Our children have been at Wa Ora for four years.  All the staff, but particularly the teachers, have engaged our children to enhance their nature ability and assist in those areas of challenge.  Our kids love going there. There are dedicated volunteer family members (which creates a wider feeling of an extended family for all children and parents/caregivers) and a new program for 2010, with both compulsory and elective lessons, which will be fun to be a part of.  It is a testament to the leadership of the school's principal Jan.
Chris
Father and Working Parent

 

 

Having come to Wa Ora Montessori after time spent in a private school environment, it is wonderful as a parent to see both our children thriving in the Wa Ora environment.  They have been encouraged to be independent and do for themselves, those things that they can, thereby developing their self-esteem; and they have been supported in evaluating information to make their own decisions - they are not told what to think!  The Montessori method is well-suited to both our children, a boy and a girl, despite their vastly different learning styles, and with the warmth and friendliness of the school community - teachers, staff, students and parents - we are huge fans!
Relda Hermann
Parent

 

 

 

We first experienced Wa Ora Montessori during an open day at the school. We have only one child and our primary motivation for choosing this school was the mixed age classes which we felt would give Sorscha the experience of learning from older children and helping younger children as she has no siblings. The other bonus for our choosing this school is that we live near the school and our preference is for a smaller school with a strong school community. Sorscha and I first went to playgroup one morning per week. When the time came to start at preschool, we both had built up some friendships and familiarity with the school environment. 

Tom and I did not know anything of the Montessori method of learning and have been overwhelmed with the approach to learning, the materials the children have available to them and the quality of care in teaching the children. Attending the information evenings both had us commenting that we wish we had had the benefit of this style of learning ourselves. One specific example which blew me away was a flower lesson in which the children are able to draw and name the parts of flowers  - something I didn’t touch on until I was at university ! The introduction to geography and learning about continents and countries is another area we felt we missed out on at school and the children are able to start the process of learning and familiarisation at the preschool level.

We consider that the nurturing environment that allows the children to choose work that interests them is a fabulous way of allowing them to be responsible for their own learning and a great way to promote interest in discovery dependant on the interest areas of the individual child. 

Our daughter is thriving in this environment and our families are amazed at her confidence and the skills she displays at the age of 5.  She loves helping the younger children with their lessons which obviously has the added bonus of reinforcing her own learning. I personally like that co-operation is promoted over competetiveness. 

In the preschool classroom, we love how the children first learn to shape letters using sandpaper letters ( great texture ), learning words and numbers. Sorscha was so excited when she was old enough to first start reading and bringing books home from school and also when she started work on the more advanced math materials. Being part of a mixed age class, the younger children observe the older children - what an excellent motivator for advancement of their own learning and the steps the children need to take to reach the desired activity. ( Sorscha would like to share that the best thing she learnt at school recently was sewing. ) 

The other area of excellence in the school is the introduction to other cultures and the learning of respect for people of all cultures. Each year the children of each class learn about a different country and share their learning of the people and the food from that culture at a school bazaar to which the parents are invited. This is held around peace day – what a great way to teach children and us parents the things that are common to all people and to celebrate the differences. 

We look forward to a long association with Wa Ora School now that the adolescent programme has begun.

Ros Wech

Wa Ora Parent