Montessori Prospectus & application criteria 2014

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Prospectus and Application Criteria

2014 20 Princess Road Brookfield Tauranga 3146

Email: [email protected] Phone: Bellevue School 07 576 5916 (Fridays)


PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION Overview Montessori@Bellevue (M@B) was established in 2002 to provide Montessori Primary education for children aged from 6 to 12 years. Our teachers ensure that children receive the benefits of the Montessori philosophy and curriculum delivered within the framework of Bellevue School, the New Zealand Curriculum and National Standards for Primary Schools. M@B is fully integrated within Bellevue School, giving the children access to the wider school programmes, facilities, social and sporting activities. M@B is governed and administered by a registered Charitable Trust, Tauranga Montessori Education Trust (TMET). TMET was established to ensure a quality Montessori primary school would be available to children in Tauranga. The Trustees are a group of dedicated parents who work alongside Bellevue School’s Board of Trustees and the Montessori teaching team. TMET is responsible for governance of M@B whilst management is carried out by Bellevue School and its Board of Trustees. TMET funds Montessori teaching staff salaries which are not funded by the Ministry of Education; Montessori materials; Montessori specific training and staff development. TMET relies on parent donations and fundraising to meet its financial obligations.

The Curriculum M@B offers an enriching and challenging Montessori curriculum. Teachers facilitate creativity, independent thinking and responsibility through a specially prepared environment. Within this prepared environment the child is able to work at their own pace with a logical sequence of activities and materials. Teachers make careful observations and record each child’s progress. The environment and class culture excites the imagination and entices the primary-‐age child into a quest for knowledge. Historical timelines, pictorial charts, mathematical materials, collections of specimens, stimulating discussions, a teacher to facilitate and support learning stimulates independent thinking and drives individual progress and learning at the child’s pace.

Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952) Maria Montessori was, in many ways, ahead of her time. She was born in 1870, and graduated in 1896 as the first woman doctor in Italy. In her medical practice, her clinical observations led her to analyse how children learn, and she concluded that they built themselves from what they found in their environment. Children teach themselves. This simple but profound truth inspired Montessori’s lifelong pursuit of educational reform and teacher training. Her legacy is a philosophy of life, a unique method of education, materials with which to educate, and a system of training that produces teachers who can give children the best possible foundation for life.


Montessori’s Influence on Mainstream Education The Montessori materials and lessons developed by Dr Montessori have withstood the test of time. The skills developed and the progression from simplex to complex, and concrete to abstract, meet the needs of children today just as they did in Rome at the beginning of last century. Traditional schools are beginning to embrace aspects of Montessori education such as concrete learning materials, multi-‐age level classes, involvement of the child setting their own learning goals, a move to teaching to meet individual needs and strengths, move to process focused assessment, development of an integrated curriculum across subject areas and a focus on the whole child. The latest NZ school curriculum now embraces personalized and inquiry based learning.

Children’s Work Montessori primary children learn to structure their own individual work schedules. The children are used to long periods of work (the three hour work cycle) and they themselves determine the duration of time they work on a particular project. The key is to help the child establish a balanced work day. The class and its activities flow naturally throughout the day. Children move between friends and their work, helping and joining group lessons when asked. Despite the individualism of the class there is still a strong feeling of cohesion as the class meets at least once every day to hear other children’s projects and stories, enjoy music, discuss difficulties and play group games.

Multi Age Groupings A cornerstone of the Montessori Primary class is the multi age groupings of 6 – 9 and 9 – 12 year olds. Children stay in one group for up to three years and will usually have the same teachers for that time. This age grouping allows for peer learning (younger children learn from the older ones, while the process of teaching the younger ones reinforces the older child’s knowledge and learning), enhanced teacher child relationship, broad social development and opportunities for leadership and friendships resulting in a co-‐ operative social community based on respect of self and others. Younger children are naturally interested in the work of the older children, so the older children serve as tutors and role models instilling a sense of pride. The wide range of age and ability also builds in each child a tolerance and appreciation for difference. The emphasis in a Montessori classroom is on cooperation rather than competition. Age groupings are aligned with those of Bellevue School. Children will eventually complete Year 6 within M@B and move on to Intermediate between the ages of 10 ½ and 11 ½. The primary years are calculated by a child’s birthday rather than the date the child starts school; your child is not being held back as a result of entering the primary school system at age 6 rather than age 5.

“We must support as much as possible the child's desires for activity; not wait on him, but educate him to be independent”

-‐Maria Montessori


APPLICATION CRITERIA Applications must be made on the appropriate form. A non-‐refundable application fee of $50.00 including GST is payable at the time of application and needs to accompany the completed Application Form. Prerequisite Montessori Pre-‐school Education When selecting children for places within M@B, TMET must, in the interests of the wellbeing of M@B as a whole, enrol those children best prepared for the Montessori Primary classroom environment. TMET has determined that a child requires minimum levels of preschool education as below.

• The child must have attended at least two full years at a suitable Montessori pre-‐school prior to entry to Montessori@Bellevue in the term in which they turn 6. TMET reserves the right to determine the suitability of any Montessori pre-‐school.

• From or before their 4th birthday, the child should attend a minimum of 3 days per week at a suitable Montessori pre-‐school.

• From age 5, the child should attend at least 4 days per week. Attendance at these sessions should continue until entry to M@B.

• The child must remain enrolled in a suitable Montessori pre-‐school and attend the required number of days until entry to M@B.

Montessori@Bellevue Parent Information Meetings Parents are required to attend a Montessori@Bellevue Parent Information Evening. These information evenings are held bi-‐annually and will be advertised through your child’s Montessori pre-‐school. Parent Information Evenings offer parents the opportunity to expand their knowledge of Montessori at a primary school level and direct any questions they may have to the teachers, as well as to students both present and past, of Montessori@Bellevue. Classroom Observation Parents are also required to book and attend a Classroom Observation at M@B before submitting an application. Observing a M@B Primary school class in action illustrates the connection to Montessori pre-‐ school education and offers further clarity and understanding of daily activities and structure. Note: Parents are welcome to request a meeting with the Principal and Lead Teacher at any stage during the enrolment process.

Learning Disabilities, Special or High Needs: Bellevue School has an open and inclusive enrolment policy; the placement of children within Bellevue School and Montessori@Bellevue is the responsibility of the Principal, in consultation with the parents. Parents/caregivers with children who have learning and/or physical disabilities are invited to contact us at the earliest opportunity (ideally around the age of 4). This will allow time to build mutual understanding and to ensure that any classroom or environmental preparations are facilitated as required to support the child’s transition to, and journey through their education at Montessori@Bellevue.


Close of Applications Formal applications should be received by the time the child is 4 ½. Applications received after this date may be given lower priority but will be assessed on a case by case basis and places allocated as and when available. Allocation of Places Selection for entry to the M@B will be based on the total application presented by each family, together with any other relevant information. TMET reserves the right to make all enquiries it deems necessary to obtain information which may assist it to reach a decision in any particular case. Factors taken into account include the number of days attendance at Montessori pre-‐school; the quality of their pre-‐school education; the child’s history of learning in the Montessori environment; the level of enthusiasm of the family for involvement in and contributing to, the Montessori and wider school community; the need to ensure available places for siblings. N.B. Places are not guaranteed until notified in writing. The final decision on placement of children within the Montessori Unit or Bellevue School lies with the Principal in consultation with the child’s parents. Priority Children who meet the criteria will be prioritized as follows:

1 Accommodation of siblings of children already attending M@B who meet the Application Criteria. 2 Children with the appropriate pre-‐school history 3 Children of staff employed by M@B 4 Children transferring from Montessori Primary schools elsewhere 5 Other applications

TMET welcomes all applications. Each will be considered on a case by case basis, and places allocated as and when available. Places at Bellevue School Each child accepted into M@B is part of the roll at Bellevue School. Therefore, a separate application form must be filled out and submitted to Bellevue School prior to their first day. Children cannot begin their education at M@B until this application has been submitted. Pre-‐school Visit M@B teachers visit our feeder Montessori pre-‐schools from time to time to co-‐ordinate and develop relationships with pre-‐school staff. During the visit our teachers may identify your child and take the opportunity to introduce themselves and/or observe your child at work. This will familiarize your child with our teachers and begin relationship building prior to transition. Transition Early in the term prior to the child starting at M@B, parents/caregivers will be contacted by the Lead Teacher to arrange transition visits. The process of transition involves an Orientation for the whole family, at the school, followed by class visits for each child. These will take place towards the end of the term. The initial Orientation will involve meeting the Principal, teachers and administration staff, followed by a tour of the school and grounds. Further details of this process will be provided close to the time of transition.


Donations M@B is not a private school; it is the vehicle by which Tauranga Montessori Education Trust delivers the New Zealand curriculum via the Montessori philosophy in separate classes within Bellevue School. Monies received as donations to TMET are applied entirely to providing Montessori education to the students. By its nature and because of the method of teaching, the alternative educational opportunity provided by M@B incurs extra costs. This includes classrooms, furniture, administration, educational materials and ‘above entitlement’ staffing. Bellevue School receives ‘per head’ funding from the Ministry of Education for every child enrolled in the school, which includes all Montessori students. These funds provide for all school facilities: fields, playgrounds, staffing etc. which are not Montessori-‐specific. Donations are set at an amount deemed necessary by TMET to maintain the integrity of the offering of M@B. TMET reserves the right to increase the level of donations as necessary to continue to provide high-‐quality Montessori education. M.A.N.Z Membership Fee M.A.N.Z is an incorporated organisation which operates independently of any Montessori School or local Montessori Association and undertakes a number of important functions and duties on behalf of all its members. A quarterly newsletter is published which each member family receives. Each family with a child attending a MANZ member school or preschool pays an annual fee to support their work. Visit www.montessori.org.nz for further information. Family Commitment and Parental Involvement Parents must show an understanding of the Montessori philosophy of teaching and fully support its methods. Parents must agree to support M@B, the Montessori teachers and their relationship with Tauranga Montessori Education Trust, Bellevue School BOT, management and community. Parents must sign the required ‘Terms of Acceptance’ at the time of acceptance and abide by its terms at all times. In particular, parents agree to make all donations referred to in that document including any increases deemed necessary by TMET during the child’s attendance at M@B. Parental involvement is a vital element in creating a thriving Montessori community. All parents and caregivers are encouraged to take an active part in school life. There are many ways in which parents skills can make a difference e.g. assisting with reading, art projects, and baking, building or decorating projects. Attendance at Parent Information Evenings (held twice yearly) is strongly recommended. Your family will benefit greatly from the enhanced understanding these evenings offer.

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DONATIONS/FEES Application fee $50.00 Covers administration cost. Payable at time of application Initial Donation $1000.00 One off payment, non-‐refundable.

Secures the child’s place within M@B. 50% payable when child turns 4 ½ . 50% payable term prior to child starting.

Term Donation $410.00 Covers teaching salaries and professional development

Payable first week of each term

MANZ membership $11 Per family Once per term

Practical Life fee $24 Covers materials for practical life activities

Payable first week of each term

Stationery fee $30 Stationery Payable once yearly Term 1

TMET bank account number for all donations/fees: TSB 15-3973-0009806-00 Notes If a child leaves prior to the end of term, the term donation is not refundable.

Students of M@B are expected to pay the Bellevue School donation of $65 per child per year.

All donations are (currently) fully tax deductible.

Leave of absence: Students who are absent from school for a period exceeding 15 consecutive weeks in a school year are automatically removed from the school roll and will be required to re-‐enrol upon their return. Both Bellevue School and TMET will require documentation that students are intending to return to school. Places cannot be guaranteed for absences of more than one year

Departure: TMET requires one full term’s notice of a child’s intended departure from M@B. If notice is not given, one term’s donations will be payable.

Recommended Reading (Parent Lending Library Available – Contact Laura Rowe as per detail listed below)

Recommended Websites

How To Raise An Amazing Child The Montessori Way by Tim Seldin

Montessori Madness! - Trevor Eissler (A Parent to Parent Argument for Montessori Education)

Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard The Essential Montessori by Elizabeth Hainstock (An introduction to the woman, the writings, the method,

and

the movement)

www.montessori-‐ami.org Association Montessori Internationale est. 1929

www.montessoriconnections.com For Montessori Community

www.montessori.ac.uk Montessori Centre International est 1946

www.montessori.org.nz Montessori Association of New Zealand est 1984

Please see the flowchart overleaf for details and timeline of the full enrollment process.

For all enrolment and general enquiries, please contact Laura Rowe at Bellevue School on 07 576 5916 on Fridays or email [email protected]

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