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Parent Information Meeting Wed, May 13, 2009

Tupelo Music Hall

Agenda

  Welcome

  Introductions

  Vision/Mission

  Curriculum

  Educational Methodology

  Facility

  School Growth Plan

  Hours/Schedule/Calendar

  Montessori Philosophy

  Admission Process

  Q&A

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Parent Info Mtg 2

What do these three folks have in

common?

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Jeff Bezos – Amazon

Larry Page - Google Sergey Brin - Google

With this list of folks?

  Alice Waters, Friedrich Hundertwasser, Julia Child, Gabriel

Garcia Marquez, Helen Keller, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Mahatma Gandhi, Sigmund Freud, Buckminster Fuller, Leo Tolstoy, Bertrand Russell, Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson,

John Holt, Ann Frank, the Dalai Lama, Jacqueline Kennedy, Prince William and Prince Harry of the English royal family, Cher Bono, Yul Brynner, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Yo Yo Ma.

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Vision

The vision of Southern NH Montessori Academy is to provide a world-class educational experience to children ages 5-15,

through an enriched curriculum in an intriguing environment that cultivates human potential, nurtures

curiosity and inspires a sense of wonder…

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Mission

At Southern NH Montessori Academy:

  Children learn at their own pace intellectually;

  Through an integrated curriculum, concentration is given to educating the “whole child” (all facets of the child's being, including: intellectual, physical, emotional, social and creative aspects) with a strong emphasis of hands-on and experiential learning;

  Each child’s education is guided by individualized learning plans;

  We shepherd the character development of each child promoting independence, self-expression, and respect for oneself, others, and the world.

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Curriculum

Core

  Language Arts

  Math

  Cultural Studies

  Science

  Practical Life

Enrichment

  Elementary Latin

  Physical Education

  Creative Arts (Visual & Performing)

  Foreign Language/Spanish

  Technology

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Curriculum

Tree

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Integrated Curriculum

See Exhibit

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Educational Methodology

  Children as individuals

  Multiage classes

  Integrated curriculum.

  Independence is nurtured

  Peace and conflict resolution are taught daily

  Character development

  Hands-on learning

  The environments are responsibly and carefully

  Teachers, children parents work together

  Self-expression is nurtured

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Facility

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Calendar/Hours

 School Day 8:30 – 3:15

 State of NH requirement - 180 academic days

 Spring break the last week of March versus the traditional February and April vacations

Schedule 8:15 - 8:30am Drop-off

8:30 - 9:00am Greetings/Circle/Meeting/Instruction (30 minutes)

9:00 - Noon Independent Work (3 hours)

Noon - 12:30pm Lunch (30 minutes)

12:30 - 1:00pm Recess (30 minutes)

1:00 – 1:45pm Physical Education (45 minutes)

2:00 – 2:45pm Reading/Writing (45 minutes)

2:45-- 3:15pm Circle/Meeting/Closure (30 minutes)

3:15 - 3:30pm Dismissal

After-school program

Programs under consideration include:

  FIRST (Lego League)/Odyssey

  Scouts (Cub Scouts/Brownies)

  Instrument Lessons

  Clubs (chess, checkers)

… to compliment our robust curriculum to provide both socialization opportunities and FUN

“Green” School

  Recycling

  Composting

  Minimize use of plastics

  Green cleaning supplies/products

  Energy conscious

  Laptop Lunchbox bulk orders

Admission

1. Information Inquiry

2. Application

3. Interview

4. Acceptance

5. Response

Accreditation

American Montessori Society

AMS Accreditation is a voluntary process undertaken by schools that are committed to continuous school improvement.

Through a documentation of compliance with AMS Standards and a comprehensive self-study process, a school defines itself in terms of strengths and areas that need improvement and validates that the school is what it says it is and does what it says it does.

Requires the school have been in operation for 2 years

SNHMA Goal: 2011-2012

School Growth Plan

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Montessori Educational Benefits

Child works as long as s/he wants on chosen project

Children encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other

Child chooses own work based upon own interests and abilities

Child sets own learning pace to internalize information

Child spots own errors through feedback from material

Learning is reinforced internally through child's own repetition of activity and internal feelings of success

Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration & development

Organized program for learning care of self and environment

Child can work where s/he is comfortable, moves & talks at will (yet doesn't disturb others); group work is voluntary & negotiable

Organized program for parents to understand the Montessori philosophy & participate in the learning process

Emphasis on cognitive structures & social development

Teacher's role is unobtrusive; child actively participates in learning

Environment & method encourage internal self-discipline

Individual & group instruction adapts to each student's learning style

Mixed age grouping

Child formulates concepts from self-teaching materials

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Parent Info Mtg 20

Information Technology Give One. Get One.

  Purchase the award-winning XO laptop for a child in your world and change the life of children all around the world.

  The XO laptop was designed especially for children. It has a rugged plastic exterior, built-in wireless, a unique dual mode display that is readable under direct sunlight and software designed for children to encourage exploration, creativity, and collaboration.

  For $399 you can give a laptop to a child in a developing country and receive one for a child in your life and help OLPC's mission to provide laptops to children.