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Saturday, December 5, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 57
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Montessori Makeover
While the Montessori educational approach is known to many, the background of the program might not be known quite as well. Maria Montessori, born in 1870, was the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree and worked in a variety of fields including psychiatry, education and anthropology. According to the International Montessori Index and the American Montessori Society, she believed each child is born with unique potential rather than a “blank slate” and focused on creating an educational method that builds on the way a child naturally learns. She opened the first Montessori school, the Casa de Bambini, in Rome at the beginning of 1907 and wrote extensively about her approach to education. She observed students carefully and, based on these scientific observations, introduced many elements that have since become mainstays of the Montessori method. Large, open spaces encouraging students to move and work independently were established. She continued refining the program, designing learning materials and classroom environments that fostered self-discipline and a natural desire to learn. By 1910, her work attracted international visitors and spread rapidly throughout the world and reached the US in 1911 and 1912. However, Montessori also lived in turbulent times and, despite an initial warm reception by Benito Mussolini, the Italian government would cease Montessori schools in the mid-1930s due to its idealogy clashing with that of the then-Fascist government. She was forced to live in exile for the remainder of World War II and lived in India before returning to Amsterdam where she spent her final years. She died in 1952.
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Simmering selections at Simos Diner In this week’s Business Leaders, we take a look at Simos Diner on North Shepherd in this edition’s Business Spotlight. A community staple for years, the small diner has been a go-to breakfast and brunch spot for people of all ages in the community with a focus on fresh food and fast service.
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A Turkey Day for Everyone Volunteers at MANNA were busy leading up to Thanksgiving last week, frying turkeys and preparing them for needy families across the area in time for the holiday. Check out some of the leftovers - er - photos from the event in this week’s issue.
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HISD breaks ground with new Montessori program at Waltrip High School By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com Parents of children attending Montessori schools like Garden Oaks Elementary and Wilson Elementary have few options available for continuing a Montessori-based education because choices beyond middle school are limited. Private schools like School of the Woods can cost thousands of dollars in tuition, and not having a public Montessori high school program has left many yearning for a new initiative. Now, with the help of Waltrip High School, that’s about to change. Starting next year, Waltrip will be the first high school in HISD offering a public Montessori program. Cheryl McCosh, Montessori School representative for Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet and board member for Friends of Montessori, said they had met previously with former Waltrip principal Andria Schur and met with current principal Dale Mitchell earlier this year. “It’s been a dream of mine to have a school-within-aschool program,” McCosh said. “Parents and Montessori students want a Montessori high school. They want that student centered experience and the kids love the project oriented approach.” Mitchell calls the school-within-a-school program a good fit not only for the community but also for the continuing vision of Waltrip High School. “From the comprehensive high school standpoint, it’s a good marriage of instruction and extra curricular activities,” Mitchell said. “Adding this program to our campus is a good way to bring the community even closer together and it’s a natural pathway for a large group of students just down the street from us.” According to the American Montessori Society, there are only three Secondary I-II Montessori programs, covering ages 12 to 18, in Texas. Those include Garden Oaks Montessori, School of the Woods in Houston and White Rock Montessori School in Dallas. The program at Waltrip will be a first not only for the school district but also for the state; however breaking new ground isn’t necessarily the objective, McCosh said. “We’re going to be primarily serving students that could not afford the schools that might cost up to $25,000 in tuition,” McCosh said.
Photos by Jonathan Garris (Above) Students at Garden Oaks Elementary wait for their work to be graded during class. Parents and students alike believe the school’s Montessori program affords pupils a better opportunity at cultivating skills and a sense of independence better than in a conventional classroom. (Below) Students will now be able to continue their Montessori education at Waltrip High School, which will boast new classrooms and a new entryway once renovations are completed. The renovations offer convenient timing for the launch of the Montessori program in time for the 2016-17 school year.
“Adding this program to our campus is a good way to bring the community even closer together and it’s a natural pathway for a large group of students just down the street from us.” Waltrip High School Principal Dale Mitchell
Currently, McCosh and Mitchell say they are looking at starting with two teachers and a director for the program and will likely welcome between 40 to 50 students in its first year. Both said the smaller sizes will allow officials to gain data and work out any issues that might exist in the system for the first three years or so and adjust the program as needed. The program also fits in well with Waltrip’s recent expansion and its all new classrooms, Mitchell said. McCosh said that large, open classrooms with potential breakout places benefit the fluid kind of learning extolled in Montessori classrooms – something that David Santana, a teacher at Garden Oaks Montessori Magnent for the past five years, can support. “In general, the Montessori method allows teachers to meet students at their level,” Santana said. For adolescents, this means not only cultivating problem solving skills but See Montessori P. 5A
The Kids Are Alright
Who was Maria Montessori?
Officials seek input for preservation ordinance guidelines at meeting For The Leader Officials with the Planning & Development Department are seeking public input for creating historic preservation guidelines for three Heights historic districts. According to a press release, the first community meeting to begin the process to adopt the revised historic preservation design guidelines for three historic districts (Houston Heights East, Houston Heights West and Houston Heights South) is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 1819 Heights Blvd. One of the requirements of the amended preservation ordinance is that the city complete and adopt design guidelines for these districts within 16 months. Among some of the approved revisions to the ordinance inSee Meeting P. 2A Planning & Development Department Historic Preservation Ordinance Design Guidelines Meeting St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 1819 Heights Blvd., Houston 77008 Tuesday, December 8 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Proposed Antoine Drive reconstruction has some on edge By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
Holiday Home Tour For information about the Houston Heights Association’s annual event, turn to Page 6A.
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While still in the planning stages, a potential widening of Antoine Drive has a number of residents and business owners concerned that the changes could be detrimental to surrounding neighborhoods. The project itself is split into two segments – a 1.3 mile North Segment stretching from Victory Drive to Bridge Forest Drive and a South Segment of about 3 miles which would run from Victory Drive to US 290. According to officials with Public Works & Engineering, a planning study previously identified inadequacies with the area’s pavement, wastewater, storm sewer and traffic mitigation. Officials are recommending a full reconstruction of the roadway including the “replacing and upgrading of underground utilities and pedestrian/bike facilities as needed.” Modifications include widening the existing road from 4 to 6 lanes between Tidwell and US 290, improving signals and turn lanes at intersections and adding off street bike paths.
Contributed Art An example of a potential reconstruction of Antoine Drive provided by Public Works & Engineering shows what a six lane arrangement might look like from West Tidwell Road to ACorn Street.
Julie Gilbert, PWE communications officer, said city officials realized through their planning study that traffic is going to significantly increase in the area. “We’re trying to plan for the next 40 or 50 years with a project like this,” Gilbert said.
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