Guest blog written by Saumya Fernando from Hills Montessori –
My role was the ‘Outdoor Montessori Teacher’. Even though I knew how to be a Montessori Teacher, I was not so sure about the ‘outdoor’ component of it. Growing up, I was never really interested in plants as such so I didn’t know if I would be very good at looking after the outdoor environment in this beautiful school yard. All staff were very kind and patient with me while I tried and stumbled many times in trying to figure things out. The management was supportive and offered help and advice. It was this nurturing and accepting work culture that encouraged me to research and learn about a subject I was completely new to.
I was taken aback by the genuine support I received from the Hawksbury Landcare Council and the Hills Shire Council when I reached out for support and advice when implementing a Native Garden at school. This huge project gave everyone hope and motivation during COVID times. Keeping the children involved in the project even from a distance by posting pictures and videos of the progress helped to get families involved as well.
Maria Montessori’s idea of the indoor-outdoor natural flow during the work cycle was always our vision and we worked hard to achieve this over the past seven years. This year when Fiona Campbell visited our school as a part of the GMP and acknowledged our outdoor program and invited us to present at the Grassroots Conference, I shed tears of happiness. This outdoor program has been my ‘baby’ as they say, and to be recognised and seen for all the all hard work that had gone into it and to be able to share our experience with other schools was both a proud and humbling moment.
It felt surreal being up there presenting at the conference this year. Hearing everyone’s ideas, answering questions and being in a room full of likeminded people who just ‘get’ each other was truly a moment to be grateful for.
