On-line Booking Now Available for AMI 3-6 Certificate Course – July, 2017

Kia Ora Kotou Friends of Maria Montessori Education Foundation

AMI 3-6 Assistant Certificate Course, July 2017

As many of you prepare for the last few days of the school year, we’re delighted to send you the course brochure and on-line booking links for next year’s AMI 3-6 Assistant Certificate Course, Hamilton in July.

Who by - Carol Potts, AMI Auxiliary 3-6 Trainer, Aotearoa, New Zealand will facilitate the course.

The venue - Waikato Montessori Education Centre, Hamilton.

The dates - Monday 10th July – Saturday 15th July. Tuesday 18th – Thursday 20th July. The hours will be 9-5p.m, with 1 day (Tuesday 18th July ) 12.30-8.30p.m.

The dates will include 2.5 days to complete the 9 hours of observation required as part of the course.

Click in the link goo.gl/apBg4f to download the course brochure and click on goo.gl/brYRmm to register on-line.

Kia Kaha to the Students of the 2015-2017 AMI 3-6 Course

As the AMI students prepare for their final summer module starting January 3rd, 2017, we say, kia kaha ! Remember those often sung words - E tu Kahikatea, Awhi mai awhi atu, Tatou, taou e.

And finally, kia ora kotou and thank you for your on-going support and encouragement during 2016. Season’s greetings to you all.

Na matou noa, na

Tia, Anna, Carol & Shirley - MMEF

On-line Booking Now Available for AMI 3-6 Certificate Course – July, 2017

Kia Ora Kotou Friends of Maria Montessori Education Foundation

AMI 3-6 Assistant Certificate Course, July 2017

As many of you prepare for the last few days of the school year, we’re delighted to send you the course brochure and on-line booking links for next year’s AMI 3-6 Assistant Certificate Course, Hamilton in July.

Who by - Carol Potts, AMI Auxiliary 3-6 Trainer, Aotearoa, New Zealand will facilitate the course.

The venue - Waikato Montessori Education Centre, Hamilton.

The dates - Monday 10th July – Saturday 15th July. Tuesday 18th – Thursday 20th July. The hours will be 9-5p.m, with 1 day (Tuesday 18th July ) 12.30-8.30p.m.

The dates will include 2.5 days to complete the 9 hours of observation required as part of the course.

Click in the link goo.gl/apBg4f to download the course brochure and click on goo.gl/brYRmm to register on-line.

Kia Kaha to the students of the 2015-2017 AMI 3-6 Course

As the AMI students prepare for their final summer module starting January 3rd, 2017, we say, kia kaha ! Remember those often sung words - E tu Kahikatea, Awhi mai awhi atu, Tatou, taou e.

And finally, kia ora kotou and thank you for your on-going support and encouragement during 2016. Season’s greetings to you all.

Na matou noa, na - MMEF

AMI 3-6 Level 7 Diploma Qualification Survey

Kia Ora Kotou Friends of Maria Montessori Education Foundation

In light of the recent NZQA ECE qualifications review – MMEF is seeking your feedback regarding their Level 7 Diploma application.

We’ve prepared a short 3-question-survey that will take no more than 5 minutes to complete – really! We sincerely appreciate that it’s a busy time of year though your input is vitally important to us.

Please click on the link below to answer 3 concise  questions - now! Responses required by Dec. 9th.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3MLBBLQ

Please remember your thoughts, ideas and comments are always welcome.

Kia ora rawa atu,

Carol, Tia, Anna & Shirley - MMEF

AMI 3-6 Level 7 Diploma Qualification Survey

Kia Ora Kotou Friends of Maria Montessori Education Foundation

In light of the recent NZQA ECE qualifications review – MMEF is seeking your feedback regarding their Level 7 Diploma application.

We’ve prepared a short 3-question-survey that will take no more than 5 minutes to complete – really! We sincerely appreciate that it’s a busy time of year though your input is vitally important to us.

Please click on the link below to answer 3 concise  questions - now! Responses required by Dec. 9th.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XN6JTWH 

Please remember your thoughts, ideas and comments are always welcome.

Kia ora rawa atu,

Carol, Tia, Anna & Shirley - MMEF

6-12 AMI Certificate Course –Places still Available – January 2017

Kia Ora Kotou Friends of Maria Montessori Education Foundation

 

We’ve been busy, busy, busy at MMEF with more enquiries about AMI training than ever before – hoorah!  

It seemed timely therefore to make contact with you all and answer a resounding YES to your recent emails – there are still available places for the 6-12 Assistant Certificate Course in January 2017.  It’s not too late!!

Accommodation is being booked, books are being ordered and plans are excitedly unfolding in preparation for the first AMI training at the 6-12 level in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Book on line at http://goo.gl/uxJKb0 or visit mmef.org.nz and click on the link.

Accommodation request – we have students traveling from far and wide to attend the course. For current attendees, living in Auckland – could you offer a spare room to a fellow student? If so, please email mmef@ihug.co.nz and we can connect you to each other.

Book the Dates Now - AMI 3-6 Certificate Course Dates – July, 2017

We are delighted to announce the dates for the next AMI 3-6 Assistant Certificate Course. The course will be held at Waikato Montessori Education Centre, Hamilton during the July primary school holidays next year. The dates will be:

Monday 10th July – Saturday 15th July. Tuesday 18th – Thursday 20th July. The hours will be 9-5p.m, with 1 day 12.30-8.30p.m.

This will allow 2.5 days to complete the 9 hours of observation required as part of the course.

Details and a booking form will be available shortly.

Other Dates for 2017 – International Montessori Congress Prague

Montessori Pathway to Peace - Education for Social Change 

Visit the official Congress site for further details http://www.montessoricongress2017.org/registration-guidelines.htm 

In combination with the 2017 International Congress, a Study Tour is being arranged to take in sites that are significant to Dr Montessori's life in both Italy and The Netherlands.
The tour will commence in Italy, moving to The Netherlands and then onto Prague for the Congress. What a wonderful lead in to the Congress.

Please email Roelie Hartwig at roelie@montessori.org.nz for further details.

Please remember your thoughts, ideas and comments are always welcome.

Noho ora mai

Carol, Tia, Anna & Shirley - MMEF

AMI 6-12 Assistants Certificate Course–Book on-line NOW!

Kia Ora Kotou Friends of Maria Montessori Education Foundation

Thank you for making our part at the recent Montessori Aotearoa NZ Conference so enjoyable!

It’s always heartening and invigorating to catch up with friends both new and not so new.

What a successful Conference it was, hats off to MANZ for their masterful organisation once again.

We loved talking training possibilities with you and one such training opportunity on the horizon is the AMI 6-12 Assistants Certificate Course in January 2017. 

We’re so fortunate to have enticed one of the short supply of AMI 6-12 Trainers in the world – Alison Awes from Minnesota - to our shores. Please help us to make this a course a reality by registering on-line ASAP.

MMEF will be using this course to gauge interest for future 6-12 Training in New Zealand…so register quickly and spread the words for others to do the same!

All you have to do is click on the link http://goo.gl/uxJKb0 to register on-line by Friday July 29th.

Payment is not required immediately though we do need your registrations as soon as possible to help get planning underway!

Download your copy of the course brochure today at https://goo.gl/m570b5 and have a jolly good read.

Part payment is required (50% of the course fee) before August 19th.

Please remember your thoughts, ideas and comments are always welcome.

Noho ora mai

Carol, Tia, Anna & Shirley - MMEF

AMI 6-12 Assistants’ Certificate Course–Brochures Ready!

Kia Ora Kotou Friends of Maria Montessori Education Foundation

It’s true - the AMI 6-12 Assistant’s Certificate Course brochure is ready, brimming with information and waiting for you to download at https://goo.gl/1549r0. 

60 hours of face to face delivery with highly sought after AMI 6-12 trainer Alison Awes, Minnesota, is coming to a school near you! Well…

Eastern Suburbs Montessori Unit at Glendowie Primary, Auckland will be the venue for the course. You can even bring your togs and have a dip at St Helier’s Beach at the end of the day!

Instead of offering an early bird discount, we’re offering the same price for all. The only thing you have to do to ensure that this course can proceed is register by August 19th!

Alison Awes has an extremely busy schedule and must know if we have sufficient numbers by that date. We feel sure there will be given the amount of emails we’ve received to date about 6-12 training. This – we hope – is just the beginning! 

Download the brochure, complete the registration section  and send it to mmef@ihug.co.nz and deposit 50% of the course fee before August 19th. Alternatively you can register on-line at http://goo.gl/uxJKb0, complete the registration from and send part-payment to MMEF by August 19th.

MANZ Aotearoa Conference – 9-11th July 2016

We’re already gearing up for a busy few days at the MANZ Aotearoa Conference in Hamilton.

As always MMEF will be having a stand and we’d love to see you! We’ll have a range of items for you to buy, order and comment on including:-

The 1946 London Lectures – it’s full of timeless gems and a must buy.

Come and tell us which location you’d like next year’s 3-6 Assistant Certificate Course to be offered?

Are you committed to keeping the AMI Diploma authentic and relevant for its purpose – have your say, come and give us your feedback. 

Future 3-6 Diploma Course formats – which format would be your preferred option? Schools and potential students – your feedback is important to us!

6-12 Assistant Certificate Course brochures

Montessori materials and more…!

And finally…

Dates For Your P.D. Calendar 2016 & 2017

http://ami-global.org/events/fifth-assembly-educateurs-sans-fronti%C3%A8res for more details.

28th Congress 27-30 July 2017 - Pathway to Peace:
Montessori Education for Social Change

http://www.montessoricongress2017.org/ for more details.

Please remember your thoughts, ideas and comments are always welcome.

Noho ora mai

Carol, Tia, Anna & Shirley - MMEF

AMI 6-12 Assistants’ Certificate Course–Brochures Ready!

Kia Ora Kotou Maria Montessori Education Foundation Supporters

It’s true - the AMI 6-12 Assistant’s Certificate Course brochure is ready, brimming with information and waiting for you to download at https://goo.gl/1549r0. 

60 hours of face to face delivery with highly sought after AMI 6-12 trainer Alison Awes is coming to a school near you! Well…

Eastern Suburbs Montessori Unit at Glendowie Primary, Auckland will be the venue for the course. You can even bring your togs and have a dip at St Helier’s Beach at the end of the day!

Instead of offering an early bird discount, we’re offering the same price for all. The only thing you have to do to ensure that this course can proceed is register by August 19th!

Alison Awes has an extremely busy schedule and must know if we have sufficient numbers by that date. We feel sure there will be given the amount of emails we’ve received to date about 6-12 training. This – we hope – is just the beginning! 

Download the brochure, complete the registration section  and send it to mmef@ihug.co.nz and deposit 50% of the course fee before August 19th. Alternatively you can register on-line at http://goo.gl/uxJKb0, complete the registration from and send part-payment to MMEF by August 19th.

MANZ Aotearoa Conference – 9-11th July 2016

We’re already gearing up for a busy few days at the MANZ Aotearoa Conference in Hamilton.

As always MMEF will be having a stand and we’d love to see you! We’ll have a range of items for you to buy, order and comment on including:-

The 1946 London Lectures – it’s full of timeless gems and a must buy.

Come and tell us where you’d like next year’s 3-6 Assistant Certificate Course in 2017?

Are you committed to keeping the AMI Diploma authentic and relevant for its purpose – have you say, come and give us your feedback. 

Future 3-6 Diploma Course formats – what format would be your preferred option? Schools and potential students – your feedback is important to us!  

6-12 Assistant Certificate Course brochures

Montessori materials and more…!

And finally…

Dates For Your P.D. Calendar 2016 & 2017

http://ami-global.org/events/fifth-assembly-educateurs-sans-fronti%C3%A8res for more details.

28th Congress 27-30 July 2017 - Pathway to Peace:
Montessori Education for Social Change

http://www.montessoricongress2017.org/ for more details.

Please remember your thoughts, ideas and comments are always welcome.

Noho ora mai

Carol, Tia, Anna & Shirley at MMEF

AMI 6-12 Assistants’ Certificate Course – January 2017–Auckland!

Kia Ora Kotou Friends & Supporters of MMEF

We are thrilled to confirm that Alison Awes, Director of Elementary Training at the Montessori Center of Minnesota will be coming to Auckland in January to offer the first AMI 6-12 Assistant Course in the Southern hemisphere!

Thanks to the Montessori community who launched into action to tell us of your preferred location – the course will be offered at the Eastern Suburbs Montessori Unit at Glendowie Primary School, Auckland.

Who is the Course for?

This will interest anyone with a profound interest in the 6- to 12 age child…

• parents of 6-12 year-old children, or will have
• teachers working in a 6-12 environment who are not already Montessori trained
• assistants working in a 6-12 environment who would like to gain an AMI Certificate
• all parents, administrators and trustees who are interested in finding out more about the unique 6-12 Montessori programme.

When is it?

The dates are Monday 10 January – Friday 20 January, 2017 (10 days)

Course Objectives:

• To explore the Montessori philosophy with regard to child development
• To observe the primary child (during what Dr Montessori called the “second plane of development”)
• To discover how best to interact with the primary-age child
• To find out how to interact with the Montessori-trained teacher
• To support the development of the child by assisting the teacher

Requirements

• Course Readings
• 2 x 500 word papers to be completed during the course.
• 9 hours of observation after the course with notes submitted as part of the course work.
• Cost: $1200 (exc. GST)

Book the dates in your diaries now! Alison has an extremely busy schedule and needs to know by mid- August whether there will be sufficient registrations.

Given the responses to date, we feel sure there will be. We’re asking for registrations forms plus 50% deposit to be paid by Friday 19th August.

You can register on-line now! http://goo.gl/uxJKb0. The course brochure and registration details will be with you shortly.

AMI 0-3 Assistant Certificate Course

26 students attended the recently offered 0-3 Assistant Certificate Course with Julia Hilson AMI 0-3 Trainer from Australia. Here are the reflections of Susan Watson, one of the course attendees:-

“During the recent school holidays I was fortunate enough to join 26 kaiako from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand to complete the AMI Assistants to Infancy certificate course. As I sought to identify the most inspiring, most enjoyable, or most challenging thing to share about this course one word came to mind - community. Together we challenged our beliefs, gained new perspectives of the child and celebrated the acquisition of new knowledge. This was facilitated with grace and humility by our generous lecturer Julia Hilson, who joined us from Australia. I say generous because we all came away armed with both theoretical and practical knowledge to empower our practice as well as a whole new relationship with Dr. Montessori's writings.

The setting in which we had found ourselves was the perfect backdrop for the content of the course; beautiful, peaceful, and infused with nature and spirit, somewhat like a Montessori environment and ideal for the spiritual preparation of teachers for our most precious taonga - our tamariki.

As each day passed we became increasingly mindful of our critical role in preparing the environment to meet the unique needs of the child in the unconscious absorbent period and, most critically, of the need to fully prepare ourselves. Without thorough preparation we will become the greatest obstacle in the room. For those of us who were more familiar working within a 3-6 environment there was the huge lesson of slowing down to observe and collaborate with these little people. By doing so we aspire to enable every child to experience the joy, not only of receiving aroha (love and respect), but also of being able to do things independently contributing to their community with confidence and dignity.

As we made our final farewells during the whakawatea (a time for letting go) Julia implored that we remain focused on the big picture - working alongside tamariki and their whanau to create a more peaceful world. It's an enormous challenge but one that is well worth embracing. Thankfully we all have each other's email addresses in our kete enabling us to stay connected and learn from each other, as all communities do.

Wouldn't it be amazing if one of our next steps of growth within the 0-3 community was to have the Assistants to Infancy 0-3 training course here in New Zealand!”

Ahakoa he iti he pounamu. Although it is small it is a treasure

Noho ora mai,

Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley – MMEF Trustees

AMI 6-12 Assistants’ Certificate Course–Jan. 2017

Dear MMEF Friends and Supporters

MMEF have been in discussion with much sought after AMI 6-12 Trainer, Alison Awes, Minnesota, USA, to offer the 10- day AMI Primary (Elementary) Assistants’ Course in New Zealand in January 2017!

We know that there is keen interest for a 6-12 Primary Course here in New Zealand, and see this ‘new’ course as the first step in determining levels of interest from Primary Trusts and interested parties and building momentum towards establishing 6-12 training here in New Zealand.

Who is the Course for?

This will interest anyone with a profound interest in the 6- to 12 age child…

• parents of 6-12 year-old children, or will have
• teachers working in a 6-12 environment who are not already Montessori trained
• assistants working in a 6-12 environment who would like to gain an AMI Certificate
• all parents, administrators and trustees who are interested in finding out more about the unique 6-12 Montessori programme.

When is it?

The proposed dates are Monday 10 January – Friday 20 January, 2017 (10 days)

Where?

Options are being looked at in both Auckland and Wellington. The final decision will be based on where the greatest interest is expressed … so make sure your voice heard!

Course Objectives:

• To explore the Montessori philosophy with regard to child development
• To observe the primary child (what Dr Montessori called the “second plane of development”)
• To discover how best to interact with the primary-age child
• To find out how to interact with the Montessori-trained teacher
• To support the development of the child by assisting the teacher

Requirements

• Course Readings
• 2 x 500 word papers to be completed during the course.
• 9 hours of observation after the course with notes submitted as part of the course work.
• Cost: $1200

Next step:

Please register your expressions of interest by completing the red  section below. Simply cut, paste and complete the section below and send your responses to mmef@ihug.co.nz by 22nd April please.

Name:                                                             I live in:

Email address:

Venue: I would prefer Wellington    /       Auckland

I am happy to travel:  Yes      /       No

I would love to attend / but the dates don’t work for me

Tick or highlight your response and return by Friday 22nd April.

Noho ora mai,

Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley – MMEF Trustees

AMI 0-3 Assistant Certificate–Book Orders

Tena Kotou Supporters of the Maria Montessori Education Foundation.

Excitement and anticipation are building for the forthcoming 9-day AMI 0-3 Assistant Certificate Course, commencing on April 18th, Auckland.

The interest has been heart warming which validates the  understanding of the importance of the first 3 years of life.

There are a few spaces still available and we would urge you to book ASAP to avoid disappointment!

To register for the course on-line click on the link here http://goo.gl/PWe5V4

Montessori Book Order

If you are still considering attending the 0-3 Certificate Course or you would simply like to expand your Montessori book repertoire MMEF will be placing a book order on March 11^th for:

The Child in the Family – NZ35

Education for a New World – NZ35

The Absorbent Mind – NZ39

The Child in the Family is a great source for parent evenings and this version of The Absorbent Mind contains the develop of language and the development of movement as pull out charts! (these are pure joy for book geeks!)

We are also taking orders for Understanding the Human Being by Dr Silvana Montanaro.

If we place an order for 10 books or more the cost can be capped at no more than $70. Yep, it’s not cheap but will be an on-going source of support and inspiration for parents of 0-3 aged children.

If you would like to place an order for any of the above please email mmef@ihug.co.nz. no later than March 11^th.

Books can paid for via internet banking. All prices include GST and freight.

Calling all 6-12 Teachers – a PD Opportunity in Sydney awaits you!

There is an exciting professional development opportunity for Montessori Teachers in Australasia. On the 25^th and 26^th of March 2016

there will be a teacher workshop about the Montessori Model of the United Nations (MMUN). The two day energizing workshop will provide teachers with an overview of the MMUN and it's place in peace education. You will receive a manual with detailed guidelines on how to implement the MMUN Program in your classroom and resources for global education activities.

MMUN promotes students’ and teachers’ interest in the world around them and teaches vital skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, research and communication. This workshop is an event not to be missed, and a rare event on this side of the globe. To find out more about the MMUN you can check out their website: http://montessori-mun.org/.

To register please email jcunningham@montessori-mun.org .

Noho ora mai rā,

MMEF

Happy 2016!

We do hope the year has started well for you all.

The new year is indeed off to a flying start for the AMI 3-6 students who are all safely back with us and traversing Language and Mathematics this module.

Yesterday they joined MMEF’s Material Making - Language workshop at AUT - attended by 42 keen and receptive participants.

Cheryl Ferreira started the day by reminding us of the importance of oral language experiences as young children construct their own unique language/languages from all that they find in their environment.

The richer their oral language experiences the more enriched the child’s vocabulary becomes and the more prepared they will be for later writing and reading. 

We also explored ways of introducing the classified cards to the children and challenged ourselves as we made sets of classified reading material & discussed ways to display them in the environment. One attendee said of the day,

“equally as much as the information graciously imparted was the opportunity to network with friends old and new. What a great start to my Montessori year!”

AMI 0-3 Assistant Certificate Course

The Lotus Sanctuary at Kawai Purapura Retreat Centre, Albany will be the venue for the 9 day AMI birth - 3 Assistant Certificate Course starting April 18th – 28th, 2016. Julia Hilson will be the AMI trainer for the course and we couldn’t be more thrilled!            

Register on-line and pay just 50% of the course fees before Friday February 12th, 2016 and you’ll still receive the early bird discount.  The remainder of the course fees are to be paid by Thursday March 31st,2016 (please tick the 50% deposit option on your registration form).

Alternatively, you can make 1 payment in full - though do take advantage of the early bird discount and register by Friday February 12th. Pass this news on!

For the course brochure, go to our website at mmef.org.nz or click on this link http://goo.gl/NhtCzR.

You can also register for the course on-line via the MMEF website too.

Accommodation for 0-3 Certificate Course

We have a number of potential attendees for the 0-3 Assistants Assistant Course who are seeking accommodation in the area.

Are you planning on attending the course in April and have a spare room or two? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please email mmef@ihug.co.nz.

Should you require accommodation at the venue – email accommodation@kawaipurapura.co.nz or call Angela on 09 415 9468.

Safeguarding Young Children Workshop (incl. the Vulnerable Children’s Act, 2014)

Spaces are still available for this workshop on Thursday 25th February at Kawai Purapura Retreat Centre, Albany, Auckland facilitator – Desma Cornhill.

Have all of your staff attended a Child Protection workshop? It’s best practice to do so!

Here’s the perfect opportunity to develop a team approach to those vulnerable in our communities.

The workshop will include:-

• Protecting and safeguarding our children
• Signs and symptoms of neglect and abuse
• Reporting
• How to develop a child protection policy
• Advice concerning identification – who would this involve?
• Three year reviews, Ministry of Education licensing and certification criteria & ERO

Cost - only $60.00. BYO food.

Book the dates in your diaries – booking forms will be available shortly. In the meantime, email mmef@ihug.co.nz for more information.

Ka kite ano, MMEF