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N A T I O N A L N E W S L E T T E R |
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November 2006 In this Issue • News from Exco: Message from the President • News from Formal Schooling Sector • Team Development • Cultural Identity • SAMA Conference • Centenary Celebrations • Mentoring • Outreach • News from Regional Representatives • Training • Book Corner • Marketing • Vacancies • Employment wanted • SAMA Products Message from the President Dear Fellow Montessorians, Can you believe we have reached almost the end of 2006? I know you have all had a challenging year, full of changes and growth. The S.A.M.A. Executive Committee would like to thank you for all your support throughout 2006, and together we can make changes and support each other throughout 2007 While we are talking about changes, I have some sad news; unfortunately, Marita Basson is leaving the SAMA EXCO. I thank Marita for her invaluable contribution as I have personally gained in knowledge and professionalism. We wish her and her family all the best for the future. I am sure that Village Montessori will go from strength to strength; we would like to thank all the staff of Village Montessori for allowing us to have many meetings at their school and for the use of their premises at the last Conference. Marita is one of the inspiring people who picked up the pieces of SAMA; working hard to ensure that all the correct criteria was in place. They did all the hard work, we the current committee members are building on what the original EXCO started. It is a special kind of person who makes a commitment to working for SAMA, as Marita has done. A commitment to a few years on the SAMA EXCO, who teaches or is a Montessori Trainer, who can keep on top of professional, voluntary, and family responsibilities. In addition, Tina-Lynn has decided to go out on her own and has started her own business. We thank her for her positive contribution and wish her all the very best for the future and with her new venture. Currently SAMA EXCO has the challenging job of replacing these two people as well as finding two regional representatives for the Gauteng areas. The EXCO would like to say a big thank you to all who have responded to the recent Membership Satisfaction Survey. To those who have not yet sent in their surveys, please do so as soon as possible. The EXCO cannot work for you unless we know what you, the member needs. A few issues have been raised; one, the expense of attending conferences; therefore, for the future we are looking at holding local expositions in regional areas with the support of our members. Another is certain wording of the Constitution; we are working on this with your approval at the AGM. Another is our need to have the accreditation process up and running as soon as possible, unfortunately, the accreditation team needs to be trained; and aim to do this at the Conference in 2007. Some would like an open forum to voice opinions at the AGM; we aim to provide for this. Those of you who are going to attend the workshop in Namibia and Knysna, you are going to come away different people, with so many new ideas and totally inspired for 2007. We would like all Montessorians to UNITE together even more in 2007; come join in and start a Centenary committee. Make this next year a memorable one for Montessori Education; you have seen the calendar for the Western Cape, you can do something similar in your province. Lets join together to make 2007 wonderful, inspiring, joyful and uplifting. Have a merry, exciting, healthy, happy, relaxing, safe, joyous, and wonderful holiday season! Look after yourselves and your family! Regards Christine Clark President for SAMA EXCO
• • • Whilst taking a drumming class with a group of junior primary children, an 8-year-old pipes up to say that his granny has told him he is a good magician and can be a drummer one day. I thought about this for a moment and could not grasp how the two were connected. Gently trying to get this grinning youngster to tell me more, amongst the discordant beating of drums, he went on to explain the importance of a drummer in the orchestra. Oh! I said, seeing the light, you mean a musician! • • • FORMAL SCHOOLING REPRESENTATIVE  As the year draws rapidly to a close and everyone is knee deep in reports and assessments I know you are looking forward to a restful break. Every year seems busier than the next and ensuring our primary schools are delivering quality should be at the forefront of our schools. This quality is not only academic but also social and emotional. Academically we need to check that we are not "dummying down" the beautiful rich curriculum. We know that what the children are exposed to in the Montessori environment exceeds the learning outcomes laid down by the Department of Education, but let us not rest on our laurels. As the new year approaches lets ensure we are delivering the MONTESSORI curriculum. Equally important is how the children are in the environment. Their self-esteem and sense of belonging must always be nurtured. Please read articles on the spiritual preparation of the teacher. We need to carry ourselves well so as to build them and make them shine into the beings they are becoming. I have been fortunate to see many primary schools in the Western Cape, even if just fleetingly in some cases. It is inspirational to see the work happening as we forge ahead. Thanks to those schools who have welcomed me, it has been an honour, to be in the primary environments. Next year I plan to get to the Eastern Cape to visit the primary schools. I will also spend looking at registration requirements of schools and give you all the information you may need. Have a relaxing, joy-filled holiday and return to school refreshed and invigorated. Ally Connelly CULTURAL IDENTITY South Africa as a country has a diverse population. Within our school, we have children with many different social identities. We are tasked with the job of having to acknowledge and understand each of the cultures within our classrooms. We need to respect and honour every culture, as this lets children see themselves positively. We all need to be rooted in our cultural identity, as this is our 'soul'. It is difficult to do this when we also feel pressured to be 'the same' as everyone else. In literature there is talk of 'mirrors' and 'windows. In our classrooms with diverse cultural setting there needs to be: mirrors – so the child can see their cultural identity being reflected back as this creates a positive rooted space. windows – so the child and teachers can look out and see different cultural ways and become enriched by the experience. As schools, we must create the space for each culture in South Africa, and not impose one on the children. This will build the humanity in the school. We need to revisit the Peace Education programme and not use it just as a negotiating tool in conflict, but extend it in looking into various cultures within our schools. For more information, read the article 'Negotiating and mediating cultural identity.' by Dr. Saloshna Vandeyar in the Summer 2006 issue of Independent Education – ISAS Hermanus Montessori School 9 - 12 year olds do Team Development When Lynn Moss and Jane De Sousa from Dramatic Solutions received the request to do team building with the senior primary class, the response was a bit hesitant... "I suppose so, we have not done it with children before – but it could be a very interesting exercise." Dramatic Solutions is a company specialising in teambuilding, management and leadership training and effective communication skills using a highly participative methodology that includes theatre and show business techniques. Their brief was to focus on respect for oneself, others and equipment. Lynn and Jane developed a three day workshop, with the age group and issues in mind. They came up with a comprehensive programme aimed at stimulating creativity, appreciating individual differences and strengths, learning about ourselves and each other, and motivating and strengthening team work in a relaxed and fun way. The children worked hard – actively participating in exercises focused on issues of respect, as well as rehearsing three pantomime skits based on tales by Roald Dahl. The performance of these pantomime skits formed the grand finale of the teambuilding exercise. The children had lots of fun, and the parents really enjoyed seeing how each child blossomed into an amazing actor or actress, shining with confidence. It was also wonderful to note that despite their initial apprehension, both Lynn and Jane enjoyed working with the children, as their joy and enthusiasm for the course made it a very rewarding experience. Bee Muller Directress 9 - 12 class
• • • We are always looking for contributions to this newsletter. Share your positive thought and dreams. Share those funny moments from the classroom. Let us find support and inspiration in each other's stories. • • • 2007 SAMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE DURBAN – 27 APRIL - 1 MAY The 2007 SAMA Conference at the Varsity College Campus in Durban North from 28 April - 01 May. Barbara Isaacs, Head of MCI London, is our invited International Speaker and she has a wealth of knowledge to share with us. The opportunity to network with fellow Montessorians and learn from the information offered by the invited speakers is not to be missed. The Conference Committee is planning a conference with a difference and we recommend that you plan your trip now to avoid disappointment. You can contact Janine at Selected Mini Stays to book accommodation that suits your needs. Her contact details are: tel. 031 765 1279, cell 082 497 6332 or email info@ministays.co.za. Suppliers are invited to contact Sharon Desfontaines on 082 601 3868 or sharond01@telkomsa.net to book a stand. CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS A Centenary Poem 100 years ago
One hundred years ago in a little town in Rome, A new way to educate children was born, now just look at how it's grown. There was a very wise women who had a heart of gold, She didn't care for the way we educated children so she set about to change the ways of old. A brand new philosophy is what she had in mind, Where children would be able to seek answers and find, Their way along lives pathway equipped with all the skills to be, Empowered, independent, knowledgeable, happy and free. She taught them the skills they needed for everyday life, She taught them how to work through their troubles and strife. She treated them as equals and she gave them a voice, She opened up their minds to learning through freedom of choice. And well those children they knew nothing about her philosophy, They simply thrived in an environment that met their inner needs you see. And now the world can stand up and say yes she was right, That very wise women who saw the future as so bright. For those tiny little people in the poor slum of Rome, She had created the very first children's home. But wait, who is this woman tell me who is she? She is the educator and philosopher Doctor Maria Montessori. Her dream has become a reality and now 100 years have passed, And the Montessori method is used in English state schools at last. Educational bosses are finally able to see that the Montessori is best, If they have the faith to invest in this method, the children will show them the rest. Maria many people said your vision was ahead of its time, Some said radical for its day. But I bet they all wish that you were here now, To guide them along on their pathway. By Joanne Wall Taken from the message board of: Centenary of the Montessori Movement www.montessoricentenary.org Centenary Poster  © Created by the Primary Children of The Port Elizabeth Montessori School • Designed by Bretten-Anne Moolman-Heath • The posters are R50 plus postage. To order contact: THE PORT ELIZABETH MONTESSORI SCHOOL info@pemontessori.co.za • Ph/Fax: 041 5813057 Centenary Scrapbook Hermanus Montessori has kindly offered to start a travelling scrapbook that will move from school to school for each to place a school photo and record the book's visit to your school. This is a way to make a record historically of Montessori schools around South Africa in the centenary year. Be on the look out and if it comes your way please be nippy in the task and smartly send it to the next school. It may even have a friend to keep it company. |
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