Dear Maria Montessori Education Foundation Supporters

We loved seeing so many of you at the MANZ Conference last month, thank you for stopping by the MMEF stand to say hello!

 Here’s a wee reminder of a few forthcoming dates for your dairies……

The Montessori Australia Foundation (MAF) 1-day Conference & Whole School Refresher in Sydney on June 8th, 9th & 10th promises a line-up of excellent speakers to appeal to Assistants, Administrators, 0-3, 3-6 & 6-12 Diploma holders alike. Click the link below for the programme and for details of how to book. We look forward to seeing you there! http://www.montessori.org.au/events/events2012.htm

And closer to home – the AMI Assistant Certificate Course commencing July 5th – 14th, 2012 (with 8th July off in between!) We’re very excited about this.  There has been much interest following the MANZ Conference, and we are delighted to offer this course again this year. You will see from the programme of work that it will be a fairly intensive 9 days, requiring a firm commitment to attendance—hence good sleep and a positive attitude to work will be  necessary pre-requisites!

Those attending the course previously –both parents and those working with children–found the AMI Assistant Certificate Course to be a great source of inspiration. We trust it will be for you too. We look forward to seeing you in July!

What: AMI Assistant Certificate Course
Presented by: Vikki Taylor, AMI 3-6 Auxiliary Trainer, from the Maria Montessori Institute, London
When: Thursday July 5^th – Saturday July 7^th & Monday July 9^th – Saturday July 14^th 2012 (9 days)
Where: Quaker Meeting House, 113 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, Auckland
Time: 8.30- 5.30p.m
Diploma Awarded: A.M.I. Assistant Certificate
Early Bird Registration Ends: Friday May 25^th  Don’t miss out!
Email mmef@ihug.co.nz for a course registration form.

And finally, I would recommend you all watch the beautifully crafted video entitled, ‘Building The Pink Tower’ http://buildingthepinktower.org/montessori

“Building the Pink Tower is a feature-length documentary film that opens our eyes to what Montessori education means today. With the help of educators, neuroscientists, families, and children, it answers our most challenging questions about what children need.

“Most of all, Building the Pink Tower will allow us to see how the building blocks of rigorous teacher training, carefully prepared environments, deep respect of children, and warm and inclusive communities, fit together to support children in our changing world.

From this solid base, we can work to build education that inspires children and prepares them for life.”

Please email mmef@ihug.co.nz with your comments, thoughts and suggestions.

Ka Kite,
Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley, Lynne
MMEF TRUSTEES

Dear Maria Montessori Education Foundation Supporters

We have good news and bad news this New Year. First, the bad news: MMEF were unable to secure funding at the end of last year therefore, the course that was planned for 2012 is unable to proceed as planned. 

The good news is we’re not going away. We will see many of you at the MANZ Conference in April. Come and see us at the MMEF stand to find out what’s in store from MMEF this year – plans are already afoot.

We can tell you that we’re planning to offer an AMI Assistant Certificate Course later in the year – we’ll have details for you at the Conference! Do continue to keep us informed of your interest in AMI Training and when there’s a real demand in New Zealand – which there really hasn’t been to date – we can make it happen!

Aid to Life Website – a message from Montessori Australia Foundation

We are delighted to announce that the Aid to Life website for parent education is now live.
The Aid to Life Initiative is founded on the idea that children develop optimally when they are brought up in an environment that supports their natural development, with an adult who understands how to connect them to positive activity and then allows them enough time to grow and develop according to their own pace and rhythm.
It aims to give parents clear, simple, straightforward advice in a format that is easy to understand and apply.
At the moment this website addresses the child between birth and three but its aim eventually is to address the needs of the child and the role of the parent with children all the way through to adolescence.
In addition to the website, a series of leaflets, booklets and DVDs have been created based on the Aid to Life initiative. These offer a useful resource for parents and anyone wishing to run parent support groups. These can be ordered from the Montessori Australia Foundation by email info@montessori.org.au.
WE recommend circulating the website address to all parents of 0-3 aged children. And here it is: www. aidt olife.org/

0-6 Training in Japan – a message from Susan Stephenson

See if you can access this page, and if you can feel free to share it with any interested parties. http://www.facebook.com/pages/AMI-Montessori-0-6-Course-Japan/331575853532427

It is the announcement of the AMI Montessori course that will begin in the Osaka/Kobe area of Japan in September. It will be given over an 18-month period, 4 sessions (13 weeks, 15 weeks, 11 weeks, and 9 weeks). Lectures will be in English with Japanese translation so people from all over the world are invited to apply!

Please email mmef@ihug.co.nz with your comments, thoughts and suggestions.

Happy Term 1,

Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley, Lynne
MMEF TRUSTEES

Dear Maria Montessori Education Foundation Supporters

Thank you for your on-going support throughout the year.

We look forward to sending your more MMEF News next year and in the meantime we wish you all a joyful Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2012!  

MMEF Trustees – Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley & Lynne

Picture this – have a fabulously relaxing Christmas and New Year with family and friends, then re-connect your neural pathways and join the students of the AMI 3-6 Course for a three week introduction to Montessori’s unique yet profound approach to child development.

What you will experience during these short three weeks underpins EVERYTHING we do in the Montessori 3-6 environment. This is THE core Montessori experience, delivered by AMI trainer Cheryl Ferreira—one of the world’s leading Montessori trainers.

We cannot emphasise its value enough…!

These three weeks offer a unique opportunity for  Montessori school owners, parents, prospective parents, and ECE teachers working in Montessori environments –everyone, really—to understand the enormous potential of young children.

One of the already enrolled attendees said,

“I am neither a Montessori teacher nor a parent, yet, but I don’t want to miss the opportunity to learn about child cognitive development and the Montessori method from one of the world’s leading Montessori educators.”

You do not want to miss this.  Follow the link to download your registration form and send it to us with your deposit by November 28th:

 http://mmef.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Microsoft-Word-Theory-audit-component.pdf

Now, for students aiming to make Montessori their career, we remind you  that MMEF will hear  next week about our application for TEC funding, the success in which will enable you to apply for student loans. A final reminder, therefore: ALL applications for the full AMI 3-6 Course for the next year must be processed by November 30th. Simply text Carol on 021 2601802 and she’ll look out for your application.

Ka Kite,

Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley & Lynne – MMEF Trustees

Dear Maria Montessori Education Foundations Supporters

We did it, at 4.45p.m with a deadline of 5.00p.m on November 1st , thanks to your wonderful letters of support and overwhelming encouragement: to be precise, MMEF submitted our funding application to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)!

Why does this matter? Because with TEC funding, WE can offer the course in 2012, and YOU can apply for a student loan and enrol!

You can sense why we’re so excited.

A huge and resounding thank you to every one of you for springing into action when it really was needed the most.

And a special thank you to Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand for so promptly providing us with the facts and vital statistics to tie up all the loose ends.

Now then, for those of you keen to study for the AMI Diploma in January, even while waiting to hear of the outcome of our funding application, we urge you to complete your application and send it in today.

We say this because we must process all student applications before the end of November, and this will involve an interview, reference reports and a police check, which all take time.

So please don’t delay. Please download your application form from mmef.org.nz, complete your application, and send it to us at MMEF, PO Box 108054, Symonds St, Auckland – simply add a covering letter stating that your application is pending the outcome of TEC funding.

Don’t wait. The end of November will be too late to apply, so download your application form TODAY at mmef.org.nz.

That’s all for now dear friends & thank you once again.

Anna, Tia, Carol, Shirley & Lynne – MMEF Trustees

Simon’s Cat in “Double Trouble”
And finally, this new Simon’s Cat video was so laugh-out-loud funny, probably his best one since the first, I couldn’t resist leaving you with it. It’s so lovely to see Simon’s Cat get bested by… Simon’s Kitten! [Hat tip Noodle Food]

Please email mmef@ihug.co.nz with your comments, thoughts and suggestions.
Ka Kite,
Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley, Lynne
MMEF TRUSTEES

Dear Supporters of the Maria Montessori Education Foundation, from MMEF HQ this month…..

Montessori Orientation: “Follow the Child!”

On a delightful long weekend in Matakana recently, 20 receptive participants at our Montessori Orientation Weekend – “Follow the Child” revelled in 3 days focusing on the wonder and limitless potential of young children!

One participant said how “wonderfully indulgent” the workshop had been—

“to discover Montessori’s philosophy through passionate speaker Cheryl Ferreira, and to be able to devote three days to purely focus on the child, a distant cry from the completion of endless paperwork and countless meetings!” 

I hasten to add that this attendee was just introduced to Montessori over the weekend and therefore not yet attached to a Montessori school, though she’s certainly considering her future options now…

Here’s the glorious mix of teachers, assistants, school owners, parents and grandparents who travelled from as far afield as Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland to join us at Totara Hill Montessori School, Matakana.

Keep your eyes peeled here for the announcement of our next MMEF event.

Sponsorship for 3-6 AMI Training Course

MMEF has received several inquiries from potential A.M.I. students seeking sponsorship for the next 3-6 course–some are from teachers currently working in ECE settings and with teacher registration who are seeking a different approach to the education of the young.

This is an ideal opportunity for schools to acquire that rare resource: a fully-registered and N.Z-qualified A.M.I. staff member!

Please contact us at mmef@ihug.co.nz if your school is looking to sponsor an A.M.I. student. (Just let us know if you have any particular criteria important to you, e.g. you would prefer a B.Ed (ECE) and Teacher Registration or in process of the latter etc. ). The two factors MMEF always emphasise are, first, that it will be a requirement to live within travelling proximity to the sponsoring school, i.e. moving to the school’s location to commence employment and, second, that terms of sponsorship are negotiated between the school and the employee.

Applications to be received by October 1st!

  We know from the many inquiries we’ve been receiving that there are a number of course applications ‘in process’ – can we ask you to complete your application enclosures and send them to us ASAP! 

Due to the timing of this next course, (i.e. starting in January, 2012,when much of New Zealand is *closed* for the holiday season) our final planning will be underway very soon—so please help us by sending in your applications as soon as possible.  Thank you.

Theory-Only Module January 2012

In response to our last newsletter, many of you inquired about the possibility of studying for the theory and psycho-pedagogy components of the course in January.

To give you a little background information, MMEF offered school owners and administrators the opportunity to enrol for the theory-only module of the last course, thus offering the opportunity to those in administrative roles (including school owners) to gain an understanding of the theoretical underpinning of Montessori’s approach to child development. By all accounts these have been extremely popular in other parts of the world!

We will be offering this again next year, with the theory component commencing Tuesday January 3rd and the anticipated duration being 3-4 weeks of full time study. (Exact dates, times and cost will be finalised and sent to you all shortly.) In the meantime, please email mmef@ihug.co.nz with any further enquiries or expressions of interest.

Date for your Diary

Here’s an upcoming event to add to your diary:

• MMEF Information Evening – Monday August 22nd, Ponsonby Montessori
  Kindergarten, 244 Richmond Road, Ponsonby – 7.00 – 8.30p.m
  Come along, bring a friend and find out all about the next AMI 3-6 Course!

That’s all for now. Stay warm, reflect on this thoughtful Zen Proverb ….

“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking”

Cheers,
Anna, Carol, Tia, Shirley & Lynne 
MMEF Trustees

Dear Supporters of the Maria Montessori Education Foundation

We’ve been receiving many inquiries about the next course – great, do keep those inquiries coming! As a general response we’re inviting each of you who are even contemplating applying to send in your applications as soon as possible!

Why?

Because Director of Training – Cheryl Ferreira is coming to town!

Cheryl will be in Auckland until 23rd July, offering the perfect opportunity for interviews to be scheduled. Emailmmef@ihug.co.nz or call Carol on 021 0260 1802 today and let’s arrange a time!

Expressions of interest for the Theory ONLY lectures in January

At the beginning of the last AMI 3-6 Course, MMEF invited school owners and administrators the opportunity to join us for the first module only, to hear the theory lectures that joyfully unfold the intricacies of child development according to Maria Montessori.

With the next course commencing in January we are seeking expressions of interest from anyone who would like to study the theoretical underpinning of the Montessori Philosophy and discover – why we do the things we do?

• Sensitive Periods
• The Absorbent Mind
• Human Tendencies
• The Four Planes of Development

These are just some of the topics we explore. Intrigued to know more? Then email mmef@ihug.co.nz with your expression of interest.

Questionnaire – can you assist us?

As many of you may well know, the Maria Montessori Education Foundation (that’s us, folks) has gone to considerable lengths establishing a New Zealand AMI Montessori training centre – offering an AMI qualification here at home that is internationally recognised. Our aim, as articulated by many of you, is to continue delivering high quality and a greater choice of Montessori-trained teachers here in New Zealand.

We love receiving your feedback and your questions. So here are the answers to the most frequently received questions from you, followed by some of our own for you:

Q: Is the MMEF AMI course only offered in Auckland?
A: To date, numbers in Auckland and availability of rental space there means Auckland remains our location of choice currently.

Q: Can I get a government loan for the MMEF AMI course?
A: Due to funding caps, we are presently unable to access the government student loans facility for our students. However, both ASB and The National Bank are amenable to offering Tertiary Loans to our students.

Q: Why do course fees seem so high?
A: The course fees are comparable to those in Asia, Europe and Australia. While we have done everything possible to reduce costs for you, the fees are determined by the cost of the experienced trainer(s) and examiners, and the rental of premises to meet all NZQA requirements and to furnish and equip a complete training environment and practice classroom. This is the cost of quality.

Now, could you please take a moment to answer the following six questions to assist us with our future planning (and to fulfill our ongoing NZQA compliance!): Click the link on questions to respond.

Thank you for assisting us to assist you!

Ka Kite,
Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley, & Lynne
MMEF TRUSTEES

Dear Supporters of the Maria Montessori Education Foundation

We’ve been receiving many inquiries about the next course –great - do keep those inquiries coming! As a general response we’re inviting each of you who are even contemplating applying to send in your applications as soon as possible!

Why? 

Because Director of Training – Cheryl Ferreira is coming to town!

Cheryl will be in Auckland until 23rd July, offering the perfect opportunity for interviews to be scheduled. Email mmef@ihug.co.nz or call Carol 021 0260 1802 today and let’s arrange a time!

Expressions of interest for the Theory ONLY lectures in January

At the beginning of the last AMI 3-6 Course, MMEF invited school owners and administrators the opportunity to join us for the first module only, to hear the theory lectures that joyfully unfold the intricacies of child development according to Maria Montessori.

With the next course commencing in January we are seeking expressions of interest from anyone who would like to study the theoretical underpinning of the Montessori Philosophy and discover – why we do the things we do?

• Sensitive Periods
• The Absorbent Mind
• Human Tendencies
• The Four Planes of Development

These are just some of the topics we explore. Intrigued to know more? Then email mef@ihug.co.nz with your expression of interest.

Questionnaire – can you assist us?

As many of you may well know, the Maria Montessori Education Foundation (that’s us, folks) has gone to considerable lengths establishing a New Zealand AMI Montessori training centre – offering an AMI qualification here at home that is internationally recognised. Our aim, as articulated by many of you, is to continue delivering high quality and a greater choice of Montessori-trained teachers here in New Zealand.

We love receiving your feedback and your questions. So here are the answers to the most frequently received questions from you, followed by some of our own for you:-

Q: Is the MMEF AMI course only offered in Auckland?
A: To date, numbers in Auckland and availability of rental space there means Auckland remains our location of choice currently.

Q: Can I get a government loan for the MMEF AMI course?
A: Due to funding caps, we are presently unable to access the government student loans facility for our students. However, both ASB and The National Bank are amenable to offering Tertiary Loans to our students.

Q: Why do course fees seem so high?
A: The course fees are comparable to those in Asia, Europe and Australia. While we have done everything possible to reduce costs for you, the fees are determined by the cost of the experienced trainer(s) and examiners, and the rental of premises to meet all NZQA requirements and to furnish and equip a complete training environment and practice classroom. This is the cost of quality.

Now, could you please take a moment to answer the following six questions to assist us with our future planning (and to fulfill our ongoing NZQA compliance!): Click the link on questions to respond.

Thank you for assisting us to assist you!

Ka Kite,
Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley, Lynne
MMEF TRUSTEES

“The child will show us the way…”

July Workshop Reminder:

‘Montessori Orientation – Follow the Child’

Wellington – Wednesday 20th July – Friday 22nd July
Auckland – Saturday 16th July – Monday 18th July

Enjoy an end-of-term break in the glorious wine region of Matakana! Or check out New Zealand’s largest Montessori school! All while exploring Montessori’s key principles. That’s what these two workshops, which you can attend in either Auckland or Wellington, give you the chance to do.

(And the start time of the Auckland 3-day workshop allows you to visit the famous Matakana Farmer’s Market en route.)

The workshops are open to classroom assistants, ECE teachers, parents, school administrators and owners. They’re an ideal workshop for:

• those working as an assistant in a Montessori environment
• anyone considering Montessori teacher training in the future
• parents to deepen their understanding of Montessori in the home

During the first six years of life, each child creates their individual personality. They acquire language, co-ordinate their movements and take in the cultural traits of those around them. The experiences of the child from birth to six will shape the unique adult he/she will become. What guidance can be gleaned from Montessori to support the child’s natural development? Is the physical environment key? What is the adult’s role? How do we elicit each child’s inner potential?

These ideas and more will be the springboard for a lively 3 day workshop with our Director of Training – Cheryl Ferreira.

Babies

And as a little light entertainment – this brilliant movie currently doing the rounds is a must see!!

The masterful filming follows four babies from Namibia, Japan, San Francisco & Mongolia. Without narration, the camera begins rolling as the babies take their first breath and concludes as each one begins to walk…. As the film finished at my nearby cinema, a communal sigh could be heard!

It is priceless!

And finally…

It’s time to start thinking about the 2012 3-6 diploma course, starting in January!

Visit the MMEF website www.mmef.org.nz for the next AMI 3-6 diploma course dates and download your application form today—or send the link to someone who might benefit.

MMEF is accepting enrolments now with interviews being arranged for July! And, of course, please approach us if you have any questions about having your school sponsor a student who might become the next (or the first!) AMI director/directress in your environment.

Please email mmef@ihug.co.nz with your comments, thoughts and suggestions.

Ka Kite,
Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley, & Lynne
MMEF TRUSTEES