We believe children learn by building on the knowledge they already have – primarily exhibited through play. Teachers help children learn by creating a rich environment to explore via exciting educational activities.

1. Respect the child

   We are a school community which believes that each child is encouraged to develop his or her intellectual, social, and emotional capabilities to their fullest; Our academic and social development is achieved through and engaging program that is based upon the natural developmental stages of the child from toddler to 6-year olds and encourages a fundamental love of learning;

2. Environment is Important

   We offer a social and educational curriculum that fosters independence, self-esteem, co-operation, conflict resolution and respect of self, others and the environment; •We aim to provide our students with a vision and experience of the world that encourages the children to use their unique skills and talents to contribute to their communities and to connect to the world around them;

3. Our Community

   We expect our educators and our parents to work together as a cohesive community for the development of a happy and balanced child. We believe in respecting the rights, dignity and integrity of each individual child and their family.

We have a focus on recruiting and retaining quality teachers and offer competitive remuneration, good student discipline and relatively small class sizes

Mrs. Mirel Khan

Ms. Mirel has been a part of Montessori education for over 20 years, first as a mother to two Montessori going children and later as a Casa directress. She earned her Montessori diploma in Toronto and, since then, has taught at various Montessori schools throughout Ontario. Her relationship with HFM began in 2016 when she joined her fellow teachers from another Montessori school to run the Montessori program at HFM. That relationship has progressed considerably to Ms. Mirel, now as the head Casa directress at HFM. In addition to teaching, Ms. Mirel is a big nature enthusiast and brings that love and enthusiasm into her classroom. She is also an amateur photographer and enjoys documenting her trail walks and hikes all over Ontario.

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Ms. Janet Nickason

Ms. Janet is a vibrant part of the HFM team. She is an exercise enthusiast, bike riding being her favourite outdoor activity. Her true love of outdoors is evident as she spends as much time as she can outside and amongst nature. At HFM she has passed on this love of outdoor time to her children. “As a young girl I always knew I wanted to be a teacher or a nurse. After experiencing different age groups as a teacher, it became clear that toddlers were my calling. They are so willing to learn and absorb all they are exposed to. The growth and development are so exciting to see and it is very rewarding. I love the fact that they ‘keep me on my toes’." Much to the delight of her team members, Ms. Janet has also volunteered to be the official baker and barista of HFM.

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Ms. Danielle Kotska

Ms. Danielle discovered Montessori when she started working with HFM over six years ago. She was so drawn to the beauty of the philosophy, that she committed herself to learning as much as she could about this method of education and continuously finds herself marvelling at all the magical moments, she observes around her in her classroom. Ms. Danielle completed her MACTE certified Montessori training in June 2022. Ms. Danielle loves developing classified cards and Montessori materials as she follows the interest of the children in the classroom and is especially proud of her painstaking 3-D animal and plants life cycle crafts which she and her students create. She is an avid sports enthusiast and a huge Blue Jays fan. Ms. Danielle’s love of sport makes her ideally suited to inculcate that enthusiasm in her young learners. She has developed the Gym and yoga programs at HFM and has organized baseball matches with her HFM team.

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Ms. Mahnaz Minhas

Ms. Mahnaz was a teacher for elementary and high school students and was also part of the media industry where she applied her skills as a copy editor before she directed her undivided focus to Early Childhood Education. She initially entered the world of teaching younger children with some hesitation and trepidation but soon discovered that being a Montessorian was her true calling and hasn’t looked back since that decision she made 12 years ago. Headon Forest Montessori is a labour of love, the seeds sown after earning her diploma in Montessori education in Toronto and getting a rich experience working at various Montessori schools in Ontario. Her dedication is so determinedly embedded in her that Ms Mahnaz views HFM as an extension of herself. She takes pride in the fact that her "little" school is truly a children's Casa, and her team members are extremely committed to being happy guides for their little learners. Ms. Mahnaz’s love of writing and telling stories remains firmly intact from her background in the media and she hopes to one day publish a series for young children.

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Ms. Samar Mahmood

Ms. Samar works as an assistant directress in the Casa room. She has a diploma in Early Childhood Education (MACTE Montessori certified) from The Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. A mother of two, Ms. Samar has always been interested in the Montessori philosophy of learning. It was during her observations at the Montessori classroom on family observation days that she developed her love for the Montessori Method. She especially likes the sense of calm and wonder that she observes amongst the Montessori children. Ms. Samar enjoys working with the youngest children in the Montessori mixed classrooms and loves the practical life shelf. She feels that the children are happiest when they are engaged in real-life and ordinary activities that helps them build good habits such as focus, concentration and mindfulness

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