About

Island Montessori is operated by a non-profit society, and is a registered charity.  The centre is licensed by the Community Care Facilities Licensing Board for 36 children  (Group Day Care Licence No. 64007078), and has a Group 1 Classification with the Independent Schools Branch of the Ministry of Education.  Our regular hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (children attend five days per week).  Island Montessori is open September through June each year.

Vision Statement

To be champions of inclusive, caring and respectful early childhood education founded on Montessori principles and values.

Mission Statement

To nurture every child’s love of learning, while fostering their growing independence, confidence and self-esteem.

Our Guiding Principles

We believe in integration, where appropriate, and in early intervention.

We believe that all children have the right to:

• Feel welcome in school – ‘their home away from home’;
• Be challenged to learn at their own pace;
• Be able to discover their own interests and strengths;
• Learn and receive compassion in a positive integrative environment;
• Learn to become independent and self-reliant;
• Learn by teaching others;
• Receive appropriate support and enrichment.

We believe that families should:

• Work together with staff in the best interests of the children;
• Feel encouraged, empowered and supported;
• Be involved in decision-making regarding their children’s development.

We believe that the staff should:

• Be highly trained and able to apply their skills to all children;
• Have a positive and proactive attitude;
• Be genuinely interested in the children’s personalities and emotional, intellectual and physical needs to make them feel comfortable and safe;
• Foster the children’s independence and self-reliance;
• Work closely with parents to maintain consistency for the children’s school and home environments;
• Believe in integration and early intervention.

We believe that a good educational and support program:

• Uses a wholistic approach to teaching;
• Is child-centred;
• Teaches the child as a whole;
• Is well-documented, frequently monitored and adjusted to the child’s needs, whatever they may be;
• Is tailored to suit the child’s needs in the program – not trying to mold the child to suit the needs of the program;
• Has a reasonable adult to child ratio;
• Focuses on proactive early intervention, continuing support, where necessary, and integration and inclusion where appropriate;
• Celebrates and honours diversity (cultural, religious and so forth).

We believe that all people have the right to respect, dignity, fairness, equality, consideration, compassion, and empowerment.