Margaret Thomas House
At St Michael’s Grammar School, the Early Learning Community believes that each child is unique, and this should be celebrated. All children are capable and curious, and should be respected and valued for their ideas and opinions. We believe in inclusivity and diversity with respect for culture, faith, gender and ability.
Our educators support, guide and enrich each child’s thinking and provoke discovery and learning. They do not give answers readily; instead, they observe, listen and research alongside the children, encouraging them to wonder, inquire, pose questions, search for knowledge and reflect. Read more about the Margaret Thomas House Philosophy.
Margaret Thomas House provides a learning environment where all children are encouraged to be responsible risk-takers, to test theories and to question.
A typical day in Margaret Thomas House begins at 8.45am, when the children come together with their group for a Morning Meeting to discuss plans for the day and reflect on their prior learning, giving the children a sense of purpose and direction. The morning may begin indoors or outdoors, and through both small and large group experiences children express their thoughts and ideas, discuss, debate, theorise, reflect and investigate. Thinking skills are encouraged and extended through interactions between peers, teachers and the environment.
The informality of snack time ensures children can enjoy their ‘brain food’ at a time suitable to everyone regardless of arrival time, and allows the program to have a natural flow.
Between 11.45am and 12pm the children come together for some mindfulness, story time, poetry, singing or a reflection on the morning’s learning experiences.
Lunch is around 12.15pm and is followed by a 45-minute rest/siesta. This provides an opportunity for all children to pause and reenergise in readiness for the afternoon program.
Afternoons are less structured and may include an indoor/outdoor program and some small group work with children from all groups. At 3pm, they farewell each other before the day finishes at 3.15pm.
The children have the opportunity to engage in weekly sessions of Gym/Movement in Wilma Hannah Hall or the Gymnasium, and each week have a session with our Music Teacher and Art Educator.
We are both inspired and influenced by the Reggio Emilia Educational Project and believe that all children are capable, curious and able to construct knowledge. We document the children’s thinking and learning, and this documentation shows the children that we respect and value their thinking, and the process of their learning.
St Michael’s Grammar School Kindergarten is approved for Child Care Benefit (CCB) and Child Care Rebates (CCR), including a funded 4-Year-Old program. Before School Care, After School Care and Holiday Programs are also offered.
Please see the No Jab No Play legislation FAQs, which came into effect on 1 January 2016.
