Learning Model

Santa Maria leverages across-the-board excellence in academics, sports and games, fine arts, social skills, ethical values, moral character and so on. This is achieved by a blend of an unique teaching method and a very high standard of repertoire of academic prowess, skills, competencies and values among the staff members. Santa Maria’s signature learning model based on the foundation of MONTESSORI METHOD is central to the way students learn. It is the enabler for the development of high standards of learning-effectiveness and leadership Santa Marians exhibit.

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INTELLECTUAL CAPABILITIES
Conventional education system emphasizes memory power alone for scoring high scores in exams. Santa Maria, however, primarily focuses on development of “intellectual capabilities” in addition to the memorization skills. It is the “Thinker” who innovates, who creates and who adds value by quantum leaps. Santa Marians are encouraged and trained to be ‘THINKERS’.

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DISCIPLINE
The discipline too is different in Santa Maria. One will not find cold prohibitions here. The natural uninhibited mischievous nature of the child is never broken in Santa Maria. Rather, the student is guided in a gradual growth towards self-control, a higher level of discipline. The student is allowed a large measure of liberty without licence, which forms the basis for real discipline.
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CHARACTER
Santa Maria is a Christian School with a strong emphasis on character building. The management and staff practice what they teach. The values Santa Marians exhibit will come as a fresh breath of air in an environment, which is losing its sight on the need for visionaries like Gandhi, Lincoln and Mandela. In a co-educational environment, the students are counselled and guided to develop healthy friendships among themselves.

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PARENT’S ROLE

Vital  Principles – Some  Do’s  &  Don’ts
You and the School are jointly responsible for the development of your child.

Here are some basic principles for you to note and observe:

  • Santa Maria is not a school in the usual sense with a routine curriculum and learning methodologies. Instead, during the initial three years of schooling, advanced and unique Montessori Method and a natural timetable with a distinctly different curriculum are applied to help the child develop much ahead of students elsewhere in the conventional schools.
  • The learning activities are meant to serve the child’s purpose and not that of adults’ usual expectations. These may appear strange to you but be patient and see the explosion of learning in your child.
  • Since the methodology vastly differs from conventional schools, please refrain from teaching alphabets and numbers at home without consulting the teacher. Learning two different methods will confuse the child and will hinder mastering the phonetic English

 

Encourage your child to carry out small daily chores at home such as:

  1. Emptying the wastebasket.
  2. Tidying up the child’s own bed.
  3. Tiding the bed.
  4. Setting the table.
  5. Watering the plants.

 

Of course, your child’s work would not be up to your standard of neatness, but be patient and appreciative. Acknowledge fulfillment of the responsibilities with sticker or star and a word of praise. This encourages a sense of self-respect and accomplishment. Never promise bribes for carrying out the responsibilities or for succeeding in the exams, for this would instil a wrong value in the mind of the child.

  1. Encourage creative artwork with crayons, paints, paper etc. Display their work proudly.
  2. Label your child’s items. Use big and small letters. This encourages the child to read and use more labels. This brings out a sense of orderliness in thinking and behaviour.
  3. Encourage better listening skills by giving instructions only once.
  4. Read a story or an article to your child EVERY DAY for at least a few minutes.
  5. Lay down rules that would encourage the children to do the right thing. Set out areas where the child may draw – may be even a particular area in a wall in the child’s room.
  6. Talk with your child about the school. Do not force him / her to talk but do encourage.
  7. Use words of good manners such as “Please” “Thank you” “Welcome” etc in your talk with your children. This would develop social skills in them.
  8. Set good examples for your children. They are very observant. If your lifestyle or manners contradicts what you teach them to follow, they will receive mixed signals and disregard your instructions as meaningless. When you teach them to brush their teeth at night, let them first see you do that.
  9. Always expect the best out of your child, but his / her best and not yours. If the child disappoints you, discuss the same with your child. If he / she meets or exceeds your expectation, tell him / her how much you are delighted. Teach them to accept shortcomings or failures with dignity, without condemnation or self-pity.
  10. Smile and laugh with your children. Even when you have to be serious sometimes, a chuckle at the appropriate time will relieve the tension in the child to set a positive mood. He / she will feel better.

 

INSTRUCT YOUR CHILD:

  1. Do not talk to strangers or accept rides with anyone without permission from elders.
  2. Stay on the edge of the road while waiting for your school bus / auto.
  3. Never stand behind school bus / van.
  4. Stand still as the vehicle approaches. Do not move until it has stopped.
  5. If you drop something near the vehicle, leave it. Ask an adult to get it for you.
  6. It would be wise, to set up a Pass-word between the parents and the child. If a stranger approaches your child saying that you sent them, your child should ask for the Pass-word to confirm that you sent them.

Instruct your child on all safety practices essential for their protection.

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