HOME ABOUT US CURRICULUM SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR ENROLLMENT CONTACT US	Montessori Children's House of Hattiesburg was founded in September, 1982 by our Director, Erlene Weldon. MCHH is licensed by the State of Mississippi to serve the children of Hattiesburg and the surrounding areas. Visiting the School MCHH welcomes prospective parents, visitors and interested persons. Arrangements can be made for a visit to observe by contacting our school. Additional info: School Visitor Guidelines Meet Our Staff Fernanda (Faye) Blackmer Mrs. Blackmer (Miss Faye, to us) was educated at Southeastern College, Pasay, Metro Manila in the Philippines. After coming to the USA with her American husband, Miss Faye applied for a position and has been employed at Montessori Children's House since June of 1998. She served as Food Specialist for the first few years, waiting for an opportunity to work in the classroom. Her opportunity came and she became a Co-Teacher with primary focus on the practical life teaching area.      Now an American citizen, Miss Faye is an intern and is presently enrolled in the Washington Institute for Montessori Teacher Preparation. She serves as Head Director under Mrs. Weldon, the owner. She introduces parents to the program, familiarizing them with the Montessori approach to children's education and also giving them a working summary of our school's policies. Margaret Crosby Mrs. Crosby (Miss Margaret, to us) is our Food Specialist and the newest member of our staff. She has extensive experience in food preparation and planning and is very diligent in seeking to make the best home-cooked meals for our children. Miss Margaret has previously worked in local public school cafeterias and many of our parents recognize her from their own school days.      Since coming to us in December of 2006, she has helped to develop a new set of menus which has been approved by the MSDH. Furthermore, she is applying to the dining room the same guidance that is familiar to the child in the classroom, helping our children to recognize healthy foods, developing grace and courtesy, encouraging them to try new tastes, and providing a healthy lunch each day. Melissa Hopkins Mrs. Hopkins (Miss Melissa, to us) joined our staff in the Fall of 2006 after her daughter graduated from the 2006 kindergarten class. As a parent of a Montessori child, she was a regular in the classroom, sometimes helping. She is one of the teachers that parents meet when they pick up their child in the afternoon.      Miss Melissa works primarily with the older children, assisting in the areas of Sensorial training, language and reading, math and geography. Miss Melissa completed three years at Tulane University in the field of Social Studies. In order to enhance her effectiveness in the classroom, she will soon be entering into the Washington Institute for Montessori Teacher Preparation and will become an intern teacher. Miss Melissa is married and has one daughter, Nadia. Trinidad (Onie) Smith Mrs. Smith (Miss Onie, to us) began her employment with Montessori Children's House in January of 2003. She is Head Teacher in the areas of Sensorial training, language development and reading, math and geography. Miss Onie has become one of our directors, with special application to the needs of our kindergarten students.      Before coming to us, Miss Onie was awarded a Bachelor of Education degree with a major in mathematics at Cebu State College in Cebu, of the Republic of the Philippines. She taught for a season in the school there and then became a successful business woman in her country before coming to the USA with her husband, an American citizen and veteran of the Vietnam War. Erlene Weldon Mrs. Weldon, owner of MCH, grew up in Lamar County and graduated from Oak Grove High School in 1951. She married and after her fifth child, enrolled in Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS. Graduating with a two-year degree, she then earned a degree in Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. She taught in Perry County public schools for about eight years before leaving to teach private piano lessons.      In 1981, an opportunity presented itself to learn about the Montessori teaching method and Mrs. Weldon completed a full year of training. After much trepidation about the idea of starting out in a new venture alone, she opened the Montessori Children's House of Hattiesburg in the Fall of 1982 and has served the children of Hattiesburg in a unique way for these 24+ years. We are heading toward the completion of a full 25 years of service in September of 2007. Rachel (Cindy) White Mrs. White (Miss Cindy, to us) is our longest held employee, having been with Montessori Children's House since November, 1977. She came to us with a diploma in Medical Assistance and with certification as a Nurse Aide. She was employed in that field for a season before changing her focus to the field of child development. She earned a CDA certificate in 2003 and enrolled in the Montessori Institute for Teacher Preparation, where she has completed two years of study.      Miss Cindy is married to Mr. Solomon White and has three children of her own. One of her sons completed two years here as a student. Miss Cindy is a very qualified teacher and Director. She will be able to assist in answering questions for parents in regards to enrollment, fees, policies, and more. Sara Lohrbach, Housekeeper Thanks to Miss Sara, our school is kept in tip-top condition. Bathrooms, carpets, floors and tables are cleaned every single day. Additionally, Miss Sara helps as a substitute teacher on occasion.
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