NEWS RELEASE
KEYSTONE MONTESSORI
********************
The students of Keystone Montessori will soon have more to think about than their upcoming history and math lessons.
A brand new after-school program at the Montessori school will not only be helping kindergarten-aged kids learn how to read, but will also be giving back to the community.
The new after-school program, Kids Can Read, is open to any child between the ages of 4-6.
The program is eight weeks long and features two classes a week (Monday and Thursday 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.). Cost is $129 per student for the 16 classes, and the program is open to all Simcoe County area kids.
The after-school program will incorporate many of the same successful strategies and materials used in Keystone Montessori school’s regular reading program.
Spots are limited so register early to ensure your child gets in. The program start date is Feb. 25.
One-hundred per cent of the program proceeds will then be donated by Keystone Montessori students back into the community. The total registration fees will be divided equally amongst all the students in Grade 2-8 to share with a charity or community group of their choice.
“We want the students to learn about the community and feel like they can make a difference,” said Adam Hewitt, owner of Keystone Montessori. “The students will spend time researching various charities and groups and decide why they want to donate their share of the proceeds to each group."
Julia Scavuzzo, a Grade 6 student at the school, already knows that she wants to do something about preventing product testing using animals. She plans on spending time studying how best to help save the animals from further abuse.
“I think that animals should be treated the same way as we would want to be treated, it is just not fair," said Scavuzzo. "Do you know the main difference between you and I and animals? We have a voice!”
Keystone Montessori operates out of St. David's Church on James Street in Orillia, and follows the philosophy of the educational movement’s founder, Italian doctor and educator Maria Montessori.
“Dr. Montessori believed that all children learn better when they choose what to learn. We wanted to take that same approach and apply it to community service and giving," said Hewitt.
"Having each student choose a worthy cause will make them more interested and engaged in lessons and discussions about how they can make positive changes in the world,” said Hewitt.
Keystone is Orillia's only fully comprehensive private Montessori and elementary school, with ages ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8.
To register for the Kids Can Read Program, or for more information about Keystone Montessori, please contact the school at: (705) 327-ABCD (2223), [email protected], or visit www.keystonemontessori.ca
********************
