ABOUT GISBORNE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Our Community
Located in the beautiful Macedon Ranges, Victoria, in 2022, Gisborne Montessori School (GMS) has been growing and transforming into a Montessori inspired, student empowered, future focused learning community.
From its humble beginnings in 2000, GMS has evolved with the community into an independent, highly innovative small, coeducational school with an enrolment of approximately 120 students. Positioned for significant growth, GMS is nestled at the foot of Mt. Macedon on a picturesque 10 acres with access to train line, community sporting fields and natural creek. The school offers an Early Learning Centre with 3 and 4-year old Kindergarten Programs and Education from Prep to Year 9 (in 2023) with plans to expand through to Year 12 by 2026. GMS is currently home to a range of animals, where students engage in a farm program, horticultural program, and practice sustainable principles. This is a school where young people PLAY. They climb trees, ride bikes around the grounds, regularly get muddy and creativity is encouraged. Hot lunches are provided for students and staff each day. Gisborne Montessori School aims to create a peaceful, sustainable future through the empowerment of individual potential, where the child is at the centre of all learning. The school guides the students to be independent and critical thinkers in today's world, through the fostering and empowerment of leadership and empathy.
Gisborne Montessori School believes that young people have far greater capacity than they are generally given credit for. When supported by a community of caring and capable adults whom we call Guides, young people can make excellent decisions about their own education and also play a significant role in the organisation and operation of their school.
Our Logo
Our emblem symbolises the primary colours and shapes important to sensory education via Montessori materials. The triangles represent individual potential – reaching up from strong base and the three points also pay our respect to the three families who founded GMS. The encompassing ellipse references cosmic education, our place in the universe and our resolve for peace and sustainability.
OUR VISION
Delivering an exceptional Montessori inspired program which guides and inspires our students to become empathetic leaders and life long learners.
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - PETER HUTTON
Peter is a visionary leader with over 30 years of educational leadership expertise and is known for his transformational insights and commitment to innovative, student-empowered learning. Peter’s strength is in transformational insights and providing the detail on "HOW” to implement change in schools.
When Peter was the Principal of Templestowe College in 2009, the school became one of Australia’s most innovative schools, with TC’s “Yes is the default” policy included in the top 100 most innovative educational concepts in the world by Finland’s hundrED organisation. He also introduced a Montessori secondary stream that included extensive animal programs, permaculture, entrepreneurship, and individualised learning plans for each student.
Peter is also a Co-Founder and Director of Future Schools. This membership organisation supports over 100 future-focused schools across Australia and around the world to collaborate and innovate together.
Message from Peter
At the heart of every great school are fully engaged and empowered students, parents, teachers, and community members who rally behind a common vision to contribute to life giving education.
Each day I wake up with a sense of hope and clarity around what is possible when we truly empower students to be active participants in their learning and co-learners with teachers.
As a local resident and community member, I look forward to developing our school into a beacon of possibilities as we build upon our mission of Montessori-inspired, student-empowered, and future-focused schooling.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MICK LEYDEN
Board Chairperson
I am a parent at GMS, I have extensive program and project management experience in corporate and not for profit organisations. I have seen first hand the transformational impact a Montessori Education can have in my own children and am committed to ensuring others have the same opportunity.
INGER MACKENZIE
Director
"I believe the best way to make the world a softer and calmer place to live, is to have every child educated in the Montessori method."
CELIA FRANZÈ
Board Secretary
Education Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in schools education management. Skilled in K-12 Education, Coaching, Educational Leadership, Learning and Teaching, School Improvement, Change Management and Instructional Design.
JEFF McFARLANE
Director
Having experience in business analysis, compliance, governance and training development, I am excited to contribute to the schools journey in inspiring our children towards a lifelong love of learning.
OUR LOCATION
Location
The school is located on the outskirts of Gisborne, a picturesque country town graced with tree-lined streets, nestled at the foot of Mt Macedon. We occupy a 10-acre site on Barringo Road, within walking distance of Gisborne station and about forty-five minutes drive on the Calder Fwy from Melbourne. Once a paddock, grazed by horses and devoid of trees, it now encourages biodiversity, links wildlife corridors and creates habitats for native species of plants and animals.
Despite being a major urban centre, Gisborne still retains its village character. The town combines old and new, rural and suburban. It brims with modern cafés and boutiques against a setting of mature oaks, heritage buildings and country homesteads. To find out more about Gisborne, check out visitmacedonranges.com/village/gisborne
Before & After School Care
School hours at Gisborne Montessori School for Primary students is 9am to 3.30pm. Primary Students can be dropped off at school from 8.45 am and must be collected by 3.45 pm.
Before & After School Care is available from 6.30 am until 6.30 pm.
Train Services
Gisborne Montessori School is a 5 minute safe walk from Gisborne Train Station on the Bendigo line.
BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE
Gisborne Montessori School & Code Red Days.
Gisborne Montessori School is on the Bushfire At-Risk Register. This means that on Code RED Days Gisborne Montessori School will be closed. this means that on these days:
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Staff will not be in attendance.
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Students are to remain at home.
Where possible there will be 3 days’ notice of a Code Red Day, however, it may also be confirmed at 12 noon the day prior. Once a decision has been made, it will not change regardless of changes in the weather.
We strongly advise families to have contingency plans for bushfires in their area and this includes planning for the safe supervision of their children on these days.
Do not rely on an official warning to leave. Bushfires can start quickly and threaten homes and lives within minutes.
STRAGETIC PLAN 2020 - 2023
1. Our School Environment
Enhance our Natural Surrounds
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Develop an EcoPod which fosters environmental sustainable practice
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Enhance imaginative and inclusive play spaces
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Design a sensory and tactile native immersion garden
Expand our School Facilities
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Schedule a Master Plan
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Grow Cycles 2, 3 & 4
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Build a VisionPod for Science, Health & Physical Education and Visual & Performing Arts
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Develop a contemporary Resource Centre