Selwyn_Times: January 24, 2024

Wednesday January 24 2024 Selwyn Times 29
burnham country montessori – Where fun and learning go hand in hand!
This year sees Burnham Country Montessori under new ownership, with ensured continuity of quality care from the core teaching staff who
have been an extended part of Selwyn families for nearly 15 years now.
To understand what is so special about what we offer, you may be interested to know a little about Maria Montessori. She graduated in 1896 as the first woman doctor in Italy
and made scientific observations of children’s almost effortless ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest in manipulating materials. Every
method and principle that comprises the worldwide Montessori movement today is based on what Maria observed children doing “naturally,” by themselves.
So what do we do? We provide a unique country and farm environment for children to explore and discover as they start to develop a sense of wonder and make sense of the
world around them. Our qualified staff facilitate these experiences to support each child in their individual learning journey.
Our aim is to foster each child’s potential, while assisting children to better understand, express and regulate their emotions. We support and promote social and emotional
competence, in a delightful environment that assists each child’s learning and engagement, encouraging reflection, inquiry and problem solving, with the aim of cultivating the
child’s natural love of learning and their ongoing inquisitiveness.
Our country setting
We are on a large slice of rural land, 5km outside Rolleston and a short distance from Lincoln and the Burnham Military Camp. The large, open and well-resourced playgrounds
have native plantings, vegetable gardens, and large decked areas for the children and their families/whānau to enjoy. It is one of the largest natural, aesthetically pleasing
outdoor playgrounds in Selwyn.
Here, children interact with and learn to respect nature. They learn how to care for the environment through the vegetable gardens, fruit
trees and by caring for Winnie our Kune Kune pig.
Well-resourced classrooms
We emphasise all aspects of the Montessori programme, including practical life skills, sensorial development, language and reading,
mathematical understanding (progressing from the concrete to the abstract), music , movement and cultural activities. Children are not
required to learn by heart at first, but utilise all their senses to help them with their pre reading and writing skills. The classrooms in which
these explorations take place are bright, fun and well-resourced.
Connection with whānau
It’s crucial for us to link family with everything that is happening with children. From the first settling-in visit, your child is part of the Burnham
Montessori family, and staff will talk to you about your child’s routines, needs and interests. Each classroom has a designated head
teacher and staffing team, so you always have a
direct line of contact.
Sustainability
We are committed to teaching children about how
to care and respect our environment. Our multiple
sustainability measures are detailed on the website,
and cover all aspects of classroom, facilities and
consumables management and nature – it helps
having a food scraps-munching pig on site too!
Please visit!
You have to see this for yourselves. Please feel free to
contact us anytime and arrange a time to come in
for a visit.
Taking enrolments now for 2024
visit us at 643 burnham School road
For enrolments please call 03 347 6161 or email
admin@burnham-montessori.co.nz
download forms from www.burnham-montessori.co.nz
LimiTed
SPaceS
avaiLabLe
in Our
nurSery!