Archive for the Report on schools Category

Primary school: Blue Moon Montessori

By on February 10, 2012

    I owe Cape Town’s Child Magazine and their comprehensive listing of pre-schools  for this one.  I would have never found the school on my own (and it turns out I couldn’t even find it with my GPS – thank goodness Jacky was able to direct me over the phone).

    Hidden away in a quiet bend in Galway Road, Heathfield is the Blue Moon Montessori School set in a quaint little garden. The school building is pretty enough from the outside,  but it was the inside that really impressed me.  Big open flowing spaces filled with light streaming in from the wall to wall windows.  And here’s the big surprise … it was relatively quiet.  Busy:  with children walking, moving, eating, painting everywhere – but quiet!?! Text book example of organised chaos.

    I realised that my preconceived ideas about the Montessori education system may have been way off.  I have never quite been able to fully grasp the concept of self-directed activity in a pre-school classroom, it seemed completely contradictory to what I had always thought education to be, but today I saw it in action and it worked!  I also saw two other practices in the classroom that completely astounded me: Firstly, all the educational materials were stored in glass containers.  Glass + 3 year olds = danger? Doesn’t it? But Jacky was ready for me.  When I asked her about it her answer was wonderfully simple: “We use glass because it breaks.  That is the lesson isn’t it? We can’t always keep children away from glass objects, but we can teach them how to handle glass carefully so that it does not break”.  The second practice was that of helping yourself to snack – today’s snack was a delicious looking fruit salad -when you feel like it. Whoa! I had expected that this would cause a stampede of little bodies, all fighting to get to the food first.  But what I saw was the complete opposite, a pretty little girl dishing up her snack by herself … and then washing her own plate! Double Whoa!!! It inspired me to read up more about the Montessori philosophy and the more I read the more it seems to make sense.

    I spent my entire school career in a traditional, sit-still-and-listen, only-do-what-I-tell-you-to type of educational system (and I think I turned out kinda okay? – I hope? ), but in my professional career I have been intensely disillusioned by the results of this kind of educational setting.  It simply does not produce independent thinkers and is not conducive to the development of true leadership.  What I saw today at Blue Moon Montessori has given me some hope that reaching these ideals might just be possible.  Later, I found this quote by Maria Montessori and I couldn’t help feeling like Maria and I were kindred spirits: “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education, all politics can do is keep us out of war”.

    Even better news is that Blue Moon Montessori now also have a foundation phase group (6-9 years) and I’m really hoping that they consider starting a senior primary (9 – 12 year) group.

    If you are considering a Montessori education for your child, I would strongly recommend that you have a look at this school.  Contact Jacky on 021 712 0221 or ask to visit them on their campus.

    This entry is filed under Early Childhood Development, Education, Report on schools and tagged , .

    Bergvliet Primary School

    By on January 25, 2012

      The best keep secret in the Southern Suburbs?

      With being new in the area and trying to set up a practice, I’ve been spending a lot of time going around to schools to meet with staff, to introduce myself and to get a general feel for each school.  And what an interesting exercise it has been!

      I have been so impressed by some of the schools that I have visited and feel I simply have to share.

      Bergvliet Primary School is tucked away in a quiet little street, aptly named Children’s Way, in the suburb and I doubt that I would have been able to find it without the help of my GPS.  I met with Fiona van der Linde the school’s social worker and Angela Leech, the remedial teacher and was instantly impressed with their experience and knowledge.  Getting the theory of emotion and remediation right is one thing, but it was these ladies’ understanding of what it takes to implement these ideals in practice that really impressed me. Fiona and Angela speak very passionately about what they do and the children they deal with and from where I was sitting it seemed pretty clear that they care very deeply about each of the children they take under their wings.

      The school is model-C school and currently has in the region of about 600+ pupils.  The school buildings and grounds are quaint and neat and not overly decorative or lavish (I often cringe to think what the school fees must be at some of the overly decorative and grand schools that I visit).  The hallways were filled with the sounds of children learning and someone playing the piano and all the classrooms were colourfully decorated with children’s art.

      While sitting in the reception area I read the notice boards, detailing the rich history of the school and was instantly struck by how few principals had been employed since the school came into existence.  I’ve always believed that to be a simple rule of thumb on which to judge any school – the longer the principals stay, the better the school.

      So if you live or work in the Begvliet / Plumstead / Tokai area and are looking for a school in the area, I would definitely recommend that you consider Bergvliet Primary School.  The school can be contacted on 021 715 1103.

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