OMA Small Logo
OMA NEWS
 May/June 2015 
SW Washington OMA Members at Work
submitted by Julie Davis, SW Washington Regional Liaison

OMA member schools have been diligently spreading the Montessori message within Southwest Washington this school year. Vancouver's Peace and Justice Fair event kicked off our community outreach in September with volunteers educating attendees on education for peace and distributing peaceful parenting practices literature. 
 

January saw Montessori schools joining forces at the Vancouver Preschool Fair. Volunteers hosted individual school tables while OMA sponsored a table used to distribute OMA school member information, Montessori pedagogy descriptions and parenting literature. 
 

Several OMA member school volunteers staffed and sponsored a booth at the well -attended Children's Festival held at Vancouver's Westfield in March. This was a great opportunity to publicize individual schools and educate the public on the benefits of a Montessori Education. 
 

Cascadia Elementary and Middle School hosted a spring tea for their feeder schools offering time for socialization and language presentations by their elementary guides. STARS continuing education certificates were earned free of charge through OMA's SW WA liaison. 
 

Networking/socialization opportunities will continue to be held at least twice a year, with our first being held in October and another set for May 28. 
 

A special thank you to A Peaceful Path Montessori, Blue Spruce Montessori, Cascadia School, Good Shepherd Montessori, Lakeshore Montessori and Vancouver Montessori for helping to staff various events this year.

Spring Workshop Summary

Below are the notes from the workshop led by Christyn Dundorf, Ph. D. on April 18, 2015.  Attendees broke into groups and did a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis about Montessori education in Oregon for each area listed below.  May you find your colleagues' insights informative and thought-provoking!  Thank you to everyone who participated in the workshop for your engaged participation.

Accountability

Untitled Category

Field-Wide Leadership

Taking Responsibility

Individual Leadership

Authority over Knowledge Base

 
Welcome New OMA Member Schools 
  • Tree of Life Montessori, SE Portland
  • Frog Song Montessori, NE Portalnd
     
Community Congratulations to: 
  • The Ivy School on their Charter Renewal and being approved to offer Kindergarten
     
  • Child's View Montessori School for the expansion of their program to include Toddler and Elementary
OMA Administrators' Group Meeting 

When:  Thursday, June 4th, 2015 
Time:  4:30 - 6:00pm 
Where:  Barley Mill Pub on SE Hawthorne in Portland, OR

Click HERE for meeting details.

OMA's Event Calendar for 2015 - 16
  • August:  Assistant Workshops
    • Presentation format will include material for those working with Infants/Toddlers, Primary and Elementary as well as basic Montessori pedagogical theory
    • Locations
      • Corvallis - hosted by Corvallis Montessori School.  Event details and registration information coming soon.
      • Portland - event details and registration information coming soon.
  • Fall Workshop Series:  "Mind in the Making" Learning Cohort, Ingrid Anderson, Ph. D.
    • 18 hours of Set 3 Training over three Saturdays:  September 18, October 17, and November 14
    • Cost:  $270 for the series
    • Hosted at Child's View Montessori School.  Registration information coming soon.
       
  • January 15 & 16 Jonathan Wolff - topic TBA
    • Friday evening lecture for parents, teachers and the public
    • Saturday keynote lecture and workshop
       
  • Spring Tea and Workshop - late April or early May
    • Event details will be announced later in the fall of 2015
The OMA is moving to an office space located in  Saint David of Wales Episcopal Church in SE Portland.  Thank you to Kari and Trent Wax of Tiny Revolution Montessori for their community-mindedness and giving OMA a home for this past year.  OMA ought to be in its new space beginning July 6th. 
If you have not heard of  Vroom, check it out!  When you look at who helped build Vroom, you will see a couple familiar names and faces of professionals who have spoken at Montessori conferences.  The Early Learning Division recently announced that Vroom materials will be used by some of the Early Learning Hubs in Oregon.


The Oregon Montessori Association is a group of schools and individuals who support vibrant Montessori education in Oregon and Southwest Washington...and beyond. 
Visit www.oregonmontessori.org

or call 503.688.0526