- -~ .. * ¾~I' PAGE 14, WHMTY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12.1992 HEALTH AND'LEISURE FEATURE WHITBY FREE PRESS - E12h192 Montesson isehol:A rskthtad.'off By Mark Reesor Kathleen Natouhara and Linda Comello started Whitby Montessori School in a church basement two years ago. They ad three employees and just l8students. But things have changed con- siderably in those two years. The school grew even as the If you are trying to meet some- one special, there je now a new way to do it. RSVP is a new con. cept which bas juet recently been introduced in Canada - by the Whitby Free Press although its popularity bas already been proven in many parts of the United States. Meeting someone, especially the ight someoe, bas always been a rather haphazard procese, even for those who are outgoing economic situation worsened. "Thon somebody said to us 'If -I buy the Hatch House, will you rent it for your .schoo'?'» relates Natsuhara. "So we did this thing: 'Well, we can't afford thisi, we"l nover ho able to do it, the economy's bad, everybody's losing thoir job'... "Then we decided, bey, people still have to work -- they stilI and full of self-confidence. But for the shy, the obstacles can be in- surmnountable. Almost every culture through histery bas had thoir matcbmnakers te holp, but in today's world of free wilI and in- dividuality, people prefer te make their own choices. The modern version of the matchmaker is the computerized introduction* service which matches, bopefullyý, the intereste OSBAWA'S nwt 1uat SqmmmMn% opoeed down<w,2 dn St., in 0=d4 ~ixycnJa.23. fThe need' care for thoir children -- and a lot of people want the best for their kide. "We really feel we're offering the best, 80 -we decided we'd take a chance." The sehool moved into the Hatch Ilouse in August of last year and «we've oubled our and desires of two individuals, al for a considerable fee. - Now there je another way- one that romains entirely within the control of the individual and je completely anonymous ,until ho or she decides they have found someone they want to meet.- RSVP je made possible through' the integration of modemn computer technology and SER PAGE 14 mm indu"o hoentle Itain.-Pesta, - fodand weL PIaobyM.i*Eouo, NtFreP enrolment in five months." Eighty-six students now attend the sobool, and there are 13 em«ployees. But that wasn't a surprise. «We expected to, grow that fast,", sasNatsuhara. Ia think you «must have an extremely positive attitude in these times... we were *going to offor people what tbey wanted, and the býst.» Whidt-people wanted was a traditional education for their children. "Back 'te, the basics". says Nat- suhara. We don't have a lot Of whistles and belle. We don't have a gym, a echool library, com- puters, but that doesn't seem te matter." "Vie take our childron to the **~; ~ ~If public library," says Comello. 'We're going to take them out as soon they're ready for computer lessons. «Because we're flot public fun- ded, we use ail the ways and' means that are available to us.», Comello 'says an. important goal of the echool is to give children a feeling of worth. " That they're 'important,- and what'they have to eay je impor- tant. Vie will listen to them, and I think by having standarlds... rules and regulations, the chil- dren know their boundaries. dThey,.-want -to -know, -their boundaries. We teach them'res- pect for their% peers, and them- selves... the traditional staff that seems, to h.ave gone by -the boards." -'-z--- .-~ '-s "4 ~ ' -~ il WH1BYMONTESSORI SCHOOL directors Kathleen. Natsuhara (Jeft). and Linda Comeilo infront, of thefr' fast-growing,,school Iocated in .,the*historie Ilà tch, Rouge. r ,WHITBY.,MONTESSORI ýSOnýHOOL TRADITIONAL EDUCATION INA. MA LL PAlVATE SCHOOL '*aAges.21ï2 and up.- 3401 Byron, St. S. HafDays - Fuil Days- Extended Days WHITBY 7:00 arn - 6:00 P'm 427-i8177. ~'.L'Â'~&!A ait ~ £A i.AA Ai AÂ LZZFas W i JUNIOR SENIOR * - REPA ED EVIRO MEN A honetto approach 10 reading plus PREARE 'ENIRO MET, emph asis on spelling and grammar -PRACTICAL LIFE - MUSIC Mathematios - using a decimfal system, knowledge is deeoped in the 4baskq.skills" - GEOGRAPHY 7 SENSRA and beyond. -LANGUAGE AÀRTS HISTORY With the additionof qeoqrap.hy,, histoy science, french, music, drama, and1' - M THE ATIS. FRNCH computêrs, it maks a very weIl rounded program. *Jin us for a s*ummer filléd of fun and exctementl. We wiIl be offering a pragramn- filled *with magic, music and drama, parades, picnics anid parties. Corne explore the world of cooking, gardening, rhythm, movement, * science and surprises. JNE 29TH - AUGUST 28TH *Ages 2112 tO8,' minimum 2 week enrolment. summeronly) 1/2 Days- Full Days- Extended Days REITRNOW TO G.UARANTEE A WORRY FREE SUMMER. ir Blrv M. ý vvrw ý.irjw lw-- oý.We ewm Immi =m Imm 7 '. . ý - . .- , - ý . - '- . - . -- - . t - . ., -.. .