Information Evening Placed ‘The Element’ in an International Context

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 30, 2012 - Ottawa, Ontario at the Canadian Aviation Museum (http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/visit_us/how_to_get_here/how_to_contact_us/):  On November 20, OMS Montessori (http://www.ottawamontessori.com/) held a well attended information event about Ottawa’s newest high school, The Element (http://elementhighschool.com/), which is set to begin operations in the Tunney’s Pasture area in September 2013.

OMS Montessori, Ottawa's largest and oldest not-for-profit Montessori school announced its high school, The Element, which is accepting students for grades 7 to 12 in September 2013. Over 150 people from many diverse educational backgrounds attended the event which included keynote speaker, David Kahn, an internationally recognized expert on Montessori adolescent education and founder of the Montessori High School at University Circle in Cleveland, Ohio.

The information session described the school’s philosophy of providing learning environments which emphasize student independence and respond to student requests for real-world experience while pursuing personal and academic excellence.

“The Element will be the hub that allows the older students to go out in the adult world and return to process their experiences while mastering the required academic courses to meet the Ontario Secondary School standards,” says Pat Gere, School Director.

Pat Gere, a Montessori educator of 38 years and the OMS School Director of 12 years, provided the audience with an in depth and engaging description of the new high school program and the rationale behind it all. She emphasized the significance of focused engagement among students for the greatest personal and academic development.

A video produced by a Grade 8 student, Morgana McKenzie, detailing the experiences of Junior High students in this program, was showcased on the big screen to wide acclaim.

Hannah Beach, a best selling author, director of the Ottawa Dandelion Dance Company (http://www.hannahbeach.com/dandelion), and frequent speaker at universities on creating positive spaces for youth learning, spoke about her observations after having become involved in the OMS High School Committee as a volunteer this past year. Her impassioned view of the current Junior High program and the OMS school in general provided the audience with a layman’s view.

The keynote speaker, David Kahn, added an international context. Mr. Kahn is the Executive Director of NAMTA and the Director of Project 2017: Adolescent Research and Designs, an organization with international reach studying programs for students aged 12-18. Mr. Kahn shared his experiences of opening similar high schools around the world and helped the audience place The Element in context.

Following the presentations, the audience gathered for a reception and celebration of this noteworthy development for the Ottawa community.

The Element:

Ground-breaking approach to High School Education  

Real-world experience

Emphasis on Focused Engagement

Rigorous and post-secondary preparation  

Focus on personal excellence

MEDIA CONTACT:

Matt Rock

High School Coordinator, OMS Ottawa Montessori School  

Email: hs@ottawamontessori.com

Phone: 705.977.0685

ElementHighSchool.com

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/12034148/1