News

2017/07/27 by Natalie

Thursday August 10th, Open House at RMS

Come and learn about how we utilize the multidisciplinary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) approach to teaching at our Campuses, to help teach students how to solve real-world problems. Discover the opportunity you can provide your child to succeed Now and in their Future. Our Thursday Evening Open House is a perfect opportunity to tour our campuses and meet our teachers, particularly if you are unable to take advantage of our Open House ANYTIME opportunity. It’s your chance to see our campuses when it might be more convenient for you!

Take just a few minutes to come by our Open House on THURSDAY August 10, 2017 (6 pm – 8 pm) at our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses and discover the opportunity and possibilities for your child to love learning and excel. Your visit could be your first step in empowering your child’s journey towards their dreams!

Private School-STEM Fair — Students using multiple materials to problem solve

Apply NOW for September 2017! Click here to find out more.

Here’s a map which illustrates the locations of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses.

We will gladly take the time with you and your family to:

Tour the facilities (typically takes 15-20 minutes)
Provide you with the opportunity to meet teachers and administrators
Outline our enriched educational programmes
Inform you about the wide variety of before and after school activities available
Discuss registration options for Pre-Kindergarten (starting at 2 years 8 months old as of September 2017) to Grade 8

…and of course, children are most welcome.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2017/07/27 by Natalie

Robotics with Dash and Dot

This year we made sure to keep pace with the growing demand and need for technology and robotics in the classroom. It was a rewarding experience watching our Kindergarten students learn how to code while exploring the many options available on Dash and Dot robots at all campuses. After a brief introduction, the children were asked to identify the primary and secondary colours which they would use in an activity that involved coding.

Once the students were ready to begin, they were partnered up and given a robot as well as a tablet to work with. The first activity they learned about while using Dash was an app called “Go”. During this activity, the children were taught how to make Dash’s head move. By using this robotics app, the students were able to explore gestures, voice control and advanced mechatronics. This app brought the robots to life and kept our students entertained, engaged and educated.

Dash and Dot robots being used by Kindergarten students at RMS Private School — Prep-One (SK) students learning to code with Dash and Dot robots

When the students came back from their snack break, they seemed excited to see Dash with additional attachments such as the xylophone. At a young age, our students are curious about technology and appeared fascinated with these robots. The second activity they learned about while using Dash was called “Xylo”. During this activity, the students used coding to make Dash’s head move allowing him to use the stick to play the xylophone. The students also added some coding to make dash move (almost like he was dancing) while playing the instrument. By introducing coding through robotics, we work to inspire our students to explore the exciting world of engineering and technology.

Dash and Dot robots being used by Kindergarten students at Rowntree Montessori Schools — Prep-One (SK) students using coding Dash & Dot to play music

The students were given the opportunity to implement their own movement and music with Dash, through coding. By exposing our students to these robots, we are encouraging them to engage in activities that involve the academic component with real world application. Plus it is all done in a fun learning environment. Finally, our purpose of bringing in Dash and Dot, was to make learning to code fun for our students. Teaching basic robotics to our students is an excellent way to foster a love for science, technology, engineering and math that will grow with them.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/07/24 by Natalie

STEM Your Way to a Greener Earth

As educators of the 21st century, it is necessary that we equip our students with the knowledge and the skill set which will ensure a successful and fulfilling career path. Therefore it is important that we support a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) approach to learning. Presenting children with real life situations and offering them opportunities to develop their critical thinking skills, make decisions independently, and collaborate with one another to find solutions to problems, are the key goals of a STEM approach to learning.

With Global Warming being one of the high ranking problems in our world today, we recently posed a question to our Grade 3 students. The answer to the question required a STEM approach to problem solving. We asked them to identify and construct ways to integrate green spaces into a crowded urban cityscape. Applying their knowledge of Science in Plants, Stability and Structures, students designed a simple building within a limited space. They also devised methods to accommodate adequate greenery on the structure while also maintaining its stability.

Carefully Thought out and Creatively Engineered

Using their rapidly evolving technological skills, students compiled presentations illustrating the process of seed germination. The germinated seeds were the plants that they used on their structure. The Mathematical component of the project included measuring the sprouted seeds and graphing the results. Through trial and error students had to experiment with a variety of seeds that would sprout easily and also maintain a steady growth. They had to source out the most effective materials that could be used to build their structure and sustain the sprouting seeds. The end results of this STEM project were nothing short of masterpieces!

A house made with plants by students at RMS Private Schools — The Finished Product

Thriving in an economically driven, global environment requires more than just a multidisciplinary skill set. The STEM approach to learning develops much more than a student’s problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills. It shapes our students into persevering, committed and patient people who will embrace tomorrow’s challenges with flexible and open minds.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/07/20 by Natalie

Healthy Competition

The Chairman of The Independent Association of Prep Schools, Eddy Newton once stated that the best schools not only promote success and competition but also encourage the “life lessons of coping with defeat or a lack of success”. Newton takes an interesting perspective that is worth examining, because it is evident that the struggles of failure are necessary in order to succeed through healthy competition.

From an early age of a child’s life, the concept of competition is quickly learned. As individuals we long for our potential and skills to be recognized. For example, siblings at an early age will often compete for attention from their parents. Even outside of the household, the world is filled with competition. It is seen in sports or even when applying to post-secondary education. All of this competition can certainly be stressful for children; however, with proper guidance and support it can be an avenue for children to mature and grow as individuals.

Competition can be healthy for children because it teaches them that success does not happen overnight. In order to become the best or improve in an area, the child must work hard and learn from their mistakes. Academics is where students will face many of their toughest challenges and hardest failures. Children must be well equipped to realize that failure is not a dead end but an indicator of where further improvement can be made.

Working together to find the correct answer — Students working together to find the correct answer

Competition should not be seen as a race between individuals trying to get to the top. Rather, it is a competition with oneself. With that thought in mind one must forge ahead with the intention of improving and succeeding in life’s challenges. Therefore, competition is a way to avoid complacency and strive to become the best individuals these children can be. It also builds resiliency and adaptability towards any difficult situation that students may face.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/07/17 by Natalie

Encouraging Public Speaking

When RMS hosted its Annual Speech Night, it was a huge success! Our students’ faces glowed with confidence and pride because they knew that they had overcome their stage fright and were well on their way to developing their public speaking skills!

The students dress for the occasion at our Speech Night

When speech night was first introduced, panic washed over the faces of the Grade One students. The very thought of having to stand up in front of a crowd to recite a speech was petrifying. Understandably, this feeling is not unusual, public speaking can be an intimidating experience even for adults. As a first step, we worked on introducing ourselves to an audience. Once the students were comfortable with that, we started writing our speeches. We brainstormed possible topics and narrowed them down to our favourites. We made idea webs together, sharing what we would want to know about each other’s topics. The students asked each other questions that sparked imaginative ideas. They not only worked together as a team, but learned to contribute positively to another’s learning process. It was interesting to observe how these six year olds inspired each other to think from a different perspective, one that was not their own. After much thought and insightful discussion, we wrote our first draft, and what a success! The students were not only proud of what they had written but surprised at how well their speech sounded. Our speeches were ready for rehearsing.

Memorization was a huge concern from the beginning. Students practiced reciting their speech on a daily basis and with more practice came more clarity and expression. At the end of each practice, students offered each other feedback on how to improve their peer’s speech as well a “success sentence” about what they did well. As the much awaited day dawned, our brave and ever enthusiastic bunch were ready to take on the task of public speaking.

The words of encouragement that they offered each other were truly noteworthy. It was heartwarming to see their faces beaming with pride as they realized that they had achieved what they once thought was impossible!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/07/13 by Natalie

Our Environment is in Their Hands

Our teachers always strive to show enthusiasm for the importance of protecting the environment. They find creative and inspiring ways to teach the life cycle of a plant, the importance of the outdoor environment and the importance of the sun. When teaching about the outdoor environment, they help our students make connections between their knowledge of plants and their understanding of the environment. As part of our efforts to instill the importance of gardening, teachers at the Academy Campus decided to create a patch of flowers in the school garden.

Kindergarten Montessori students watering garden at RMS Academy campus

The expression of joy on the students’ faces when they learned that we would be planting flowers in our school garden, was a rewarding experience for teachers. When discussing planting, a 5 year old child in the class made the connection between plants and the ozone layer. “Ozone depletion impacts plant life and this has a negative impact on humans and animals.” He said that his sister in Grade 2 at RMS taught him this. His observation sparked a conversation that spoke volumes for our students’ understanding of the importance of gardening. In response to the many ideas that came up, another child added his thoughts, explaining how plants remove carbon dioxide and toxins from the air, which if they did not do, would affect his lungs just like he learned in the unit on the respiratory system. Equipped with all of this knowledge and understanding, the children cheerfully headed outside to plant their flowers.

Once they got outside, the students were so excited to get their hands on a shovel and start digging. They kept saying that each flower was going to make their environment better. Each student was taught what they needed to do step by step. They took their shovels and dug a hole to place their flowers into, then picked the flower they wanted to plant and placed it in. Finally, they patted down the soil around it. One child stood out that day because he stood back and said that this was one of the best things he had ever done and that it was extremely fun too. This showed our teachers that they had taught children to be enthusiastic about planting and the environment. Our goal is to continue to inspire more children to become enthusiastic about planting, grow to love our environment and believe that they can be the change that will keep Earth a beautiful, healthy and clean space.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/07/10 by Natalie

A Tribute to Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the Post-Impressionism art movement, was the inspiration the Grade 1 students used to bring paint brush to canvas, in an effort to try their hand at this technique. The lesson began with a close observation of Van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night”. Students had the opportunity to describe the painting and share their opinion and interpretation of this unique piece of art. They observed how Van Gogh used lots of swirling strokes and different shades of blue to represent the wind.

Stirred by Starry Night, each of our Grade 1 students took to the canvas to try their hand at painting, Van Gogh style! Swish, swash, small swirls, big swirls and soon our classroom was filled with many amazing creations. Here are a few of our budding, starry-eyed artists with their finished products.

Students holding Vincent van Gogh paintings — Proud grade 1 students holding their Vincent van Gogh paintings

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/07/06 by Natalie

Real Estate Agents for a Day

Elementary math is not just about numbers and memorizing formulas. At RMS, we often use this subject in order to explain real-life scenarios, allowing students to live a day in the life of a certain profession. By doing this, we make this important and sometimes challenging subject relevant and fun. Recently each grade seven student took on the role of a real estate agent to sell properties to prospective buyers (other students) during the RMS Math Day.

The Grade Seven Real Estate Agents in Action

A lot of effort was put into each project, and by the time Math Day started, students were ready to display their work with pride. Students were very prepared for questions and to act the part, and as a result their clients were eager to purchase many properties. Aside from all of the hard work the students put in, teachers were able to see that the students really enjoyed stepping into the shoes of real estate agents.

The Real Estate Agents Selling their Properties

Students at the end of the day decided to write a song about their experience with Math: “Math is fun. When you learn math you get the job done. There are many types of math you need to learn. With these skills you will earn. A whole new level of education. And you don’t even have to be a mathematician.”

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/06/23 by Natalie

A Fantastic School Year for RMS and WE

Congratulations to all students on completing another academic year at RMS! Have a safe and enjoyable summer. Special best wishes to our Grade 8 graduating class! We are proud of all of your achievements and know you all have bright futures! Keep in touch and see you all soon!

On a related note, it is a perfect time to reflect on the wonderful service the RMS family has done for the village of Kipsongol, Kenya this past year. Our efforts this year were focused on raising a goal of $10,000 for health care. Our busy year of fundraising kicked off with our Hallowe’en Dance-a-thon. We boogied and shuffled to collect pledges to the tune of $3500. All of our students strutted their stuff in fantastic costumes and certainly worked up a sweat for all those donations. The next campaign was our Valentine’s Cookiegrams. We spread a message of love and kindness throughout the school with these sweet treats, raising $140 for our community.

RMS student holding Valentine's Day donation for chairty — Student holding Cookiegram used as a fundraiser

In April, we took time out of our busy day for a Vow of Silence – to experience firsthand what it means to be voiceless, to have so much to say but no means of expression. We stood in solidarity for those whose voices are silenced: children around the world and here at home who are victimized in a myriad of ways and denied basic human rights. We were silent for over 58 million children around the world who are denied the basic right to an education. Our Grade 6-8 students led the charge and raised an amazing $810! Lastly, our Mother’s Day Flower sale treated all women we love and cherish in our lives to a beautiful spring gift. It also helped raise $740 for health care services in Kenya.

The efforts of all of our staff, students, and families cannot be understated – in just one short year we are already halfway to our goal for health care. To date, we have raised over $6000 for health care services in our adopted village! We should all be extremely proud of our hard work and hope that it continues to grow even more in the years to come!

Kipsongol Update…

Thanks to the efforts of students around the world and schools just like RMS, the sounds of construction can be heard once again in Kipsongol! Another classroom is being added to Kipsongol Primary School. This will bring more opportunities to children in the community to learn and grow. Not only are more classrooms being built, but a Community Farm and Greenhouse is being built next to Kipsongol Primary School. Thanks to efforts like ours, the farm is equipped with a drip irrigation system to help the plants flourish.

Image of Water system in Kenya RMS private schools raised funds for — Water system and Greenhouse being built next to Kipsongol Primary School

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/06/22 by Natalie

Developing a Growth Mindset

As the grass grows and the flowers bloom, students at RMS continue to bloom as learners. At the Central Park Preparatory campus, Grade 1 and 2 students have been working on cultivating a trait that has been linked to lifelong success – a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence can be developed and effort is worthwhile. Individuals with a growth mindset see mistakes as a guide for further improvement, growth and development. They understand that the mind is a muscle and can be trained to work more efficiently.

RMS Private school students showing growth mindset projects — Students showing a positive attitude while developing a growth mindset

The benefits of a growth mindset are plentiful. Research has shown that students with growth mindsets are more motivated. They continue to try, put in effort and work hard, even when faced with obstacles. They are also happier, less anxious and less fearful when it comes to facing and overcoming failures. They see mistakes as learning opportunities and prompts to improve. They preserve when they are frustrated and enjoy a challenge. They understand that with effort and hard work, they can and will improve. Students with a growth mindset are driven and passionate about education and learning, even when things do not go as planned. They believe they can succeed and they reach for the stars.

Grade 1 and 2 students have been equipped with phrases they can use when faced with an obstacle. These students know not to say “I can’t” but rather “I can.” They understand not to use “I don’t know,” in their vocabulary, but rather “I’ll give it a try.”

Student showing her positive growth mindset at RMS private school — Student showcasing new vocabulary

At RMS, we are dedicated to teaching students skills that will assist them throughout their academic and personal careers. Given the benefits of a growth mindset, we are focused on fostering and supporting this way of thinking within our classrooms. Through the use of growth mindsets, we are creating a future generation that is not afraid to take risks, a generation that is engaged and full of motivation, and a generation that does not give up.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

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