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Pink Tower Montessori School Opens In Avondale — Take A Look Inside

By Ariel Cheung | June 20, 2016 6:19am
 Pink Tower Montessori School has opened its doors after several months of renovations.
Pink Tower Montessori opens in Avondale
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AVONDALE — A child has perfected a skill when he can teach another child.

It's a "really beautiful" thing to see, said Ana-Maria Deheleanu, who owns the newly opened Pink Tower Montessori School in Avondale.

"The younger child is very encouraged to learn, thinking, 'Hey, he did it. So I can do it,'" Deheleanu said.

After six months of renovations, the preschool opened a few weeks ago at 3420 N. Elston Ave. in the former Our Baby shop.

After decades teaching music and Romanian, Deheleanu has a great respect for the Montessori style of teaching. While she's operated Lincoln Square Montessori School for several years, she said there was a need for the teaching philosophy in Avondale.

"They apply these set of skills later on to any field, wherever they go," she said. "They keep them grounded and caring, respectful and independent."

Ana-Maria Deheleanu opened Pink Tower Montessori School in Avondale. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

Like her other school, Pink Tower is split into two classrooms — one for children 2 or 3 years old and a larger classroom for children up to 6 years old. Pink Tower has room for 36 students.

And now that every part of the school has been perfected, Deheleanu said she's excited to get students enrolled.

Pink Tower has two classrooms, keeping younger children in a room with simpler tools and toys. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

"I like to have the little kids and make an impact on their very first years when they're forming their basic skills," she said. "If a parent is only interested in learning to read and how to hold a pencil, perhaps it's not the best choice."

Instead, Pink Tower focuses on development from every aspect. Like most Montessori schools, Pink Tower's classrooms are separated into sections dedicated to the senses, using tools such as its namesake tower of pink blocks to help children process concepts like dimension and muscle control.

Plus they learn to "become a good citizen," Deheleanu said. "We're teaching a lot of manners, grace, responsibility." The school will offer music lessons, Spanish classes and trips to the park.

After all, she pointed out, Yo-Yo Ma started playing cello when he was 2 years old.

"It's important at any age," even if a child isn't destined to be an orchestral prodigy, she said. "You make a good friend when you play an instrument."

Pink Tower Montessori opened at 3420 N. Elston Ave. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

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