessori,proactiveteachingsets learnersupforsuccessbyhelping themrespondappropriatelyinsocial situations,ratherthanreactively correctingwhatwemightlabelas 'rude' Forexample,childrenaregiven thechancetorole-playsaying “Excuseme,”sowhensomeoneisin theirway,theyalreadyknowhowto handleitpolitelyandconfidently
Withdogs,weusethesameprinciple Wemightteachthemtosit a behaviourmostpeopleseeas‘polite’ Oncethey’velearnedit,wecanask themtositindifferentsituations:for example,whilewaitingfortheirfood bowlratherthanjumpingupto grabit
Insteadofpunishingjumping,wepreteachthebehaviourwedowant Dogs canlearnwhat’sexpectedinmany socialsituations likeofferinganose touchtogreetsomeoneorplaying withtoysinsteadofmouthinghands
GraceandCourtesyalsoinvolves beingawareofothers'needs That’s hardenoughforkidswithother humans doingsowithanother speciestakesittothenextlevel! Torespectfullyinteractwithdogs,we needtolearnwhentogivethem space.Sometimes,thekindestwayto showloveisfromadistance maybe bysayinggentlewordsorblowing kisses
Timestogiveadogspaceinclude:
Whentheyareintheir‘safeplace’ acrate,pen,underadesk,spare room,orbed Thisspaceshould alwaysberespected Nopatting, huggingortouching,evenifthey lookirresistiblycuteandsleepy Whenthey’reeatingorchewing something
Whenthey’rehurtorsore Whenthey’retiedup
Whenthey’reafraid,worried,or uncomfortable
Unlikeushuman-apes,dogsdon’t alwaysloveclosephysicalcontact Whileit’sgreattohelpdogsfeelsafe andpredictableduringhandling,we alsoneedtogivethemwaystotellus whenthey’vehadenough Here’showtomakesureyourdogis comfortable:
Letthedogapproachyou,instead ofenteringtheirspace Ifthey don’tcomeover,they’renotupfor interactionrightnow Iftheydoapproach,gentlyscratch them(mostdogspreferthisto patting)onthechest,shoulder,or justinfrontofthetail ifyouhave oneofthosedogswholovesto reverseintoyourlap!
Stopafterthreeseconds Ifthedog nudgesyouorleansin,youcan continue Iftheymoveawayor shownointerest,that’syourcueto stop.
Somedogslovelyingcloseto people,butthatdoesn’talways meantheywanttobestroked Alwayschecktheirbodylanguage Ifyou’reunsure,it’sbetternotto touch
LearnMore
AlittleGraceandCourtesygoesalongway evenwhenyourstudenthasfourlegsandawaggytail! Ifyou’dliketodivedeeperintounderstandingdogbodylanguageorhowchildrenanddogscanbuildrespectful, trustingrelationships,you’rewelcometoexploremyonlinevideocourse.Clickheretoaccessthecourseanduse thecodeMONTESSORIforfreeaccess
CHRYSALIS
Movement is an important part of the Chrysalis environment as it is how infants and toddlers learn and explore.Activitiesareavailabletosupportthedevelopment ofgrossmotorandfinemotorskills
InAction
It is important to allow our child ample time and space to practice and master these skills without too much interference.
We need to be able to adopt a 'friendliness with error ' attitude For example, allowing them to spill some water whenlearningtopour
Itisthroughthese'errors'thattheylearn
AKURA
Repeatedlypushingthewagon ismorethanjustplay it’s purposefulmovementthat supportscoordination,balance, strength,andspatial awareness Eachpushbuilds confidenceandcontributesto grossmotordevelopment
ortingGrowingIndependenceandaMeaningfulTransition
precursorto,andpreparationfor,enteringtheChildren's e(preschool),CCMhas,forclosetoadecade,facilitated daymorningsessionsforbothparentsandchildren
gtheseclasses,parentsbecomefamiliarwiththe onment,theybegintobuildandrolemodelaworking onshipwiththeGuides;theyhaveanopportunityto:
aininsightintothespeciallydesignedresources, periencethecultureoftheroom,beexposedtothe nguageused,
ndwitnessthenatureoftheinteractionstheGuideshave thyounglearners
aisanaturalcontinuationbeyondChrysalis Children intime,learntoorientthemselveswithinthisnew aredenvironment,becomefamiliarwiththeGuides,and inindependence Parentsandcarerstakeastepback, eavethespacetothechildren tonavigate,engage explore,andlearn.
Making banana biscuits from scratch in Chrysalis — measuring, mixing, and shaping with minimal adult help. Opportunities like this support growing independence, coordination, and confidence in purposeful work.
A child was introduced to the first stage of a carefully designed process that supports hand–eye coordination, control of movement, appropriate pressure, and refined pencil grip—laying the foundation for writing.
In time, they will progress from simple circular shapes to more complex designs using multiple geometric forms.
FÉILEACÁN
It’shardtobelievewe’realreadyhalfwaythrough theyear thoughthecontinuoushumand busynessofourclassroomtelladifferentstory!
The children are eagerly preparing their work in anticipation of Cultural Day later this year, filling the environment with purpose and enthusiasm. Our friends who floated back into the classroom at the beginning of the year have done so with such ease and grace It is always a joy for the guides to witness how naturally the children reclaimtheirplaceintheenvironment,reconnect withtheguidesandtheirpeers,steppingbackin asthoughtheyneverleft.
Overthepastfewmonths,we’vealsobidfarewell to some of our older children as they begin their exciting new journeys at Primary. At the same time,we’vewelcomedmanynewfaces several of them siblings or cousins of past and current students who couldn’t wait to become part of our classroom family. Watching these new friends settle in, guided by familiarity and sibling connection,remindsusonceagainofthestrong sense of community that grows within these walls
Just as in the world beyond our classroom, the dynamic and diverse environment inside offers countless opportunities for children to practise and refine lifelong skills. While they are steadily developing foundational academic abilities like reading, writing, and gross and fine motor coordination, something even greater is unfolding: our young learners are absorbing lessons about what it means to live and work within a community They are exploring what respect looks like, how to be kind, how to contributemeaningfully whetherit'ssettingthe lunch table, baking bread, polishing cutlery, or helpingafriendputtheirshoeson Theyarealso navigating the subtle and complex world of socialinteractions
d sometimesthroughunbridledjoy thathowyou ask for something matters Demanding a LEGO block may not be as effective as asking politely. They’re discovering that if you draw on a friend’s work, that friend may choose not to sit with you fortherestoftheday.Theyareexperiencingwhat it is to give and take, and how to express their thoughts and feelings with confidence These small yet powerful experiences build the social andemotionalresiliencetheywillcarrywiththem fortherestoftheirlives
As guides, we see daily the incredible strength and growth that can emerge from these moments of struggle For every instance of discomfort or frustration, there are countless othersfilledwithjoy,pride,andself-discovery.For seasoned families and guides, I am sure the familiarcallof"thereadingdrawersaretoohard" or "the golden beads are too long" has a familiar echo. We as guides witness it each and every day, and I wish we could bottle for you that preciousmomentwherethepennydropsandthe child experiences that moment of seeing how capabletheyare
FundamentalMovement Skills–Jumping: Thechildrentookturns jumpingoffthewallto ringthebell,showing graceandcourtesyby ensuringaclear,safe pathbeforeeach attempt Afterjumping, theylineduppatiently foranotherturn,each carefullyassessingtheir ownabilityandjudging thedistance They showedwonderful resilienceandagrowth mindset gettingback upandtryingagain.
Achildworkswiththefirst geometrydrawer,a hands-onmaterial designedtointroducethe worldofgeometrythrough exploration Usinga woodenframeandinsets totraceandfeeldifferentsizedcirclessupportsthe developmentoffinemotor skills,visualdiscrimination, andgeometric understanding.Thistactile approachlaysastrong foundationforlater mathematicallearning
Childrenexploredfirst aidbasics,learninghow tocall000androll someoneintothe recoveryposition
TheNikolenko’s
HOWLONGHASYOURFAMILYBEENPARTOF THECENTRALCOASTMONTESSORI COMMUNITY,ANDWHATISONEOFYOUR FAVOURITEMEMORIESSOFAR?
Alfiya:
WejoinedtheCentralCoastMontessoricommunityin Spring2019 Atthetime,IwaspregnantwithTheo,and wehadjustmovedfromBrisbanetoNewcastle Itwas importantformetocontinueEleonora’sMontessori journey shestartedatjustoneyearoldinRussiaand continueduntilagethreeinBrisbane
Oneofmyfavouritememoriesisfromourtimeatthe MontessoriPreschool Thephysicalspaceitselffelt magical surroundedbybeautifullandandfilledwith trulyspecialpeople I’llneverforgetateamorningfor mums itcreatedaspacethatfeltlikefamily:warm, safe,anddeeplypresent
Evgeny:
IrememberthefirstShowMewitheachofthekids seeingtheirexcitementandbuzzastheysharedwhat they’dlearnedandloveddoingatschool ForourveryfirstFamilyFocus,we’redelightedto introduceAlfiyaandEvgenyNikolenko,parentsof EleonoraandTheo.TheNikolenkos’havebeenpartof theCentralCoastMontessoricommunitysince2019
INWHATWAYSDOYOUFEELMONTESSORI EDUCATIONHASSUPPORTEDYOUR CHILDREN’SGROWTHANDDEVELOPMENT?
Alfiya:
MontessorifeltrighttomeevenbeforeIhadchildren EverytimeIappliedevensmallMontessori-inspired changesathome,IsawadifferenceinEllie’sbehaviour We’veusedMontessorimaterialsfromthevery beginning,groundingeverythinginscience, observation,andbeingpresent Now,Iseehowthevery thingsIwaslearninginmy30s self-reflection, emotionalregulation,trustingtheprocess mykidsare learningnaturallyatamuchyoungerage.
Oneofthebiggestgiftshasbeentheabilitytogotothe Guideswithanyquestionorchallenge Theyknowmy childrensodeeply sometimesevenbetterthanIdo andalwaysrespondwithinsightandcare Ellieand Theotrusttheworldaroundthem,andthey’re becomingtheirmostgenuineselves.
HOWDOYOUSUPPORTMONTESSORI PRINCIPLESATHOME,ANDHOWHASTHIS INFLUENCEDYOURFAMILYLIFE?
Alfiya:
Montessorihasbeenwovenintoourlivesforsolong thatit’shardtopinpointspecificthings.ButIclearly rememberamomentwhenTheowasstillababy beforehecouldevencrawl Ifheputsomethinginhis mouth,I’dgentlyaskhimtotakeitout,andhewould Friendswereamazed:“Wait,babiesunderstandthat?” Andthentheytriedit andwereamazeditworked Wedon’tfolloweveryprinciplerigidly,butourkidsare confidentandcapable,withoutpressure.They’ve chosentheirownclothesanddressedthemselvesfor years Theypacktheirbagsforschool,fortravel,make theirownbreakfast andsometimesourstoo Theybothlovereading it’stheirfavouritething And what’sbeautifulisthatpeopleoutsidetheMontessori communityoftencommentonhowwell-mannered andgroundedourkidsare,eventhoughwe’venever focusedondisciplineinatraditionalsense Atthecoreofitallistrust Trustinthemselves,trustinus, andtrustintherhythmoftheirowndevelopment
Evgeny: WhateverAlfiyasaid! ��
WHICHMONTESSORIEVENTOR
EXPERIENCEHASBEENMOSTMEANINGFUL FORYOURFAMILY,ANDWHY?
Alfiya: Themostmeaningfulpartofourjourneyhasbeenthe community Fromourlittle‘SecretSauerkrautSociety’ ofmumstocookingwiththekids,tocasualchatsand sharedideas it’sbeentrulyspecial.Theschoolisopen toideas,andthere’sarealsensethateveryvoice matters
Ofcourse,theaestheticbeautyoftheenvironmentis lovely butwhatwevaluemostarethepeople The parents,thechildren,theGuides Everyoneiscurious, open,andcommittedtogrowth.
We’vebuiltlastingfriendshipswithotherfamilies,andI alwaysfeelateasesendingthekidsonplaydates knowingtherewon’tbesugar,screens,orplastic everywhere Justreallife,sharedwithotherswhovalue thesamethings Thatkindoftrustandalignmentis priceless.
Thankyou,AlfiyaandEvgeny,forbeingthefirst familyfeaturedinourFamilyFocus Yourwords areabeautifulreminderofwhat’spossiblewhen Montessoriisembracednotjustintheclassroom, butinthehomeandheart
WONNAI
Ouryearbeganwithawarmwelcomeatour start-of-yearmorningtea,thetimingwasjust right,allowingmanyfamiliestoattend.Thank youtoeveryonewhocamealongandhelped setalovelytoneforthemonthsahead
We’vebeenexploringaspectsofAfricain anticipationofCulturalDay.Sincerethanksto Virginia,Flor,ImmieandGloriaforyour generoushelpwithsewing thechildrenare proudofwhat’stakingshape
Alongsidethis,we’veenjoyedpoetry, narrativewriting,andseasonalnaturewalks.
ScienceDaybroughtgreatenergy we sharedtheGreatStoryoftheComingofthe Universe,exploredtheTimelineofLife,and experimentedwithairandwaterpressure.
Aneruptingvolcano(thanks,Isaac!)wasa favourite.Thechildren’sreflectionsare alreadysparkingideasforfuture investigations.
WithYanan,we’vecontinuedourMandarin learning includingreadingTheVeryHungry CaterpillarinChinese.
We’vebeenfortunatetohaveAshworkingin ourroomthisterm manychildrenhave beendrawntohercuriosity-sparking offerings.
It’sbeenasteadyandmeaningfulstretch, withplentyofprogressandsharedmoments alongtheway
JenWillis LeadGuide(Wonnai)
Our science day culminated in the Story of The Coming Of The Universe and a volcanic erruption!
We answered the question ‘What is a kilometre?’ Using the trundle wheel, we walked until we measured 1,000 metres — then continued through to the playground. A total of 1,297 m + 297 m = 1,541 m — about 1.5 kilometres!
KANYINI
ThisterminKanyinihasbeenrichwithstories,newfaces,andsteadygrowth Webeganwith theawe-inspiringFirstGreatStory,introducingtheoriginsoftheuniverse alwaysafavourite andapowerfulmomentforchildrenastheybegintounderstandtheirplaceinthevast unfoldingoftime.ThiswasfollowedbytheStoryofLanguageandTheComingofLifeTimeline, eachsparkingcuriosityandwonder
Weeklyswimminglessonshavebroughtexcitementandenergy Whilesomechildrenare alreadycompetentswimmers,forothersithasbeenatimeofchallengeandaccomplishment. AwarmthankyoutoourgenerousparentdriverswhomadetheseGoing-outexperiences possible yoursupportisdeeplyappreciated
AvisitfromTheMarinersaddedaburstofaction,whileCodingClubhascontinuedtothrive thankstothetimeandexpertisesogenerouslyofferedbyEvgeny thankyou!
Wealsowelcomedtwopracticumstudentsintotheclassroomthisterm,whosepresence broughtfreshenergyandperspective.Andit'sbeenapleasuretowelcomeseveralnew studentstransitioningfromCycle1,eachalreadybeginningtofindtheirrhythmandplace withinthegroup
Aswemakeroomfornewbeginnings,wealsopreparetofarewellfourKanyinifriendswhoare readytotransitiontoCycle3:Jeremiah,Ellie,RubyandArchie We’resoproudofallthey’ve contributed,andweknowthey’llbringthatsamespiritandstrengthtotheirnextchapter
Asalways,Kanyinicontinuestobeaplaceofwonder,work,andtransformation madeallthe moremeaningfulbythecareandinvolvementofthecommunitythatsurroundsit
Extending learning beyond the classroom and connecting with the wider world: A simple ‘Going Out’ experience like a walk to the local supermarket offers more than fresh air and exercise — it provides a meaningful, hands-on opportunity for children to engage with the real world. These experiences build confidence and strengthen practical life skills such as navigating a budget, handling money, reading signs, and making purposeful choices. They also help children see how their learning applies beyond the classroom, supporting a deeper sense of relevance and responsibility.
Do you know the seven triangles? The geometry sticks support the children’s imagination and understanding of shapes. They are precisely measured, with lengths ranging from 2 cm to 20 cm. The coloured wooden sticks you see here are designed for greater precision, helping to illustrate the diagonals of quadrilaterals or the hypotenuse of triangles, increasing in lengths of 2√2.
Meg Owens from Brisbane Montessori visited to present The Coming of Life — Montessori’s Second Great Story — an awe-inspiring narrative that traces the origins of life on Earth. This story sets the stage for scientific inquiry and helps spark curiosity about biology, evolution, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
WHYWECALLIT ‘HANDCRAFT’
AtCentralCoastMontessori,wecallitHandcraft,notArtorCraft andthischoiceisverydeliberate
ThetermHandcrafthonourssomethingdeeperthansimplymakingthings Itreflectsaprocessthatengagesthewhole child:body,mindandspirit It’snotaboutfastresults,decorativeproductsortickingboxes It’saboutprocess,presence, andtheslow,satisfyingrhythmofworkingwithourhandsinameaningfulway.
Workingwithrealmaterials thosethatofferbothmanipulationandresistance helpschildrendevelopmorethanjust technicalskill Thesematerialsaskforstrength,careandperseverance Theslownessofhandworkallowsfordeep engagement,reflection,andimagination Thismindfulpacehelpschildrenbuildnotonlyskillbutalsosensitivityand resilience.
Bycontrast,thewordcraft,asit's commonlyusedtoday,oftenrefersto quickoreasyactivities:cutting, pasting,colouringorworkingwith soft,highlymalleablematerialslike playdough Whilethesemayhave theirplace,theydonotofferthe samedepthofchallenge,nordothey buildthesamequalitiesofsustained focusandwillpower
Handcraftinviteschildrentoriseto challengesovertime.Astheygrowin skillandconfidence,theymove throughincreasinglevelsof complexity oftenworkingonreallife,functionalprojects.Indoingso, theybegintoseethemselvesas capableandcreativecontributors, abletoperseverethroughdifficulty andbringtheirideastolifewithcare andprecision
InCycle3,childrenoftentakefull ownershipoftheirprojects They solveproblems,designwithintention, andcollaboratewithpeers This fostersindependence,self-efficacy, andadeepsenseofpride.It’snot unusualtoseeachildcompletely absorbedinstitching,woodworking orweaving anchoredinthe moment,motivatedbypurpose
Handcraft,then,ismorethana subject Itisapracticeofpresence,a cultivationofwill,andaninvitationto slowdownandtakeprideinthe process.Itremindschildrenthatthey cancreatethingsthatarereal, beautiful,andlasting
Andperhapsmoreimportantly it remindsthemthattheyarecapable.
KathyPhilips Guide(Laniakea)
Kathy
@centralcoastmontessori
LANIAKEA
Aswereachthecloseofanothervibrant semesterinStage3,it’sajoytoreflectonthe incrediblegrowth,curiosity,andcollaboration thathasfilledourclassroom Theenergyand enthusiasmofthe9–12-year-oldchildare beautifullycapturedinDr.MariaMontessori’s words:
“Thechildofthisageisinterestedinthehow andwhyofthings,andthroughculture andimaginationseekstounderstandthe universe.”
Thishascertainlybeentrueforourstudents thisterm,asthey’veimmersedthemselvesin deeplearning,meaningfulwork,andastrong senseofcommunity.
Thissemester,studentshavebeenona journeyofintellectualandpersonal exploration.Withmindseagertounderstand theworldaroundthem,theclasshasdelved intoresearchacrossallsubjectareas from thevastbiomesoftheworldtotherich culturesofAfrica,layingthegroundworkfor ourcontinuedstudiesintoCosmicEducation.
Aspecialhighlightwasourcampto Canberra,wherethechildrenexperienced learningbeyondtheclassroom.Montessori campsareunique morethanjust excursions,theyareopportunitiestofoster independence,socialconnection,andrealworldlearning
StudentsexploredParliament,museums, andhistoricalsites,whilealsostrengthening theirbondsthroughsharedexperiences Thesemomentsarecrucialfordeveloping thecollaborativeandsocialskillsthatare centraltotheMontessoriphilosophy.
Theyhavecontinuedtogrowasfluent readersandwriters.Withastrongfocuson writingthisterm,childrenhavebeen planning,drafting,editing,andpublishing theirowntextswiththegoalofsharingtheir workwithawideraudience From imaginativestoriestofactualreports,the writtenwordhasbecomeatoolforselfexpressionandcommunication.As Montessoriremindsus:
‘Thehandsaretheinstrumentsofman’s intelligence.’
Whetherwritingbyhandortyping,children areengagingthoughtfullywiththeirideas andrefiningtheirabilitytocommunicate themclearly.Inmathematics,students haveexplorednewconceptswith enthusiasmandcollaboration.
Whetheritwaslongdivision,geometry,or exploringmeasurementinreal-lifecontexts, theclassroomhasbeenabuzzwith problem-solvingandpeer-to-peer teaching.Oneofthemostbeautifulaspects ofaMontessoriclassroomishowchildren learnfromoneanother,witholderstudents oftentakingonmentoringrolesandyounger onesrisingtochallengeswithconfidence.
Asweprepareforthewintermonthsandthe nextphaseofourCosmicEducationjourney, we’reexcitedtodivedeeperintothebiomes, Africanhistoryandculture,andthe interconnectednessofalllife.The enthusiasm,creativity,andcollaborative spiritofthestudentscontinuetoinspireus daily
Wethankyou,theparents,foryourongoing supportandlookforwardtothecontinued journeyaheadwithyouramazingchildren.
TinaForsyth DeputyPrincipal&LeadGuide (Laniakea)
‘Independenceatthisageisn’t justaboutdoingthingsalone —it’saboutdiscoveringwho youareandhowyoucan contribute.’
Aschildrenenterthe9–12agerange,oftenreferredtoin Montessorieducationasthe‘secondplaneofdevelopment,’they begintoseekmoreautonomy,responsibility,andadeepersense ofpurposeintheirdailylives.Forparents,thisperiodcanbeboth excitingandchallenging.Thefoundationofindependencethat wasnurturedintheearlieryearsnowbeginstoblossom intosomethingmorenuanced onethatblendsintellectual curiosity,emotionalmaturity,andsocialresponsibility
Montessorieducationoffersinvaluableinsightsintohowtosupport thisgrowth,bothatschoolandathome.Here’showparentscan alignwithMontessoriprinciplestonurtureindependenceduring thistransformativestage
Atthisage,childrenareinwhatDr MariaMontessoridescribedas atimeof‘intellectualindependance’ Theyarenaturalproblemsolvers,questioners,andcollaborators Theirthinkingbecomes moreabstract,andtheybegintodevelopasenseofjustice, fairness,andpersonalvalues.Theycravemeaningfulworkand wanttobeinvolvedindecisionsthatimpacttheirlives
‘Educationisanaturalprocesscarriedoutbythechildandisnot acquiredbylisteningtowordsbutbyexperiencesinthe environment’ MariaMontessori
Ourenvironmentsforthisagegroupreflecttheseneedsby offeringchoicewithinstructure,encouraginggroupprojects,and allowingstudentstofollowtheirinterestswhilebeingaccountable fortheirresponsibilities Parentscansupportthisjourneyby fosteringsimilaropportunitiesathome I n d e p e n d e n c e f o r 9 –1 2Y e a rO l d ’s : A M o n t e s s o r i P e r s p e c t i v e f o r P a r e n t s
EncourageResponsibilityThroughReal-LifeTasks:Childreninthisagegrouparecapableofcontributing meaningfullytohouseholdresponsibilities.Insteadofframingchoresasobligations,inviteyourchildtotake ownershipofatask Letthemmanageaspectsoffamilylifesuchasmealplanning,cookingadish,helpingwitha sibling,ormanagingtheirownschedules
‘Thechildbecomesapersonthroughwork.’ MariaMontessori
Tip:Involveyourchildincreatingafamilycalendarorweeklymealplan Thisgivesthemagencywhilealso teachingplanningandorganisationskills
OfferChoiceWithinBoundaries:Montessoriemphasisesfreedomwithinlimits.Provideyourchildwithoptionsfor howandwhentocompletetasks,whilemaintainingclearexpectations
‘Toletthechilddoashelikeswhenhehasnotyetdevelopedanypowersofcontrolistobetraytheideaof freedom.’ MariaMontessori
Forexample:‘Youneedtofinishaparticulartaskbeforedinner Wouldyouliketodoitrightafterschoolorafter yoursnack?’Thisapproachrespectsthechild’sgrowingneedforautonomywhilestillguidingthem towardresponsibility.
EncourageSelf-DirectedLearning:Montessorienvironmentsthriveoncuriosity-drivenexploration Youcansupport thisbycreatingahomeenvironmentthatsparksinterest books,toolsforcreativeexpression,sciencekits,oreven accesstosafeonlineresearchplatforms
‘Thegreatestgiftswecangiveourchildrenaretherootsofresponsibilityandthewingsof independence.’ MariaMontessori
Askquestionslike:‘Whatareyoucuriousaboutrightnow?’or‘Whatdoyouwanttolearn moreaboutthismonth?’
NormaliseMistakesasPartofGrowth
Childreninthisagegroupmaybehesitanttotakerisksiftheyfearfailure Emphasisethatmistakesareanormal andvaluablepartofthelearningprocess Helpthemreflectonoutcomesandproblem-solve,ratherthanstepping inimmediatelytofixthings.
‘Thechildwhohasneverlearnedtoworkbyhimself,tosetgoalsforhimself,toovercome obstaclesbyhimself,willneverdevelopindependenceorcharacter.’—MariaMontessori
Example:‘Itlookslikethebiscuitsdidn’tturnoutthewayyouhoped Whatdoyouthinkhappened?Whatwouldyou dodifferentlynexttime?’
TrustTheirCapabilitiesSometimesth capableofmanagingincreasinglevel communicatesconfidenceandencou
‘Neverhelpachildwithataskatwhic
Reminder:Growthtakestime,andbuil way
THEROLEOFCONNECTION
Asindependenceincreases,sotoodoestheneedforconnection Childrenatthisagebenefitgreatlyfrom meaningfulconversations,sharedexperiences,andcollaborativedecision-making Theywanttobeheardand understood Spendingintentionaltimetogether whetherduringmeals,walks,orsharedhobbies fostersasecure environmentthatallowsindependencetoflourish.
TinaForsyth DeputyPrincipal&LeadGuide (Laniakea)
Seenisaparentingdocumentary byGoldCoastfilmmakerHailey Bartholomew,inspiredbythefact thatuptooneinfourAustralian childrenarebeingraisedbya parentwithamentalillness. Thefilmfollowstheparenting journeysoffourindividualsfrom differentbackgrounds,who, throughinterviewsandstorytelling, sharetheirpersonalexperiences anddiscoverieswhilehealingtheir ownemotionalscars.
Itweavestogethertheirraw, personalstorieswith groundbreakingneuroscience fromProfessorSelenaBartlett,a globalexpertinearlylifestress, trauma,andneuroplasticity.
Thefilmalsofeaturesparenting expertssuchasMaggieDentand VanessaLapointe,withMaggie sharingsomeofherownparenting experienceswithherfourboys
‘Yourchildrenhavecometo triggeryoutoheal.’ MaggieDent
‘Youcannotuselogictoescape theprogrammingofyourown childhood’ VanessaLapointe
Thefilmexploresthebenefitsof personalhealingforparentsand howthesebenefitscanleadto transformativechangefortheir families
Withsomuchparentingadvice available,whyareourchildren strugglingmorethaneverbefore?
Seenisaninvitationforparents tobecomeawareandconsider howtheirownpastexperiences maybeinfluencingtheirchildren Parentscan’ttrulyseetheir childrenuntilthey’vedonethe worktoseethemselves.
Itisalsoafilmaboutloveand hope
Theaimofthefilmistosparkan ongoingconversationthatwill createchange forindividuals, theirfamiliesforgenerationsto come,andsocietyasawhole Pathwaysandsupportonwhatto donextarealsoavailable
hewebsiteprovideslinkstoa parentingcourse,aswellasfree resourcesincludingpodcasts, books,andsupportservices
Ifyouwereluckyenoughtohave hadthe‘perfect’childhoodand arenowtheperfectparent,then thefilmmaynotresonatewith you butfortherestofus,I highlyrecommendwatchingit
Whileit’snotavailableon demandorincinemas,online screeningsarehostedregularly. Thenextscreeningwillbeon Tuesday8Julyat7pm,hostedby MaggieDent,followedbyalive Q&AwithMaggieDentand ProducerSamJockel
Gotoseenthefilm.comformore informationandtobooktickets.
CCMCommunityLiftOff2025
BackWithaSplash!
ThefirstCCMLiftOffwasheldinearlyFebruary arelaxedcommunitygatheringdesignedto easeusbackintotheyearafterthelongbreak withconnection,conversation,andabitoffun.
FamiliesmetatthePreschoolcampusforafew hoursofunhurriedreconnection Childrenkept coolonthewaterslide,whileadultscaughtupin theshade
CodingClub
ThissemestersawthelaunchofCCM’s first-everCodingClub amorning sessionofferingstudentsthechance toexploreprogramminginahandson,curiosity-drivenway
Usingmicro:bits,studentsbegan buildingtheirunderstandingofcode logic,problem-solving,anddigital creativity.
It’sbeenafantasticstart,anda reminderthatcomputationalthinking isjustanotherlanguage oneour childrenaremorethanreadyto explore.
AsimpleBBQlunchwasavailablewith somethingforeveryone steak,sausages,or halloumiburgers,servedwithfreshsaladsand fruitsaladtofinish.Thankyoutoeveryonewho helpedmaketheeventpossible Yourtimeand energysetthetoneforthetermahead
LiftOffnowhasaplaceonourcalendar a meaningful(andFUN)waytobegintheyear
DrummingCircle
Onagreyafternoon,ourPrimary communitygatheredtofarewell Nirvana much-lovedstaffmember andfriend withajoyfuldrumming circle Childrenandteamcame togetherinrhythmandgratitudeto markhistransitionwithwarmthand presence Wejustmanagedtokeep offtherain,andthegatheringbecame aquietlypowerfulsend-offfor someonewhobroughtsuchcareand connectiontoourdays Nirvanahas sincesettledinwithhisnew communityinWoolgoolga,andwe wishhimcontinuedpeace,rhythm, andbelonging.
WelcomeMorningTea’s
Earlythissemester,Primaryfamiliesjoinedusfor aseriesofrelaxedMorningTeas simple gatheringsthatofferedthechancetoconnect withtheGuidesandmeetnewfamilies,overa warmdrink
Whileweknownoteveryonecanmakeitdueto busyschedules,it’salwaysspecialwhentime allows Thesemomentsofconnectionhelp strengthenthetiesbetweenhomeandlearning life
ExploringLiterature
BeyondtheClassroom
Thisyearmarkedourfourthtime attendingtwoinspiringliteraryevents WordsontheWavesandtheSydney Writers’Festival
StudentsfromPrimaryengagedwith authors,askedthoughtfulquestions, andimmersedthemselvesintheworld ofbooksandideas.
Attendanceisrotatedtoensureall studentshaveachancetotakepart overtheyears
Mini MarketStalls
Thissemestersawtwovibrant student-runMini-MarketStallsraising atotalof$662.25towards sustainabilityinitiatives
Fromhandcraftedgoodstosmoothies andquotebookmarks,thestallswere ashowcaseofcreativity,collaboration, andentrepreneurialspirit.Thestudent teamshandledplanning,production, andcustomerservicewithenthusiasm andcare Thankyoutoallwhovisited Thesemomentsaremeaningful practiceinpurposefulwork andwe can’twaitforthenextoneonFriday,15 August.
EnyainFéileacánischuffedtohaveherwork publishedasamini-book Inasweetgesture, Enyadedicatedherbook,‘Tomyfriendsat Montessori’Copieswillbeavailableatboth PreschoolandPrimaryforallthechildrento enjoy
SetoffonanexcitingjourneythroughtheSolar System,whereeachplanetrevealsitsown uniqueandastonishingfact!Fromtheblistering heatofMercury’ssurfacetothestunningringsof Saturn,vibrantillustrationsaccompanyfun tidbitsthatwilligniteyourcuriosity.
Mariners
SomeCycle2studentstookpartina specialskillsandteamworkclinicled bytheCentralCoastMarinersovertwo Thursdaymorningsthissemester
Withastrongfocusoncooperation, movement,andfun,thesessionswere ahit bothonandoffthefield
Abigthankyoutothosewhohelped makethisopportunitypossible
Getreadytoblastoffintoaworldofknowledge andadventure becausetheSolarSystemisfull ofsurprisesjustwaitingtobediscovered!
AWarmWelcome!
Wewelcomedtwonewteammembersat Preschool Holly,currentlystudyingher CertificateIIIinEarlyChildhoodEducation, bringsenthusiasmandanaturaleasewith children shapedbyherexperience growingupinafamilyoften
Jacquijoinsuswithover25yearsof experienceworkingwithchildrenacross countriesandagegroups.Herthoughtful, lightheartedapproachsupportseach child’sjourneywithcareandconfidence
WealsoarefortunatetohaveMelissaon boardatPrimary!Warm,intuitiveand deeplyattunedtotheneedsofchildren, sheprovidesdedicatedstudentsupportin Cycle2 offeringquietencouragement andthoughtfulguidanceeachday
ShowMeShowcase
Thissemester,familieswereinvited intothelearningenvironmentsforour ShowMeShowcase acalmand purposefulexperiencewherechildren ledtheirparentsthroughselected workintheirclassroom
Withgentlepreparation,eachchild chosehowtheywantedtopresent theirspace carefullysettingup beforepersonallyinvitingtheirparent orcaregivertoenter.TheShowcase offeredarareandthoughtfulglimpse intotheirlearning:nota performance,butamomentof presence,trustandself-direction
Formanyfamilies,itwasalsoa valuableopportunitytobetter understandwhatwedowiththe childreneachday howtheywork, howtheenvironmentsupportsthem, andhowthelearningunfoldsin deeplyindividualways.
Familieswereguidedtoobserve withoutprompting,tohonoursilence, andtoalloweachchildtoshareat theirownpace whetherthatmeant onefocusedpieceofworkorseveral
Thesequietandunhurriedmoments, ft fill d ithprideand reflecttheheartof atCCM:thechild ourney allwhoattendedwith respect.Yourpresence thanyoumayrealise ,butforhowit
ONCONNECTION, &WHATWE’VEBEENMISSING
Toconnecttoourchildren,requiresbelievingin them Showingupwithagenuineinterestinthem withnothingelsetodobutbewiththem.Thiswill requirepullingbackfrombeingsobusywith everything&everyoneelseandcomingbacktothe simplicityofchoosingthem Oursensitivekids especiallyneedustocomebacktothissimplicity,at leasttostartwith Thespacetohearthemselvesand forustohearthemisoneofthegreatest foundationswecanprovidethemwith
Choosingourchildreninthiswaycommunicates connection Tosharegenuineinterestinwhatthey aredoingandshareasafespaceforthemto authenticallyexpresstheirneedstranslatesa messageofsafetytoourchildren Whattheyseeis theyarebeing‘Chosen’
Inmyexperienceespeciallywhenworkingwith childrenwhoaregiftedandoftenhaveheightened senses,relationshipbuildingandconnectionmakes themfeelsafertohearwhatyouhavetosayevenif itfeelsuncomfortabletothematfirst Whenthey knowyouareontheirteamtheyfeelsaferto completetasksthatmightotherwisehavefelthard.
Naturallythisrelationshipcreatesaspacewherechildren feelsuccessfulandcanbegintovoicethemselvesfreely Thisrelationshipbeginstonaturallyuncoverwhatour children’sbehaviourisactuallytryingtocommunicate Ourfocusandgoalshouldbeoncreatingagrounded andregulatedspacewheretheyhavepermissiontobe themselves
Toraisechildrenwhobelieveinthemselvesandknowwho theyaremightbethegreatestlegacywecanleavetoour childrenandhumanity
WithLove,
BEYONDTHETIDYSHELF UNDERSTANDINGORDERIN THECYCLETWOCLASSROOM
Whenwethinkof"order"inMontessori,weoftenpicturethethree-tosix-year-oldchild drawntoroutines,repeating tasks,andaligningobjectsjustso Whilethatphaseofdevelopmentismostcommonlyassociatedwithaloveofexternal order,thedeeperjourneyofinternalordercontinueswellintotheprimaryyears
IntheCycleTwoclassroom(ages6–9),ordertransforms It’snolongerjustaboutcleanspacesandcolour-codedtrays Itbecomesmorecomplex,morehuman
THESHIFTFROMOUTERTOINNER
Whiletoddlersandpreschoolersare attunedtoexternalorder cravingroutine andpredictabilityastheirsensoryand cognitivesystemsdevelop byaround5½ yearsold,childrenbegintoshowgreater tolerancefordisorderintheirenvironment Montessoriobservedthatthisshiftoften coincideswiththechild’sgrowingcapacity forinternalorder:logic,imagination,and moralreasoningbegintotakecentrestage Asabstractthinkingemerges,sotoodoes moresophisticatedlanguage.Wemaynot noticeitasreadilyaswhenachildfirst learnstospeak,buttheleapissignificant: humour,sarcasm,metaphor,simile, persuasion,anddebatebegintoshapethe child’sverbalworld Thisrevealsnotonly linguisticgrowthbutamoreorganised, rationalmind onethatisnavigatingand interpretingsocialnuancewithincreasing complexity
SOCIALAWARENESSANDTHENEEDFORSTRUCTURE
Inthisstage,thechildbecomesmoreawareofself howtheycompare,howtheyfit,howtheyfeel Orderforthe primary-agedchildisincreasinglysocialinnature Theymaystillorganisetheirbelongingsorchoosetheirclothes,but nowthechoicesaremorepurposeful,moreexpressive “Thisshirtisfunny,”or“Theseshoesmakemerunfast,”becomes partofagrowingidentity
Forparentsandeducators,thismeanspreparingourselvesforwhatmightlooklikedisorganisation messyrooms, muddledwords,oremotionaltrialanderror.Butthismessismeaningful.Childrenthisagearetestingboundariesto discoverwherethelinesare andwho,ifanyone,isgoingtoholdthemwithconsistencyandcare
HOLDINGSPACE,NOTJUSTSTANDARDS
Theprimary-agedchildisbeginningtoappreciatethegreyareasoflife moralambiguity,differingperspectives,and therealisationthatevenadultsdon’talwaysagree Astheybegintoconstructamoreindependentidentity,theyneed space:spacetoformideas,makemistakes,andtakeownershipoftheirchoices
Whattheydon’tneedispraiseforperformanceorgratitudeforcompliance Whattheydoneedisvalidation a consistentmessagethatwhattheyfeelisrealandappropriate,evenifwedon’tfeelthesame Wecan’talwayscontrol ouremotions,andneithercanthey Butwecanmodelhowtoregulatethemwithtime,action,andsupport
Whileitmaynotlooklikeaspotlessdesk,theneedtotakeresponsibilitymustnotbeconfusedwithoutercontrol Necessaryguidance calmlyandrespectfullyoffered isnotthesameashavingthemavoidresponsibilityaltogether Evenwithinfreedom,childrenmustremainmindfuloftheimpacttheirchoiceshaveonothers,andoftheimportanceof restoringtheenvironmentoncetheirworkisdone
Emotions,afterall,arenotneatandtidy Likeidentity,theyarelayeredandlived Whenachildinveststhemselvesinan idea,task,orrelationship,theiremotionalworldbecomesentangledinthatinvestment Respectingthisemotional landscape evenwhenit’sloudorunexpected ispartofholdingspaceforthedevelopingmind
OrderinCycleTwomaynotalwayslooklikeaspotlessdeskorachildwhoalwayslistens Butitisthere intheirlogic,their questions,theirplayfularguments,andtheirboldexperimentsinselfhood Ourroleistoholdthisunfoldingprocesswith clarityandkindness,knowingthatorder,atthisstage,ismoreaboutinnerstructurethanoutercontrol
CCMCOMMUNITYPOD:
Winter Nourishment forOur Community
Aswemoveintothecoolermonths,theFullFridge Initiativehascometogetherwithwarmthandcare tostocknourishing,home-cookedmeals—lovingly preparedbyourcommunity,forourcommunity.
Asthecoolermonthssettlein,there’snothingquite likeanourishing,home-cookedmealtowarmboth bodyandspirit TheFullFridgePodisagroupof CentralCoastMontessorifamilieswhocome togethereachmonthtopreparemealswithlove andintention foranyoneinourcommunitywho maybewalkingthroughachallengingtime
Whethersupportinganewparent,afamily navigatingillness,orsomeoneexperiencinggriefor overwhelm,theFullFridgePodexistsasaquiet gestureofcareandsolidarity Mealsaremade availabletobetaken eitherforyourselforfor someoneyouknow withnoquestionsasked,just thegentlereminderthateveryoneisworthyof nourishment
Thisisatrulycommunity-driveneffort ThePod welcomesanyonewhowouldliketohelp from sourcingingredientsanddonatingproduce,to openingtheirkitchensforcookingdays It’sa beautifulwaytoconnect,give,andbepartof somethingmeaningful
Oneofourrecentofferingswasaslow-simmered ChickenBoneBroth,madewithingredientsdonated bylocalregenerativefarmersandpreparedina homekitchenfilledwithconversationandcare
FROMTHEFULLFRIDGEPOD: CHICKENBONEBROTH
Asoothing,mineral-richbrothtonourishbothbody andsoul
Ingredients 2–3chickenfeet+2frames 2carrots,2celerystalks,1onion,4garliccloves Afewcloves,thymesprigs,parsley 1tspseasalt Filteredwater(tocover)
Method
1.Combineallingredientsinastockpotorslow cooker
2Coverwithwater,bringtoaboil,thensimmer gently (12–24hrs)
3Skimanyfoaminthefirstfewhours
4Strain,coolslightly,thenstoreinjars(fridgeor freezer).
Tips
Asplashofapplecidervinegarhelpsextract minerals Brothbecomesjelly-likewhenrich thisisideal Sipwarmoruseasabaseformeals
CCMCOMMUNITYPOD:
Fromthe WildHearts
Inourmen’scircle,wetalk aboutrelationships,fromeach man’spointofview
Thiscouldberelationshipswith ourchildren,ourpartnersorany familymemberorfriend
Sometimeswejustlisten.
Sometimesweshareour stories
Whatwe’vefoundisthis:
Whenonemanspeaks,itgives othersanewwayto understandtheirownlives
Realexamplesofhowto navigatefatherhood, partnership,orfamily Itshowsuswe’renotalone,that ourstrugglesareoftenshared
Andthatsimpletruthbrings comfort
There’snopressuretospeak Justspacetobehonest,to connect,andtogrowtogether
With grateful hearts,
Toeveryparent,grandparent, caregiverandfriendwhoofferedtheir time,energyandpresencethis semester—thankyou.
Whetheryoupreparedameal,tended agardenbed,helpedwithsewing, joinedanexcursion,sharedastory, supportedanevent,orquietlystepped inwhereverneeded—your contributionmadeadifference.
Thispageholdsthenameswe managedtogather,butweknow manygenerousactsgounrecorded.If yoursisn’tlisted,pleaseknowyour kindnesswasnoticedanddeeply appreciated.Thankyouforhelpingto shapeCCMintothevibrant,caring communityitis.
Youarethehandsbehindthescenes, thesmilesatdrop-off,thequiet supportthatremindsus ittrulydoes takeavillage.
AdeleC(FullFridgeInitiative/GardenPOD), AimeeB(FullFridgeInitiative),AliciaG (MealTrain),BethP(GardenPOD),Brinley (FullFridgeInitiative),CandaceL(ACTBus Driver),CandiceH(LiftOffFoodservice), CaraB(FullFridgeInitiative),CharlotteB (LiftOffWelcomeStation),CharlotteO (Driver),DerekA(Videos/WHOGM),ElanaR (FullFridgeInitiative/MealTrain),EvgenyN (CodingClub),GeorgeP(Driver),HannahC (MealTrain),HannahS(Driver/FullFridge Initiative),ImogenM(Sewing),JodinM (FoodPOD),JoshC(GardenPOD),Kay& DanC(WeepingWillowFarm),KyomiK(Full FridgeInitiative),LauraJ(FullFridge Initiative), MalaA(FullFridgeInitiative/Meal Train),Mandy(MealTrain),MarielT(Garden POD),MichelleS(Driver),RhiannonJ(Meal Train/FullFridgeInitiative),Terrey(Full FridgeInitiative),VirginiaJ(FullFridge Initiative/Sewing/Croissants).
FreedomWithinLimits: SettingClear& ConsistentBoundaries
Apracticalparenteveningthatexplores theimportantroleofboundarysettingand howconsistencyandclaritysignificantly aidchildrenastheynavigateadynamic world.Let'scometogethertoexplorethe challenges/opportunitiesweareoffered alongwiththenumeroustoolsthatwill supportparentingaMontessorichild The CCMTeamlooksforwardtosharingan eveningofpracticalideasthatwillsupport Montessorifamilylife.Spaceislimited,so besuretoregisterearlytosecureyour spot!
Tue, 29 Jul, 6:30pm - 8:30pm AEST
Lookingforwardto...
Think back to the titles you loved and introduce them now! Plenty of time to get ready for Shared Story Day 2025 - EVERYONE dress up and be ready for a shelf-load of fun!
Annual Winter Feast 2025: Gods & Myths: An adults-only night of feasting, fun, mythical flair — and great company
An important event and Rite of Passage as we celebrate our year 6 children as they prepare for adolescence and secondary. A wonderful event for the whole CCM Community.
Cultural Day 2025: Africa! A vibrant celebration of African culture — with music, food, dance, and community spirit at the heart of it all.
WholeCommunity WinterFeast2025
AdultsCelebration 9thAugust 7pm-11pm Primary Student-led Mini-MarketStall 15thAugust245pm
WholeCommunity SharedStoryDay ‘RetroReads’ 22ndAugust 1pm-4pm
PreschoolandPrimary ShowMeShowCase FortnightBeginning 23rdSeptember
WholeCommunity SafeDiscomfort& Struggle ParentEvening 2ndOctober 6.30pm-8.30pm
WholeCommunity CulturalDay CelebratingAfrica 8thNovember2024 2pm-5pm
WholeCommunity Honouringthe Graduates 12thDecember 2pm-4pm
FREE Montessori Printable: Classification Cards
Diurnal,Nocturnal,Crepuscular— doyouknowwhatyouare?
Thissortingcardsetinviteschildren(andcuriousadults!) toexplorethenaturalrhythmsofhumansandanimals Somecreaturesareactivebyday,somebynight,and othersatdawnanddusk thissimpleactivityhelpsbuild awarenessoftheworldaroundusandourplacewithinit
Instructions: Printonwhitecardstock,single-sided (printat100%forbestresults). Cutoutthecardsandhavefunsorting eachanimal(orhuman)intothecorrect category:Diurnal(day),Nocturnal (night),orCrepuscular(dawn/dusk).
r a b b i t o w l h u m a n
w a l l a b y p o s s u m e l e c a t
m o t h b e e s k u n k m o u s e g i r a f f e
w o m b a t c o c k r o a c h d i n g o q u o k k a
