Our history Spans Six Decades
While our school has thrived for more than sixty years, its roots stretch back even further. The foundation was laid in the late 1930s, when our founder, Mrs Duyker-de-Vries, trained under Dr Maria Montessori and her son, Mario Montessori, in Amsterdam between 1939 and 1941. From 1941 to 1952, she continued to build her experience and deepen her understanding of the Montessori philosophy by teaching in Montessori schools across the Netherlands and England. These formative years ultimately led to the establishment of the beautiful school we know today.
A Journey Through Time
The story of our school is one of vision, courage, and a deep commitment to child-centred education. This timeline captures key moments in our evolution—highlighting the milestones, challenges, and achievements that have shaped our community over the past six decades. Each chapter is a reflection of the values that continue to guide and inspire us today.
1960s: New Beginnings
In 1962, Mrs Willemien Duyker-de-Vries and Frank Duyker-de-Vries began a Montessori class with eight children in their Scarborough home, inspired by their adopted child Terry and a vision for Montessori education. The success of Bushland Pottery enabled them to purchase a five-acre bush block in Wanneroo, where they spent weekends building the first classroom, officially opened in 1963 by Police Minister Craig. As enrolments grew, they travelled daily with the children, eventually purchasing a school bus. In 1965, they sold their Scarborough home, lived in a caravan on-site, and secured a loan from the WA Building Society to build their home. That same year, the primary school officially commenced with the unveiling of a new primary classroom. A small room for six-year-olds was later added but eventually became the office as the school grew. Further expansion followed, supported by another loan, enabling the growth of the primary section and planning for future secondary classes. By 1969, another classroom was built in anticipation of the school’s continuing growth—but the vision was far from complete.
1970s: Establishing Legacy
With vision, determination, and a deep commitment to Montessori education, Mrs Willemien Duyker-de-Vries continued to grow the School throughout the 1970s. In 1972, the Secondary School commenced—an exciting and much-needed addition to the community. The following year, the authorities recommended the establishment of a council to support funding opportunities. With help from two school parents, lawyers David Newby and Rod Hyman, the Australian Montessori Society was formed in 1973 as a not-for-profit organisation. In 1974, a major milestone was reached when the School transitioned from a privately owned business to a publicly funded school managed by an Incorporated Association. Staffing challenges led to the creation of a Montessori training course run by Mrs Duyker-de-Vries, attended by staff, future staff, and parents. She dedicated her Wednesday evenings, Tuesday mornings, and even travelled monthly to Sydney to run weekend courses. These sessions inspired many to pursue teaching or to better understand children—and themselves—planting the seeds for Montessori training that continues across Australia today.
1980s: Strength and Evolution
The 1980s marked a time of growth, joy, and consolidation as the School came of age. In 1982, following persistent lobbying by Mrs Willemien Duyker-de-Vries, the local council renamed Robertson Road to Montessori Place—a symbolic recognition of the School’s presence. Although road changes reduced frontage, they created new opportunities for children to explore and connect with the bushland, where cubby building, treasure hunting, and tree climbing became treasured experiences. In 1983, the School celebrated its 21st birthday with a large cake, much to the delight of the children. As a Montessori environment, the campus evolved constantly—rooms were reoriented or enlarged, a playing field established, bushland weeded and preserved, and new furniture built. After a visit to a strawberry farm, Mrs Duyker-de-Vries purchased 3,000 white plastic containers to use as stackable trays, still in use today. Parents and staff collaborated to build sandpits, chairs, and firebreaks, maintaining the grounds together. Mrs Duyker-de-Vries also embraced opportunities to advocate for Montessori education, presenting at a criminology conference after a newspaper article drew attention to the School’s approach.
1990s: Changing Environment
The 1990s were a time of groundbreaking innovation for the School. In 1993, we became the first Montessori school in the world to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, marking a major milestone. This achievement was commemorated with the construction of the ‘Shammai’ Building, dedicated to supporting our senior students. The decade also saw the introduction of a school choir, an African Drumming Concert, and the construction of the first basketball court. As the School grew, the Management Committee was formed, and plans for the retirement of Mrs Willemien Duyker-de-Vries, the School’s first Principal, began. This led to the appointment of Bobbie Beasley and Jane Coffey as Co-Principals in 1998. During this time, the first five-year plan was created, alongside the ‘Building on Solid Foundation’ plan, which outlined the need for new buildings to accommodate the School’s expanding student population.
2000s: Expansion
The 2000s were marked by growth, vibrancy, and stability as the School built on its strong foundation. Under the leadership of Co-Principals Bobbie Beasley and Jane Coffey, the School continued to evolve while staying true to its core values.
In 2001, the School was officially renamed The Montessori School Kingsley, Inc. In 2002, we celebrated our 40th anniversary with a memorable candlelight procession in the shape of a rainbow serpent and a student-led singing performance. That same year, the School purchased the remaining portion of land from Mrs Duyker, allowing for future expansion. The first major five-year plan, Building and Working From Solid Foundations, was developed, guiding both pedagogical work and the physical transformation of the campus.
Throughout the decade, the School deepened its connection with the wider community—participating in the Joondalup Festival Parade, hosting public art exhibitions for International Baccalaureate (IB) students, and engaging in environmental initiatives such as planting native trees to combat desalination. IB students also began travelling overseas, particularly to a sister IB school in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In 2007, the centenary of Montessori education marked 100 years since the opening of the first Casa dei Bambini in Rome. To celebrate, our School took part in an interschool picnic and a public display in Perth. This period saw a growing national movement to formally recognise Montessori education as a legitimate alternative curriculum. Our School joined and supported both the Montessori Australia Foundation and the Montessori Children’s Foundation, contributing to the collective effort to unify and strengthen Montessori in Australia.
By 2008, construction was completed on new buildings for primary and secondary students, thoughtfully designed with sustainable materials, natural light, and passive heating and cooling systems. These new spaces were officially opened in 2009, further supporting the School’s commitment to creating environments where children feel calm, inspired, and at ease.
2010s: Enhancing
The 2010s were marked by innovation, community-building, and meaningful milestones for our school. This decade brought many firsts, including the introduction of Harmony Day, where families shared their culture and heritage with students, and the much-loved Annual Scitech Family Night, which quickly became a highlight for the School community. The Montessori Playgroup was brought on-site, and the introduction of outside school hours care made Montessori education more accessible to families with varied schedules. In 2012, we commemorated our 50th anniversary by burying a time capsule, which we aim to open on our 100th anniversary — a gesture of reflection and hope for the future. A profound moment in the School’s history came in 2014 with the passing of our founder, Mrs Duyker-de-Vries; in her honour, the lower primary students began a heartfelt tradition of knitting a blanket each year and gifting it to the aged care facility where she had lived. Leadership also evolved during this time: in 2016, MaryAnne D’Souza was appointed as Co-Principal alongside Jane Coffey, following the departure of Bobbie Beasley; later that same year, MaryAnne became the Principal after Jane Coffey’s resignation. Before her departure at the end of the decade, MaryAnne and the Board successfully secured a five-year re-registration — a testament to their leadership and the School’s enduring excellence.
2020s: Strengthening and Renewal
The 2020s marked a period of renewal and continued growth for our school. In 2020, Des Reuben was appointed as the School’s fifth Principal in 60 years, following the departure of MaryAnne D’Souza. Two years later, we celebrated our 60th anniversary with a gala and a student-led celebration, honouring six decades of Montessori education in our community.
In 2023, we proudly celebrated 30 years of delivering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and were authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate Careers-related Programme—an important expansion that reflected our commitment to preparing students for meaningful futures.
In 2024, the School entered a new chapter of leadership with the appointment of Kate Tottle and Michael Caldwell as Co-Principals. Kate, a long-serving staff member and former student, brings a deep and personal connection to the School’s history, values, and culture. Michael, who joined the School a few years ago, quickly became an integral part of the leadership team, offering a fresh perspective grounded in mutual respect, collaboration, and a strong commitment to Montessori education. Kate leads the Primary School while Michael oversees the Secondary School—together, they nurture a cohesive and compassionate learning environment where every child is supported to grow with confidence, independence, and dignity. Their leadership reflects the School’s enduring commitment to the Montessori philosophy and the guiding belief: Help me to do it myself.