EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The importance Leonardo Da Vinci Academy places on Early Childhood Education is reflected in the quality of its pre-school programmes: Casa Montessori and Scuola Materna. Both programmes have Italian roots, employ well qualified staff, place children at the centre of their own learning, and embrace the Da Vincian principles.

The Academy's Early Childhood Education programmes are based on the methodology of Maria Montessori, the first woman physician to graduate from the University of Rome. Maria Montessori became involved with education when she was required to treat underprivileged children. In the process she developed specific materials and an approach to child education that won her international acclaim. Montessori opened her first school, "Casa Dei Bambini", in Rome in 1907. Since then, Montessori schools have been established all over the world. Montessori Education is an aid to life, calling forth that which is within each child and giving the opportunity for spiritual, intellectual, social and creative development. Maria Montessori believed that children have an "absorbent mind" and are driven from within to absorb everything from their environment. If free to learn, children will joyfully select activities that develop their innate abilities. Children are naturally stimulated by the world around them and have a passion to learn that should be the pivot of their own education. A true prepared Montessori environment fulfills this innate need to grow and learn. The children learn through repetitive manipulation of the Montessori materials. The Montessori directress serves as the link between the children and the materials. The Montessori methodology also serves as a perfect complement to the Academy's distinctive "Thinking Like Leonardo" philosophy.

Casa Montessori is an accredited Montessori programme for children 3 to 6 years old. Though French and Italian are introduced, the language of instruction in the Casa classroom is English. The Casa directresses hold qualifications from accredited Montessori training centres and are responsible for the direction and implementation of the Montessori programme.

Scuola Materna is an Italian immersion Montessori programme for children 3 to 6 years old. Recognized by the Italian government as an authentic Italian pre-school, Scuola Materna Leonardo Da Vinci is the only such programme in Canada. Teachers are Montessori trained and have qualifications from Italian institutions.

When the Leonardo Da Vinci Academy opened its Scuola Materna, the first in Canada, Agazzi was the inspiration and driving philosophy. Rosa Agazzi influenced the reform of Early Childhood Education in Italy when in 1896, along with her sister, she founded the first Scuola Materna (pre-school) of Mompiano (Brescia). The school served as a model for other kindergartens and pre-schools throughout Italy that later adopted the Agazzi methodology. The Agazzi method respects the spontaneity and personal experiences of the child and classroom is seen as a community of learners engaged in a variety of activities that foster a natural development of each child through creative play and social interaction. As the Leonardo Da Vinci Academy expanded to include a greater Montessori component, this methodology was adopted for its Scuola Materna and primary grades. Beginning in 2008 Scuola Materna began implementing the Montessori model. Due to common origins and approaches, the transformation of Scuola Materna from an Agazzi to a Montessori classroom was a smooth and natural transition. The Scuola Materna is a bright, beautiful place furnished for the complete development of children. In the Scuola classroom there is a harmony of light and colour, with a refinement of spirit. The children advance through the Montessori materials from simple to complex, building on previous accomplishments. The exercises are designed to encourage orderly thought, independence, and autonomy.