12 August 2025
Contents
Dear MIC Families,
Maria Montessori was truly ahead of her time. Through her scientific knowledge and perspective, and careful observation of children, she was able to see, articulate and support, through her work, a developmental journey driven by universal internal forces intrinsic to the human species and individually shaped by interactions of the child/adolescent within their environment.
Her view of human development is very different to traditional, adult-centred, linear, compartmentalised views of education and, due to its many sophisticated concepts and principles, is not easy to articulate.
In contrast to many educationalists, Montessori believed that the child is not an empty vessel to be filled with information and perform back what the adult has asked them to do, nor a lump of clay to be moulded by external forces of the adult’s requirement, or part of a social system, or political agenda.
Rather, she believed the child to be a full physical and psychic being who already at birth has started undergoing a process of self-construction and self-formation that is driven internally from within, toward adapting to the environment that they are born in, adapting to culture, their group and landscape of their time.
“We must consider the human personality and not a method of education. For the word ‘method’ we should substitute something like this: ‘Help given in order that the human personality may achieve its independence’, or ‘means offered to deliver the human personality from the oppression of age-old prejudices regarding education.’ The defence of the child, the scientific recognition of his nature, the social proclamation of his rights, must replace the piecemeal ways of conceiving education.” (Maria Montessori, The Formation of Man, Clio 7)
With the rationale above, it is easy to understand why having a developmentally appropriate, prepared environment is so important for our children’s/adolescent’s formation and development.
According to Dr Montessori, there are three essential components of a prepared environment, and they are:
- A group of children/adolescents who are in the same stage of development (link to the Montessori three-year mixed age group concept);
- Materials and activities, which match the needs and work of the children at that stage of development; and
- A trained adult who understands child development, who can prepare and maintain a special environment, and who can connect the children with the materials and activities within that environment.
Montessori International College is constantly aspiring and ensuring we execute these components in all of our prepared environments, whether it be in the Children’s House (EY and Prep), Junior Primary, Senior Primary or our Adolescent couplets.
An additional and critical support for students (children and adolescents) to reach their maximum potential and ensure human flourishing is the level of Montessori understanding and preparation in the home environment, as we see the best Montessori outcomes when home and school align.
To find out more about Montessori’s prepared environment and prepared Montessori adults, check out the following articles/resources:
- The Prepared Environment, Sarah Werner Andrews
- The Spiritual Preparation of the Adult, Eduardo Cuevas
- The Prepared Montessori Adult (Appendix A of our MIC Positive Behaviour Policy)
I have also added some relevant prepared environment (PE) quotes below, starting with Children’s House (3-6 years) and moving towards Adolescent PE specifics and purpose:
“The objects surrounding the child should look solid and attractive to him, and the house of the child should be lovely and pleasant in its particulars, for beauty in the school invite activity and work.” (The Child in the Family, Clio, 43)
“The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult. That is, it is a place where he can do things for himself—live his own life—without the immediate help of adults.” (E.M. Standing, Maria Montessori, Her Life and Work, 276)
“The school should become the place where the child may live in freedom, and this freedom must not be solely the intimate, spiritual liberty of internal growth. The entire organism of the child, from his physiological, vegetative part to his motor activity, ought to find in school ‘the best conditions for development’.” (Maria Montessori, Spontaneous Activity in Education or The Advanced Montessori Method)
“…this would result in a ‘valorization’ of his personality, in making him feel himself capable of succeeding in life by his own efforts and on his own merits, and at the same time it would put him in direct contact with the supreme reality of social life.” “We might call it a school of experience in the elements of social life.” (Maria Montessori. From Childhood to Adolescence, Montessori-Pierson, 61)
Warm regards,
Chris
Chris Peach – Principal
Save the date!
Father’s Day – please join us to celebrate the wonderful Dad’s, Grandads and special father figures in our community on Monday, 8th September from 2pm-3pm. Details to follow.
Parent Education – (No parent event on 13 August as advertised!)
This term, instead of our usual evening Montessori parent education session, we warmly invite you into the heart of your child’s school experience, their classroom.
You will have the rare opportunity to quietly observe the natural flow of the Montessori environment. Bookings will open this week via FACTS. We are able to accommodate one parent per classroom per day. Observations will take place between 8.30 am and 9.30 am each morning.
If your child is still new and settling into the environment, we kindly ask that you wait until next term or consider observing in a different classroom to avoid any confusion or disruption for your child. Your child’s guide will be able to support you with making the decision to observe this term or not.
Book Parade
Please join us on Friday, 22 August for our Annual Book Week Parade. Children are invited to dress up as their favourite book character. We will take part in the whole school parade on the SP oval. Parents are welcome to attend.
Roman Arch
This is one of our most popular materials in the Sensorial area of the classroom. It consists of a set of wooden blocks that replicates the Roman Arch used in architecture over many years in the Roman Empire. Children must be able to discern fine differences in size and shape, follow a sequence of steps and exhibit perseverance and patience. The reward is removing the supporting structure to find they have built a free-standing arch that seemingly defies gravity. The look on their faces – priceless!
Our Adolescent Students are excitedly preparing for their performance of Alice in Wonderland this Thursday, we hope that you will support them by going to watch this exciting, creative endeavour. You can purchase tickets HERE.
Queensland Independent Schools Parent Network appoints Montessori parent to their Committee
QIS Parent Network represents the needs and interests of QLD parents who have chosen an independent school for their child. Amanda Watt is the Executive Director of QIS Parent Network and is supported in this role by a Consultative Committee of parents from schools across QLD. Recently, Sarah Mooy, one of our MIC parents and a MIC Collective committee member, was invited to join the QIS Parent Network Consultative Committee. This is the first time Montessori has been represented on this committee. Please join us in congratulating her for championing the perspective and experiences of Montessori parents.
22 August – Books, Games and Puzzles second-hand stall
To coincide with the much-loved Book Week Parade, we will be holding a fun second-hand stall selling books, puzzles and games – we’ll be calling on you to donate your pre-loved items ahead of time! You can begin donating your items on Monday 18 August, containers will be left at the entrance to the Roundhouse. Please donate books, puzzles and games in good conditions for other families to enjoy!
On 22 August you will be able to purchase items from 7.45 – 8.45 am and 2.45 – 3.45 pm.
19 September – Bake sale and Pizza lunch
Last day of Term 3 celebrations with a bake sale and pizza lunch – more details will be shared next term.
Thanks!
The MIC Collective Committee
Our policies are an important part of building a strong, consistent foundation that supports our community’s growth, safety, and shared values. Here are our most recently updated policies, please take the time to familiarise yourself with them.
- Attendance and Exemption Policy
- Positive Behaviour Policy
- Acceptable Use of IT Policy
- Delivery and Collection of Children Policy
- Duty of Care Policy
- Supervision Policy
- Enrolments Policy
- Management of Family Arrangements Policy
- Infectious Disease Policy
- Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking Policy
- Student Mobile Phone and Digital Devices Policy
Important events for your diary
Book Fair: 15-21 August. Purchase discounted books during our annual Scholastic Book Fair. You can browse the selection in the Library each day from 7.45 – 8.45 am and 2.45 – 3.45 pm from 15-21 August.
Master Planning Community Conversation: 23 August. Our community is invited to participate in one of three conversation opportunities to explore our Master Planning vision for the campus. Please RSVP here by Tuesday 19 August.
Learning Conferences: 5 September. This is a student-free day and you will have or will be receiving an email directly regarding booking a time to talk with your child’s Guide/Advisor.
We are delighted to congratulate two of our team members on welcoming little ones into their families!
Maria Bennett and her partner Mark joyfully announce the arrival of Noah Tapsell Bennett, born 4 August 2025, weighing 3.5kg. “We are in love!”
Annabelle McColm and her husband Truman are overjoyed to say hello to little Maggie. Born 29 July 2025, weighing 3.3kg.
Maggie was born on 29 July, weighing 3.3kg
How to apply
Make an enquiry