Rowntree Montessori Schools

2019/10/07 by Natalie

Encouraging Girls in STEM

It goes without saying that females are underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. As we progress further into the 21st Century, this presents a real problem that educators and employers need to address. A lot has been said in the past decade about pay gaps and gender inequality in the workplace and making meaningful changes in STEM-related work environments can help bridge this gap. In neighbouring New York state, there are over 34,000 job openings in Computer Science, that is 4.7 times the state average demand rate. Here in Canada, data shows that 70 percent of bachelor’s degree graduates in Engineering and Computer Information Science found employment in related industries. This is good news for individuals who are naturally STEM-minded, but is the system flawed? How can we make sure to pay close attention to girls in STEM?

Girls using robotics at Rowntree Montessori Schools in Brampton — Female students showing interest in robotics at Rowntree Montessori Schools

Globally, female participation in STEM-related careers are drastically lower than that of males, despite more women graduating from universities worldwide. The World Economic Forum maintains the following: “The reasons for this systematic underrepresentation are multiple and complex, but three things seem to matter most:

1) Aspirations that are molded by social norms and parental expectations

2) Information failures that affect the decision to enter and stay in a STEM field

3) Institutional factors that constrain women’s ability to enter a STEM job.”

Educators have the most control over numbers two and three, but can also help influence social norms and parental expectations as they relate to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. That being said, elevating girls in STEM education should not result in diminishing boys interest in the same topics.

FIRST, the parent organizations of the FLL (First Lego League), has launched the Elevating Girls and Young Women in STEM initiative. Rowntree Montessori Schools is proud to participate in the FLL yearly and recently won the FIRST Core Values Award at the 2017 Provincial Qualifier. FIRST maintains that the, “initiative focuses on the advancement of girls and women in STEM, but it is not exclusionary of the contributions of boys,[o]r men..” What is unique about this program is that it focuses on the inclusion that is so vitally needed in STEM education, helping to drive more diverse thought, innovation and creativity across STEM fields.

Girls using computers at Brampton Private School — Female students using computers

In the last five years, we have seen technology absolutely explode in K-12 education. Not only do students have more access to technology than they ever did before, but they are learning how to use it in ways that were previously reserved for the college-level computer lab. Additionally, a number of companies are jumping on the EdTech bandwagon and introducing new and exciting high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech ways for young people to learn code. RMS’s Motto: Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers, recognizes that successful students of the future include all the boys and girls currently doing great things at our four campuses. We want to ensure that all students have a fair and equal shot at doing great things with STEM. As an organization, we recognize that this can only be achieved if we work together to create an environment where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is genuinely intertwined with what we do every single day. Rowntree Montessori Schools is excited about striving to be the best 21st Century learning institution that it can be, and has introduced a number of new initiatives this year to ensure that STEM is at the forefront of its students’ everyday experience, regardless of gender.

To read more about girls and STEM, click here for an interesting read from Forbes magazine!

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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2019/09/20 by Natalie

RMS is Celebrating 50 Years as an Award-Winning Private School

Rowntree Montessori Schools for many years has been selected as the BEST private school in Brampton by local residents, and since 1969 has offered a progressive, well-rounded curriculum that is ahead of the Ministry set guidelines. We are proud to announce that we are now celebrating our 50th anniversary, and thank all of the families, students, teachers and staff that have helped grow our school community into an award-winning private school in Brampton, educating children from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8! Some of the highlights of our programme include our French, Coding and Robotics curriculum, that begin as early as Pre-Kindergarten Montessori. We are often praised for our small classroom sizes, which means low teacher to student ratios and more one-on-one instruction. Our code of conduct supports discipline and security with positive reinforcement and praise. Plus the great news is that we accept children any time during the year to our private school, as we are always looking for great new families to join our community!

It is our pleasure to share with you some video highlights made by our students to celebrate our 50th Anniversary, who wanted to share what they love most about the Rowntree Montessori Schools community.

Click here to find out why Esha loves RMS!

Listen to Vansh talk about his favourite memories of our private school.

Keira’s favourite things about Rowntree Montessori Schools.

Find out why Balshar is proud to be an RMS student!

To help celebrate our 50th anniversary and display our Rowntree Montessori School pride, we have some special, limited-edition, commemorative gear for our parents, grandparents, teachers and past alumni. We invite you to purchase your very own Rowntree Montessori Schools Athletic Gear. We have available for purchase both Mens’ and Womens’ full-zip jackets.

Full-Zip Athletic Jacket, available in Mens and Womens: $49.95 plus tax.

Please note that InSchoolwear is supplying these pieces so they very high-quality pieces that will last you for years to come.

The following Mens’ and Womens’ sizes are available:

X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large and 2X-Large.

To order and purchase your Proud Parent or Proud Grandparent 50^th anniversary commemorative gear, online, please visit: InSchoolwear

InSchoolwear will deliver your purchase directly to your child’s campus for pick-up. These are great Christmas and birthday gifts! Please place your order soon to ensure that you receive it in time for Christmas.

Help us celebrate this milestone in our history by wearing your 50^th anniversary gear!

Again, we thank all of our families who have helped us grow into the largest and longest serving Montessori Private School in Brampton over the past 50 years.

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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2019/09/19 by Natalie

Lending a Helping Hand and Teaching Leadership at the Same Time

Our AHA! Moments take place in our classrooms, every day!

Brought to you by Rowntree Montessori Schools…Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers since 1969.

Did you ever stop to think that a simple act of kindness can actually help a student learn valuable leadership skills?[1] Studies have shown that a simple act of kindness, such as a welcoming smile, a high-five or simply helping a fellow younger student out, actually teaches valuable leadership skills. Leadership is one of the many skills that Rowntree Montessori Schools teaches our students as part of our curriculum.

Grade 8 students helping our younger students
Grade 8s helping our younger students on the first day of school
Grade 8s welcoming students to school
Grade 6 helping a grade 1 student

The first day of school can be an exciting day. But for many younger students, it can be a stressful day. At Rowntree Montessori Schools, our grade 8 students try to ease our younger students’ minds by helping them out and welcoming them to school with smiles and helping hands. This past first day, our grade 8s, greeted our younger students when they were dropped off by their parents, helped carry their backpacks and walked them to their classrooms.

Rowntree Montessori Schools encourages all students to be caring and nurturing individuals, as well as to be mentors to our younger students. Being caring and nurturing are critical qualities in tomorrow’s leaders.

Furthermore, our grade 8 students are encouraged to become members of the Rowntree Leadership Council where they will be in charge of the different activities within the school community, providing them with ample leadership opportunities that will help them in their future grades.

[1] Why Compassion is the Key to Being a Great Leader https://www.lollydaskal.com/leadership/why-compassion-is-the-key-to-being-a-great-leader/

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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2019/09/06 by Natalie

The Importance of Music in Education

Many educational researchers believe that music lessons improve class grades and IQ. At Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), we recognize the importance of music education and its positive impact on the educational development of children. Researcher E. Glenn Schellenberg completed work that indicated that when “6-year-olds were given a year of voice or piano lessons, they saw a significantly larger increase in IQ than a control group that waited a year for musical instruction.” Click here for more information on this study.

Students playing the keyboard during music class at RMS

At RMS, students are involved in music classes from a very young age. Informal music lessons begin in Pre-Kindergarten Montessori to Prep-ONE (Senior Kindergarten). Formal music classes begin in Grade 1. Each grade level studies music theory at their appropriate level, and has an element of practical application in creating music as well.

Grade 1 students learn note and rest names and values, and they express their creativity through singing, percussion, and music games. Grades 2-4 increase their theory knowledge, and begin learning how to play the glockenspiel. The glockenspeil is a keyboard-based percussion instrument that encourages keyboard knowledge and group performance.

Starting in Grade 5 and continuing to Grade 8, the students transition to piano keyboards and learn how to apply their theoretical knowledge to learning to read and play both treble and bass clefs. Grades 7 and 8 also learn about pre-1950 composers and have the opportunity to compose and create their own music on a technology-friendly Google App.

Our commitment to music ensures that students are given the opportunity to reap the benefits of music education and its positive effects on learning. The students are prepared for further education and leave Rowntree Montessori Schools as well-rounded individuals.

A Rowntree Montessori Schools student paying the recorder.

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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2019/08/16 by Natalie

Cooking Class in Kindergarten

This year the students from the Downtown Campus at Rowntree Montessori Schools had the opportunity to participate in weekly cooking activities. Experts suggest that cooking, whether independently or with a friend, can help a child develop valuable skills. In addition, cooking can provide learning experiences and build great memories. For a Kindergarten Montessori (Junior Kindergarten) student, cooking can sharpen fine-motor skills through stirring, whisking and rolling. As a student’s vocabulary develops, he or she can refine his or her communication and early math skills by reading about ingredients and preparing measurements.

As our students age, teaching them basic safety in the kitchen while they learn to work with a team, builds leadership, collaboration, and self-confidence. These benefits can continue past childhood, as students learn to prepare multiple types of nutritious food dishes, and learning about how to make health conscious decisions. Learning about food preparation requires more than just cooking skills; it involves science, math, reading and teaches life skills.

Recently our students were excited when they found out that they would be cooking and baking things beyond their traditional “kid foods.” They learned how to prepare yogurt parfaits, waffles, pizzas and cupcakes from scratch. This was an exciting challenge and a new experience for most involved. Students instantly became interested in trying new foods. Their positive attitude and interest had the older students searching for cookbooks, and excited to talk about what they prepared at home.

Cooking class is a place where students, who may not always excel in traditional extracurricular activities like sports or art classes, may find success and a sense of belonging. Their creative personalities really shine during cooking class. This is a place for students to keep busy, release energy and stay engaged. They listen, follow the rules and participate because the end result of a prepared meal or dish! Click here for some child approved healthy recipes you can make with your child at home.

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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2019/08/12 by Natalie

The Value of Sportsmanship

At Rowntree Montessori Schools, we value sports for the part they play in providing a well-rounded education to our students. Over the past few decades, sports have played an important role in uniting people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. They play a valuable role in health and fitness, and can be a source of happiness, excitement, and sheer joy to both players and spectators. Sports open the door to meeting new people and building new friendships, through a common interest that one may share in the game, or towards a specific team. However, sports can only thrive if players exercise good sportsmanship.

Students competing in a team at Mini-Olympics.

Building good sportsmanship skills is one of the many great things that our students learn at Rowntree Montessori Schools. The numerous sports clubs such as Cricket, Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field and Cross-Country Running, give our students the opportunity to exercise good sportsmanship. Our students learn to play together and enjoy the game. They build each other up through encouraging words of praise and they are always willing to lend a helping hand to a peer playing alongside them.

Student from RMS running at Track and Field meet.

Our monthly Spirit Days also offer an opportunity for students to experience friendly competition and have some fun, while uniting peers from different cultures and backgrounds together. Our students consciously and consistently learn, develop and apply the core values of good sportsmanship (which are to respect one another regardless of the situation, celebrate victory with humility and accept defeat with a positive mindset, encourage and support each other, and above all do your best)!

Student particpating in the Mini-Olympics jumping station at RMS.

Our coaches and students work hard to achieve their goals when playing sports. Staying committed to their practice schedules (whether its early morning or late afternoon) shows dedication and a willingness to learn and improve. Our students put maximum effort into what they do when playing sports, which is evidenced not just on the sports field, but also in all other areas of our learning environment. We learn together and grow together as a team. We recently concluded our Senior Track and Field Meet and the Junior Track and Field Meet, as well as the Mini Olympics, which highlight that the effort we put into building a well-rounded education for our students is a priority for us, as we include many opportunities to excel in sports and related activities.

Students at the soccer station at the RMS Mini-Olympics.

For more information about how to teach your child to be a good sportsman, click here.

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.

2019/08/07 by Natalie

Top 10 Reasons for Choosing a Private School for your Child

As a parent, if you are thinking about enrolling your son or daughter in a private school, there are many factors to consider before making your decision. According to a study published by the Fraser Institute, the following are the top 10 reasons for choosing an academically defined Private School.

Top 10 Reasons:

Dedicated teachers
Emphasizes academic quality
Motivates students
Is a safe school
Outstanding quality teachers
Instills confidence in students
Teaches students to think for themselves
Offers individualized attention
Supportive, nurturing environment
Outstanding classroom instruction

Why Choose Rowntree Montessori Schools for your Child?

In addition to meeting each of the top 10 reasons why parents send a child to private school, Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), is a well-rounded academically-progressive private school. The approach, readily practiced at RMS, provides children with freedom in education within a prepared environment, and respects the fact that children, as individuals, are different from one another.

RMS Emphasizes a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Approach

A STEM approach is an element of our curriculum that is based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – in an interdisciplinary and applied manner. Instead of teaching the 4 subjects separately, they are taught as one cohesive, interdisciplinary approach. At RMS, we equip our students from an early age with the tools they need to solve real world problems, utilizing the STEM approach to learning.

Introducing Robotics and 21^st Century Learning Skills at an Early Age

As educators, we are constantly striving to prepare our students with 21^st century learning skills, and computer programming/coding is just one of the many ways that we can do just that! We introduce Dash & Dots robots and fundamentals of programming in our Kindergarten Montessori (JK) and Prep-One (SK) classrooms. Used together with Google Chromebooks, these robots can be easily programmed to complete a variety of tasks, while teaching children the basics of programming. By teaching students coding concepts from an early age, we are instilling in them the curiosity and ability to problem solve and be innovative; something that will carry them throughout the rest of their lives.

Building Character for the Future

At RMS, we believe that a warm, loving, safe and welcoming school is the foundation for great academic and personal achievement and growth. With a focus on each individual’s student’s potential, we allow each child to explore, interact and collaborate with their classmates for greater learning opportunities.

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 .

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.

2019/02/07 by Natalie

Putting French Into Action

At RMS, French education plays a very important role in preparing students for successful careers. Not only do we teach French at all levels, starting from Pre-Kindergarten Montessori, but we also expose our students to many activities where they get to explore the value of learning French. Our French department has recently been busy preparing for the annual French Carnival, “Le Carnaval de Rowntree.” Today both students and staff enjoyed many activities that helped expose our private school students to the French language and French culture, from creating French crafts, to French computers, to learning a new dance with the bonhomme (snowman) as seen in the image below.

There are many activities at RMS where students learn French to master the skills in each of the four interconnected strands: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. For example, along with being a fun activity, role playing allows students to not only act out real life roles but to build confidence and improve their communication skills. Role playing is a great resource when teaching a second language. Grade 1 students at the Academy Campus are currently working on a French project called “Prof du Jour”. Students are very excited to take turns to be the “Teacher of the Day.” This activity allows students to practice French in conversational situations and interact with their peers in a second language. Students have the opportunity to apply basic French greetings when starting the day and complete daily routines such as reviewing the calendar with the days, months and the type of weather in French. It is a valuable class experience where students really enjoy using the French language.

Bon travail, les enfants!

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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2018/03/08 by Natalie

Math Day a Success at RMS Private School in Brampton

Over the past week students of all grades at our private school campuses have participated in Math Day activities to engage in learning mathematics through numerous hands on simulated experiences. At the Academy Campus, students were able to shop at the mock “Rowntree Central Mall.” The students from grades four to seven were assigned the responsibilities of setting up stores, the grade eight students took on the responsibility of organizing the finances, and our kindergarten to grade three students had the privilege of being shoppers! Rowntree Montessori School’s Athletic Committee, “RMAC”, also volunteered their services as mall security. Over the course of the day, the grade eight students did an amazing job of explaining the banking system to our shoppers. Plenty of guidance and advice was offered to the younger students, who excitedly spent their Rowntree dollars! It was indeed interesting to watch how the students shopped, some went through their money even before their shopping spree had ended. Others were more thoughtful and careful in their spending! Take a look at the video below for a preview of an exchange being made between buyer and seller.

Grade 7 students at the Academy Campus participated in the Real-Estate Fair, where they acted as real-estate agents, trying to showcase and sell their properties. This gave them an opportunity to learn how to calculate commission rates, understand mortgage rates, mortgage contracts and all the necessary steps to sell homes. Students at our Preparatory Campuses also participated in Math Day. Those at the Central Park Campus participated in a mock ice cream shop, making delicious purchases with mock money. They also had a money trivia room and a money arcade, to keep learning exciting and fun. Downtown Campus students participated in grocery shopping, ran a book store and enjoyed a math games room, while students at the Mayfield campus made pizzas in order to learn about fractions, had multiple counting games to participate in, and made a math craft activity.

This was another successful Math Day at our Award Winning Private School in Brampton, where teachers witnessed a kaleidoscope of virtues and values, from dedication, responsibility, co-operation, commitment, leadership and unity. Watching our students lead each other, and guide each other with such confidence and ease, makes us realize that this is truly a one of a kind student community. The sheer potential of our Rowntree Montessori School students never ceases to amaze us!

Students at Rowntree Montessori Schools private school in Brampton selling real estate in math day 2018. — Students showcasing a property for sale

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 .

Rowntree Montessori Schools

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Top 10 Reasons:

Why Choose Rowntree Montessori Schools for your Child?

RMS Emphasizes a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Approach

Introducing Robotics and 21st Century Learning Skills at an Early Age

Building Character for the Future

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.

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.

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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Introducing Robotics and 21^st Century Learning Skills at an Early Age

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