{"id":61,"date":"2025-01-22T12:18:03","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T12:18:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?page_id=61"},"modified":"2026-02-19T10:50:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T05:20:42","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joycemontessori.com\/index.php\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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About Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


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Our Approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What’s so different about our Montessori? Walk into a ‘The Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children’ building and you\u2019ll notice the differences almost immediately. There are classrooms with children of various ages; adults spending quality individual time with children, enabling them not only to learn the basics, but music, art and languages as well; and children learning at their own pace, being helped by other children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our classrooms are designed to promote self-direction and self-discipline. This allows children to create their own substantive body of knowledge through exploration and observation, following their own interests at their own pace. Qualified teachers observe and offer guidance and support while children build their cognitive and creative abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

About Aunty Joyce<\/h3>\n\n\n
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The Montessori Method of education now firmly established in Sri Lanka is due to the single-minded dedication of one lady \u2013 Selina Joyce Goonesekera or \u201cAunty Joyce\u201d as she was known to the thousands of pupils who were nurtured by her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aunty Joyce pursued her dream of serving little children by following the Montessori training course conducted in India in 1942 by Dr. Maria Montessori herself. She returned to Sri Lanka with Dr. Montessori in 1944 to establish the only authentic Montessori Training Centre which started at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena and was later moved to St. Bridget\u2019s Convent, Colombo 7. Since that time, she was closely linked with the Training Centre, serving as a Senior Lecturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1948 she opened her first Montessori House of Children in Galle and later opened her school in Colombo. In her eyes, a child was a precious gift who needed to be nurtured and helped to develop to its full potential. Her schools were developed with this in mind so the environment caters solely to the needs of the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recognition of her services to the country in the field of education and teacher training in the Montessori Method, she was conferred the title of Deshabandu in 1989 and was also bestowed with an Award by the Ministry of Women\u2019s Affairs in 1999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Educators and Staff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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At The Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children, each of our teachers is known as a directress \u2013 \u2018Aunty\u2019 to the children. All directresses have been trained for two years at The Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre (St. Bridget\u2019s Convent, Colombo 7) \u2013 the only Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) accredited training centre in Sri Lanka. This means your child\u2019s educator is highly skilled with methods for nurturing your child\u2019s need to discover and grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employing a vast selection of genuine Montessori materials, our directresses help guide children along the path of true discovery. Our special, proven approach can help your child enhance his or her independence, inspiration and intelligence.
Instead of lecturing to a whole classroom our directresses spend individual time with each and every child, helping them discover their own unique skills and interests and making sure they are equipped with a solid educational foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can learn more about the directresses and classrooms just by registering for a visit and asking them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Our Classrooms<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Children learning and sharing in small and engaged groups; older children teaching younger children; Montessori \u201cAunties\u201d spending quality, one-on-one time with a child<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When visitors first come to The Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children classroom, they\u2019re often astonished \u2014 both by the level of activity, and by how tidy and quiet it is. The Montessori philosophy of allowing children to self-direct their activities encourages self-discipline, too. When children are truly interested in what they\u2019re doing, it\u2019s easy for them to become absorbed, and to absorb more knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This same philosophy<\/a> extends out-of-doors , where children are encouraged to play, explore and learn, even working in gardens!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enrollment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Admission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children admission process begins with a tour and interview. This gives you an opportunity to become acquainted with our school and receive a personal orientation to the Montessori classroom. Our principal meets with you and may meet with your child to ascertain your child\u2019s readiness. To begin the process, contact us<\/a> and request an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Song for Aunty Joyce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n