Art For Children
Wee Pals Montessori Pre-School and Special Services Inc.
Wee Pals Montessori Pre-School and Special Services Inc.
41 Elizabeth Park
Christ Church
Tel: 232-2990
Email: lisam_mcf@yahoo.com
Wee Pals Montessori Pre-school was established in September 2004. A Montessori school is one where children are free to move about their environment and explore activities geared towards developing certain skills such as fine and gross motor control, co-ordination, independence, self-esteem, patience and care of the environment. Children are able to develop at their own pace and use activities which make learning fun. Everything in the environment is placed on low shelves and each activity has its own special place on the shelf. The tables, chairs and all furniture are at the children’s level. Hence, it is a “children’s place”. Montessori is divided into areas – Practical Life, Sensorial, Language skills, Early math and counting, Cultural, Creative Movement and Craft.
Each term a new theme is introduced to the children and the term’s curriculum is very much based around this theme. Therefore, if we are doing insects, we may talk about the parts of the insects, and go on nature walks for cultural, we may count the legs of the insects and put insects into groups for early math, and we may play let’s pretend to be an insect for creative movement. At the end of each term, we put together each child’s theme work and create a book for him/her to take home. Each year, your child will get three theme books. Other work done during the term is compiled at the week’s end and placed into the child’s “cubby hole” where the lunchboxes are kept.
Presentations are done on an individual basis and each child will have presentation time with the teachers during the course of the morning.
General information:
Fees (half day school): $2050.00
Fees (whole day school): $2250.00
Registration fee: Please note that there is a NON-REFUNDABLE registration/stationery fee of $500.
Times (half day school): 7:30 – 12:30
Times (whole day school): 7:30 – 2:00 (latest pick-up
Maximum number of children allowed: 25
Number of staff: 4 teachers who have many years experience in the teaching field.
Daily routine:
7:30 - 8:45 - Montessori work in all curriculum areas – individual lessons and presentations given, socializing and group play
8:45 - 9:00 - outside play
9:00 - 9:15 - sing our hello song and read a story
9:15 - 10:00 - craft/handwork time
10:00 - 10:30 - circle time
10:30 - 11:00 - lunch time
11:00 - 11:30 - clean up after lunch and bathroom time
11:30 - 12:15/12:30 (weather permitting) – playground time/collection of children
12:00 - 12:30 - collection of children
12:30 - 1:00 - quiet rest time (please note that we will require a nap mat/yoga mat and small sheet for nap time for your child – this
will be kept at school)
1:00-1:30 - extended hours lunch time
1:30-2:00 - afternoon activity
1:45 - 2:00 - pick up children
2:00 - Wee pals closes
Activities throughout the year:
Activities throughout the year:
Term 1: dress up party at the end of October; Independence theme for November, Christmas play at the end of term
Term 2: This is our sports day term – Sports day is held nearby at a privately owned land lot and is always a fun-filled day!
Family Fun Day – held at the popular Vaucluse Raceway, this is a fundraiser that is held every 2 years. There are lots of fun, rides and games for the kiddies!
Term 3: Graduation term for the children heading to “big school”. Parent meetings, open day, class photos and the Grad party and play. Our annual beach picnic is held at the end of the school year.
We also offer camps during Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays.
I hope that this information has been of some help to you.
For further information please call me, Lisa McFarlane at 232-2990 or e-mail me at lisam_mcf@yahoo.com
Wee Pals Pre-School and Special Services Inc
Montessori classroom with space to explore.
Our playground area has lots of space to run, climb, swing and play
Our Library Area
This is our library. The books in the library are few, beautiful and usually depict real situations i.e. on the farm, flowers and trees or out of space. There are a few “fantasy” books. The books are changed at the end of each week. We encourage care of books and how to use a library properly.
Math, Literacy and Writing Areas
In our math and literacy areas, children are introduced to the math and literacy concepts using practical, simple materials created by Dr. Montessori. We also have a writing corner in this room where the children can work with insets for tracing, introduction to cutting and gluing and creating their own pictures.
Math: Numerals are introduced using Sand Paper number cards where the child is able to feel the shape, say the name of the numeral and see the numeral in print. Quantities are introduced using many different hands-on materials where the children are able to count spindles, number rods, beads and counters.
Literacy: Letters are introduced using sand paper letters much like the introduction of numbers. Only the sounds of the letters are taught initially. Once a string of letters has been introduced, the child is introduced to the moveable alphabet letters. Letters are matched with objects beginning with the particular sound. Eventually we use the “pink box” series where children are able to build simple 3 letter words. Rhyme, sequencing and thinking skills such as opposites and things that go together are also introduced and practiced each week.
Exercises of Practical Life
In the practical life area, children are able to use real, child sized, attractive materials that help to develop care of self and care of the environment. Watering plants, flower arranging, tying laces and pouring are but a few of the works done by the child in this area.
Cultural Exercises
The cultural area in the environment introduces the children to the world around them. In biology they are introduced to animals – terminology cards and puzzles give the names of the parts of animals. In geography they learn about the world, the continents and our island. In science they are introduced to magnifying objects and magnets. Other cultural information is introduced each term with the themes being studied.
Sensorial Area
Dr. Maria Montessori studied that children learn best when using all of their senses. She therefore created simple materials to help the children develop and refine each sense. Colours, shapes, texture, sound and smell are all introduced in this area.
Manipulatives, Block play and real-world play
Our block play area is a very important one in our Montessori classroom. Introducing cause and effect, promoting thinking skills and problem solving, refining fine motor control and just having a great time creating amazing masterpieces are some of the benefits of this area. Children use their imagination when using various types of blocks and manipulatives. Likewise, real world play is a big part of our school. We rotate this area every few weeks to include the kitchen, grocery store, doctor’s office, car garage, farm and bunny house. Creative play is a great way to build social skills and bring some of the real-life situations into preschool.
Arts and Crafts And Circle Time
Every day, the children come together for our interactive circle time. We introduce them to the register, the calendar and the weather chart. During circle time, we read stories, sing songs and nursery rhymes, play games and many, many more interesting, educational and super fun activities.
We also have many times during the day where the children can express themselves through art and craft and creative play.
