Early Learning Centre
Early Learning Centre
Overview
Masada Cottage is located in a leafy enclave in St Ives. The beautiful centre has been purpose-built inside the Masada College grounds and officially opened on 15 May 2016. Our excellent early learning program is a combination of the Reggio Emilia philosophy and the new National Early Years Learning Framework. We believe that children learn best through play complimented by intentional and responsive teaching.
Accreditation
It is with great excitement that, following an inspection, our Masada Cottage Early Learning Centre was recently classified as EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS. This difficult- to- achieve rating is indeed a credit to our great team led by Masada Co-ordinators Robyn Cohen and Glynnis De Klerk.
Facilities
KITCHEN
Fresh meals are prepared each day in our college canteen and children are provided with three Kosher vegetarian meals a day – morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Masada Cottage has its own purpose-built kitchen which the children use to cook in and thus nurture their holistic learning.
MULTI-PURPOSE ACTIVITY ROOMS
All rooms are utilised to enhance children’s cognitive, physical, emotional, social, communication and spiritual development.
OUTDOOR AREAS
These include a sandpit, mud pit, bike tracks, natural landscape and a variety of equipment.
Learning
Our program of learning and discovery relates specifically to how children grow and develop. It instils in each child an excitement and eagerness to learn. From the moment children commence at Masada Cottage they are taught, using the Culture of Thinking routines, the skills necessary to think critically and to problem-solve. We encourage children to identify and value the leader in themselves and in others by following Stephen Covey’s The Leader In Me® program.
Our specialist junior school teachers teach our early learning classes music, sport and Jewish Studies, which not only provides students with high quality programs but also assists in their transition to junior school in year K.
Throughout the year, the four year olds are involved in a Transition to School Program. They visit the Kindergarten classes and become familiar with the Kindergarten teachers through participation in pre-literacy and numeracy activities. In addition, they visit the Junior School library regularly, enjoy lunch with their Year Five buddies, join in school assemblies and celebrate selected festivals with the K-6 students. All this helps them with a seamless and comfortable transition to school the following year.
Parents are expected to be active participants in the learning process and educators respect their views and opinions.
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