“Education for Life” from Camberwell Modern Montessori, Moratuwa

Camberwell Modern Montessori, Moratuwa, an English medium Montessori formerly at Rawatawatta, is now in a spacious and child- friendly environment at Uyana Road, close to St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa.

At Camberwell, our main objective is to fulfil the ideas in Montessori methods advocated by Dr. Maria Montessori. It provides an “Education for Life” for children between the ages of 2 – 6 years of age. Our kids are given a chance to be independent, thoughtful, imaginative, disciplined. They enjoy working at their own pace and have the freedom to choose activities as they wish. We try to maintain the idea that children learn best in a happy, friendly, healthy atmosphere and they have freedom of choice.

Our kids have activities spread throughout the year. We start off with our School Birthday celebrations, Independence Day celebrations, followed by the Sports Activity Day and the Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebrations. In the second term we h av e a Field T r i p, Ve s a k & PosonCelebrations, Mothers’ Day & Fathers’ day celebrations. These are followed by CALSDA Elocution exams held at our School and a variety entertainment – ‘ Kids- in- Action’ Concert. Third term we have Children’s Day & Grandparents’ Day celebrations and Camberwell Kids Art & Craft exhibition. At the end of every year, we have our Christmas Carols & Nativity Play followed by a Christmas Party, too.

All these activities enable us to bring about the total development of every child. Work and play, recitation and mime, song and dance, along with computer work provide them with a variety of activities throughout the year.

The year’s programme is made in such a way that every week has a set theme, and, all the activities are based on that particular theme. By the end of the year, the kids have gained a ‘ SOUND KNOWLEDGE’ of every aspect of life, which will cover Mathematics, Sensorial activities, Communication, LanguagesEnglish & Sinhala and literacy, Cultural studies( Environment) and Practical Life Exercises. The Integrated Curriculum includes Singing, Music, Dancing, Speech & Drama, Art & Craft and Physical Development. Then, by the time they go to Grade One in the schools, they are wellset and a ‘ STABLE FOUNDATION’ in every aspect of their future studies has been given. They are ‘ FULLY – EQUIPPED’ to move from the ‘KNOWN to the UNKNOWN’ in the Primary School itself.

This is how Camberwell kids of the past have turned out to be ‘Outstanding Pupils’ in International schools as well as leading schoolsboth in Colombo and Moratuwa.