Montessori Academy Expansion Planned

By Daisy Martinez, Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas

Nov. 24–HARLINGEN — The Montessori Academy of Harlingen will expand and accept more students as early as February for the 2008-2009 school year.

The non-denominational private school recently purchased a 2.5-acre lot at the intersection of New Hampshire Street and Hale Street, Director Angela Abrego said.

Plans for the new school include a 300-person capacity “cafetorium” — a facility that serves as a cafeteria and auditorium — and 10 classrooms, Abrego said.

“We needed to have a (bigger) facility to have our special programs and activities,” Abrego. “Anytime we wanted to have a special program we had to rent a facility.”

Abrego said the school has been spending from $400 to $600 each time it rents a facility.

The school does not receive federal funds and operates on student tuition.

The present school is located on about 1/4 of an acre and has five classrooms for 100 students its 3943 Bourbon Street location, Abrego said.

Students range in age from ranging from 18-month-olds to fourth graders. Admission to the school is in high demand, Abrego said.

With the school’s additional land, it will be able to offer the fifth grade and provide jobs for teachers.

The school, which has been in Harlingen for 20 years, teaches on the principals developed by Maria Montessori, the first Italian female doctor, Abrego said.

She said the school gives the students freedom to be individual and independent while learning how to work as a team and follow guidelines and structure.

“Maria Montessori created methods to teach children with learning disabilities,” Abrego said. “It’s more than just learning through visual and audio. Young children’s bodies aren’t made to sit all day. They need to be outside sketching, making puzzles…”

“The three main cores we teach is respect yourself, respect others and respect the environment,” Abrego said. “If they posses these three characteristics, they are disciplined.”

The smaller classes that range from 16 to 18 children benefit students with teachers able to give students extra help when necessary, Abrego said. The school’s teachers are state certified, she added.

“Parents are understanding the importance of children needing to be independent and function as individuals,” Abrego said. “Parents want their children on different levels like social and academic, to interact with other children.”

Abrego said the school is unique with students from many different nationalities.

“Maria Montessori really believed that the more we learn about each other (and each other’s cultures), the less differences there are,” Abrego said.

Abrego said the academy has been able to expand because of the contributions from community members like Wade and Doak Dunkin who have supported the academy for many years.

Abrego also hopes to build a library and an art room for the children on their new land.

She also said a Montessori middle school is not in the future plans.

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