At Nova Montessori School and Children’s House we affirm that the philosophical foundation of the Montessori approach is based on the premise that education is an aid to life. Respect for the children’s personality and trust in their inner potentialities are prerequisite to the establishment of a healthy learning ambiance.
Montessori identifies the goal of education as the development of a complete human being, oriented to the environment, and adapted to his or her time, place and culture. Today we extend this by asking the children to question deeply in order develop personal integrity so they are ready to meet whatever life may bring.
Teacher/guides at Nova Montessori emphasise humanity’s responsibility to the Earth community. This form of learning enables children to see the whole in order to understand the details. It emphasises the need to integrate the curriculum – from mathematics to language, history, geography as well as the sciences: geology, zoology, botany, physics and chemistry and the newest field of Earth systems science. Art, music, drama and dance are blended into the curriculum as expressions of human creativity.
The Montessori approach to life and learning combines freedom with responsibility, a more active role for the children in their learning and academic excellence based on each person’s potential contribution. It also provides for social and moral awareness as well as the development of the whole personality.
Cultural historian and author of The Great Work, Thomas Berry says: ‘Our educational institutions need to see their purpose not as training personnel for exploiting the Earth, but as guiding students toward an intimate relationship with the Earth… In this context we might consider the intellectual, political and economic orientations that will enable us to fulfill the historical assignment before us – to establish a more viable way into the future.’
This is integral to Nova’s vision.
Nova Montessori School and Children’s House Vision Statement is:
“To provide an education founded on Montessori principles. This education process empowers a life-long love of learning, self-discovery and self- inquiry, and is advanced in an atmosphere of community, both with each other and the natural environment.”
Nova Montessori (3 to 13 years) carries out this vision by:
- Providing a meaningful context for education in the 21st Century based on the legacy of Maria Montessori.
- Creating learning environments that invite and encourage the potential in each person.
- Advancing Montessori’s insights on education based on child development and is considered in light of a broad, holistic, inclusive, early childhood and primary cosmic framework.
- Creating a Trust structure that reflects these values.
The Trust
Nova Montessori Centre Charitable Trust, a self-sustaining organisation, operates Nova Montessori and The Institute for Montessori Education, a centre for teacher training and development.
Our Enrolment Procedure
Prospective parents complete an online Expression of Interest. The Nova Enrolment Coordinator will get back to you and will organize an observation morning. Depending on age and space available, children may be placed into a Waiting Pool and contacted closer to the time the children start. Prior to enrolment, interviews and observations are organised with parents and children.
More information
Year Established: 1989
ECE and Primary: Yes
Age children start: 3 years
Age range: 3-6 and 6-13 years
Full Year or School Terms: School terms
Hours: 8.30 am to 3.00 pm
Attendance 3-6 class: 5 full days, but very open to have conversations that meet the needs of each family and five full days for primary.
Waiting List: Yes
Number of classes: Three
Fees: e-mail for current information
Donations: e-mail for current information
Holiday Programme in Children’s House: Yes
After-school care: No
Faculty Qualifications
- Bachelor in Teaching and Learning University of Canterbury
- Diploma of Teaching ECE New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education
- Diploma of Teaching and Learning
- Degree Primary Teacher Training
- Aperfield Montessori Diploma in Early Childhood Education
- TIME Montessori Diploma 6-12
- MWEI Diploma in Montessori Studies
- AMI Diplomas 3-6 and 6-9
- Christchurch College of Education Higher Diploma of Teaching
- M.Ed. in Montessori Integrative Learning T.I.E.S.
- London Montessori Centre
- Montessori Primary at Centro Internazionale Studi Montessoriani in Bergamo
- BSc Human Nutrition- Glasgow Caledonian University
- BS Communications
- Post Graduate Diploma in Publishing
- Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning (Primary) –Christchurch Coll of Ed
- All teachers hold a Certificate of Registration as a teacher in New Zealand
