74 Halswell Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch 8025
"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."
We believe that children are endowed with special powers to absorb the culture in which they live. Our aim is to work in partnership with parents to provide a safe, creative and loving environment, built on the principles of Maria Montessori, where each child is nurtured and their individuality is acknowledged and enhanced. If the adults in this environment value and model respect for others, independence, collaboration, wonder at the world, a sense of joy, and peaceful relationships, these are what young children will absorb. These will be the ropes they will have to adjust their sails to reach their destination.
Elaine Low.
Montessori Education is based on a lifetime of observation and study on the part of Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman doctor in Italy (born 1870, died 1952), who became an eminent educationist.
Dr. Montessori revealed the true nature of how children develop and learn, and sought to meet their needs by providing appropriate activities, opportunities and environments.
She defined Four Stages of Development which roughly correspond to the current school system.
Each stage has particular characteristics and needs, and the environment, activities and programmes vary accordingly.
The children are given freedom to choose from a wide range of specially designed activities which help them to acquire concepts, knowledge and skills.
The children develop competence, self esteem, self discipline, and caring, and show a deep interest and enjoyment in learning, socially, mentally and spiritually.
Worldwide the Montessori Method has been operating since early this century, in families and private and state schools.
In New Zealand there have been Montessori Schools since before 1920, with a considerable upsurge of interest since the 1970's. There are now over 100 schools throughout New Zealand involving about 3,000 children.
It is a well tried and proven method applicable to children of all cultures, nationalities and social and economic groups, and can lay the foundation for a happy, fruitful and stable society.
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