National Newsletter...Currently Dipika is combining the AMI Training of Trainers Programme with managing AMI’s Corner of Hope project in Kenya. Dipika was born in Uganda, raised

National Newsletter volume -13 issue -3

Page 1 of 12

Letter from the President By Charl du Toit

National Newsletter

March 2013

Dear Fellow Montessorians As the days become shorter and the evenings are cooler, we look forward to the relaxing time of the Easter Holidays. The schools that follow government terms are already on holiday, while we who follow independent school terms will have to wait until the 12 of April before we can relax. Luckily we have a few short weeks due to the many public holidays in April. Unfortunately these days also make the children more restless in class as their sense of order is disturbed. We have less than a month to go until the 2013 conference. Therefore, this will be the focus of this newsletter, to ensure that those of you who have not booked yet, will realise that you will be missing out on an amazing experience. This year the conference is titled Sustainable Montessori-The Natural Child and we will be hosted at the Sustainability Institute in the beautiful little town of Stellenbosch, roughly an hour from Cape Town. I would like to thank the conference committee of Sally, Jacky, Jenni and Peter who are working hard with their team to make sure this will be a memorable experience for all of us. This year we have not only one, but two international speakers that will share their knowledge and expertise with us, Lynne Lawrence and Dipika Lakhani from AMI in London. The programme is filled with interesting extras including a variety of musical entertainment during lunch time and a display by the Toad NUTS with the aim of saving the endangered Western Leopard Toad from extinction. During the management workshop on Tuesday, Peter Williams will discuss financial management and we will hear more about the Consumer’s Protection Act and its implications for schools. Sharon Caldwell and Lynne Lawrence will guide us through the Montessori Principles to help us with Best Practice in the South African context. Please remember to give your proxy votes to someone you trust to represent you if you cannot attend the AGM. During the year we have made the changes needed to make the SAMA a more streamlined and effective organisation. We value your membership and need your input, support and votes to ensure our ability defend your rights to run Montessori schools and provincial and national level. I look forward to seeing you at the conference.

In this issue… Meet the Keynote Speakers 2 Speakers day 1 – Sunday 4

Speakers day 2 – Monday 6 Management Training 8 Getting to know Stellenbosch 9 Classifieds 10


Page 2 of 12

Meet the Keynote Speakers:

Lynne Lawrence is the Executive Director of AMI since June 2008, and prior to this held the position of AMI General Secretary ad-interim (2007). She was also Head of the AMI Human Resources Committee. Lynne was Director of Training of the 3 - 6 AMI Course at the Maria Montessori Training Organisation (MMTO), now known as the Maria Montessori Institute, since 1989. Later, she combined this function with that of Head of Schools at the MMTO, overseeing 5 Children's Houses and an Elementary/school, which MMTO runs in addition to the MMI Courses. Lynne took the AMI training course in London in 1974, training under Hilla Patell, and worked with Muriel Dwyer on the AMI ‘Help the Children’ projects from 1978 in Kenya and then with Dipika Lakhani in both Kenya and Tanzania to the present day. In her role as AMI Executive Director, Lynne actively promotes AMI's involvement in Montessori educational projects in developing countries, alongside the many other areas of the association's work; this includes teacher training programmes at a global level as well as ancillary Montessori programmes, research and development, in cooperation with the AMI Board and committees.

Dipika Lakhani has a passion for humanitarian work, sparked by volunteering with street children in Nairobi. A chance encounter with the Montessori community led her to acquiring a primary AMI Diploma in London and working in Montessori schools in London and Chicago. Currently Dipika is combining the AMI Training of Trainers Programme with managing AMI’s Corner of Hope project in Kenya. Dipika was born in Uganda, raised in Kenya, gained an MBA in London and has had previous careers in marketing and tourism.

D I P I K A L A K H A N I

L Y N N E L A W R E N C E


Page 3 of 12

HAVE CHILDREN CHANGED?

MARCH 1917: Italy

FEBRUARY 2013: South Africa

DID YOU KNOW?

41% Of all the world’s gold is mined in South Africa.

10% Of the world’s total bird species can be found in South Africa.

CONTACT US

www.samontessori.org.za

[email protected]

tel: 041 367 4936

cel: 072 609 5979

fax: 086 561 8774

Make a difference this year and become a Friend of Ikhaya Labantwana…

Sponsor a child

Start a fund-raising drive

Donate in any way you can

Visit the Montessori Centre South Africa

table at the SAMA

Conference for

more details and

to become

a ‘friend’.

Like us on Facebook and stay in touch with all our news www.facebook.com/friendsofikhayalabantwana

Registrations close 12 April, book now!

All welcome, special rates for

SAMA members.

Don’t miss out!

Conference Dates: 28 and 29 April 2013 With management training 30 April 2013


Page 4 of 12

Speakers: Day 1 – Sunday

Sharon Caldwell is a teacher, teacher trainer, writer, and speaker. She was the founder of Nahoon Montessori School and has experience in working with children in a Montessori context from 2 ½ to 12 years and has taught in conventional high school, as well as home-schooling her sons from age 13.

Sharon has presented at conferences, consulted with schools and conducted teacher training both nationally and internationally. She has also contributed to two books on school innovation.

She served two years on the Executive Committee of SAMA, and is currently CEO of that association. She represents SAMA on NAISA, and on various provincial and regional bodies.

As the South African Representative for the IMC and AERO, she still finds time to work with the Montessori Foundation mentoring Montessori school leaders on a number of online leadership training programs. She is a regular contributor to Tomorrow’s Child Magazine, and is assistant editor of Montessori Leadership, magazine of the International Montessori Council.

She is currently working on her Master of Education Dissertation focusing on Curriculum Theory.

For over ten years Derek Gripper has produced some of South Africa's most extraordinary musical works by fusing the country's disparate creative traditions with styles throughout the world. Drawing from European classical traditions, avant-garde Brazilian works, Malian kora works, Cape Town's folk styles such as goema and vastrap, and even Indian classical music, Derek Gripper produces some of the freshest and most inspiring guitar music to come out of South Africa.

Since 2006 Derek has been home-schooling his children and studying the methods of Maria Montessori. He has qualified as a Montessori teacher for ages 6-9 through the North American Montessori Centre and applied the principles of Montessori to teaching classical guitar. This has resulted in a range of Montessori materials and a number of teaching books. These are available from www.derekgripper.com.

Kid-ease now offers Animal Nomenclature cards

(Pre-Ordering recommended so we can bring your finished products to Stellenbosch)


Page 5 of 12

With a lifelong interest in human development Kym van Straaten started her career working with adults after completing a 3 year diploma in training and development. A fateful encounter sparked the idea of working with little children. After qualifying as a Montessori Directress in the mid 1990’s, Kym has worked in various Montessori schools both in South Africa and abroad. During this time she steadily worked towards realising her vision to open a world-class school in South Africa based on the educational methods pioneered by Dr. Maria Montessori.

She has run the Randburg Montessori school for the past 12 years with an ever increasing waiting list. An enthusiast for authentic Montessori practice resulted in her involvement in training Montessori Guides and she has been kept busy for the past 9 years in this regard. She serves as a mentor to other Montessori guides and parents and spends evenings and weekends training students in the Montessori Methodology. She lives in Johannesburg with her tolerant husband and 2 spirited, independent Children.

Early Childhood Smart

Material

Martyn & Sheryl Sherwood

c) 072 239 5717

c) 082 512 5321

Email: [email protected]

You can view our material on the following website

http://be.net/follow/somethingsplendid

scroll down to EARLY CHILDHOOD, click on block and view projects


Page 6 of 12

Speakers: Day 2 – Monday Emma Medell has experience in working with infants, Toddlers and Pre-schoolers, in a Montessori setting - drawing on her training in both age groups. She had the pleasure of studying a fulltime Pre-school (0-3) course in London at the MMTO and studying the Assistants to Infancy 0-3 summer course in London with Dr Montenaro. Emma is currently attending the 2013 Language Enrichment Workshops with Michelle Graham and is thoroughly enjoying reconnecting with her routes! Emma is the Principal of Chameleons Montessori School, which hosts a Toddlers Group, Pre-school and Primary School class, situated on the picturesque Nitida wine farm in Durbanville.

Emma will share ideas around Creating an Authentic Montessori toddler programme. She will discuss what equipment should be available to the children as well as furniture, staff ratios and guidelines. Emma and her colleagues from Chameleons Montessori school are looking forward to setting up a model Toddler Environment at the Conference, in order to show the developmental aids, language equipment as well as art and Practical Life activities which are geared to the needs of the younger child. She will also discuss what not to include in the Toddler environment and why


Page 7 of 12

Suzie Jirachareonkul completed her Montessori Senior Primary studies with Headstart Merci Montessori. She became inspired to open a Montessori Primary school in Noordhoek after hearing Tim Seldin’s talk at the Knysna Montessori conference in 2008. Noordhaven Montessori was opened in 2009 with Suzie’s six year old daughter, being her first student. It now has a lower and upper elementary class and comprising of 30 students. Noordhaven Montessori strives to provide a safe and happy environment for children following authentic Montessori principles. In 2007, while driving back from a Montessori lecture one evening, Suzie found a large female western leopard toad In 2008, Suzie and Alison started a volunteer group called ToadNUTS (Noordhoek Unpaid Toad Savers) with the aim of reducing the roadkill and other threats to the endangered western leopard toad in Noordhoek.

In 2007, Sonya Kirpalani Vaswani from Malta and Karine McVeigh from France founded the Little Explorers Montessori Plus School in Accra, Ghana. The school achieved its International Accreditation in 2010 from the Montessori Schools Association, UK. The school currently houses 120 Children from the ages of 2 to 6 and 50 staff members. There are about 35 nationalities among the children and the staff. The school follow .;js the Montessori philosophy and celebrates the diversity of the various cultures in its midst.

In 2009, Sonya and Karine established a Montessori Centre International (MCI) Overseas Centre, the Ghana Montessori International Teacher Training Centre (GMI) which dispenses courses that qualify teachers at Certificate and Diploma level in Early years Education and Montessori methodology on behalf of MCl, UK. The Centre currently supports 30 adult students.

In 2010, both founded the West Africa Montessori Association and have undertaken its management and promotion. About fourty members meet regularly to discuss issues appertaining to education in the early years. This has created a much needed platform where professionals can communicate.

Look out for our other exhibitors:

- Headstart Mercy Montessori Teacher Training College - Children’s House Montessori Equipment - Wooden Materials


Page 8 of 12

Management Training: Day 3 – Tuesday

Peter Williams

was educated in Cape Town where he

attended the

University of Cape Town from which he earned a B Com with

Honours in Financial Management and a MBA. He has held various positions in large and small businesses and has 25 years of commercial experience. He has set up a joint venture in China for a UK listed company that is in the top 10 on the London Stock Exchange. He has listed a company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and has acted as the Financial Director of that company.

In 1999 Peter left big business to pursue interests in Social Enterprise. He started Children’s Campaign Trust which now owns and operates several Montessori schools. He has set up Connect Network, an NGO which networks with 105 projects on the Cape Flats aimed at children at risk. This Network last year had over 280 000 interventions with children at risk.

Peter has also hatched a plan to build 300 Montessori schools in the greater Cape Town area. That will take him the rest of his life.

Anton van Loggerenberg obtained a BA Law degree (cum laude) and LL.B degree (cum laude) from the University of Johannesburg. He is currently completing my articles of clerkship in the commercial litigation and medical law department at Bowman Gilfillan Inc. He has published articles on the legal implications of sex selection in South Africa and the impact of designated service provider agreements concluded between health care practitioners and medical aid schemes.


Page 9 of 12

Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, lies in the Jonkershoek River Valley surrounded by the Stellenbosch Mountains.

It has fondly been called ‘Eikestad’ or city of oaks and its streets are lined with some of the most beautiful surviving examples of Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture in the Cape.

Dorp Street is a national monument and taking the time to walk around this cosy old part of Stellenbosch, with its secluded lanes, water furrows, cosmopolitan restaurants and coffee bistros, with superb views of mountain, vineyards and orchards, is a relaxing and revitalizing venture. Not only does Stellenbosch have the oldest wine route in the country, and arguably the most famous, but the town has one of the most modern experimental wineries in the world, and the only viticultural and oenological department in the country at its university.

South Africa’s oldest music school, the famous Stellenbosch Conservatoire, has its home in this important cultural centre, and there is a collection of galleries and museums housing national and

international art collections worth viewing.

For the nature lover there are a number of excellent hikes in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. The full-day Vineyard Hiking Trail, a 24 kilometre long trail, starts on the slopes of the Papegaaiberg and winds its way through vineyards, forests, olive groves and coastal renosterveld.

Visit our stand at the SAMA Conference for

Montessori Teacher Training Parenting Course information Montessori International Magazine subscriptions Various Montessori books and publications Become a friend of Ikhaya Labantwana

Bring this advert and participate in the Lucky Draw.

www.montessorisa.co.za

Getting to know Stellenbosch.


Page 10 of 12

GAUTENG NORTH

Village Montessori School, in Centurion, Pretoria, is looking for an experienced Montessori qualified Directress for their 6-9 year environment. SACE registration is required. Starting date 6 May 2013. Please send your CV to [email protected] or contact us on 012 6642944.

NORTH WEST I am a Montessori Directress for the 3 to 6 year environment. I am moving to Rustenburg in April 2013 and would like to know if there are any Montessori schools in need of a Directress. Please contact Sharon Klichowicz my cell number is 0729060282.

GAUTENG SOUTH

Baobab Montessori in Bryanston is looking for a qualified Montessori Directress to stand in for term 2. Anyone interested please contact Caren Price at [email protected] or Tel: 0114637894

MONTESSORI INSTITUTE OF LEARNING

MONTESSORI TEACHER TRAINING

Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world” - Maria Montessori

Phone: 021 439 48 74

Cell: 083 348 66 64

Fax: 021 439 76 12

Email: [email protected]

Classifieds

“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of

their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.”

Maria Montessori


Page 11 of 12

Montessori Compass is pleased to partner with the South

African Montessori Association to provide an exciting

benefit to help SAMA member schools save time, money,

and trees!

We are giving all SAMA school members 20% discount on your Montessori Compass monthly subscription

Simply join us on www.montessoricompass.com to start your 14-day free trial. Be sure to include the promo code "SAMA12", which is exclusively available for SAMA member schools. For schools that are already using Montessori Compass, please click the "My Account" link on your account and enter

Memo Mates The essential rail for use in your school replacing the need for unsightly pin boards, prestick, sellotape, in - trays or spikes.

This innovative, practical, time management system allows you to display and easily remove and insert paintings, themes and notices of different sizes.

Memo Mate can be used for displaying pages in your classrooms or office environment.


Page 12 of 12

ADVERTISE HERE

Contact Irmgard at the SAMA office to secure your place to reach Montessorians countrywide!

[email protected]

Children’s House

Official Distributors of Nienhuis and Montessori Outlet Montessori Materials Tel: (021) 788 3160 Fax: (086) 619 5182 Email: [email protected]

ADVERTISE HERE

Contact Irmgard at the SAMA office to secure your place to reach Montessorians countrywide!

[email protected]

Wonder Edu Quip

Contact: Mohamed Amra Tel: 0312073871 Cel:0828069121 Fax:0866578672 email:[email protected] www.wondereduquip.co.za

Kid – Ease Montessori Supplier

Quality Educational Material at affordable prices Anthea Henderson Cell: 084 777 6655 or 081 471 8590 Email: [email protected] www.kid-ease.co.za

Is your environment prepared?

The April newsletter will focus on Montessori Basics: Principle 1 (Mixed age, non-graded

groups). We value your contributions so please send any interesting snippets, funnies, quotes,

photos, article ideas and questions to Irmgard at [email protected] or post them on

our Facebook page.

Documents

National Newsletter...Currently Dipika is combining the AMI Training of Trainers Programme with managing AMI’s Corner of Hope project in Kenya. Dipika was born in Uganda, raised