Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten

Kia ora PMK Family!

Today and tomorrow everybody at PMK I will wear red to raise funds for Little Heart Day. We have created an account online so that it is easy to donate. If you would prefer to bring in cash we can also easily take the cash too. Click this link and it will take you straight to our Little Heart Day account, if you would like to donate :). https://littleheartday.org.nz/alexia-mckee

Let's make Little Heart Day unforgettable while supporting heart kids across New Zealand!

Hello! My name is Simonette and I am the Assistant Centre Manager here at PMK II. I am originally from Johannesburg in South Africa and came to New Zealand in 2019 from Korea where I was teaching older students for a number of years.

Prior to becoming a teacher I worked in the forestry industry where I ran a number of educational courses. Through these courses I discovered a great joy for teaching (not to mention that teaching is probably in my blood as both my mother and brother are teachers!) and decided to further my training with a post graduate certificate in Education, becoming an Early Childhood Educator.

It's such a pleasure watching our students explore, grow and thrive here at PMK II. I enjoy watching them take what they're learning and building these skills into passions as well as a strong preparedness for school and life. Alongside the structured educational aspects of Early Childhood Education, I am also passionate about bringing movement and physical activities into our day, sharing a love of dance and yoga with children.

In my spare time I like to spend time with my daughter, my husband and our dog. I love being able to go off and have adventures, taking our daughter out to experience this beautiful city.

The Addition Strip Board is meticulously crafted to impart the essence of addition through both visual and tactile methods. Comprising a grid and vibrantly coloured strips representing values from 1 to 9, this hands-on experience facilitates a child's comprehension of addition. In the process, our tamariki position blue and red strips on the board to symbolise addends in an equation, exemplified by the combination of 1 and 9 to make 10.

The blue strip signifies the first addend, the red strip the second, allowing children to visually grasp the equation 1+9=10. This interactive engagement with the Addition Strip Board empowers children to comprehend not only individual addition instances but also various combinations, fostering a holistic understanding of the mathematical concept.

Hi, I’m Alexia, I’m the Assistant Centre Manager at PMK I. I’m passionate and enthusiastic about the value of authentic and rich childhood education. I believe each tamaiti and whānau bring their own culture and knowledge to centre environments. Social equity and fairness are paramount to me, as I feel all children have unlimited potential.

I believe as kaiako/teachers it is our role to provide a welcoming supportive, fair, respectful and inclusive environment for all whom enter. I value manaakitanga and believe kaiako/teachers should work in partnerships with the families of our tamariki, because children’s families are usually at the core of their little worlds and have extensive valuable insights about their child.

I strongly connect with kaupapa Māori and advocate/ practise treaty-based practice. I feel strong connections to kaupapa/values which consist of caring for our environment and seeing the child as a divine spark.

I look forward to working alongside my team with your wonderful tamariki/children.

Embracing the Enchantment of the Outdoor Classroom at Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten I&II.

Our garden isn't just a separate space; it's an integral part of our holistic learning environment. In our Science curriculum, we delve into the wonders of natural science by observing what surrounds us: our garden, the cycles of life, animal anatomy, and even the classification of creatures, among other topics.

Our outdoor setting empowers us to explore the world around us with unbridled curiosity, engaging all our senses in an immersive natural experience.

The outdoor classroom is a gateway to connecting with both nature and oneself. It's a world where the bonds between our role as kaitiaki (guardians) and the natural world are nurtured, fostering a deeper understanding of the interdependence of the environment and oneself.

At Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten I&II, we cherish the profound connection that our outdoor classroom cultivates, allowing children to become stewards of the natural world and explorers of their own potential.

Puzzles Galore at Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten I & II!

Puzzles are a prevalent sight on our Montessori centre's shelves, gracing various areas from Science to Sensorial, Language, and even Geography.

These engaging puzzles offer more than just a fun challenge. They play a vital role in enhancing a child's small motor coordination and nurturing their spatial awareness and ability to orient puzzle pieces. But that's not all – they also encourage concentration and instil a profound sense of order in our young learners.

Isn't it a wonderful feeling when the pieces come together, both in the puzzles and in your child's development journey?

At Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten I & II, we recognise that play is not merely amusement; it constitutes a cornerstone of learning and childhood development. Here are several of the numerous advantages of play within the Montessori environment:

Discovering through Exploration: Play empowers children to explore their surroundings, nurturing their innate curiosity and sense of wonder. Through play, they delve into fresh ideas, cultivate problem-solving abilities, and gain a profound grasp of their environment.

Cultivating Independence: Within our Montessori environment, play serves as a vehicle for nurturing independence. Children learn to select their activities, engage in self-guided learning, and make choices—essential skills for life.

Social and Emotional Growth: Play is instrumental in helping children build vital social skills like cooperation, communication, and empathy. It creates a secure space for them to express their feelings and develop emotional intelligence.

Unleashing Creativity and Imagination: Play encourages creativity and imagination. Whether it's constructing with blocks, crafting art, or engaging in imaginative play, children have the freedom to convey their ideas and think beyond the conventional.

Enhancing Motor Skills: Play advances physical development and fine motor skills. Activities such as stacking, pouring, and manipulating Montessori materials aid children in refining their hand-eye coordination, dexterity and indirectly refining their pencil grip.

Joyful Learning: Most importantly, play within Montessori is a pathway to joyful learning. It's an approach that enables children to take delight in uncovering new insights, kindling a lifelong passion for learning.

We take pride in delivering an education that cherishes the significance of play, ensuring that each child's journey is characterised by joy, inquisitiveness, and personal growth.

Cultivating Responsibility and Encouraging Independence at Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten.

We believe the most precious gifts we can offer our children are the foundations of accountability and the freedom to soar with self-reliance.

At Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten I & II, this philosophy lies at the heart of our educational approach. We are dedicated to equipping ngā tamariki with the essential tools, not only to thrive academically, but also to become responsible, self-reliant individuals.

Through immersive, hands-on experiences, self-guided learning, and a nurturing environment, we are fostering the development of strong roots of responsibility. Our children learn to take ownership of their choices and actions, forming a sense of accountability and integrity.

Simultaneously, we provide them opportunities for independence, nurturing their curiosity, encouraging exploration, and empowering them to question and discover the world at their own pace.

At Ponsonby Montessori Kindergarten I & II, we believe in sowing the seeds of responsibility and independence, which will flourish into a lifetime of confident, capable learners.

We hope you all have a lovely and restful Labour Day. We look forward to seeing you all back at kindy tomorrow.

It's been a busy year for PMK with our new 'sister' centre opening up the road at 136 Richmond Road. With things ticking along nicely, we thought we'd share a few photos of the new space for those who might not have had a chance to visit yet.

It's amazing to see that we are now half full after only 9 months of being open which is such a credit to our lovely families and kaiako. If you're thinking about enrolling your little one in a centre soon, feel free to drop us a note and come for a visit.