Cycle 1
CYCLE 1 (3–6 YEARS)
Dr Maria Montessori referred to the stage between the ages of 3 and 6 as the period of the Absorbent Mind. In these early years, children have an extraordinary capacity to learn, and their experiences during this time lay the foundation for future development. Under the guidance of the Montessori director, children follow a specially designed curriculum covering five key areas:
- Practical life: Aids the child’s adaptation to their environment, refines movement, and promotes concentration.
- Sensorial: Enables the child to order and classify visual, auditory, kinaesthetic and tactile sensorial experiences.
- Language and literacy: Assists the child to develop communication skills in listening, speaking, viewing, writing and reading.
- Mathematics: Uses concrete materials to introduce number symbolisation, the decimal system, memorisation, geometry, and the four operational processes (addition, multiplication, division and subtraction).
- Cultural studies: Imparts awareness and knowledge of the child’s local and global communities, including art, music, botany, zoology, geography, history and first nations.
The Cycle 1 program fosters confidence, independence, concentration, self-discipline, motivation, respect and—most importantly—a love of learning.
More about our preschool program
Based at either our Tasman Rd or John St campuses in Avalon, Cycle 1 students attend Monday to Friday during the school term. Younger children may attend for either a half or full day with our Kai Kai program. Children in the third year of the program are classified as Kindergarten students and are required to attend full day sessions. The preschool program is accredited by both the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and NESA.
Please contact us to see the Cycle 1 classroom in action or find out more about our enrolment process.
Kai Kai (afternoon program)
An afternoon program is available for 3 and 4 year olds from 12:00pm–3:00pm on a permanent or casual basis following consultation with the Montessori director. Following lunch and a quiet period, children engage in individual and small group activities according to their interests. Some children may elect to sleep for a short period of time.
There is an additional charge for this program, invoiced at the end of each term and detailed in our schedule of fees.