Why North Star

Enriched, nurturing, engaging and inspiring education.

Proven method of education for over a century

Individualized and integrated curriculum

Enriched classroom environments

The North Star Difference

North Star Montessori provides an education that is as unique as your child. As an authentic Montessori school and community, we offer a truly integrated approach to education.  Knowing that people thrive and engage in an environment that is prepared, enriched, supportive and respectful, North Star provides a non-coercive learning atmosphere where students are inspired, self-motivated, self-directed and held accountable for their actions.

Nurturing Critical Thinkers

At North Star we nurture intrinsic motivation to build critical thinking skills. While there is a set curriculum, we follow the child’s interests and encourage the children to generate their own ideas for follow through. At the elementary level each child is supported in completing work in a timely manner. Children grow into creating an independent and balanced work plan each week and maintaining a daily log of work completed. If students do not complete their work on time, they begin to self- evaluate what prevented them from doing so, what they can do differently next time, in order to meet their goal. These critical thinking and planning skills prepare children for life and serve them long after they leave the walls of academia.

Teaching Self-Evaluation

The ability to constructively self-evaluate also plays an important role in Character Education at North Star.  In a mixed-age grouping where children are completing both the Montessori and Ministry curriculums, they learn at an early age that people have different areas of strength and challenge.  In the collaborative and socially cohesive Montessori classroom environment, we celebrate strengths and overcome challenges through encouragement, peer and teacher support, and effort.

Providing Healthy Development

The healthy development of the ‘whole child’ is important to North Star so it is only fitting that the school has a healthy foods policy for both Casa and Elementary. For children that are at school for the full day, we offer a diverse and enriched physical education component. In addition to daily outdoor play and the Ministry mandated Daily Physical Activity, students participate in a variety of fitness activities that can include rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, martial arts, yoga and dance.

Encouraging Environmental Awareness

An awareness of the environment and how children can do their part to protect and preserve it is part of North Star’s everyday practice. From recycling and litterless lunches to water conservation and composting projects, the students not only talk about the ways they can help save the planet, they practice them daily!

Applying Learnings To The Real World

The Montessori program allows children to practice their skills from lessons in a ‘real world’ context. Applying skills learned in this way gives the students the opportunity to experience first hand the importance, relevance and effectiveness of their learning. At the Casa level this is done through various exercises within the walls of the classroom while in the elementary, the earlier foundation allows for children to take on more things within the community outside of the school.

Preparing Students For Their Future

Enriched, nurturing and engaging- come walk the halls and get a sense of the absorbed and active learning that takes place each day at North Star. In a world where the jobs for our graduates do not yet even exist, we are striving to provide our students with the tools they will need to navigate tomorrow’s world.

A North Star Guide for Prospective Parents

Our Parent Guide has much more information you will want to know about your child’s Montessori education. View details about North Star Montessori, admissions, programs, and more.

Testimonials

We value the supervision, individual attention and the nurturing environment North Star offers, as well as the willingness of the staff to work with us to reinforce appropriate social behaviour. The values of the Montessori Method are incredible. I feel good leaving my child in the morning knowing she will be safe and not exposed to most of the negative situations of public school.

As an alternative private school, North Star Montessori allows our child to retain her uniqueness and talents while acquiring knowledge about herself, others and the world around her. Education is not only about lessons for the mind but for the whole being.

Our daughter was with North Star from Kindergarten through Year 6 of the elementary program. Her voice was heard and she was respected by students and staff. The Montessori philosophy and teachings are a big part of that.