Chrysalis Montessori School

We are a small independent school providing education for 3 – 12 year olds, as well as a vibrant community encompassing our children. We are inspired by the philosophy of Maria Montessori and employ other educational best practices that fit within the framework of Montessori pedagogy.

Our goal is for students to become independent and responsible learners and to instill in them a life-long love of learning. We also aim to help children find and develop their individual passions and to positively contribute these talents to our future society. We seek to develop real partnerships between parents and teachers in this joint undertaking.

Chrysalis has a range of community events and rituals, which add to the rhythms, routines and social cohesion of life at our school. These include our Winter Solstice Festival, School Concerts, Camps and the Bibbulmun Challenge, where each year our graduates walk a section of this hiking track. We also have playgroup sessions 3 mornings a week, for children 18 months and older, and our very own After School Care program.

Chrysalis is now over 28 years old. I trust that we will always be a place where children and adults can become intrinsically motivated and engaged in the challenges of life and learning, and embrace their responsibilities to help create a better, sustainable and more just world.

At Chrysalis, your child will be welcomed into a community which strives for the very best academic, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual environment. Chrysalis is a community-administered school and is always open to new ideas and suggestions. We pride ourselves on having a strong community spirit and making new parents and children feel welcome and valued.

Throughout its relatively short history, our school has blossomed into a place where children know they are accepted and appreciated, respected and loved. This is a direct result of the commitment and generosity of spirit of the teachers, families and friends who have shared their skills and enthusiasm through the years. We have learned from each other and continue to work together to give the children an environment in which to thrive.

We have about 150 students. Class sizes are kept small, with a ratio of 1:11 in the Children’s Houses and 1:22-24 in the primary classes. Our school is located only 10 minutes from the city centre, within easy reach of the Mitchell Freeway, and is located next to parklands and the Herdsman Lake. We have a carefully planned adventure playground (which has recently undergone a wonderful upgrade) which allows the children to exercise, explore and play in ways that enhance their physical and spatial development.

Our teachers are all state trained, with most having Montessori qualifications and each has seen the benefits of Montessori over many years of teaching. Your child will reap the rewards of years of professional and personal effort from each of them. Many staff are continuing to further their education. To our teachers, Montessori is not only a way of life, but also a way to contribute to the community.

Our school was established by parents 1990 with just three teachers and 23 families at a temporary site in North Perth. ​ ​The current site in Glendalough was purchased early in 1991 and with enrolments steadily increasing, Commonwealth funding became available the following year.

Extra classes, from the original one Children’s House and one primary class, were added from 1992 through to 1995. Within that time (1994) enrolments exceeded 100 students for the first time. In 1996, after a lengthy appeal process, the school’s funding from the Commonwealth was increased from Category 3 to Category 7. This placed the school in a sound financial position and has allowed for greater resourcing of the classrooms and flexibility with staffing arrangements.