The South Classroom Our South Class always seems hard at work or hard at play. Lots of learning goes on here as well as celebrations for every holiday throughout the school year. The classroom is really two rooms, a main seating area for table work and snack/lunch and another room which is used for Circle gatherings, demonstrations and floor work. This classroom contains our South Class (5-day, mornings, Monday-Friday) for 20 three to five-year-olds. It is also where children can be dropped off for our Earlybird Drop-off if parents require care before 9:00. Also, any older children (four to five-year-olds) who wish to have an Extended Day option until 3:30 use this classroom in the afternoons with our Explorers' Class. Alexandra Martin – Head Teacher and Explorers Teacher Alexandra (known to most of us as Alex), our South Class Head Teacher, is a native New Yorker and lives on the Upper West Side with her family. Alex has a Master's in Education, and has dual certification from the Department of Education in Childhood Education and in Art Education. Alex was an Art Educator at the Guggenheim Museum for five years before coming to us. Alex was the Head Teacher in the North class for 3 years and has now taken up residence in the South class. Alex has two sons; Sebastian, who just graduated from Morningside , and Xander who was born in September of 2007. Alex’s calm and nurturing nature sets the tone for a comfortable learning environment. One can see that Alex has an authentic appreciation for the needs of all of her students. Karyl Mpontsikaris - Montessori Teacher Karyl began teaching at Morningside in 1986. She brings a tremendous amount of experience as well as a love of music/dance education to the South Classroom. A native of New Bedford, MA she attended The Boston Conservatory of Music before coming to NYC in 1973 and has two grown children who both went to Morningside. Until 2006 she was also on the teaching staff of Pointes West where she taught Creative Movement and Pre Ballet classes to children ages 3 to 6. After leaving she decided to pursue her Montessori studies and received her diploma from the North American Montessori Center in June 2008. Her knowledge, kindness and patience are true benefits to both her students and to her colleagues. Sabina Rerecic – Assistant Teacher/Explorers Teacher Sabina has been with Morningside since 1982 and has continued to amaze her students (as well as her fellow teachers) with her boundless enthusiasm, energy and creativity. Her work ethic and dedication make her a favorite of her students and brings the South Classroom to life. She was born in Zagreb, Croatia and received a teaching diploma in 1970 from the Academy of Pedagogy at the Zagreb Teachers' College for Preschool Education in Zagreb (the former Yugoslavia). She has been working with young children since her teens and has been a teacher since 1970. She moved to New York City in 1978. She and her husband, John, have a daughter, Sandra. Sabina is also a teacher in our afternoon Explorers' class and is legendary for bringing every holiday celebration throughout the school year alive. She has also coordinated our year-end Graduation for many years.

The South Classroom

Our South Class always seems hard at work or hard at play. Lots of learning goes on here as well as celebrations for every holiday throughout the school year. The classroom is really two rooms, a main seating area for table work and snack/lunch and another room which is used for Circle gatherings, demonstrations and floor work.

This classroom contains our South Class (5-day, mornings, Monday-Friday) for 20 three to five-year-olds. It is also where children can be dropped off for our Earlybird Drop-off if parents require care before 9:00.

Also, any older children (four to five-year-olds) who wish to have an Extended Day option until 3:30 use this classroom in the afternoons with our Explorers' Class.

Alexandra Martin – Head Teacher and Explorers Teacher

Alexandra (known to most of us as Alex), our South Class Head Teacher, is a native New Yorker and lives on the Upper West Side with her family. Alex has a Master's in Education, and has dual certification from the Department of Education in Childhood Education and in Art Education.

Alex was an Art Educator at the Guggenheim Museum for five years before coming to us. Alex was the Head Teacher in the North class for 3 years and has now taken up residence in the South class.

Alex has two sons; Sebastian, who just graduated from Morningside , and Xander who was born in September of 2007.

Alex’s calm and nurturing nature sets the tone for a comfortable learning environment. One can see that Alex has an authentic appreciation for the needs of all of her students.

Karyl Mpontsikaris - Montessori Teacher

Karyl began teaching at Morningside in 1986. She brings a tremendous amount of experience as well as a love of music/dance education to the

South Classroom.

A native of New Bedford, MA she attended The Boston Conservatory of Music before coming to NYC in 1973 and has two grown children who both went to Morningside. Until 2006 she was also on the teaching staff of Pointes West where she taught Creative Movement and Pre Ballet classes to children ages 3 to 6. After leaving she decided to pursue her Montessori studies and received her diploma from the North American Montessori Center in June 2008.

Her knowledge, kindness and patience are true benefits to both her students and to her colleagues.

Sabina Rerecic – Assistant Teacher/Explorers Teacher

Sabina has been with Morningside since 1982 and has continued to amaze her students (as well as her fellow teachers) with her boundless enthusiasm, energy and creativity. Her work ethic and dedication make her a favorite of her students and brings the South Classroom to life.

She was born in Zagreb, Croatia and received a teaching diploma in 1970 from the Academy of Pedagogy at the Zagreb Teachers' College for Preschool Education in Zagreb (the former Yugoslavia). She has been working with young children since her teens and has been a teacher since 1970. She moved to New York City in 1978. She and her husband, John, have a daughter, Sandra.

Sabina is also a teacher in our afternoon Explorers' class and is legendary for bringing every holiday celebration throughout the school year alive. She has also coordinated our year-end Graduation for many years.