Work starts on new Montessori School in Golden Grove, next to Stables Shopping Centre
WORK has started on a new 130-student early learning centre in Adelaide’s north east – the independent “hands-on” preschool is next to a local shopping centre and set to open in 2018.
North & North East
Don't miss out on the headlines from North & North East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A NEW Montessori school planned for Golden Grove is expected to create 85 local jobs.
Work has already begun on the 130-place Early Learning Centre on vacant land at the entrance of The Stables Shopping Centre on Golden Grove Rd.
The centre is expected to be finished by February.
It’s the second new Montessori centre for the region. The Gatehouse Montessori Preschool and Early Learning Centre in Hope Valley opened for business last Tuesday, offering places for 30 children.
Polaris Property Group, which is developing the Golden Grove Montessori, says it will create about 50 jobs during the construction phase and another 35 teaching and operational positions including management and kitchen staff once it is open.
The school will cater for children aged two to six.
“The demographic (in Golden Grove and beyond) ... is predominantly families with young children with strong demand for early learning places,” Polaris spokesman Fabio Mandarano said.
“It is in proximity to schools and shopping facilities creating a vibrant activity centre.
“The natural environment was very appealing with the creek trails and established trees surrounding the site which will be ... complemented by the children’s outdoor play area.”
A spokesman for the school’s operators, the family owned business AMIGA Montessori, expected the school to be open around February next year.
AMIGA Montessori chief operating officer, Russell Cagnacci, said the school’s approach focused on a child’s strengths, not weaknesses.
“It’s a program that allows a child to develop at their own rate,” he said.
“Every child is taught exactly the same way (in traditional schools), individuals are not recognised.
“We recognised individual talent in each child, allowing for their independence to strike out.
“We don’t force children to develop areas they struggle in, we develop areas they have natural talent.”
The AMIGA Montessori philosophy and curriculum covers core elements of practical life, mathematics, language, reading and writing, culture and sciences.
The Montessori philosophy
MONTESSORI is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play.
IN Montessori classrooms children make creative choices in their learning, while the classroom and the teacher offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process.
CHILDREN work in groups and individually to discover and explore knowledge of the world and to develop their maximum potential.
— From the Montessori NorthWest website
Man drugged, abused, filmed girls in horror allegations, court told
A 49-year-old man who allegedly gave teen girls meth and GBH before sexually abusing them – and videoed it – may have other victims, a court has heard.
Family of dad killed ‘protecting his son’ rally for help
The family of a beloved father fatally shot “protecting his son” on Saturday night has launched a fundraiser for his 14 kids and grandkids.