EDUCATION FOR LIFE

MindTech Montessori Schools emphasizes active learning as children learn best by pursuing their personal interests and goals, children make their own choices about materials and activities during the program time. As they pursue their choices and plans, children explore, ask and answer questions, solve problems, and interact with peers, program staff, volunteers, students on placement and other adults. Children are competent, capable, curious and rich in potential.  MindTech Montessori Schools recognizes each child as a unique individual who brings their own abilities to the program and deserves the encouragement and space to try new things, explore new ideas and develop their own unique creativity. We provide an environment that fosters curiosity, one that allows children to explore in a safe and caring environment, an environment in which to grow and develop to their maximum potential.  We understand the importance of taking children’s stages of development and their unique family, community and life experiences into consideration. In each case, we aim to integrate all areas of the child’s development into our program in a holistic way.

OUR GOALS for children, consistent with both Maria Montessori’s Philosophy and the Ministry of Education pedagogy, which includes the following:

  • Every child has a sense of belonging when he or she is connected to others and contributes to their world.
  • Every child is developing a sense of self, health, and well-being.
  • Every child is an active and engaged learner who explores the world with body, mind, and senses.
  • Every child is a capable communicator who expresses himself or herself in many ways. Children’s interests are valuable to their learning and offer a rich variety of experiences. The type of activities we offer daily include:
    • Drama, music, dance and visual arts
    • Physical literacy
    • Language and literacy
    • Nature, science and technology
    • Construction and design
    • Daily opportunities for physical literacy and active outdoor play
    • Opportunities for school-age children to work on their homework
    • Rest time for children who require it, based on their developmental needs

OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO:

Encourage children to interact and communicate in a positive way and support their ability to self-regulate.

Foster the children’s explorations, play and inquiry.

Provide child-initiated and adult supported experiences.

Offer opportunities to create authentic lasting relationships with others in the program.

HOLISTIC LEARNING APPROACH

At MindTech Montessori Schools we believe our children to be well-rounded individuals who are not only academically capable, but talented in many other areas as well.

To enrich the physical lives and provide a valuable life skill to our children, MindTech Montessori Schools provides the opportunity for our Senior Casa and Elementary Students to participate in an Instructional Swimming Program. The Centre(s) which we work with generally offer a comprehensive 6-week AquaQuest Swimming program. The coaches are certified Lifeguards and Instructors from the Red Cross or Life Savings Society, as well as having experience teaching children.

This is a certified program which allows the children to continue in their certification levels.

MindTech Montessori Schools works in conjunction with The Breakaway Skating Institute to offer our Senior CASA and Elementary children the fundamentals of skating for beginners and also introduces new and challenging skills to the intermediate and advanced skaters.

The program emphasizes the development of balance, flexibility, coordination, strength and body awareness. This program stresses physical conditioning while teaching skating skill development, personal growth and enjoyment of skating and ice sports. Children who are also enrolled in other skating programs continue benefit and advance their skills and confidence. The coaches whom we work with are experienced and specialize in skating skills development.

Our Elementary students participating in a four-day skiing program annually which help to continue enriching their physical and athletic lives. The program is held at a pre-determined Ski Resort which is within 40 minutes from our School. Our four-day Ski Program teaches the fundamentals of skiing to beginners and introduces new and challenging skills to intermediate and advanced skiers. The goal of this program is to introduce our Elementary children to the fun and challenges of another outdoor winter sport, while enhancing the physical development of balance, flexibility, coordination, strength and body awareness

To teach our children about the science involved in poultry reproduction and life cycles, MindTech Montessori Schools incorporates a Chick-Hatching Program into the Annual Curriculum. During this program, the children have the opportunity to learn about the different stages of chick development and the different parts of an egg. This program also touches upon other topics such as embryonic development, different growth stages, the incubation and hatching process and life cycles.

Although the chicks are generally housed in a Elementary classroom, all children are involved and visit the chicks and share in the joyful experience of this event. Children have a chance to see the newborn chicks and witness firsthand the beauty of new life.

This program also teaches our children more about science and help them all foster greater love and respect for farm animals and nature through the caring and handling of hatchlings.

Our CASA and Elementary students participate in a Butterfly Hatching Program which takes place every Spring. The children learn about the life cycle of the butterfly and have a live demonstration of this process as they watch the transformation day by day from the small caterpillar state all the way through the metamorphosis to a butterfly.

Each classroom is distributed with larvae and take place in this magical experience!

At MindTech Montessori Schools, we believe that children require opportunities to explore and learn outside and inside of the classroom. Every year, we plan to take our students to field trips, under supervision of our staff and parent volunteers.  Students will be transported to and from trips on a Chartered School Bus, or we will have external companies visit the children on-site at the school.

All field trips, including, any sports programs (i.e. skating, skiing, and swimming) are very important and developed for the holistic and specific development of the child.  Please see below gallery which reflect some of our field trips.