What we offer
Our fully qualified Montessori teachers are passionate about providing a stimulating and fun learning environment for every child at Little Birds. Each teacher's individual skills, talents and ideas bring uniqueness to our school, offering individualized learned and bespoke teaching that inspire each child to reach their full potential.
Surroundings
Our school is located in the quiet, idyllic surroundings of Geneva with a large park, playground, forest and river nearby. With this connection to nature, we cultivate a humanistic and holistic approach to education.
Key learning areas
It is important that children make their own discovery of their environment and learn with joy and confidence. Hence no learning area in the Montessori classroom exists in isolation. This allows the children to become immersed in their surroundings and thus gradually understand both concrete and abstract concepts.
Practical Life
Sensorial
History
Mathematics
Geography
Science
Language
ENVIRONNEMENT
GARDENING
Our strengths at Little Birds
In addition to following the Montessori themes, we have decided to include in our programme areas that are close to our hearts and that are fundamental to your child's development and success. So, as well as following a Montessori education, your child will be able to benefit from all the activities we offer to help him or her flourish.
Music Discovery
Art & Design
Eco-school
Music Discovery
Art & Design
Eco-school
Outlings
Outlings
Cooking
Gardening
Cooking
Gardening
Extracurricular Activities
Our extra-curricular activities give you the freedom to tailor your child's learning path to suit your needs.
After-School Childcare
For children enrolled in our after-school childcare program from 4 pm to 6 pm, our program offers the ideal chance for them to unwind after a busy day. With a healthy snack provided, they can relax, play outdoors, foster their creativity by engaging in hands-on activities until it’s time to head home.
Wonderful Wednesdays
Running every Wednesday during the regular school year, Wonderful Wednesdays engage children in activities including singing, movement, games, outdoor activities, storytelling, art, crafts and cooking.
Musical
initiation
An introduction to the harp and other instruments for children aged 4 to 7.
Every Wednesday afternoon.
Summer
camps
Children can enroll for one or two weeks. The camps offer a large variety of bilingual English/French indoor and outdoor activities, including art, crafts, games, story telling, cooking and outdoor exploration activities.
Environmental awareness
Teaching Our Children to Take Care of Our PlanetLittle Birds recognizes the importance of not only teaching our children to care for our planet, but helping them to build life long habits that will decrease their environmental footprint while helping to keep the world around them beautiful. Over the course of the school year, Little Birds encourages children to participate in gardening activities, go on nature walks to gather, examine and discuss what they find and become Litter Heroes. As Litter Heroes, children learn to identify debris that has been left behind by others. Under the careful supervision of Little Birds’ staff, children use hand-held litter grabber machines to pick up and place non-dangerous litter in the collection bag held by their partner. In pairs the children frequently clean up the areas they explore in the nearby park, on adult led walks around Onex or down by the river, all to the benefit of the local community and our world.
Our dedicated team
Kimiyo Friis-Lund
Directress, Bilingual Montessori Teacher
As a mother of a Montessori educated child, Kimiyo Friis-Lund is deeply connected to the Montessori Method. She believes that receiving the full 3-year Montessori education is a blessing for young children and a very important aid for life.
Born in Japan, Kimiyo has lived most of her adult life in Switzerland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certification for children from 3 to 6 years old. She has been working in Montessori schools since 2004.
Alexandra Gonin
French-Speaking Montessori Teacher
Alexandra has been working with Kimiyo since January 2015. Born and raised in France, she graduated from the University of Sorbonne in Paris with a Master’s degree in Education. She has earned her AMI certification for children from 3 to 6 years old.
The Montessori Pedagogy was an obvious choice for her. Alexandra has been a long-term advocate for the development and respect of every child. Working at Little Birds is a great source of joy for Alexandra. She enjoys seeing the children develop over their 3 year Montessori program as she shows them how enjoy their work.
Bethani Ann DE LONG VEHAPI
English Teacher (mother tongue) with advanced certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), University of Leicester. AMI certified 3-6 years Teacher by The Training Institute Maria Montessori, Geneva
Having personally benefited from a Montessori preschool and primary education from ages 3-8, Bethani Ann is fully aware of the lifelong advantages of what she considers the “learning to love learning” ideal, embraced by the Montessori method. The daughter of a dedicated Montessori teacher, Bethani Ann has actively incorporated much of what she absorbed in the Montessori classroom into her own classrooms.
Bethani Ann has been delighted to join Little Birds and share her knowledge, competencies and enthusiasm running the Wonderful Wednesday English immersion activities. She constantly says she doesn’t know who has more fun, the kids or herself!
ROMAIN BOUTOLLEAU
Music Teacher
As a psychology student with a deep passion for music, I have been immersed in this art form for over 10 years. My journey began with the guitar and musical theater, which opened my eyes to the joy and creativity of music. Today, I’m dedicated to sharing this passion with children, helping them explore the world of music and discover their artistic expression.
JUSTINE BAYLAUCQ
After-school Facilitator
A final-year master’s student in psychology at the University of Geneva, I am specializing in child psychology and pedagogy—fields that I am deeply passionate about and intend to pursue as a career. Alongside my studies, I am actively involved in various artistic activities, including serving as the president of a musical theater association in Geneva, which is currently preparing a new production. I am delighted to contribute to the growth of your children during extracurricular activities, inspiring their creativity and love for artistic expression.
LYVIA STREICH
After-School Facilitator
Psychology Student at the University of Geneva
Graduate Montessori Assistant at Maria Montessori Institute of London
Lyvia has the pleasure for caring for the children during Little Birds’ after-school childcare program from 4 – 6 pm. As a psychology student, She uses her knowledge and passion for child development in her role as a facilitator at Little Birds. She feels honored to accompany them in their development and is proud to be part of such a dedicated educational team.
Andreas Friis-Lund
Administrator
Inspired by his daughter’s remarkable development over the 3 years of her Montessori preschool experience, Andreas has fully supported his wife’s project of making her own Montessori School a reality. A graduate of Swiss Hotel Management Academy in Lucerne, since retiring from his career in hospitality in 2013, he now takes care of general and administrative tasks for the school.
He can be contacted at admin@montessorilittlebirds.ch
What We Believe
Montessori Little Birds school’s guiding mission is to ensure your children thrive.
Deeply committed to Maria Montessori’s philosophy and thoroughly trained in her methods, we founded this school with one goal: to passionately guide your children in exploring the world. We pledge to be present at every step to nurture and cultivate each child’s intelligence, adapting to their individual needs.
The Montessori method embodies more than just an educational approach. It’s a life philosophy that prepares your children for a strong and fulfilling future. Guided by their natural enthusiasm for learning, we will fuel this inner flame, leading them towards meaningful and adept engagement in this ever-evolving world.
Our Core Values
Little Birds’ core values are grounded in the Montessori philosophy:
Such words may be abstract for children, but for us they are guiding principles which we apply to all our actions and relationships within the school
Respect
Independence
Responsibility
Community
Creativity
Peace education
Our Story
Our founder Kimiyo, first discovered the Montessori method when experiencing first hand the challenges of selecting an early education for her daughter. Like many parents, Kimiyo wanted her daughter to learn with joy, to develop an independent mind and to have a holistic, alternative education.
Kimiyo enrolled her daughter in a Montessori school where her daughter thrived and her self-confidence expanded with each passing year. In later years, her daughter reminisced about how this was the happiest period of her schooling. This reflection encouraged Kimiyo to train as a Montessori teacher and learn the marvels of this educational method. After a decade as a Montessori teacher and seeing childrens’ confidence bloom, Kimiyo was ready to open Little Birds!
Kimiyo and her team of AMI certified Montessori teachers are always delighted to meet with parents and to explain the Montessori Method and Philosophy. Our shared mission is to accompany every child in their exploration of the carefully prepared classroom environment.
