About Montessori Hale o Keiki

The Organization
History
The Board
The Executive Director
Educational Philosophy

The Organization

Montessori Hale O Keiki (MHOK) is a non-profit (501-C3) non-sectarian, full inclusion, privately funded, alternative education program serving children ages 3-16 years of age. Montessori Hale O Keiki has 113 students, 14 teachers and assistants, 5 administrators, 12 directors and their families. The mission of MHOK is to provide a carefully planned, stimulating environment to develop within each child the habits, attitudes, skills and ideas essential for a lifetime of creative thinking and self-motivated learning. MHOK is one of only four preschools serving the Kihei-Makena area and the only independent elementary in South Maui. In 2008 MHOK opened a middle school. MHOK has a full-inclusion, open admissions policy, and encourages enrollment of ANY CHILD. Children enrolled are from all ethnic and economic backgrounds, as diverse as Hawaii's population base. In January, 2007 the Washington, DC-based National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) honored Montessori Hale O Keiki with their Leading Edge Award for Demographic Sustainability (Diversity). Montessori Hale O Keiki was one of three schools nationally to receive this prestigious Leading Edge honor for Demographic Sustainability (Diversity) in recognition of its Full-Inclusion/Open Admission policy.

History

The creation of Hale O Keiki is testimony to the needs and dedication of the community that it serves. In 1990 a Board of Directors was established and through community support in business consulting, monetary donations, and labor donations, a site was found, purchased and renovated. MHOK opened as a preschool in September of 1991 with over 50% of the required funds provided by private individuals from the Maui community. In 1994 MHOK opened a lower elementary school. In 1998, the school completed the purchase and renovation of a new elementary school building on Kanakanui Road in Kihei, with 49% of the budget met by private donations of money, goods, labor, equipment and discounts.

The Board

The success of Montessori Hale O Keiki is testament to the commitment and participation of Montessori Hale O Keiki board members. Board members are selected and recruited purposefully to help the school successfully attain and administer its mission. Participation on standing and ad-hoc committees facilitates the necessary planning and policy formation that results in successful program implementation. Board members actively support all fund-raising activities and are involved in the direct solicitation of funds for the Capital Campaign. We are proud to have 100% participation of all board members in our fund-raising as well as key member involvement in solicitation of major gifts.

The Executive Director

The Executive Director and founder of Montessori Hale O Keiki is Elaine Blasi. Ms. Blasi has a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University and a Master's in Education from the University of Virginia. She also holds an AMS Early Childhood Credential from Chaminade University. For eight years Ms. Blasi worked as an adjunct faculty member at Chaminade University where she functioned as a Montessori teacher trainer. Additionally, she served as director of Chaminade's Montessori teacher trainer program for eighteen months. Ms. Blasi continues to conduct educational workshops for teachers at local and national conferences.

In addition to her duties as executive director of MHOK Ms. Blasi serves the educational community as an accreditation visiting team member for: American Montessori Society (AMS); Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS); Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); and for the Montessori Accrediting Committee for Teacher Education (MACTE). Ms. Blasi also holds the distinction of heading a Montessori school that holds the first-time-ever triple accreditation in the State of Hawaii. Through her leadership AMS, HAIS, and WASC accredited Montessori Hale O Keiki. She is also a founding member of the HAIS Maui branch organization for Heads of Independent Schools.

Elaine Blasi has led MHOK from its small beginnings for 48 students to its current robust enrollment of 87 students with a waiting list exceeding 45 children. It is through her vision, her knowledge and her passion that MHOK is sought after by the families in our community. Under the leadership of Ms. Blasi, Montessori Hale O Keiki has earned a reputation as a "house for children", where they are nurtured and empowered; a place where they are inspired to become self-motivated learners, creative and critical thinkers, passionate lifelong learners, and respectful responsible members of the communities in which they live.

Educational Philosophy

"Never let children risk failure until they have a reasonable chance of success"
– Maria Montessori

The Montessori philosophy provides a curriculum and environment in which each child will develop physically, intellectually and spiritually to his or her fullest potential. Children are introduced to the joy of learning at an early age and provided with a structured framework in which intellectual and social discipline goes hand-in-hand.

The schoolroom offers a "Prepared Environment" possessing a certain and specific order, which allows children to learn at their own speed and according to their own capacities in a non-competitive atmosphere. The teacher prepares the environment, directs the activity and offers the child stimulation; but it is the child who learns through structured activity (work) and is motivated through success to complete a given task. Each child has his/her own plan designed specifically for that child's interests and needs. The plan follows the child, so that each child progresses at his/her own level of accomplishment and potential.

The result is the acquisition of an inner discipline by which learning is accomplished. Patterns of concentration, "stick-to-itiveness" and thoroughness are established producing confident, competent learners.