A local non-profit daycare and pre-school for all children. Serving Greater Victoria since 1973.
About
Island Montessori School is a school for pre-school-aged children (2.5 - 5 years old).
Located at 5575 West Saanich Road, Victoria, B.C.
We are a non-profit registered charity licensed by the Community Care Facilities Licensing Board for 43 children (Group Day Care License No. 64007078).
The Montessori Method
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encourages the active participation of each child;
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promotes self-reliance and independence;
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fosters a spirit of co-operation in communal endeavour.
We believe that all children have the right to:
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feel welcome in school - 'their home away from home'
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be challenged to learn at their own pace
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be able to discover their own interests and strengths
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learn and receive compassion in a positive integrative environment
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learn to become independent and self-reliant
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learn by teaching others
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receive appropriate support and enrichment
The Classroom
One of the basic philosophies in Montessori education is to develop your child’s physical, intellectual and spiritual potential to the fullest. To accomplish this, each child must be provided choices. These choices are given to children in what Dr. Montessori called the “prepared environment.” The Montessori classroom provides order and structure through a safe and enriching environment which allows children to learn at their own speed, according to their own capabilities, in a way that they enjoy, in a non-competitive environment.
Our classroom is an exciting place for your child to be! Our shelves are filled with many interesting and beautiful materials that provide your child with fun and stimulating activities that nurture excitement and curiosity. Because the classroom is well organized, all the materials are visible and accessible to the children.
Our classrooms are diverse and inclusive. We educate on and honor the holidays of many cultures. We also have a rich, longstanding history where we place value on helping children with special needs access our quality education program.
Role of The Directress
Montessori Directresses are trained to teach respect and positive values through the way they teach and by serving as a role model to the children. They train not only teach children to learn, but to also help children become independent, responsible, self-disciplined and cooperative.
It is important that our Directresses have a strong educational background. That’s why all of our Directresses are certified through a national Montessori affiliation, ensuring hundreds of hours of training and instruction. Because of our high expectations, we have quality professionals, ensuring your child will receive a quality program throughout the year.
In a Montessori classroom, the Directress is trained to help direct each child on activities they have chosen. The Directress presents lessons to individuals. Other children can participate if they are interested. This way, the Directress can address the specific needs of a child and can respond to that individual child’s level of interest and understanding. The child does not become frustrated because they are forced to sit through something they are not ready for. This individualized attention also allows the Directress to become more familiar with each child. Thus, the Directress understands the child more fully and is able to better provide for each individual child.
