ESC: BECOME A VOLUNTEER IN MONTESSORI KINDERGARDEN AND SCHOOL!

We are Montessori nursery and grammar school working with children age 2-10 years old. We have started our activities in 2012 as a small group of parents and children who were searching for individual approach in education. Step by step the interest in Montessori method in our area was growing. It led us to set up a school, what happened in 2015. Nowadays we have 20 children in nursery and 17 in school. Our working hours are usually from 7.30 am to 5 pm. We work in age-mixed groups where naturally younger children can learn from the older, older children learn to be a model and take care of younger once. We emphasize cooperation in the group, respectful communication and individual approach. It is also meaningful to give children possibility to learn outside in nature. Education is based on Montessori principles and project method. It is important for us to prepare children for their future life, to encourage them to learn and to feel responsible for life. Our aims are to create safe environment for development and personal growth of each children so they can use maximum of their potential, provide them individual education and guide them to become independent, self-motivated and active members of society. School and nursery activities are closely linked to cooperation with parents. We are in permanent contact with parents of our pupils, as working with whole family is important aspect of Montessori education. We regularly organize events for whole families, we also provide educational seminars for adults. Except that, several times per week we have workshops for parents and children age 0-3. In summer we offer camps, especially day-care camps, with focus on nature, outdoor education and healthy life-style. Except that, during the school year, we regularly organise for children trips, events (like Night with Andersen), projects and courses (for example in line skating, swimming, skiing). We are also active among other alternative schools, we take part and organize workshops and meetings for teachers and directors from whole Czech Republic. The volunteer will have chance to take part in all described activities of our organization. It means s/he will have possibility to work in nursery, primary school as well as take part in extra events with families, seminars for adults etc. The exact timetable of the volunteer will be created together with him, according to his needs and interests. We would like volunteer to try work with different age groups and also at different activities. The volunteer will be involved not only in lessons but also in after-school club and free time activities. We are cooperating with SVC Decko - leisure time centre in our town. They have been part of EVS/ESC since 2006. Recently they coordinate around 15 volunteers each year who are involved in 6 different organizations in Náchod and other towns in our region. They are supporting us in realization of ESC project in our school. Thanks to it our volunteer will become part of group of other European volunteers living and working here. It will bring to the project extra benefits, like getting to know and learning to cooperate with other young people from all over the Europe.