MIC Newsletter December 2025

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1 Dec 2025

From the Principal

Children’s House

Primary Update

Student Voice

Adolescent Community Update

MIC Collective Update

Working Bee!

Dear MIC Families,

As we come to the close of another rich and purposeful year of learning at Montessori International College, I want to take a moment to reflect on what makes our shared educational journey so meaningful, especially during times of transition.

Montessori education is unique in its recognition that children are not just preparing for tests or future employment, but for life itself. Dr Maria Montessori believed that education should support and respond to human development. It should aid life so that each child can grow into an adaptive, creative, expansive and collaborative human being.

The end of the school year is a natural point of culmination. It is a time for children to complete a cycle of work, for Guides and Advisors to prepare for new cohorts, and for families to reflect on the growth they’ve experienced and witnessed. As we move into the rhythm of summer, the Montessori perspective reminds us that learning and development continue beyond the classroom. Transitions, whether big or small, offer powerful moments for growth.

To support you and your children in continuing this journey of aiding life over the summer, we have compiled a small collection of resources. These speak to both the joys and challenges of raising children and adolescents today and offer practical ideas for encouraging independence, resilience and balance at home.

Recommended Resources for Summer

For Parents and Carers:

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
An important read that explores how a phone-based childhood impacts development in four key areas: sleep, socialisation, attention, and addiction.
Why Are Kids Impatient, Bored, Friendless and Entitled? by Victoria Prooday
A thought-provoking article offering insight and strategies to support emotional and social development in modern childhood.

Activities and Tools for Home:

Things to Do on the Sunshine Coast
A collection of ideas for screen-free, nature-based and hands-on activities to enjoy with your family this summer.
100 Practical Life Activities to Promote Independence
A resource from Upschool, full of simple ways to build your child’s independence at home.
Appendix B: Home Responsibilities
An age-appropriate guide to help support responsibility and contribution in the home environment.

Whether your family is preparing to transition to a new Cycle or Couplet next year or simply taking a well-earned break, I hope these ideas help you stay connected to Montessori principles during the holiday season.

Thank you for a year of partnership, trust and shared purpose. I wish you a joyful and restorative summer break and look forward to welcoming you all back in the new year.

Warm regards,
Chris

Chris Peach – Principal

This week, we are joyfully preparing for one of our favourite events of the year Merry Making on 5 December, 12.30 – 2.30 pm. Our children will present a short performance at 12.45 pm before joining their families to enjoy the wonderful craft activities on offer. Please note that we are unable to delay the performance for late arrivals. Children and parents, if they wish, are warmly invited to dress in festive, Christmassy attire.

A gentle reminder: no photos or videos may be taken within the Children’s House.

Over the holiday break, we will be busy welcoming the Prep classrooms back into the Children’s House environment. While the changes may appear subtle, each room will be thoughtfully refreshed. There is much to accomplish, and we are excited to embrace our Preps as leaders within our community. We are also delighted to host some of our new Prep students for a visit next Tuesday.

Our teachers and assistants have been dedicated to their own professional growth this year. This term, they have participated in workshops on Practical Life, the Role of the Assistant, and Oral Language. In January, our team will attend a Sensorial Workshop just before the school year begins. Learning together enriches our practice, strengthens collaboration, and ensures we remain a dynamic and cohesive team. We feel deeply grateful for a staff so committed to being the best we can be for our youngest learners.

It has been a true joy to witness the children’s growth throughout the year, celebrating their milestones, marvelling at their discoveries, and cherishing this wonderfully unique stage of life where every moment holds a touch of magic.

Wishing you and your families a happy, safe, and joy-filled festive season. Travel safely wherever you may go, and we look forward to welcoming you all back in 2026. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything we can support you with in the meantime.

Student Council Update

What is the Student Council?
The MIC Student Council is a central platform for student voices, helping students grow in confidence, learn governance skills and contribute to shaping our school community. We have meetings on Fridays and have two representatives from each Senior Primary class.

Why is it important?
Many students have questions or concerns, but aren’t always sure where to take them. The Student Council will be a safe and inclusive space to:

Share ideas and express opinions
Work together to find solutions
Build confidence and leadership skills
Represent student views and make recommendations to the Principal/Guides/Other

Members (all aged 11-12)

Isla
Mira
Banjo
Max
Wes
Edna
Caden
Xavier

Each class has their own suggestion box where we can put suggestions for senior primary. We did this so the whole community can contribute to the future of senior primary.

We hope you found this helpful, and if you have any suggestions or ideas please feel free to tell Chris.

On Monday, I presented my PIP to Dingira. It involved bringing my dog (Buddy) to school. PIP stands for Personal Interest Project. It’s an assignment that the year 6 students do and it takes a whole year to complete. Each student chooses their own subject. For my PIP I did dog walking.

I chose dog walking because I love dogs, so when the PIP proposal was announced I knew it was going to be something with animals. First I tried to volunteer at Australia zoo but they said I had to be over 16 so next I tried to work at an animal shelter, but I had to be 13 or over. Then I had a great idea to start my own business so then I tried dog walking and it was a hit! I got a few people who wanted me to walk their dogs!

Last week, I presented to my class the slideshow I made about my PIP, and Buddy came as well and did some tricks I taught him.

In the end, everyone did a really great job at their PIPs and there was a lot to learn such as Crocheting, Skating, Cooking and Greek Mythology! I also got lots of great feedback from all my friends and they all loved seeing and playing with Buddy.

For the year 6s next year, all the advice I will say for you is… don’t leave your PIP till the last minute because some people did and were very stressed. 😶

Stevie – Year 6

Growth and New Chapters

We have some exciting news! Our Adolescent Community is growing! In 2026, we are welcoming Montessori families from near and far, which will expand our community to 100 students. We’ll support this growth by optimising our classroom spaces to accommodate our expanding population. We are eager to embark on this new chapter together and excited for what 2026 has in store for our community. The adolescent team and I will share more news at the beginning of the year.

Every adolescent student is invaluable to our community, and we are always championing their individual interests and passions, helping them find ways to stretch into new skills, knowledge and even push themselves to the edge of challenge. Valorisation is a key component of our work. Valorisation is understood as a sense of self-confidence or a sense of worth or value for having made a contribution to the community.

Last week, we acknowledged and celebrated our 2025 Year 12 graduates through a variety of events, including a whole school gathering where the Graduates spoke to the community and shared words of wisdom. They then enjoyed their graduation dinner and formal with family and friends. They stand poised to begin the next exciting phase of their life’s journey, and we join them in looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead.

Environmental Work

We acknowledge Chaka’s environmental work. Chaka developed a game called GO-FROG!

The game is designed to teach the younger generation about the native frogs of the Sunshine Coast. Each card was hand-illustrated in watercolour and is played like Go-Fish. Chaka received the Environmental Steward Award for individuals under 30 at the Noosa Biosphere Award

“I was amazed to make it into the finals. I still can’t believe I won and can’t wait to put out the final copy of my game,” Chaka (Year 7)

In an exciting partnership with HEX Innovation Programs, Seiji and Lucy expanded their Year 10 personal project and participated in the High Accelerator course, which is designed for Year 10-12 students to upskill in innovation and entrepreneurship, connect with supportive peers, and access mentors from leading companies (such as Atlassian). For their completion, they have received a formal university academic credit from the University of Sydney. This certificate is also recognised globally, allowing students to transfer credits to any university worldwide.

I want to take this opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge our parents who play a pivotal role in our community. We thank you all for your contributions each week, whether through volunteering, attending events, fundraising, or supporting your adolescent at home as they navigate the complex world of adolescence. We appreciate your partnership and your role in making this a vibrant, caring and compassionate community. To our superhuman parent ambassador, Teena (and Matt), we extend words of gratitude and immense thanks for your volunteer work, the hours of organising and supporting the whole community doesn’t go unnoticed and is appreciated.

Wishing you a restful and joyful summer break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for another remarkable school year!

As we come to the end of the year, we want to celebrate the vibrancy and spirit of our incredible school community. From the Pumpkin Party to Movie Night and our recent Colour Run, it has been wonderful to see families, students and staff coming together to create such joyful and memorable events.

Thanks to the generosity and involvement of our community, we have been able to reinvest fundraising efforts into meaningful resources and initiatives that directly support our students. This year, the MIC Collective Committee has proudly contributed:

A book for each Primary classroom from the Book Fair
Three mini portable speakers for the Adolescent Community
A projector and screen, purchased in partnership with the school, to support our own movie and big-screen events
A $500 donation towards the Cycle 3 Senior Yearbook and decorations
A $200 donation to the Rural Fire Brigade in appreciation for their support at the Colour Run

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff, enthusiastic students and supportive families for helping our community thrive.

Wishing everyone a restful, joyful break over the holidays. The MIC Collective team look forward to seeing you all again in 2026 with some amazing events! Happy Holidays to our wonderful community!

MIC Collective Committee