history

Early Years

In the beginning Pre-primary Montessori environments were created for the 2 ½ to 6 age group. The children, about 30 in each class, worked in a mixed age group environment with two trained adults who guided their work with Montessori materials in the areas of Exercises of Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics and Language. Children worked individually, choosing their work according to their plans, following the ground rules, talking softly to each other, being in charge of themselves, experiencing and arriving at their own learning.

As the children grew older, the Primary class was designed to allow a few older children to go to a space of their own in small groups of 3 to 10 to work with the teacher at a more advanced level. Such learning was not confined to the requirements of their age of class, but guided by the children's own needs and interests.

The experience of working at the Pre-primary level reinforced the understanding of Montessori philosophy, principles and methodologies. It was now felt necessary to extend the Montessori Methodology to ages 6 to 12 and beyond.

In August 1994 and July 1995 the school invited Natasia De Lange, a Montessori teacher from Holland, to look at the work being done at Abacus. Her training and experience was in the 4 to 12 age group. As a result of her visits the school introduced mixed age groups at the Primary level. She also helped with making Montessori materials for the higher age groups to encourage individual activity and reduce lecture-based lessons.

From this point onwards Abacus began individual activity time in mixed age groups for Primary and Elementary classes while also continuing lecture-based classes within the prescribed syllabus.

To mark 50 years of Montessori in India Abacus convened in Kalakshetra, Chennai, a Montessori conference, which Montessorians from across the country and other parts of the world attended. Many scholars of eminence like Dr.Mario Montessori Jr were speakers at the convention.

Amukta Mahapatra who led the first Abacus team of teachers as Principal, resigned in 1995.

Growing Up

In January 1996, Nandita Krishnan became the principal. By June 1996 the school had reached Class 7and became affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations in November 1996.

Abacus was also working on setting up a permanent home. Land was acquired in Perungudi and building plans were made by Laurie Baker who showed tremendous sensitivity to the needs of the school from the Montessori viewpoint.

With the support of parents several public events were organized to raise funds for the school buildings. Between April 1995 and December 1997 two beautiful buildings came up as though they grew out of Perungudi soil.

March 2000 was a very special time as the very first batch of 9 children wrote the ICSE examinations at the end of Class 10.

In February 2001 Abacus was the venue of Conference 2001, Chennai conducted by the Indian Montessori Centre, Bangalore. The Conference attracted 350 delegates from all over the country and further strengthened and spread awareness of Montessori education.

Nandita Krishnan, Principal, resigned in October 2001.

The school completes fifteen

Zai Whitaker came on board as Principal on February 15, 2002.

In 2002 Abacus collaborated with Indian Institute for Montessori Studies, Bangalore to conduct a training course for teachers in the Montessori Method for 6-12 year olds. It was attended by all the Primary and Elementary teachers at Abacus as well as 18 outside participants. The method was applied in the Primary and partly in the Elementary.

Abacus introduced a special education centre in 2003. A school counsellor and an ESL section were introduced. Zai Whitaker relocated to Bangalore in April 2004 and Kamini Sundaram held the role of Principal in addition to being Director of the school.

Moving into adulthood

In September 2005 and January 2006 an all-school workshop to align the vision and goals of the school was conducted by Naresh Purushotham and M. Hariharan. The workshop was aimed at jointly articulating the beliefs and values of the school so that responsibility for the quality of the school was sustained by each and everyone in an attempt to co-create in a non-hierarchical way. From this workshop many processes were put in place by a core team of teachers.

In Sep 2006 Brian Caszo joined as Principal. The school became an ICSE examination centre. In Oct 2006 the school started Starlight Abacus, a Montessori environment for toddlers, which ran till April 2011.

In July 2007 Vyjayanthi Bhasker, one of the senior teachers of the school took over the post of Principal till April 2010.

In Jan 2009 Abacus played an integral role in supporting the organizing of the 26th International Montessori Congress at Kalakshetra conducted under the auspices of Association Montessori Internationale(AMI), Amsterdam. The Congress brought together participants from 39 Countries and many eminent speakers from India and abroad. Kamini Sundaram, member of the Board of Association Montessori Internationale(AMI), Amsterdam from April 2008 up to April 2011 was part of the formation of Indian Montessori Foundation, a pan Indian Montessori body affiliated to AMI, that works for the awareness and propagation of Montessori education and principles across India through conference, workshops and programs.

Abacus introduced the Higher Secondary in June 2009.

Joan Elango was Principal from June 2010 to Aug 2011. The first batch of Class 12's took the Public Examination in April 2011.

June 2011 began with another all staff workshop "Reaffirming what we stand for" that saw the school well aligned in its vision, with its systems running on well-oiled wheels.

The school is now in its 25th year.

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