school community

2020/08/24 by Natalie

5 Ways We Build A Strong School Community

RMS Mayfield Campus 50th anniversary photo — _{Students from our Mayfield Campus celebrating our 50th anniversary in the Brampton community. Our students learn from a young age that it’s important to build a sense of community at our schools.}

Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS) believes in ensuring that we build a strong school community. When parents and schools work together to build a strong sense of community, everyone benefits. Parents feel more welcome and are more willing to take on an active role in their child’s education and teachers feel appreciated. Here are some of the ways in which RMS ensure that we build a strong sense of community within Rowntree Montessori Schools.

Welcoming and Inclusive Environment

Each morning before school begins; teachers greet our students and parents to ensure that everyone starts the day off right with a positive attitude and eagerness to learn. However, being welcoming goes further than just saying “Good morning.” Teachers and students are welcoming to all newcomers to the school as well. Starting a new school can be frightening, but we always work to make the transition as easy and comfortable as possible. Children will succeed better when they feel welcomed into a new school, so they feel confident and able to succeed.

The younger students being greeted by the Grade 8's on their first day of school — _{Some younger students being greeted by the Grade 8s on their first day of school; a great practice that helps to build school community.}

Accessible Communication

Using multiple methods of communication can also help to build the school community. When teachers are accessible, it helps to open the line of communication with parents. At our school, we use an online communication platform called myRMS as a primary means of communication, where parents can not only communicate with their child’s teacher directly, but can also see pictures and videos of what is happening at school, get access to newsletters, important documents and many other important items electronically. This platform allows parents to check in on their child’s progress, as well as see what is coming up on the school calendar. Daily agendas are another form of communication that is used at our school. The use of the agenda helps to teach students independence, self-monitoring and responsibility, and gives parents and teachers the option of communicating with the school in a written format.

Appreciate Many Cultures

Rowntree Montessori Schools is a very multicultural environment, and truly mirrors the world that we live in. At our school, we are accepting of everyone and strive to build a community of inclusivity, awareness and respect. All year long, and especially in April when we run our International Day, we celebrate our wide range of heritages. Students are encouraged to dress in traditional clothing and to contribute a food dish that best represents their family in our large international potluck. This is truly an exciting opportunity for the entire school to come together to celebrate our multiculturalism.

International Day, Children Singing — _{RMS Students on International Day- another example of how RMS builds school community.}

Bring Families Together

Bringing together different groups of people for a common purpose can also help to build a sense of community within the school. This is done at RMS on many levels. Campus-wide activities, such as Movie Night, Skating, Disney Disco and a Year-End bar-b-que and beach day bring together children and parents from all four of our campuses. Various school-level activities also take place throughout the year, that allow students, teachers and parents to truly interact and make meaningful connections and memories.

Families enjoying a beautiful day at the beach and the vast number of organized activities — _{RMS families enjoying a beautiful day at the beach during our annual Beach Day}.

Community Involvement

Involvement in the surrounding community is a vital element in each student’s school experience. Throughout the year, our school aims to serve our community in a variety of ways. Charitable activities have included Food Bank donations, monetary collections for various charities, or participating in the Toys for Tots program with the Region of Peel Police services. We strive to teach our students to help others in need. In addition, we have participated in activities such as singing at Retirement Homes, and cleaning up nearby parks. Everyone benefits from giving back to the community. We also make an effort to teach appreciation and good citizenship, as we raise money and awareness for a maternity ward in Kenya, through our school’s participation with Free the Children charity.

If you and your family are considering an award-winning private school education for your child, consider Rowntree Montessori Schools; where we have been Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers Since 1969. To review some testimonials from some of our current RMS students, please click here.

Photo of RMS Choir visiting a Seniors Residence at Christmas — _{RMS Choir singing Christmas carols at a Seniors Residence}

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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 .

2019/10/10 by Natalie

Students at our Central Park Campus Give Back to our Community this Thanksgiving

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

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

Thanks for Giving!

Every year, the Central Park Campus of Rowntree Montessori Schools has a Thanksgiving Food Drive to support a local charity as a way to show their support to our community.

When children are invested in selecting the charity, it can help them to more fully understand the importance of giving. Volunteering in the community is a good way for children to learn about gratitude, to do something positive for the community, and to appreciate what they have. It also helps them to learn valuable life skills, including teamwork, communication, time management, and goal setting. Even our youngest students can start to understand the importance of giving back. Running a food drive is a great way for young children to be involved in a community outreach program. Having the children pick out a few items to donate from the store or pantry is a great way to start!

This year, our grade 2/3 class researched various outreach programs in Brampton to choose a local charity to support. This in-class assignment helped the students to gain a better understanding of the services offered at each organization and the specific needs of the people being helped. After narrowing down their research to four organizations, the students presented their research to the other classes and took a tally of which charity they would like to support.

Organization	Tally
Knight’s Table	12
Charity B	11
Charity C	6
Charity D	7

The grade 2/3 students were able to use their graphing skills to view their findings in a variety of charts.

After choosing to donate the food from our Food Drive to the Knight’s Table, the students then advertised the Food Drive to each class.

The students were eager to help pack up all the food to be delivered to the Knight’s Table.

The grade 2/3 students were excited to have been included in the decision-making process of where their generous food donations would go. This entire process has helped to give them a better understanding of the importance of giving back to the community.

The Central Park Campus would like to thank all of the generous donations from our families!

From all of us at Rowntree Montessori Schools, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

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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2019/07/12 by Natalie

5 Ways We Build A Strong School Community at RMS

When parents and schools work together to build a strong sense of community, everyone benefits. Parents feel more welcome and are more willing to take on an active role in their child’s education and teachers feel appreciated. Here are some of the ways in which we ensure that we build a strong sense of community within Rowntree Montessori Schools.

Welcoming and Inclusive Environment

Each morning before school begins, teachers greet our students and parents to ensure that everyone starts the day off right with a positive attitude and eagerness to learn. However, being welcoming goes further than just saying “Good morning.” Teachers and students are welcoming to all newcomers to the school as well. Starting a new school can be frightening, but we always work to make the transition as easy and comfortable as possible. Children will succeed better when they feel welcomed into a new school, so they feel confident and able to succeed.

Students proudly showcasing their Student of the Month awards.

Accessible Communication

Appreciate Many Cultures

Students dancing for the Grandparents on International Day at RMS. — Students dancing for the Grandparents visiting RMS on International Day.

Bring Families Together

Bringing together different groups of people for a common purpose can also help to build a sense of community within the school. This is done at RMS on many levels. Campus-wide activities, such as Movie Night, Skating, Disney Disco and a Year-End bar-b-que and beach day bring together children and parents from all four of our campuses. Various school-level activities also take place throughout the year, such as dances and field trips that allow students, teachers and parents to truly interact and make meaningful connections and memories.

Community Involvement

Involvement in the surrounding community is a vital element in each student’s school experience. Throughout the year, our school aims to serve our community in a variety of ways, whether through Food Bank donations, monetary collections for various charities, or participating in the Toys for Tots program with the Region of Peel Police services, where we help children in need. In addition, we have participated in activities such as singing at Retirement Homes, and cleaning up nearby parks. Everyone benefits from giving back to the community. We also make an effort to teach appreciation and good citizenship, as we raise money and awareness for a maternity ward in Kenya, through our school’s participation with Free the Children charity.

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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2017/07/20 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 .

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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 .

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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 .

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2017/06/14 by Natalie

Achievements Acknowledged at Athletics Ceremony

We recently celebrated the achievements of our athletes at our yearly athletics ceremony. This year, each athlete showcased a winning attitude when interacting in either team, individual sports or the RMS Olympics. We are so very proud of our athletes this year! As part of our athletic ceremony, a top athlete from each gender was selected in each grade, and the winners of the RMS Olympics were awarded. We also praised our mathletes for continuing to shine at mathematics, as we acknowledge the time both sports team members and mathletes put into practicing. It is our goal to continue to encourage each student to participate in at least one athletic team, as we acknowledge the vital learning that comes from sports and the necessity of fitness in a well-rounded education.

Athletics Ceremony at RMS — SSAF Under 10 Co-Ed Socceer Team at RMS Athletics Ceremony

As educators, we strive to do our very best to make sure that each of our students develops a well-rounded, positive attitude about learning and their well-being. Not only is each day filled with academic work and opportunities to master new competencies and skills, whether through sports or other subjects, but it is also complemented by playful activity, both indoors and outdoors. We do this so that our students retain more of the information taught during the school day. Time away from the classroom specifically, can offer valuable learning opportunities. As private school educators, we must focus both on academic curriculum, while being prepared to foster an environment where children can express individualism. We make it our priority to ensure that each student is happy and excited to learn and come to school each day! With the beautiful weather, it is a perfect opportunity to teach new competencies like teamwork and collaboration outdoors. Thank you to our coaches for always supporting our athletes, and to all teachers who strive for excellence in all subjects each day!

Students having fun whilst exercising outside on the school field — Students having fun while exercising outside on the school field

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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2017/05/16 by Natalie

Active Learning in the Classroom

A supportive and modern learning environment must nurture all aspects of a student’s life, that includes physical health through active learning. Daily physical activity (DPA) is proving to be an important part of a child’s growth and development. It can greatly benefit physical, mental, and social well-being. Research has shown that active learning enhances academic achievement, and it also motivates students to open their minds to learning new concepts. DPA can have a positive impact on students’ behavior and their willingness to learn. Keeping students active in the classroom ensures increased focus, because of greater blood flow to the brain. Even adults whose work requires them to be seated at a desk for extended periods of time can experience fatigue. A brisk walk, a good stretch or even a brief workout can renew one’s energy and significantly improve the clarity of one’s focus. Studies have shown that this also applies to young students in a school environment.

Students participating in active learning by counting multiples through song and dance — Students learning multiplication through song and dance

Building daily physical activity into a mathematics programme has proven to be a very useful and motivating tool for both teachers and students. Learning the multiplication tables by singing and dancing to multiplication songs, is a lesson that students look forward to! This type of active learning helps students to more easily retain information and apply it effectively to their classroom assignments. RMS prides itself on an accelerated mathematics programme, and our students are always ready for a challenge! DPA is an essential part of our daily routine, and its benefits to students’ performance within the classroom is becoming increasingly evident, as we endeavor to make daily learning both rigorous and fun.

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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2017/05/15 by Natalie

Learning Origami During Asian Heritage Month

Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding. The word ‘ori’ means to fold and ‘kami’ means paper. Together, they form the word “origami”. It is an art form that has been handed down for generations from parents to children. We introduced origami to our Prep-ONE (SK) class as part of our celebration of Asian and South Asian Heritage month. The students were fascinated with the experience of origami. What made it even more fun for them was the challenge of having to transform a plain sheet of paper into a three-dimensional model!

Folding the paper was great for their co-ordination and thinking skills. Transforming a square sheet of construction paper into something unique was an experience our Prep-ONE students truly enjoyed and gladly participated in! With some paper, patience and teamwork, our students were successful at learning a new form of art and cultural awareness.

It can be a great team effort — Students working together and enjoying a new form of art

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.

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2017/05/08 by Natalie

READ FOR SCHOOLS IN NEED

Imagine making a difference in the world while doing something that you love. This is the basic principle of Scholastic Book Clubs’ Classrooms Care Program. This program is built upon students’ love of books and reading, and any class of any reading ability can make a difference. Within the program, the students in each class must read a total of at least 100 books. Each book is recorded on a tracking poster. As the books get read and the results get recorded on the poster, the students become increasingly more excited and inspired to participate. Students are not only eager to contribute to their own classroom goal, but they also know that their reading is making a difference to children in need.

Students in Grade 2 following where their books will take them! — Students in grade 2 enjoying a good book while helping children in need

Once 100 books are read, Scholastic Book Clubs is notified and a donation of 100 books is made to children and schools in need or reading materials. Our students benefit from both their increased interest in reading but also from the knowledge that their reading is making a difference to other children who are less fortunate. The program is indeed a fulfilling and rewarding experience for both the giver and the receiver. Together, thanks to Scholastic Book Clubs, we can make a difference, one book at a time!

Certificate for Reading-Private School — Class certificate for successfully reading 100 books

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 .

school community

Welcoming and Inclusive Environment

Accessible Communication

Appreciate Many Cultures

Bring Families Together

Community Involvement

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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.

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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