Brilliant Star Montessori Pre-School opens

Yesterday was a day to reflect, give thanks and celebrate as the Brilliant Star Montessori Pre- School opened their new buildings at Cross Island Road, Tiapapata.

The school is now situated about 100 metres up the road from the original school.

On hand, were pupils and teachers - past and present, Board members, family, friends, supporters and contributors who paid tribute to the early childhood education delivered under the experienced leadership of principal, Yassamin Yazdani.

The opening ceremony included a prayer sung in harmony by pupils; reflections and comments by former pupils, teachers and a teacher trainer from the Australia Pacific Technical College and the Keynote Address delivered by Matafeo Tanielu Aiafi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.

The ribbon was cut by the oldest Early Childhood Education teacher in Samoa, Lemalu, Fa’ataumamate Filiga.

Speaking on behalf of the Yazdani Family, daughter and teacher Sahar quoted Nelson Mandela, “Education if the most powerful weapon.”

“I believe every child is potentially the light of the world.”

Other speakers including Nalei Paul, a past pupil at the school from two and a half to five years of age spoke of the joy of learning as they were engaged, encouraged and challenged by the activities at the school. The fact that her siblings and those of other pupils followed her to the school when they became of age, was a powerful testimony to the school’s programme.

She shared memories of the pupils bringing fruit and then being trusted with the responsibility as small children to prepare fruit salad with sharp knives and serve on proper plates which they then washed after eating.

“This was a way to teach life skills.”

In his Keynote Address, the C.E.O. of M.E.S.C. Matafeo, whose own children attended the preschool, congratulated all involved and spoke glowingly of the early education his own children had received.

He expressed his admiration for the physical aspects and general upkeep of the school and commended Yassamin and the Brilliant Star teachers for their vision and the quality of the teaching.

“The school has a fine reputation,” he said.

He then drew parallels with the preschooling he had experienced as a young boy, where all they basically offered was a child-minding facility.

“Brilliant Star,” he said, “has well trained teachers and a sound curriculum by which the children acquire knowledge and skills.”

Matafeo said that receiving a good education as a foundation was important to ensure that students were successful in their later educational lives at secondary school and universities.

In her acknowledgements, Yassamin spoke of the team effort since the school was first established in 1986 and thanked past and present contributors and supporters to the growth and development of the school.

She paid special tribute to Cecily Trent, a 70 year old lady from England who first established the school and went on to set up similar schools in Tonga and Hawai’i.

The school is now run under the direction of a Charitable Trust and is inspired by Baha’i principles and beliefs that all human beings possess the power of understanding and the capacity to attain knowledge.

Their curriculum and teaching methods cater for each child’s physical, intellectual and social needs.

The Montessori Method has existed for over 100 years and was founded by Italian physician and educator, Dr Maria Montessori.