Acorn Montessori is a privately owned early childhood centre located in the Devonport / Belmont area of the North Shore. It is housed in a residential dwelling which provides a spacious, aesthetic and comfortable environment for the children. It is presently licensed for 35 children.
The School is a MANZ (Montessori Aotearoa of New Zealand) Member School. It has an extensive range of specialized Montessori teaching materials and classroom aids. There is also a Parent Library collection of reading materials that highlight Montessori methods, practice and philosophy.
Goals
To encourage a child’s natural love of learning.
To recognise that making mistakes is part of learning and to develop a spirit of risk-taking and acceptance of errors.
To offer an interconnected curriculum.
To create a sympathetic community that trusts and respects students, staff and parents.
To promote intellectual growth and academic excellence. To ensure an organization which cherishes ethnic differences and supports economic diversity.
To encourage global awareness and social responsibility.
To prepare students who are adaptable and self-confident.
Staff
Sydney Carter
B.A University of California. NZ Secondary Teaching Diploma. LMC Montessori Diploma. NZ Full Teacher Registration
Sydney is Head of School. She trained as a Secondary school teacher when she came to New Zealand in 1968. Watching her own children during their pre-school years prompted her to revisit the Montessori philosophy and ideas. She then trained as a Montessori directress with London Montessori Centre and opened Acorn in September 1985.
Justina Bisset
Justina Bisset is eighteen years old and has been interested in teaching since she was age ten. Her family has quite a history in teaching. She was lucky enough to do an AMI Assistant's Course in 2008 and since then has fallen in love with Montessori teaching! She is currently doing a B.Ed.ECE with NZ Tertiary College. Besides teaching her other passions are art and music.
