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Mission Statement

The mission of Golden Oak Montessori School is to provide students in grades one through eight in the Hayward area with the opportunity to acquire an education based on the educational philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, with an emphasis on independent learning; hands-on materials for a holistic education; and mixed-age classrooms to encourage mutual teaching. Our school will actively recruit and serve a culturally, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse group of students reflective of the Hayward district; promote an integrated multi-subject teaching and learning curriculum; and pursue an overarching aim of nurturing healthy community stewardship. Our goal is to educate children to be active, aware citizens with the skills and knowledge to participate meaningfully in the diverse and challenging new century.

Vision Statement

The Golden Oak Montessori School is guided by its vision to create a child-centered learning environment that involves families, educators, and the community in nurturing the whole child. We believe that school can provide creative, structured tools to support children in being active learners who care for their environment, value their diverse community, and who think and work both independently and collaboratively.

A Montessori classroom is unique because it offers:

• Individualized learning plans focused on the child’s interests;

• Hands-on materials in a classroom designed to stimulate academic exploration;

• Multi-age classrooms where collaboration and leadership skills are practiced;

• Culturally sensitive materials and a globally and community oriented curriculum.
  

The cornerstone of our vision is a belief that each child has unique potential and a unique path of development. Our task is to provide an atmosphere of acceptance, respect, and trust so that creativity and a sense of civic responsibility flourish. Montessori philosophy at the elementary and middle school level emphasizes the importance of self-paced learning, self-governance, and peer-teaching. We are a learning community which recognizes students, staff, and parents as integral and mutually-supportive elements.

As adherents to the Montessori philosophy, we believe that a school is a place to teach children about how to be better members of their community. We think Golden Oak can be a “community center” by offering a place for students and parents to come together for activities that celebrate our diversity, improve wellness and health, and show how to tread lightly on the environment while improving quality of life. We want our school, and our students as its ambassadors and innovators, to demonstrate how our cultures, our technological ingenuity, and innovation can improve our lives and community without causing harm to the environment. Through our school’s curriculum, facilities, and services to students and the community, we will strive to teach the values and practical solutions for environmental stewardship.

Montessori Educational Philosophy

Dr. Maria Montessori developed her method of education more than eighty years ago to serve disadvantaged children in Rome. Since then, her educational philosophy has established itself in diverse communities worldwide because of its central distinguishing tenet: child-driven education.

Dr. Montessori recognized that the only sustainable foundation upon which to build a love of life-long learning is the self-motivation of the child. Ultimately, children must move themselves toward their own learning. The teacher prepares the environment, directs the activity, and offers the child stimulation, but it is the child who learns and is motivated through learning itself.

Montessori philosophy is based on the principle that all children carry within themselves the person they can become. In order to maximize their physical and intellectual potential, students must develop a meaningful degree of independence and self-discipline in an ordered environment. Dr. Montessori developed the “scientifically prepared environment” which encourages children to learn according to their own capacity and learning styles and allows children at various stages of learning to flourish in the same classroom.

As the American Montessori Society summarizes:

“A Montessori program is based on non-competitive and cooperative activities that help a child develop a strong self-image, high levels of academic and social competence, and the confidence to face challenges.

Encouraged to make decisions at an early age, Montessori-educated children are problem-solvers who can make appropriate choices, manage their time, and work well with others. They exchange ideas and discuss work freely. These positive communication skills build the foundation for negotiating new settings.”

“Research has shown that the best predictor of future success is a positive sense of self-esteem. Montessori programs, based on self-directed, non-competitive activities, help children develop the confidence to face change with optimism.”

Educational Goals and Objectives

The educational goals and objectives of the Golden Oak Montessori School are consistent with the Mission and Vision statements of the school and meet the State and School District’s educational objectives.

1. Promote Academic Excellence

2. Develop the Skills of Successful Lifelong Learners

3. Pursue a Holistic Education

4. Create Strong Parent and Community Involvement

5. Create a Healthy and Evolving Learning Community