A local Hills Montessori pre-school is inviting community members to enjoy a day of free festivities as it looks back on 45 years of education.
Hills Montessori Pre-School, established in West Pennant Hills in 1979, was founded to meet the need for a local Montessori school after parents had previously travelled to schools in Lindfield and North Sydney for the opportunity of a Montessori education. The alternative framework behind Montessori focuses on the ‘natural development of the child’ and their interests, a philosophy initiated globally by Maria Montessori in 1909.
Kylee Paddy, Head of School since 2006, expressed the importance of giving back to the community for its support over the years through their carnival:
“We want to give back to the community and invite as many people as possible to come along and enjoy the festivities of the day. Even if you don’t have children of this age we welcome you to still come along. We want to make our event community-focused, including showcasing local artisans that want to share their work.”
The event is to be held on Saturday the 19th of October and will feature a range of market stalls, including popular favourites such as candles and jewellery. Younger crowds can also enjoy activities such as jumping castles, face-painting, and a petting zoo. Food trucks will also be available, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Kylee Paddy also previously helped organise the school’s 40th Anniversary carnival, and spoke passionately about Montessori’s mission:
“I fell in love with the philosophy of Montessori and have been here since my first role as assistant in the classroom. Never before had I observed children engaged in such purposeful work and I knew this was what I wanted to do. Our mission here is to create a school that fosters the development of the whole child in all their areas, including fostering independence, creativity and resilience”.
She also reflected on how much the Hills Montessori Pre-School has grown since her induction in 1990, particularly since the population boom in the Hills Shire:
“It has been so lovely to see the growth of our school over 45 years. What started out as a school with just 2 classrooms and 40 children, being surrounded by fields and having our children feeding horses has grown into us now having 4 classes, a parent-toddler classroom and a community of 130 families! We feel so proud to be able to offer a truly traditional Montessori education to the families of the Hills District”.
Hills Montessori’s carnival will be on Saturday 19th October from 10 am to 3 pm at 10 Taylor Street, West Pennant Hills. Any local businesses interested in registering a stall can contact the school at [email protected].
