About Us

The child seeks for independence by means of work; an independence of body and mind.
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952)

Blue Gum Montessori School (BGMS) is a boutique school which was established by passionate parents in 1983. It is a private, independent and non-denominational school, situated on the edge of the wetlands in Bibra Lake, Perth.

Our School is committed to educating the children as citizens of the 21st Century. Implementing the Montessori Method of Education, the School offers a prepared Montessori learning environment that fosters the children’s innate desire to learn and encourages the development of their independence. The activities and materials are scaffolded in complexity to meet the natural phases of child development providing opportunities for critical thought and problem solving. The ages of the children in each class span a three year period, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, providing many possibilities for the development of social skills and self awareness. Peer coaching and collaborative learning is encouraged and supported in a strong culture of positive education. This framework, together with various academic skills, provides a firm foundation for the children to be motivated individuals and to be able to develop to their full potential.

BGMS is a ‘green’ school, situated on the Bibra Lake Wetlands’ doorstep within a natural environment.

The school is governed by a Board which is dedicated to providing a caring, educational environment for both the children and the school community. The Board works in governance and delegates the operations of the school to the Principal.

BGMS is registered with the Western Australian Department of Education Services and is fully compliant with the requirements of the Western Australian Department of Education. The unique Montessori curriculum enhances and expands on the government required outcomes.

We are a member of the Montessori Australia Foundation and the Foundations Quality Assurance Program.

I understand that choosing a school for your child is one of the most critical decisions that a parent will make. It is important that you find a school that shares your family’s values, and meets the learning needs of your child. I invite you to peruse our website, make an appointment to come and observe the classrooms in action, and meet with the professional staff.

We look forward to welcoming you to Blue Gum Montessori School.

Ross Dods
Principal

  • 7 February 1983

    Where We Began

    Our story begins all the way back in 1983, when on the 7th of February, four concerned Melville mothers met to discuss early childhood education options in their area.

    As their conversation went on, they realised they all wanted to be actively involved in their child’s learning, and to make sure their children were developing their physical, social and emotional skills. On that day, they decided that a Montessori based environment would provide the best opportunities for their children to reach their full potential.

    And so, Blue Gum Montessori Children’s Centre was born. Our first premises were opened in May 1983, under the direction of Beth Hands. In 1984, Jenny Moyles was appointed Directress.

  • 1988

    Moving to Bibra Lake

    After two years of planning and fundraising by the parents and teachers, a school, offering one class for children between the ages of three and six (known in the Montessori method as Cycle 1), was built on Homestead Road in 1988 and expanded in 1991, when we began offering a second class for Junior Primary students.

  • 2000

    New Decade Brings New Beginnings

    The birth of a new millennium brought even bigger changes, when Blue Gum Montessori Children’s Centre became Blue Gum Montessori School, welcoming children from Years 1 through to 6, spread across two locations.

  • 2007

    Hello, Hope Road!

    In 2007 we moved into our brand new classrooms at our current location of Hope Road.

  • Now

    Where We Are Now

    Our school has continued to grow organically, and every year we welcome new families of all shapes and sizes, from all sorts of places. We are a tight-knit and community-oriented school that is dedicated to helping children develop their independence and fostering their love of learning.

Times have changed, and science has made great progress, and so has our work; but our principles have only been confirmed, and along with them our conviction that mankind can hope for a solution to its problems, among which the most urgent are those of peace and unity, only by turning its attention and energies to the discovery of the child and to the development of the great potentialities of the human personality in the course of its formation.

– Maria Montessori

About our school flag

A Time for Peace

Around the globe, September 21 is observed as the International Day of Peace. As designated by the United Nations General Assembly, this day is a tribute to ideals as they relate to peace for all peoples and nationalities worldwide. Also known as World Peace Day, the International Day of Peace is a celebration of history’s most influential peace advocates; among them, Dr. Maria Montessori.

Many of us are familiar with Maria Montessori’s ingenious educational method. But Montessori’s far-reaching influence wasn’t limited to the educational realm. Maria Montessori was a brilliant scientist, philosopher, and physician. She was also a tireless advocate for women’s rights and peace through education. After surviving two world wars and spending a lifetime observing the development of children, Montessori fully understood the connection between peace and the way we educate our younger generations. Join us in this journey!

A Leader in Peace

Did you know that in 1894, Maria Montessori became one of Italy’s first female doctors? In fact, Maria Montessori achieved many firsts for women. When she was just 12, Maria was the only female to attend technical school where she studied mathematics. As a teenager, she studied engineering, another all-male area of education. Her initial application to the University of Rome’s medical program was turned down because of her gender, but Maria persevered. She took additional classes and continued to apply until, at last, the medical school accepted her into their program. After earning her medical degree, Maria began to work at a mental health clinic. That is where she met some of her youngest patients: children labeled as “deficient and insane,” who spent their days in the clinic’s bleak rooms. There was not much for them to do, or look at, or play with. Ever the scientist at heart, Maria carefully observed and studied these children. She soon discovered that what these children needed above all was mental and sensorial stimulation. She began to develop learning materials for these children. Two years later, many of these so-called deficient children could read, write, and do mathematics at levels comparable with “normal” children their age. We should never give up on children and their ability to learn.

Inspired by this initial success, Maria continued her enthusiastic studies of educational theory and child development. In 1907, she was offered an opportunity to run a childcare facility in an impoverished part of Rome. Much to the amazement of her medical colleagues, Maria accepted the challenge. Combining her years of scientific study with her keen observations of children, Maria developed a whole new approach to education. Unlike any existing educational methods, Maria’s approach maximized the child’s innate desire to learn. Her new approach became known as “The Montessori Method.”

War and Peace

Unfortunately, during times of war and political strife, important issues such as education are often forced into the background, and Montessori’s life spanned two world wars. In 1940, Maria was lecturing in India when hostilities between Italy and Great Britain broke out. Maria had no choice but to remain in India. With the coming of a second world war, Maria Montessori–who was already an outspoken promoter of peace –became even more determined to spread her message and to inform societies about the important connection between early education and peace. In “A New World and Education,” Maria Montessori said: [I]f one has grown up with a veneration for humanity, one will not consent to become an unconscious, destructive force to destroy humanity. Men will not lend themselves to those erroneous ways which foolishly destroy the creators and maintainers of everything that provides for their existence. They will be unwilling to use the supernatural and universal powers which they possess for a cosmic cataclysm to destroy the fruits of civilisation. Having developed a conscience and sentiment towards human life, they will be incapable of cruelty; for cruelty belongs to a dead soul. During her life, Maria received honors in many nations. She was nominated for three consecutive years, 1949, 1950, and 1951, for the Nobel Peace Prize. Maria Jervolino wrote the following in her proposal for the 1951 Noble Peace Prize: Dr. Maria Montessori is universally known for her contribution to the cause of peace and the brotherhood of nations, to which she has dedicated the best years of her long and active life, laying the foundations of a true science of peace by means of an innovated form of education. Through education, the Montessori child learns to be a peaceful child. He then becomes a peacemaker as an adult. Would you like to learn how you can teach your child to be a peaceful child? We invite you to BGMS.