On 12 July, 1999, Les Bennetts was driving down Halswell Road and noticed a lot of activity happening at number 74, which happened to be his former home. In particular, he noticed the sign outside the property – Airdmhor Montessori. Les had to find out what was going on.
For Elaine Low, owner and Supervisor of the new Montessori, Les's sudden arrival from nowhere seemed yet another sign that everything that had happened leading up to that moment was meant to be.
"We were all running around trying to get ready for the opening, and then this man arrived who told us he lived here until he was 31. Les pointed out the room he was born in 75 years earlier and was able to fill us in on a lot of the history behind Airdmhor. It was incredible. Les provided us with many photos of the family and the house up to 1950 when the house was sold out of the family."
Les's grandfather, Peter Duncan, had built the handsome two–storey Edwardian home in 1902. In its long life, Airdmhor has witnessed the happiest of times, including three weddings – Les's parents, Roland and Jessie Bennetts (née Duncan), Les's sister, Sheila, and many years later, Elaine's own wedding, in November 2020, when she married Giles Simons.
July 06, 2024 is Airdmhor Montessori's 25th Jubilee, and along with parents and children from its past and present days will be Jaime, one of the first pre–schoolers from 1999, who is now 28.
Les, who turns 100 three days after the jubilee, has the honour of cutting the jubilee cake.
For Elaine, the jubilee is more than just about marking 25 years; it is an opportunity for her and fellow staff to reflect on all that has been accomplished from then until now – the difference Airdmhor Montessori has made in the lives of the over 1,000 pre–schoolers who have passed through its front door.
In reflecting on the Jubilee celebration, Elaine marvels on the undeniably serendipitous journey that not only brought the Montessori to life, but changed her life so markedly.
"There are so many "if" moments behind this Jubilee celebration – if I hadn't done this, that wouldn't have happened. When Les turned up that day out of the blue, only hours before our opening, I knew the founding of this school was meant to happen."
Born in Invercargill, Elaine qualified as a primary school teacher from Dunedin Teachers' College in 1977. She taught at Lumsden Primary School and Invercargill's Morton Mains Siding Primary School before moving to Christchurch in 1980, followed by a move to Akaroa in 1985, which saw Elaine exploring various business opportunities, such as the establishment of a successful drive–in bakery, called "The Bakery Akaroa".
"Around this time, I wanted to complete pre–school Early Childhood and contacted Christchurch Teachers' College to inquire what Early Childhood courses were available. They replied that there was a Montessori on Monday nights, which was perfect for me as it was the only day the bakery was closed."
Elaine was given a name – Binda Goldsborough – and a telephone number.
Binda had studied under Dr Marie Montessori, and after coming to New Zealand with her mother, she taught children with disabilities at primary school level. Binda wrote the correspondence course – the Aperfield Montessori Early Childhood Qualification – because she saw there was a need to train Montessori teachers for the New Zealand teaching environment.
"When I rang Binda, without my knowing it, that was the pivotal moment that changed my life. Attending that first night class, I thought this was the answer – setting children up for the first five years of their life is so important."
Elaine completed her five Advanced Studies for Teachers (ATS) papers, as well as 1,000 hours working within a Montessori environment at Ngaio Akaroa Preschool. (Elaine had bought the site for the preschool in 1991, and in 1992, after selling the Akaroa Bakery and business, she opened the preschool).
These papers Elaine completed made up her missing qualification for Early Childhood, and then she went on to complete her Early Childhood Bachelor Degree.
In 1994, Elaine completed the Aperfield Montessori Diploma and studied the MWEI Primary Montessori Diploma. Her intention was to start a primary school in Akaroa for pupils to continue learning in the Montessori Method.
Unfortunately, due to the low number of families settling in Akaroa at the time, Elaine reluctantly closed Ngaio Akaroa Preschool and sold the property in 1997.
Disappointed but determined to not relinquish her dream, Elaine moved to Christchurch and set about opening her own Montessori; however, the regulations for establishing a pre–school facility were daunting.
There had to be enough room for five metres per child outside, and 2.5 metres per child inside, as well as room for five carparks, and the school had to be on an arterial road, to avoid disrupting neighbours.
Elaine's estate agent canvassed all the residents on Christchurch arterial roads with property over 1,200 square metres, asking if they wanted to sell. Airdmhor's owner at the time responded with a yes. This was 22 December, 1998.
Elaine got the resource consent on Airdmhor two hours before the sale deadline – late January 1999.
"Having had several occupants living there in a flatting situation, it was really dilapidated. There were times I wondered what I'd got myself into."
Fortunately, a tour to the town of Reggio Emilio in Italy, in which Elaine was able to see first–hand the Reggio Philosophy and Educational Approach to teaching and learning within their preschools and infant toddler centres, also enabled Elaine to see the beautiful old houses of the region, with their emphasis on wood, light and colours.
"I returned from Italy feeling I had done the right thing – I could make a go of restoring Airdmhor. But those early days were challenging. The easterlies whipped through the front door and the house was freezing."
Constructional work began from February 1999. Five months later, on July 13th, Airdmhor Montessori celebrated its opening day.
1999 also saw Elaine begin tutoring the Aperfield Montessori courses and become Trustee of the Aperfield Montessori Trust, administering the teachers' correspondence course through NZQA. The courses are held at Airdmhor, plus graduation courses.
Elaine then went on to become Chairman of the Trust, a role she continues to hold to this day.
In November 2002, Airdmhor turned 100–years–old. This centenary milestone event was marked with a garden party, to which all the neighbours, as well as staff and pupils, both past and present, were invited. Among the esteemed guests that day were Les, his sister Sheila, and Binda Goldsborough.
A string quartet entertained the crowd, and guests (many dressed in period clothing) had photos taken of themselves in two vintage cars brought onsite especially for the occasion.
A commemorative tea–towel of Airdmhor, taken from a 1905 photo, was available to purchase as a centennial souvenir.
For Airdmhor's 25th Jubilee celebration, there will be a commemorative bag, plus a piper to entertain guests, in honour of the grand Scottish heritage behind Airdmhor and its original owners.
"One of the loveliest things about Airdmhor is that no matter the occasion, it steps up. We've had afternoon teas, birthdays – both Binda and my mother celebrated their 90th birthdays here – weddings and Christmas parties. It just fits," Elaine says.
Montessori's illustrious history began when Maria Montessori opened her first school, Casa dei Bambini (Children's House) in Rome, in 1907.
Maria Montessori was Italy's first woman doctor. Her belief was that "the hand is the instrument of the mind", and invented activities in which children used their hands, with an emphasis on left to right.
Another Montessori teaching philosophy was "Freedom in a prepared environment." Maria believed that the child's mind is most absorbent from zero to six years of age.
Elaine expands on this further.
"That is your chance. Up to six, the window is open; after six, the window is down, and you have to break the glass to get through."
"Everything a child learns at Montessori is purposeful – whether that's sweeping up or putting toys away, every action is to prepare the child for the next step."
Elaine says that Marie's planned Montessori curriculum is more relevant today than ever.
"If they can read and are independent when they start school; if they can start helping others, it gives them a good feeling and they start giving back to others. Once these children begin primary school, they are never going to have this one–on–one again."
The purposeful target at Airdmhor is a ratio of six staff to thirty children – in essence, one teacher to five children.
For many Airdmhor families, the Montessori has not only changed lives, it has saved lives.
The events that have hit Christchurch over the past 14 years, from earthquakes to the mosque shootings to the Covid pandemic, have seen children more traumatised than in previous years.
For a number of children, it is the Montessori schools, like Airdmhor, that have helped foster a sense of security and stability.
Elaine says she couldn't have achieved what she has done without the dedicated team that have worked beside her throughout.
Many of the existing staff have been at Airdmhor for over 15 years, with two teachers, Anne and Deborah (now both recently retired), having been there since Opening Day, 25 years ago.
Both Anne and Deborah's grandchildren attended Airdmhor as well, with one grandchild of Deborah's still attending.
"There is a nice sense of continuation here," Elaine says.
Elaine identifies her own Montessori philosophy on the Airdmhor Montessori website as follows: I am committed to working with children in a Montessori way, and to our philosophy of helping children to "adjust their sails to always reach their destination."
Elaine and her staff are proud of Airdmhor – of how it has built itself such a good name and is held in the highest regard within many Christchurch communities.
"For me it has never been, and never will be, just a job. It is a calling."
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