A message from the staff

As a parent you know that choosing a pre-school for your child is one of the most significant decisions you face.

Five essential features of an effective Montessori school are: philosophy, personnel, physical plant, program and pupils. These features and the school’s commitment to three Montessori principles should judge a school: observation, individual liberty and preparation of the environment.

Because of individual adaptation and interpretations, all Montessori school differ somewhat, but there will always be some common elements.

In ANA Montessori, you will find an environment prepared with child-sized furnishings, an array of learning apparatus on shelves, children free to move about while pursuing disciplined activity, working singly or in small groups. The teachers should be observing and directing the activities of the children.

Most important to you as parent, should be the attitude of the children and teachers you observe and their interaction and rapport with each other. Remember that any classroom can have an impressive array of materials and the superficial appearance of a “good school”, but there’s far more to be observed than just that.

You want a place where your child will feel happy and secure while he’s learning, a place where he is treated and respected as an individual and where he feels comfortable in his surroundings. A child’s first school experience has a great effect on is future feelings concerning school and the learning process, and it is vitally important to make a wise decision affecting these early stages of development.

The biggest favor that you can do for your child, once he has been enrolled in a Montessori school, is to become actively involved yourself also. Our school conducts an active parent education program to guide parents in a better understanding of the method and the role of school and home. All parents need background of the method, since it is important for it to carry over from school to home.

This prospectus has been prepared to help you make this choice. We hope it will give you a greater understanding of the philosophy and aims of ANA Montessori, and help you to make your choice with confidence. We invite you to contact the School Secretary to arrange for a tour of the school. We are sure you will be impressed with what we have to offer your child.