MSCA celebrates a successful Grassroots Conference 2022
MSCA is delighted to have hosted its inaugural Grassroots Conference in the Adelaide Hills this September. With over 120 attendees and speakers, this was the most significant event of its kind that MSCA has hosted. Over two jam-packed days, we listened, learned, danced, and discussed key topics facing the Montessori community. The conference theme was ‘Montessori Education: A Changing World, Evolving Culture’ with sessions covering topics associated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, technology and innovation, and neuroscience and wellbeing. It offered school and centre leaders and educators an opportunity to discuss, challenge and support one another in the current education landscape. Many attendees celebrated the chance to be together as a Montessori community.
The weekend began with a Welcome to Country by David Booth and his son, Kyle. There was a strong focus on sustainability, with attendees receiving reusable, 100% cotton canvas bags, seeded paper name tags (that could be planted post-event) and the use of a mobile event app. Highlighting the gastronomic delights of the local Hahndorf area, attendees received mini jars of jam, marmalade and mustard from Beerenberg Farm and chocolates from Red Cacao, chocolatier of the Adelaide Hills. An Australian native bush tea sample was also included from Kakadu Plum Co., a social enterprise celebrating Indigenous culture and traditional Australian bush foods.
Highlights included the keynote from international speaker Professor Pasi Sahlberg on educating children in an uncertain world, incorporating authentic First Nation voices into the classroom by Tim Moore, and implementing school-wide wellbeing by Janis Coffey. All three talks captivated the room and offered practical tips on incorporating key learnings into schools and centres. Attendees were also treated to workshops on Montessori Dance by Kei Ikeda, neuroscience in the classroom by Fiona Campbell and supporting big emotions from small people by Katy Walker; it truly was a weekend with a “whole child” focus.
MSCA would again like to thank our sponsor, Oskar’s Wooden Ark, who also provided beautiful gift packs for our attendees in their conference bags.
We would also like to acknowledge additional supporters who exhibited at the conference, donated to our raffle, which raised over $700 for Children’s Ground, or provided information or items to include in the conference bags: Your Child’s Day, Sydney Montessori Training Centre, Riley Callie Resources, Guide and Grow, Building Futures Education, Montessori Child, Montessori Materials Australia, and Think Education Supplies.
We are delighted to announce next year’s conference will be hosted in Melbourne on September 23rd and 24th, 2023*
Details are to follow; check our socials or subscribe to stay updated!
* This is the weekend before the AFL Grand Final (to be held on 30 September 2023). Please save the date and plan early.
