麻豆社国产will soon be home to the province's first bilingual Montessori toddler program.
Moussi Montessori's owner Anissa Moussi opened her French/English school in March, with programming for children aged 2 to five. Seeing a gap in bilingual education, Moussi will also include a daycare for children aged 18 months and up, creating a separate toddler option. Opening in September, the program already has wait list with 13 names on it.
The Montessori toddler program is new to the alternative form of education that focuses on self-directed learning. The Lower Mainland's training centre only started offering the course on its teaching format two years ago. As a result, Moussi said it has been difficult to find staff with the right qualifications, let alone people that also speak French.
"I had to sponsor someone from New Zealand," she said.
Growing up in Bahrain, Moussi became aware of Montessori as a teenager. When a friend's life was cut short in a car accident, Moussi maintained a friendship with the girl's mother.
Moussi had always admired her friend's academic achievements, volunteerism and outgoing personality and the girl's mother told Moussi that her friend had a Montessori background.
"I read books [on Montessori] and they completely changed me," Moussi said.
Moussi immigrated to Canada when she was 18. She later met her husband in Quebec. Today, with a 19-month-old daughter of her own, Moussi sought to develop a daycare that went beyond play. The facility's program emphasizes functional independence. The tables, chairs and washrooms are all constructed for little children.
The youth participate in activities such as baking and gardening and the daycare has a huge focus on language, Moussi noted.
"Montessori, in general prepares, the child for life," she said.
For more information on the centre call (604) 567-2001 or visit www.moussimontessori.com.
