Joyce Goonesekera Montessori celebrates 65 years
View(s):Sri Lanka’s oldest Montessori, the Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children school, has unveiled a host of new activities and introduced new facilities as it celebrates 65 long years in existence in 2013.
“This year, we have introduced several cultural events where we do something special each month. We always make an effort to do something new and innovative each year so all the children who walk out of our school have a solid foundation achieved in a focused, yet fun environment,” said Zahira Bahawodeen, Principal of the Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children.
Selina Joyce Goonesekera, a name that’s synonymous with the Montessori method of teaching, pursued her dream of serving little children by following the Montessori training course conducted in India in 1942 by Dr. Maria Montessori herself. She returned to Sri Lanka with Dr. Montessori in 1944 to establish the only authentic Montessori Training Centre that started at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena and was later moved to St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7. Since that time, she was closely linked with the Training Centre, serving as a Senior Lecturer.
In 1948, she opened her first Montessori House of Children in Galle and later her school in Colombo. The school, situated in the heart of Colombo, has nine classrooms, designated music and art rooms, and an outdoor play area. Staff includes 23 teachers and assistants, or one adult per seven children. All class teachers have followed the two-year AMI Motessori Diploma Programme at The Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, St. Bridget’s Convent.
“We’ve recently revamped our facilities and added some new features to ensure our children get the best and more,” says Mrs Bahawodeen.
The Montessori apparatus is designed for individual work so the child is able to develop at his or her own pace. The Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children school’s broad-based Montessori programme includes: Practical Life Activities, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Cultural Awareness, Science and Nature, Music and Movement and outdoor play. It doesn’t have traditional “grades”; instead, teachers closely follow a child’s progress, recording it in a daily journal. Through this and special portfolio projects, they give parents a thrice yearly account of their child’s progress and areas that need improvement.
The school follows a unique method of teaching where the freedom of choice and movement is given to children; they may choose to work indoors or outdoors and teachers act as a guide and do not ‘teach’ in the traditional sense. Three major events for the year include: Term 1 – Sports Meet, Term 2 – Concert, Term 3 – Art and Craft Exhibition. It also has an enrichment programme that provides opportunities for children to explore the arts, science, music, geography, world cultures, play and socially interact with friends.
The school is open for enrolment throughout the year for children aged 2+, and whenever the parent feels a child is ready for preschool.
Visit Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children school at 141A, Bullers Road, Colombo 4 or call them on +94 11 258 5003 or e-mail joyceg@sltnet.lk for inquiries or request an appointment to take a tour. The school is open every Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.
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