Education

10 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 Most Winnipeggers already love the Assiniboine Park and Zoo, but many don't know the park offers a wide variety of family and adult classes. Workshops fit into one of four different themes: children and family, recreation, sustainable living/DIY, and arts and crafts, explains Melissa Scouten, education co-ordinator for Assiniboine Park and Zoo. "We wanted to cover the broad range of reasons people come to the park," she says. "Our classes are a nice day or night out. People have fun while learning something new, and they go home with a product they made themselves." The winter session includes 20 workshops that will take place starting in January and running until March. Those looking for activities to occupy small children will love the Nature Tot program, which was designed for parents and guardians with children age three to five. The program takes place on Wednesday mornings, 10-11:30 a.m. "We do nature-based activities and we also incorporate a snack," Scouten says. "The program helps children connect with the park. We hold the sessions in the garden, or make a hands-on craft for the zoo animals, or do behind-the-scenes zoo visits." This winter, Assiniboine Park and Zoo will offer a new family program in partnership with the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Art is our Nature will feature outdoor exploration, followed by a hands-on lesson in making nature art prints. This class is recommended for children age five and up. "We strongly encourage parents or guardians to attend with their children," says Scouten. "The classes include hot chocolate, since it's an outdoor program." Since many people come to the park to seek mindfulness and peace, Assiniboine Park and Zoo will debut yoga classes this winter with Yin at the Park. "Yin yoga is about moving slower and holding the poses longer," Scouten explains, adding that the classes take place in the Assiniboine Park Pavilion. "Doing yoga in this beautiful space with world-class art is a treat." While the yoga classes are open to all ages, they were designed with adults in mind and take place from 6-7:15 p.m. "It's a chance for busy professionals to de-stress after work and still be home in time to put the kids to bed," says Scouten. "The workshop incorporates our 'New Year, New You' theme. We encourage people to take the time to take care of themselves." Scouten says Assiniboine Park and Zoo plans to offer more mindfulness programs in the future, especially if yin yoga is well received. Those with green thumbs will be happy to hear they don't have to Including: • Plumbing • Welding • Power Engineering • Computer Skills • Art Classes ... and more OFFERING COURSES TO SPARK YOUR CREATIVITY, FITNESS AND FINANCE. 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KINDERGARTEN/ ELEMENTARY Tuesday, January 17, 2017 7:00 - 8:00 pm 80 Fennell Street 2-6 YEAR OLDS Wednesday, January 25, 2017 7:00 - 8:00 pm 1055 Wilkes Ave. 3-6 YEAR OLDS/ KINDERGARTEN Thursday, February 16, 2017 7:00 - 8:00 pm 80 Fennell Street Call 204-475-8063 for information or submit your application for 2017/2018 online. INFORMATION SESSIONS: Start promptly at 7:00pm GRADES 1–6 AGES 2–6 (TODDLER, PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN) Our Toddler/Bambini and Preschool programs balance your child's need for a challenging and stimulating educational environment with an atmosphere that is homelike, cozy and secure. Extended Hours & School Year CASA MONTESSORI & ORFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INDEPENDENT, IMAGINATIVE LEARNING If your dreams include a child who really loves school, is an independent and creative thinker, and who thinks and cares about others, then you are certainly doing the right thing by giving your child the gift of a Montessori Elementary education. In 1991, five Winnipeg Montessori teachers conceived the unique idea of merging the Montessori principles of education with the Orff method of teaching music. Their vision, in the spirit of both Maria Montessori and Carl Orff's philosophies, was to create an environment that would touch the imagination of the child and stimulate learning in a creative and independent environment. And so began the journey of Casa Montessori and Orff School from a pre-school program for kids from age two to six to the addition in 2008 of an authentic Elementary Montessori Program in Winnipeg. The Elementary program is highly enriched and challenging. Children have the opportunity to learn absolutely amazing things in an independent and creative environment. There are three main components in the program. The first is the Mastery of Fundamental Skills involving acquisition of basic knowledge found in a traditional curriculum including math, language, geography, botany, zoology, history, art, geometry, physics, chemistry, French and music. The Great Stories are the second component. They are presented as inspiring stories and include the story of how the world began, the development of plant and animal life on earth, the story of humankind, the history of language, math and technology. They are intended to give children a perspective of the Earth we live on and humanity's place within the universe. The third component is Individual Chosen Research. Students gather information, assemble projects and share what they have learned with their fellow classmates. Their oral presentations and written research reports grow in sophistication and complexity over the years. Learning continues to be a hands-on experience and the Montessori materials that were used in the pre-school classrooms are used in an even more sophisticated manner. The unique "peace curriculum" enables the development of a small community in which children learn to work together, become involved in charities and community service projects and ultimately prepares students for life. The schools will be hosting information sessions throughout November 2016 and February 2017. Please visit montessoriandorff. ca and facebook.com/montessoriandorff for more information or phone 204- 475- 8063. Casa Montessori & Orff Elementary School is located at 80 Fennell St. in Winnipeg. ❚ ASSINIBOINE PARK AND ZOO CONNECT WITH THE PARK By Holli Moncrieff for the Free Press This article is written with the help of Tim Seldin of The Montessori Foundation Maria Montessori said "between the ages of six and twelve...Knowledge can best be given where there is eagerness to learn, so this is the period when the seed of everything can be sown , the child's mind like a fertile field, ready to receive what will germinate into culture"

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