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Happy 7th Birthday!
It’s been seven years since the first Northeast Stars Montessori (NES) student was enrolled. Since then, the school has played an integral role in the development of hundreds of children. We are proud to say that even in this time of economic crisis and a struggling education system, NES is going strong.
Early on I anticipated the rapid growth of options for education and socialization on the Hill. This fueled us to stay competitive and above the curve, which has resulted in NES establishing itself as
a leading private Montessori school in the metropolitan area.
Since it is small and students are not school age, NES is generally compared to day care, co-operative programs or playschools on the Hill. While these are excellent options for families, they are fundamentally different from a private Montessori school.
NES is progressive. We constantly evaluate our performance, always seeking out the best industry practices and cutting-edge techniques and tools to implement and create an unparalleled experience for our families. We are enjoying this school year and expect that the best is yet to come!
Make it a great year,
Sharon Thomason-Sekyi
Owner
Uniquely Montessori: The 3-Year Development Cycle
Dr. Maria Montessori saw the growth of an individual from birth to age 4 in four "planes of development". She created a methodology
and materials to respond to the unique needs and characteristics during every stage of development. Each developmental plane is divided into -year cycles. The third year in each sequence, a capstone year, is a culminating experience academically, emotionally, socially, and developmentally. At NES, the capstone year applies to our 4 and 5-year old students.
The first developmental plane is at the heart of the educational experience for NES students. Age 3 is preparation for the academic
and intellectual explosion children experience at ages 4 and 5. Unless the social and emotional growth is addressed directly and effectively, academic growth could slow and suffer during the traditional kindergarten year (ages 5 and 6). Rather than fighting the social and emotional growth of the children in the third year of this learning sequence, NES encourages it. How?
Foster leadership. Instead of making students in their transitional years the youngest of the children in a sequence, we make them the oldest and most mature in their group. We give them age-appropriate responsibility. We make them educational and civic leaders in this community.
Develop role models. The leadership of the older children has remarkable impact on the community they help lead, and it allows the oldest children in each cycle to gain confidence by sharing their knowledge and expertise of academic work with the younger students. They are role models for the younger students, who long to reach their level of academic accomplishment and community responsibility.
Student mentors. Giving lessons to the younger students in the group requires that the oldest children reduce complex concepts to their simplest elements and then convey them with clarity and understanding. If they cannot, it is clear that they need a lesson before going on! Thus, without fully realizing what they are accomplishing, our capstone students internalize and consolidate the academic skills they have garnered for two years before exploding into the next 3-year cycle.
Cultivate boundless energy and curiosity. Our classrooms encourage exploration with sensorial materials—objects to touch, hold, move, spin, and smell—and everything is sized to fit the child’s hand. The curriculum is rich and includes practical life skills, language, math, geography, science, nature, art, and music. And every lesson stresses the use of grace and courtesy.
4 key benefits of the capstone year for 4 and 5-year olds
Maximize foundational learning. Exploring, cooperating, and learning in this environment creates secure, confident children. The full benefit of the educational program accrues in the third year. The younger students benefit from the gift of the leadership, mentoring, and instruction from the older children who have completed the first 2 years of the Montessori 3-year cycle.
Strengthen community. The 3-year cycle provides a close community. Imagine the comfort of a 3-year old surrounded by older friends, the pride of a 4-year old celebrated by peers, and the confidence of a 5-year old who leads the younger students in important foundational building lessons.
Invaluable teacher student relationship. Having 3 years with each child enables teachers to effectively leverage a child’s strengths to create a baseline of success, instead of focusing on weaknesses which children view as failure. Since children do not progress at the same pace, being with a child for 3 years allows teachers to focus on where each child is regardless of where the whole class is. This creates an environment where your child receives individualized lessons.
Credentialed educators. Our teachers are college educated and must participate in training specific to Montessori methodology and application. Our professional development requirements keep our curriculum, techniques and materials current and relevant. Not only does this provide more education than most preschool teachers, our teachers have a stronger understanding of this developmental stage.
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Characteristics that make NES successful and give it a competitive edge:
• We are diverse in students, teachers and enrichments.
• Our student to teacher ratio is low, so each child gets individual attention.
• The administration and staff believe culture and community are invaluable, which is evidenced in the classroom as well as in the school’s charitable contributions, global awareness activities and social events.
• Tition is competitive with other private schools. Co-ops, playschools and daycares are less expensive than private schools. Our facility has specialized teaching materials and competitive salaries for staff with college degrees and Montessori training.
• Our teachers are college educated. Believe it or not, this is a rarity for preschool education. Most schools with children less than 6 years old do not have more than one teacher with a college degree in education or a related field.
• Observations are conducted on regular school day mornings. Visitors actually see how the children and staff interact. Parents get a true impression of what goes on in the classroom.
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After-School Enrichment Programs (ages 2 ½ to 5 years old)
All work and no play-NO WAY! Come on, have some fun with dance, learn Chinese, become a budding scientist or practice your reading and writing after school. Hurry, space is limited. Registration ends January 15. LEARN MORE
NES AUCTION: FIESTA! (April 2010) Experience food and music of rich Latin culture while you enjoy networking, a Showcase of Artistry by students, and shopping a marketplace with the best products and services for everyday living the Hill has to offer. Proceeds from the auction benefit NES’ educational and charitable efforts including expanding the multi-dimensional Montessori curriculum and supporting music, sign language, foreign language, yoga, dance and science laboratory programs as well as providing four children in Africa and India some of life’s basic needs---education, healthcare and nutrition. A JOB WELL DONE! NES Book Fair raises over $600
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In support of our commitment to literacy and the love of reading, parents and children participated in an evening storytime at NES on December 10. In addition to the Teacher Wish Lists being fulfilled, families purchased more than $600 worth of books, enabling a large expansion of two classroom libraries! NES’ Global Family: Our Friends in Africa and India Through ChildFund International, NES provides learning tools, immunization supplies, clothing, food, and other necessities to four children in Africa and India. Students prepare care packages of art supplies, books and gifts for their friends across the world to give them hope and encouragement. This effort increases our student’s awareness of other cultures while encouraging them to be compassionate contributors to a global society. NES Gives Back: Thanksgiving Baskets for Sasha Bruce House Giving is a valued tradition at NES. As part of our annual Thanksgiving Feast, students and their parents prepare Thanksgiving baskets for Sasha Bruce House, a youth shelter that provides crisis intervention and counseling services to help youth reunite with their families and return displaced young people to stable and safe environments.
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