History of the school...
 Portland House Montessori School was opened in May 1986 by Mrs Pauline Pertab. It catered for children aged 2 years to 6 years. There were six students and one staff member.
In 1990 Portland House moved to Ellerslie Primary School with two classes accommodating a total of eighty students. The original classrooms were retained and are now used for the two year olds programme this is known as Portland House One.
In 1994 due to rapid roll growth at Ellerslie Primary School, Portland House had to vacate its Ellerslie premises. Suitable premises could not initially be found and Portland House Montessori School was in danger of closing. However, `like the phoenix rising from the ashes' with 100% commitment of parents,  and a strong committee in the lead ,negotiations were made and Portland House moved to rooms in Tamaki Intermediate School.
In late 1994 after negotiations with the Auckland Racing Club, ground was leased in Ellerslie race course. A purpose built two room class block was constructed and Portland House 3 came into existance or to life.
With the increasing demand for Montessori Primary Schooling in Auckland, Mrs Pertab set about employing staff and finding rooms to accommodate Portland House Montessori Primary School.
Tamaki Intermediate School offered Mrs Pertab the use of classrooms within their school. On September 30th, 1996 Portland House Montessori Primary School opened with a class of 8 children and two staff, catering for children 6 - 9 years of age. Portland House continued to grow and in 1998 Primary classes extended their programmes to include children from 5 years to 12 years of age.
 A Message from the Principal...
Welcome,
I look forward to meeting with you and discussing the educational and pastoral needs of your child. At Portland House we welcome the opportunity to work together with your family to guide your child to reach his/her potential.
What is Montessori?
- Montessori is a philosophy of education.
Some think it is new and progressive,
but in fact it is established and well proven.
- Inculcates love of learning
- Children build on success
- All work at own level at own time frame
- Encourages children to view learning as an integral exciting and ongoing part of their life.
Click here for more about the
Montessori Prepared Environment
 Dr Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, based this "new education" on her scientific observation of children. She began her first school, "The Casa de Bambini" or Children's House, in 1907. She observed that children learned best in a warm, home like setting. She noticed that children possess an intrinsic desire to explore, discover and learn about their environment. With this in mind, each Montessori classroom is a carefully "prepared environment". It is filled with Dr Montessori's specially designed, multi sensory, sequential and self correcting materials which facilitate the learning of skills and concepts. The classroom is also equipped with a highly trained teacher/director whose goal is to provide an environment where the child is stimulated and challenged, but never pressured. The teacher is trained as a keen observer and recognises each individual's needs and knows how to implement the learning materials at each developmental stage.
The Montessori environment is a special community for children. The child helps to care for the environment, himself and his peers. Respect and responsibility are part of every day living in the Montessori classroom.
Montessori is a "whole child" approach to education. It aims to do more than teach facts. Through active involvement in his education the child experiences the joy of learning and gains the characteristics necessary to complete his most important work, the development of the adult he/she will become.
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