We are incredibly proud to share...
that Montessori Ōtūmoetai was honoured with the Dr Chisnall Award 2026 at the Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand Conference in Christchurch!
This prestigious award recognises initiatives that make a meaningful difference for tamariki, whānau, and the wider community through action, collaboration, and service. Our award-winning initiative began in 2025 as a way to celebrate Maria Montessori's birthday by giving back to those in our local community who were in need.
Guided by Montessori values of kindness, empathy, and social responsibility, we partnered with our local Montessori primary school to create and distribute lunch packs for children requiring additional kai at our local primary schools. What started as a simple act of service quickly grew into a wider community project.
Inspired by the generosity of our tamariki, whānau, and kaiako, we extended our efforts to support our local Social Supermarket by collecting and donating essential food and household items for families facing hardship. This initiative provided meaningful opportunities for children to experience the joy of helping others while developing a deeper understanding of compassion, citizenship, and community connection.
It strengthened partnerships across our Montessori community and demonstrated the powerful impact that even small acts of kindness can have. We are honoured to receive this recognition and thank our tamariki, whānau, kaiako, and community partners for helping make this initiative such a success.
Together, we are creating a kinder and more connected community.