The Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family Child Care Centre was established in 1976 by the Maronite Sisters.

The Montessori method was introduced into the centre in 2005 and has been practiced ever since.  Our centre is privately owned and subsidized by the Government. 

The ages of the children range from 2 (toilet trained) to 5 ½  years old. 

The centre is fully equipped with a surrounding air conditioning system for hot and cold weather.

Our staff consist of:

Director

Teacher x 2

Montessori Supervisor

Advanced Childcare Worker Qualified x4

Advanced Childcare Worker x2

First Aid Officer

Secretary/Book keeper

Cook

Hours of Operation

This centre is opened for a maximum of 48 weeks per year.  The licensed hours are from 7.30am t o 5.00pm.  The centre closes for approximately 4 weeks at Christmas/New Year and also for Public Holidays.  Fees still apply for Public Holidays, parent holidays and sick days.  Fees do not apply for Christmas/New Year when the centre is closed.

Attendance

Fees are paid for the days your child is booked into the centre, including Public Holidays and when your child is absent due to illness or holidays.  Two weeks written noticed is required to withdraw your child from the program once a permanent place has been confirmed. 

Our centre offers a safe home like environment which supports individual needs of families based on open communication and provides an anti-bias curriculum which is challenging, stimulating and educationally sound.

For Families:

Acceptance and welcoming of all family structures.

Facilitating open communication and shared decision making

Promote diversity that supports family attitudes and beliefs through mutual understanding of religion, cultures and practices.  Encourage family participation, value and respect each family's involvement and contribution.

For Children:

Encourage and value self-expression, self worth and confidence

Cater for individual needs and interests of all children development

Provide children with attentive, unhurried and affectionate attention;

Provide opportunities for children to develop self-help skills and enhance social development

Montessori Philosophy

The primary goal of the Montessori program is help each child reach their potential in all areas of life.  Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, and physical co-ordination as well as cognitive preparation. The holistic curriculum, under the direction of a specially prepared teacher, allows the child to experience of joy of learning and ensure the development of self-esteem from which children create their knowledge. Each Montessori class from toddlers through elementary, operates on principle of freedom within limits.  The Montessori program believes that respect for each other and the environment are essential.  The aim of this program is to encourage active, self-directed learning and to gain balance of individual mastery with small group collaboration within the whole group community.

Aims of the centre

To provide quality care and an educational program within a warm and secure environment.

To encourage in the children

Confidence and curiosity

Happiness and honesty within themselves

Interest in the world around them

Love and security

Development of each individual mind and body

Respect for themselves, others and the environment.

Principles of the Centre

Programs reflect individual childcare development, characteristics, interests, personality, learning styles and growth across the five developmental domains, physical, emotional, social, cognitive and language.

Programs are culturally relevant

The role of the caregiver is ever-changing according to individual learning styles and each unique child within the centre.

Programs are challenging, integrated and interest based.  Activities are concrete, real and relevant to the children reflecting their world and current experiences.

Program Policy

We value the children as a unique individual.

We appreciate the child's right to grow and develop in a supportive and fun environment.

In light of recent studies within the field and thanks to YOUR help we are now expanding our practices across five difference approaches and frameworks.  We feel that implementing different styles of learning will help cater for the children's different areas of development.

These include:

Developmental Appropriate Practices (DAP)

Our program will branch to cater for your child's smooth transition from home, then from class to class, then eventually to school.

Interest Based Learning

Experiences are interesting yet challenging which makes Preschool a fun yet secretly educational place to be.

Emergent Curriculum

Planning is done according to the needs and interest of the children.  Note there are no time phrases yet it is flexible, spontaneous and generally emerges from children's play.

Play

Play is a facilitator for integrated learning strengthening development across all domains, in particular language, critical thinking, investigation skills and literacy learning.  Play also allows children the opportunity to demonstrate their understandings of the world around them.

Montessori

Montessori is a philosophy with the fundamental tenant that a child learns best with a social environment which supports each individual's unique development.

Method

The primary goal of the Montessori Program is to help each child reach their potential in all areas of life.  Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth and physical coordination as well as cognitive preparation.

Environment

In order for self-directed learning to take place, the whole learning environment - room, materials and social climate - must be supportive the teacher should provide necessary resources including opportunities for children to function in a safe and positive manner.

Learning Process

Children are free to work at their own pace with materials they have chosen, either alone or with others.  The aim is to encourage active, self-directed learning and to gain balance of individual mastery with small group collaboration within the whole group community.

Montessori programs are based on self directed, non-complicated activities, they help children develop good self-images and the confidence for force challenges.

Teacher's Role

The teacher is originally called a "directress", the Montessori teacher functions as designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record keeper and meticulous observer of each child's behaviour and growth.  The teacher acts as a facilitate of learning.

Teachers educated in the Montessori philosophy and the methodology for the age level they are teaching have the dedication to put the key concepts into practice.

Montessori children are usually adaptive.  They have learned to work independently and in groups.  Research has shown that the best predicator of future success is relied in the self-esteem.

The following is a list of things your child will need to bring daily;

1 juice pack

1 piece of fruit (please do not cut into pieces, our cook cuts the fruit)

1 school bag (make sure it is big enough to fit a sheet, towel, lunchbox, work)

A spare change of clothes

A hat

Please ensure all items are clearly labeled with your child's name

The following is a list of things your child will need weekly;

1 small hand towel (no face washers or large towels)

1 small cost sheet (no large sheets please) all sheets are returned at the end of the week to be washed

1 box of tissues (very important ..accidents and runny noses daily)

1 cup with your child's name clearly printed on it.

During hot months please apply sunscreen to your child and provide them with a hat daily.

Open Doors Policy

O Our centre is open at all times for parental inspection

P  Please come to see how we help your child's development

E  Entry by you anytime is your guarantee of the continuing quality of our working practices and protection for staff and managements reputation.

N  Never use a service where you are not welcome

D  Don't hesitate to visit us

O  Our centre is proud of the quality of the care we provide

O  Our staff are qualified, trained, experienced and talented

R  Rather than take our word for this

S  See for yourself

Some days staff and children will have a picnic on the lawn, lunch at the park or quiet often sitting inside on table set by the children themselves.

The centre provides a hot freshly prepared lunch for the children daily.  Meals are provided according to guidelines recommended by the NSW Health Department.  Children will receive at least 50% of their daily intake of nutrients from the five food groups. 

• Milk served daily (all diary products are full cream)
• Children will have access to fruit if they are hungry between meals
• Water will be available at all times
• Children are allowed to have second helpings of all the food served at the centre
• Parents will be advised if the child is not eating well
• When children are on special diets the parents will be asked to provide a copy of the diet from the dietician.
• Children will ash their hands before handling food, or eating meals and snacks
• Food will be stored and saved at safe temperatures
• Staff will adhere to good hygienic practices when handling food.
• Children will not share food from each others plates or utensils
• The centre and staff need to be notified if you child has any allergies to any particular food

Written menus are displayed near the entrance of the kitchen.  Written information on the children's eating habits and sleeping habits may be accessed and checked at any time desired.

Snack time

Parents are required to provide who nutritious snacks per day. For example: sandwiches, cooked rice, noodles, bread, etc any food your child enjoys and is healthy.   Please label each item of food with your child's name.

Drinks at the centre, milk is provided each morning at the centre and each child is required to provide a fruit drink for the afternoon (not soft drink). Water is available all day.

Parents are welcome visitors at any time.  Parents and other family members are encouraged to share a cultural activity with the children such as craft, cooking, musical experience.

Special activities are arranged during the year to allow all family members and other members of the community to participate in the centres activities eg visitors from the local senior citizens home and parents are encouraged to attend either a Mother's day or Father's Day celebration, Easter Hat Parade celebration, Christmas Party and other cultural and religious celebration days.

Parents can be placed on a roster to participate in the daily routine of the centre.  Activities may include cooking, reading books, supervising and playing games with the children.

Staff are happy to explain the program and activities to parents and why they are designed as they are.  Please make an appointment with your child's teacher should you wish to visit the centre and spend some time with your child.

Regular newsletters will be sent home with the children to enable parents of the happening taking place in the centre.

A notice board in the foyer of the centre will also be used to convey centre information to parents.

At the beginning of each year a parent/staff committee will come together and produce a philosophy about what is worthwhile for their children to learn.