Featured in School News: A School Within a Community – Learning Across Generations

What happens when a school becomes part of an aged care community?
At Southern Montessori School, this question became a reality—creating a learning environment where young people and older adults connect, learn, and grow alongside one another.

A Different Kind of Learning Environment

Southern Montessori School spans two campuses in Adelaide, supporting children from early learning through to Year 9.
But one part of our school stands apart.
Our Middle School is located within Kalyra Residential Aged Care—a setting that offers something rare in modern education: daily opportunities for meaningful, intergenerational connection.

How It Began

The idea emerged in 2018, when a member of our Board visited Kalyra while searching for care for her father. A simple question was asked: Could a school exist within this space?
From that moment, a shared vision formed—one grounded in connection, purpose, and the belief that learning extends beyond the classroom.
This vision aligns closely with the philosophy of Maria Montessori, who emphasised the importance of diverse, mixed-age communities:

“To segregate by age is one of the cruellest and most inhuman things one can do… It breaks the bonds of social life.”

— The Absorbent Mind

Learning That Extends Beyond the Classroom
Today, around 50 students in Years 7–9 learn in small, personalised groups.
Their program includes:

• Core academic learning
• Interdisciplinary, inquiry-based projects
• Real-world “occupations” (business and enterprise)
• Creative expression
• Service learning within the aged care community

Participation in the intergenerational program is optional—yet many students choose to take part each week.

What Intergenerational Learning Looks Like
Students and residents regularly come together through:

• Board games and carpet bowls
• Arts, crafts, and music
• Cooking and shared activities
• Storytelling and biography writing
• Community celebrations such as Easter and Mother’s Day

These interactions are not staged—they are shaped collaboratively by students and residents, making them authentic, responsive, and meaningful.

Real Lessons in Empathy and Resilience
Working alongside older adults—many with physical or cognitive challenges—offers students a deeper understanding of human experience.

They learn to:

• communicate with patience
• navigate unfamiliar social situations
• respond with empathy and respect

One student reflected on a challenging interaction: “I can’t pronounce your name so I’m not going to talk to you.”

Rather than discouragement, moments like these become powerful learning opportunities—building resilience, compassion, and social awareness.

The Impact on Students
The outcomes for young people extend far beyond academics.

Students develop:

• empathy and emotional intelligence
• confidence in communicating across generations
• a sense of purpose and contribution

As one student shared: “I gained a lot of gratitude and humbleness through doing this.”

Another reflected: “It should be very normal in our society that older and younger people have friendships.”

Some students continue visiting residents even after moving on to senior school, while others are inspired to pursue careers in aged care and community services.

The Impact on Residents
The benefits for residents are equally significant.

Engagement with students contributes to:

• reduced loneliness
• improved mental wellbeing
• cognitive stimulation and memory retention

One resident shared: “I really feel valued… having the children here makes me feel younger.”

These connections bring energy, purpose, and a renewed sense of belonging.

A Community That Learns Together
The depth of these relationships is reflected in shared milestones.

At a recent celebration, six centenarians marked a combined 600 years of life.
Our students presented their life histories—sharing stories of resilience, migration, and lived experience with warmth and respect.

These are not just school projects. They are acts of connection.

Why This Matters
At Southern Montessori School, academic achievement is important—but it is not the full measure of education.
Our partnership with Kalyra Residential Aged Care reminds us that learning is deeply human.

It is about:

• connection
• empathy
• contributing meaningfully to the world around us

And perhaps, that is the most important learning of all.