Parent Handbook 
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What to bring on first day 
Enrollment Application 
2600, Headon Forest Drive, Burlington, L7M 4G2
905-315-8385
headonforestmontessori@outlook.com 
Mon-Fri: 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Mirel Zafar Khan
Lead Casa Guide
Mrs. Mirel has been part of the Montessori community for over 20 years — first as a mother raising two children in Montessori classrooms, and later as a Casa directress guiding children of her own. That dual perspective, as both parent and teacher, shapes the warmth and patience she brings to her classroom every day.
She earned her Montessori diploma in Toronto and has since taught in Montessori schools throughout Ontario. Her journey with Headon Forest Montessori began in 2016, when she joined fellow teachers from another Montessori school to help build our program from the ground up. Since then, her role has grown alongside the school, and she now serves as our lead Casa teacher — guiding children through the joyful, hands-on discovery that lies at the heart of the Montessori method.
Mrs. Mirel believes deeply in following the child, and in nurturing independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. That belief extends beyond the classroom: she’s an enthusiastic nature lover and amateur photographer who spends her free time hiking trails across Ontario, camera in hand — a passion she brings back into her classroom through her love of the natural world, much like Montessori’s own vision of children learning in and from nature.
Mahnaz Minhas
Director, Headon Forest Montessori
Ms. Mahnaz’s career began in journalism, where she worked as a copy editor and reporter and honed a deep love of language and storytelling. Teaching came later — she went on to teach elementary and high school students before turning her focus to Early Childhood Education, where she found a philosophy of learning that truly resonated with her: Montessori. She earned her Montessori diploma in Toronto in 2009 and spent the following years gaining rich experience working across various Montessori schools in Ontario, before opening Headon Forest Montessori in 2014.
Headon Forest Montessori is a true labour of love. Ms. Mahnaz’s dedication to this philosophy runs so deep that she sees HFM as an extension of herself. At its heart, her vision is simple: she wants HFM to be a true Casa Dei Bambini — a home for children, not just a school — a place each child is genuinely excited to walk into every single day, where they feel respected, trusted, and free to grow at their own pace. Of all the areas of the Montessori curriculum, Culture and Peace Education holds a special place in her heart, and it shapes that vision — she believes a school should nurture empathy, curiosity about the wider world, and a genuine sense of harmony among children and with their environment.
Ms. Lisa Wheable
Infant & Toddler Teacher
Ms. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and is a certified Infant & Toddler Montessori teacher. She joined the Headon Forest Montessori family in 2023 and has quickly become a much-loved member of our community.
A devoted mother herself, Lisa brings a gentle, patient, and nurturing presence into her classroom — the qualities that matter most at this earliest and most sensitive stage of a child’s development. She believes deeply in following each child’s lead, and she loves nothing more than introducing her littlest learners to new Montessori materials and watching their natural curiosity, confidence, and independence blossom in a prepared environment built just for them. Her love of children’s books and storytelling finds its way into the classroom too, where sharing a good story is one of her favourite ways to nurture a lifelong love of learning.
Ms. Lauren
Early Childhood Assistant, Casa Classroom
Ms. Lauren is an Early Childhood Assistant in our Casa classroom and a much-loved member of the HFM community. She has a natural gift for connecting with children of all needs and personalities, making each one feel valued, important, and truly heard.
Lauren brings a gentle yet firm approach to her work — one that helps children feel secure while gently encouraging them to build confidence and independence. She is highly observant, with a wonderful instinct for recognizing exactly what each child needs in the moment, a skill so central to the Montessori way of guiding rather than directing a child’s learning.
With a genuine appreciation for the Montessori philosophy, Lauren loves nothing more than quietly observing children as they learn, explore, and grow at their own pace. Her calm presence and thoughtful approach make her a truly special part of the Casa environment.
Outside the classroom, Lauren is a keen sports enthusiast who loves following many Canadian sports, and she brings that same enthusiasm into her classroom through lively discussions — sparking the children’s curiosity and encouraging them to follow and learn about sports of their own.