Friday May 29th was our last “Pizza Friday.” This upper elementary fundraiser was a great success. We are able to purchase all items on our technical wish list.

  Thank you for all your support,

  Upper El Class

Deciding whether to enroll or continue enrollment in a private Kindergarten and Elementary school is a difficult decision many parents are facing under the added weight of uncertain economic times.

Public school systems and charter schools offer tuition free programs, but because they rely on state funding, many are struggling to maintain current levels of quality programs for students. Some schools are facing drastic deficits and unknown budget cuts are imminent, important factors for parents to consider.

Private parochial schools are subsidized by sponsoring churches, reducing tuition expenses and are often excellent choices for families seeking private school quality in combination with and under the guiding hand of religious education.

Maple Tree Montessori Academy as a private, non parochial school offers Pre school, Kindergarten and Elementary programs. We stand proudly as Brighton’s…in fact, Livingston County’s only private, non parochial elementary school. Maple Tree Montessori is a Michigan State registered private school, meeting all of the state requirements for a private school, as well as being licensed by the Michigan Department of Child and Daycare Licensing.

As you consider your child’s future, consider this…

Recent studies have shown Montessori educated elementary students were much more likely :

1. to show intrinsic motivation.

2. to engage in periods of deep concentration.

3. to identify their teachers as supportive, fair and interested in them as people.

4. to identify their classmates as friends.

In addition to being academically advanced, Montessori adolescents reported a deep and satisfying community life that increases as they get older. They feel a strong sense of community that begins in the classroom, the school and then extends outward in an inclusive and enriching manner. They also felt safe, emotionally as well as physically and this stability allows for expansive development in many other areas.

Montessori, long thought of as a private education that results in academically advanced students, is finally being understood and appreciated for the depth of nurturing it provides, the social foundation that is crucially necessary in the world today. Dr. Maria Montessori was a visionary, she saw children as the hope for the future. Dr. Montessori’s vision earned her several Nobel Peace Prize nominations, not for education…but for Peace and Education. She saw that the holistic development of the child was of primary importance to our world and that this child, the hope for the future, is worth our investment.

We invite inquires, visits and hope to educate parents about the importance of Montessori. Maple Tree Montessori proudly offers this option to parents and children of Brighton, Hartland, Howell, Livingston County and surrounding areas. Our programs include an amazing, private and authentic Montessori Pre school, Kindergarten and Elementary curriculum that embraces the challenge of Dr. Maria Montessori…”to educate the human potential.”

Helpful links:

http://www.montessoritraining.blogspot.com/2007/07/why-montessori-part-iii-educating-human.html

http://www.montessori-science.org/

Summer is right around the corner and we still have openings in our Montessori Summer Camp. This year we have decided to offer two week sessions of camp throughout the summer as well as an alacarte selection of one week Enrichment Camps. Parents may choose any or all of the options, as suits their needs and the interests of their child.

Our basic Summer Camp offers a full Montessori classroom experience in the morning, with a focus on the Earth and the various Biomes such as, Desert, Wetlands, Temperate Forests, Grasslands and Ocean. We do have several of these Biomes available outside in our Children’s Habitat for exploration. We will offer study of plants, animals and the cooperative nature of each Biome. This can be followed by lunch, outdoor and water play as well as the Enrichment Classes, including a great Drumming class June 15th – June 19th.

More information can be found on this website. Look under Programs…Summer Camp. You can print out an Enrollment form and send it to Maple Tree Montessori, 2944 S. Old U.S. Highway 23, Brighton MI, 48114. Pleas call with any questions (810) 225-8321.

     Our gorilla walk at the Old Hartland High School was a success. We had many people there. We sold snacks, beverages, pizza, 50-50 raffle tickets and t-shirts.

      We are very close to our goal which is $1000, we are less than $40 away. We now are doing a bottle drive for the gorillas too and are also selling bracelets and necklaces and you or your child can also have a hair wrap.

     Thank you to all the parents and students who came to the walk and all who bought t-shirts and have supported us. You have helped us a lot.

Gorilla Gang member, Brook 4th grade

We are happy to invite all of our families and friends to our Earth Day Celebration on Tuesday, April 21st from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Our Nature Education Instructor, Julia Liljegren and our students have put together some fun and informative activities and displays for all to enjoy. We will learn about the history of Earth Day and the projects our elementary students have been working on this past year. We are also going to play a family game of Environmental Jeopardy. Everyone is encouraged to dress in recycled clothing made from used clothes and you can sign up at the school to bring a snack to share. We hope that all our families can attend this celebration of our Earth.

Upper Elementary is having a community service project for the month of April.  It is a food drive for Gleaners Food Bank.  We are collecting food for our community who can’t afford to buy food or are in hard times.  We will be taking the donations to Gleaners, April 2th, 2009.  People need our help and we try our best to help them. 

The Mountain Gorillas are in need of our help.  These animals are close to extinction and upper elementary are trying to do something before it is too late.  We here believe we can make a difference.  We are the, “Save the Gorillas Gang.”  We are raising money by selling tee-shirts, stickers and having a walk at the old Hartland High School track from 10:00a.m.-1p.m. on April 18th, 2009.

Thank you for your support,

Samantha 5th grade and Brook 4th grade

What does diversity mean for me?

What does diversity mean for my child?

How do I give my children the tools they need to work in the world outside my home and small community?

Will my child be comfortable in the Global Economy?

Join Julie Harrison, Multicultural Respect Trainer/Consultant and long time Montessorian along with Maple Tree staff, in an interactive, revealing diversity workshop.

Come share your experience strength and hope with our community and help us all “Embrace Humankind” and prepare our children for “The World Community.”

Saturday, March 14, 2009 – 1:00 p.m. thru 4:00 p.m.

A little history, Maria Montessori first opened her Children’s House in the slums of Rome to serve impoverished children who had been left wandering the streets while their parents worked. Montessori schools have been held in churches, villages and even refugee camps. Dr. Montessori has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Montessori Philosophy has been embraced by world leaders, teachers and parents who are dedicated to bringing a holistic approach to children’s well being for over 100 years.

In many western countries Montessori education has become an option only for those who can afford tuition prices that even exceed $15,000.00 per year (in Michigan alone). It is usually held in a “private school” context and rarely has the opportunity to serve the purpose of serving an economically diverse community, such as the world itself provides. This diversity has both a far reaching effect within our culture and our own individual experiences, shaping our perceptions and our ability to empathize with others.

We at Maple Tree Montessori are fully dedicated to Maria Montessori’s belief in “Education and Peace”. When you look at our enrollment, you can see that we attempt as a part of our sincere dedication to the philosophy, community and to the individual child, to reach beyond the limitations of the current concept of Private Montessori education and toward the goal of peace and inclusion.

It is toward this end, that we decide our tuition base. For example, there are currently no other fully Montessori elementary programs within Livingston County and the other private elementary school options are associated with parochial subsidizing so we must go to nearby counties to compare tuition rates. If you go to Washtenaw or Oakland Counties you will find rates that are almost double our tuition for Primary, Full Day, and Elementary Programs. Although these schools may have more “extras”, we would happily and effectively compare our Montessori Program to theirs and in fact, we believe that often these “extras” take away from their ability to implement Maria Montessori’s Philosophy…educationally as well as socially.

Our dedication to the continuation of Dr. Maria Montessori’s work also includes the development of a sense of community, within our classrooms, our school and our families. Montessori students are known for their appreciation of culture, ability to be socially responsible and for their compassion. Their parents are the first and most important teachers of a child’s sense of empathy, responsibility and all other social characteristics that contribute to a strong, peaceful and nurturing community.

We have several families in our school who, understanding the importance of supporting our work, our classrooms, their own child’s academic and social development have made fundraising for our school a part of their commitment and we thank them whole heartily. They contribute time for our Habitat Work Days and cleaning days; they laminate, make and organize materials. These parents are the ones that put together fundraisers that enable all families to join together, raising much needed funds to purchase materials and equipment, complete outdoor projects and expand our programs without increasing our tuition during these difficult economic times. With their hard work and dedication, they lead us by example to a stronger and more fruitful school community. We cannot thank them enough for their constant support and dedication. Though they ask for no recognition, you know who you are, Thank You!

Maple Tree Montessori Academy is a young school, full of heart and vision. Many schools are not enduring these tough economic times; schools are losing students, closing programs and closing their doors. We are struggling and growing…a challenging position at best and we appreciate all of the support and consideration you have given to us during our infancy stage. As we grow into our collective future, we are striving to carry on Dr. Montessori’s work to the best of our ability, to continue the development of our academic programs, to include all students and families in our community, to provide all children entrusted to us with an excellent education that ensures growth in all area’s of the child’s transition from toddler to adolescent, providing a peaceful, responsible, self motivated foundation for the emerging adult, our future.

Maple Tree Montessori Academy will be holding an informative Open House on the first Saturday of each month…March through May 2009, from 11:00 – 2:00. Parents may tour the classrooms, meet teachers and ask questions. We are currently enrolling for Fall 2009 and we encourage all interested parents to take this opportunity to become familiar with our authentic Montessori environment, preschool through elementary programs and our wonderful staff.

On Tuesday February 10th at 7:00pm, Maple Tree Montessori will be hosting a parent event for all families considering Montessori Elementary School for their child. This will be an informational meeting between parents and our Lower and Upper Elementary teachers. If your child is a Kindergarten student and you are considering Montessori for 1st grade, or your child is “coming up” to the Upper Elementary from the Lower Elementary…this is your opportunity to tour the classrooms, meet the teachers and ask questions. If you know a friend who has a child in another Montessori program, be sure to share this information and bring them along! Reminder: current student early enrollment for the 2009/2010 school year ends on February 28th.