Date: Fri 17-May-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-Montessori

Full Text:

with photos: Top Students Look Back On Their Montessori Experience

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Four former students of the Newtown Montessori School returned to their alma

mater last Friday afternoon to talk to parents, teachers and current students

about their Montessori experiences and how they have influenced their lives.

The four students, Stephanie Dorenbosch, Rebecca Mazur, Meaghan Smialowski and

Kate Zimmerman, all high school seniors, were members of the first class ever

to go through the entire Montessori program. Previously, schooling only went

up to the pre-school level, but the program was expanded in 1983 to provide

elementary education, as well.

Stephanie, Rebecca, Meaghan and Kate, who attended Montessori from 1981-1987,

have all gone on to become top-notch students in high school. As the

Montessori School points out, they are "future success stories."

Stephanie, a presidential scholar candidate at Newtown High School, plans to

study immunobiology in college and is currently doing research on diabetes

with Dr MaryAnne Brown at Boehringer Ingelheim in Danbury. Rebecca, who now

lives in Massachusetts, plans to study political theory at Mount Holyoke

College. Meaghan plans to study architecture at Washington University. Kate is

ranked first in her class at NHS and has been accepted to the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology. She hopes to someday become involved in the NASA

space program.

Following a buffet luncheon, the four students fielded questions from a group

of inquisitive upper elementary level students, who, like every legitimate

press corps, came prepared with paper, pen, visor, name tag, and a curiosity

for the truth.

"How has your Montessori schooling helped you to succeed?" asked one reporter.

The alumni felt their time at Montessori gave them the confidence to do well

in the classroom, especially in mathematics. The students said they missed

using the division board, a Montessori tool used to introduce students to

division.

As for the transition from Montessori School to the public schools, the

students all admitted that in middle school they were a bit bored at first as

much of the early work was simply a review of what they had previously

learned, but that the transition was fine.

In all, Stephanie, Rebecca, Meaghan and Kate all believed that much of their

motivation and love of learning was fostered at Montessori.

School Head Myriam Woods said the event was a great experience for everyone

involved.

"I thought it was very positive and they really enjoyed returning to the

school," she said. "And the current students really learned from them.

Ms Woods said seeing former students come back to talk about the strong

influence Montessori had on them helped the younger children understand the

relevance of what they are learning.

In appreciation of their invitation back, Stephanie, Rebecca, Meaghan and Kate

presented a lilac bush to be planted at their former school.