About us...
NSWMA is
a non-profit organisation formed in 1979 by a group of
Montessori schools then operating in Sydney and the Blue
Mountains, and now representing over 20 schools providing
learning environments for children from 18 months to 12
years old.
The
Association was formed to provide a forum for member
schools to come together as a community and to organise
and provide services for its members. These
services, together with information provided by NSWMA,
continue to grow and expand into many avenues each year.
NSWMA
represents the common interests of Montessori striving to
increase the degree of awareness of the Montessori
philosophy of education at all levels of Government and
in the community as a whole. It also provides support and
advice to groups wishing to establish new Montessori
schools, referring new parents to Montessori schools, as
well as a source of information for the general public
and agencies and organisations involved in child welfare
and education.
Membership...
Membership
runs from JANUARY to DECEMBER each year. The following
groups qualify to become Members of the Association:
NSWMA is
supported financially from annual subscriptions paid by
Members on the basis of the number of families attending
their school, a flat fee from organisations, as well as
subscriptions from Associate Members.
The
Council of NSWMA meets eight (8) times per year on the
second and eighth week of each school term, including an
Annual General Meeting of all Members held in accordance
with the constitution.
Services
Provided...
Seminars and
Workshops
- Staff
In-Service Seminars are held 3 times per year
- Administrative
workshops for Management Committees at least
twice per year
- Public
talks from time to time on Montessori and other
Child and Family areas
Publications
- “Montessori
Links” newsletter four times per year
-
Leaflet on "Introduction to Montessori"
-
Brochure on Montessori "An Aid to
Life"
- “Guide
to Starting a Montessori Pre-School”
handbook
Registers
- Member
schools in NSW with contact numbers for inquiries
- Staff
employed at Montessori Schools distributed to
member schools for communication with each other
- Relief
and employment register for schools use
- People
seeking training in Montessori
Representation
NSWMA is
represented by two Delegates on the Council of the
Montessori Association of Australia (MAA).
NSWMA
makes representations and submissions to State Government
Departments and other State bodies involved in the
education and welfare of children, e.g. Department of
Community Services, NSW Education Department.
A NSWMA
Representative attends meetings of the Australian Early
Childhood Association (AECA) New South Wales branch.
A NSWMA
Representative attends meetings of the NSW Children
Services Forum.
Other
- First
contact for information on Montessori
- Forum
for schools to share problems and solutions
affecting Montessori schools
- Support
initial and on-going teacher training
- Advertising
Montessori schools and activities primarily in
Sydney’s Child
Montessori
Association of Australia (MAA):
NSWMA was
instrumental in founding the MAA in 1988. Two
delegates plus co-optees of NSWMA are on the Council of
the MAA. The MAA’s constitution provides the
facility for the NSWMA to act as the New South Wales
branch of MAA.
MAA Products &
Services:
The
MAA offers a wide range of products and services
Australiawide, including: books, green-lined
paper, metal inset paper, posters, stickers, videos for
sale and/or hire, greeting cards. For further
information, contact the MAA maa@cyber.net.au (office
open Wednesdays).
NSW MONTESSORI ASSOCIATION
PO Box 3131
North Turramurra 2074
nswma2@bigpond.com
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