CASA · JK/SK · Ages 3.5–5Not justJK/SK.It’s a30-year
Head Start.
Montessori-inspired days with real tools for confidence, self-calm and mindset, built into every school day and shared with your whole family.
Book a tourCall (416) 531-MIND- 8:1Student to teacher ratio
- 12Average class size
- JK/SK–8One school, one approach
- 4Synergized, research-based education traditions
Choosing a first school?
If any of this sounds like your family, we’d love to meet you.
- You’re moving your child from daycare or home to JK/SK, and want a gentle, confident start.
- You want Montessori independence, plus tools for big feelings and “I can’t.”
- You want more than grades: mindset, emotional intelligence, nature, food, movement and real-life skills.
- You’d like to choose once: a school and a community your family can stay with through Grade 8.
- You’re looking for a community, not just a school.
What your child learns at CASA
Building independence, real language for feelings, and the first habits of a growth mindset (ages 3.5–5).
Montessori: the container
Real, practical work. Your child chooses their own work and repeats it until it’s mastered, building independence through their hands, not our instructions.
Lefkoe: belief work
We gently interrupt “I can’t” before it hardens into an identity. Guides notice the small moments where a limiting belief could take root, and redirect before it sticks.
NLP / Robbins: state management
Calm-down tools (breath, a stretch, a favourite quiet spot) replace timeouts. Children notice big feelings in their body and have a tool ready, not just a consequence.
Dweck: growth mindset
We say “you kept trying,” not “you’re so smart.” Mistakes are normal, expected steps in learning.
What your child works on
Practical life & independence
- Pouring, spooning and transferring
- Buttoning, zipping, lacing
- Snack and food-prep work
- Table-washing, plant care, classroom jobs
Language & literacy
- Sandpaper letters, beginning-sound games
- Metal insets for pencil control
- Three-part nomenclature cards
- Storytelling, dictation, early name-writing
Math & reasoning
- Number rods, sandpaper numerals
- One-to-one counting, spindle box
- Sorting and classifying
- Geometric cabinet shapes
Sensorial & the world
- Pink tower and brown stair
- Continent puzzle maps
- Seasonal nature walks
- Sink/float and magnet experiments
Arts & movement
- Watercolour and clay
- Music and movement circle
- Tracing and cutting
- Outdoor gross-motor play
Belonging & self-regulation
- Grace-and-courtesy lessons
- Calm-down corner practice
- Classroom helper roles
- Community circle, conflict-resolution language
Illustrative, not exhaustive. The exact mix and pace is set work by work for each child, and adjusts with each teacher’s classroom plan.
School + home: one language
What you’ll see at home. Tools and support for the whole family, not just classroom hours.
Let them do the whole task
Pouring their own water, dressing themselves, setting the table, even slowly and imperfectly.
Swap “I can’t” for “I can’t yet”
Avoid labels like “she’s shy” or “he’s not a reader” in front of your child. Even said kindly, labels become beliefs.
Make a calm corner
Create a cozy calm corner and name it together. Practise one breathing tool as a family before you need it.
Praise effort and strategy
“You tried it three ways,” not “you’re so smart.” Let mistakes stand without rushing to correct them.
One school, limitless potential
Not just JK/SK. A 30-year head start.
Food, nature and the Learning Kitchen
Organic food, natural and healthy living are woven into the school day. Our Learning Kitchen is one of the many weekly, cross-curricular experiences where children do real work with real ingredients.
How the first weeks work
Readiness matters as much as curriculum. We introduce each child at their own pace, and the same calm-down tools are shared with your family so mornings feel steadier. When it’s time, children continue into our elementary classrooms in the same community.
How admissions works
- Say helloA short conversation about your child and your family. No commitment.
- Tour the schoolSee working classrooms and the Learning Kitchen. Bring your partner; both voices matter.
- Trial morningYour child spends a morning in the classroom, at their own pace.
- ApplyWe walk you through the application, step by step.
- Settle inA gentle start, with the same tools shared at home.
Why our families love us
“I have found my people at this school… Our child thrives here and really enjoys the Montessori principles alongside the mindset and mindfulness work. I am seeing the transformation and am amazed.”CASA parent
“We are giving our child the advantage most people spend a career catching up on… We see it in action every day, and know that the earlier the foundation is built, the higher our child’s ceiling will be.”Elementary parent
The practical details
| Grades | JK/SK (about ages 3.5–5), part of a JK/SK–Grade 8 school |
|---|---|
| Class size | Average of 12 students; about 1 teacher to 8 students |
| Approach | Montessori-inspired, with the Infinite Potential Method™ |
| Location | 345 Sorauren Ave, 3rd Floor, Toronto, M6R 2G5 (Roncesvalles / High Park) |
| Hours, tuition & start dates | Request our parent package or ask on your tour. |
Good to know
What is CASA?
Our Montessori-inspired classroom for ages 3.5–5, covering JK and SK. Children do real practical work at their own pace while learning simple tools for confidence and self-calm.
How is this different from a regular Montessori school?
Montessori gives children a calm, prepared environment. We add explicit tools for beliefs, emotions and mindset, so children learn why they think, feel and react the way they do.
What are mindset tools for a four-year-old?
Breath, a stretch and a favourite quiet spot to calm down, and language like “I can’t yet” instead of “I can’t.” Simple, daily and age-appropriate.
Will my child continue after SK?
Yes. We teach JK/SK through Grade 8, with small classes and a Montessori-inspired approach.
Can parents use the tools at home?
Yes. Families get tools and support so school and home speak the same language.
Can we bring our child on a tour?
Yes. Children are welcome, and a trial morning is part of getting to know us.
Come see a real school day
Book a tour345 Sorauren Ave, 3rd Floor, Toronto, M6R 2G5
(416) 531-MIND (6463) · info@academyofenlightenedminds.com