About the Event

At the near-end of a long, cold winter, there’s the promise of glam and glitter. Chemung Valley Montessori School will host “Sequinalia,” a gala fundraiser to celebrate its 35^th anniversary. The event will be held on Saturday, March 13, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, and includes a gourmet buffet, entertainment, dancing, and a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the non-profit school’s scholarship fund. The event is open to the public, and tickets are available in advance by contacting CVMS.

Horseheads native Michael DuBois, an alumnus of CVMS and Horseheads High School, will perform his highly creative one-man magic/juggling act. DuBois was recently featured on The Jay Leno Show. His act, The Solo Circus, is a fast paced, audience-interactive variety show featuring an all-original presentation of magic, juggling, telepathy, circus and sideshow stunts, all wrapped in a blanket of comedy.

Sequinalia will also feature dancing to the popular Nik Lite Band. There will be hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet buffet, cash bar, and silent auction, as well as some surprise amusements. Guests are invited to participate in the creative, fun-loving spirit of the event by “inspired dress” – anything from a Liberace-style  tuxedo – 100% sequin-covered – to overalls and a straw hat. “Anything goes as long as it’s fun!” says Sequinalia chair Lee Gaylord. “We planned this event to mirror the school’s spirit of creativity and delight.”

The event marks the growth of Chemung Valley Montessori School over the past 35 years. “We are really excited by this milestone,” said head of school George Conway. “CVMS has grown tremendously since 1974. We started with one teacher and a handful of preschoolers in a rented space and now we have two campuses, a staff of 32, 165 students age two through fourteen, and hundreds of graduates. We also would like this anniversary to live on by benefitting our scholarship fund. CVMS is a non-profit organization, and we are committed to making a fine Montessori education available to a diverse population of students—including those whose families are unable to pay the full amount of tuition.”

Among those attending the event will be veteran teachers Sheila Reed, Gail Bellohusen, and others who have taught countless area children. “We see the event as a chance for graduates and their families to reconnect with people who have been so important in their lives,” Conway said.

Tickets for the event are $75 per person or $700 for a table of ten. They are available at Imagine That! in Corning, Cappy’s in Elmira, or at Chemung Valley Montessori School. The Harbor Hotel is also offering attendees a special room rate of $99 that evening. For information or to order tickets, call (607) 562-8754, extension 110.

About Michael DuBois

Like many kids, Michael DuBois, son of Horseheads residents Roz and Dick DuBois, was fascinated by magic and juggling from an early age. With him, though, the fascination has never ended. He began learning and practicing before he could read, and he kept at it right through his graduation from Penn State University. There, he was president of the Penn State Juggling Club. His dream was to develop a show that would change the perspective on variety entertainment. Since his appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1974, he has been in high demand across the country, each year gaining more momentum and fans along the way.

Eight years ago, while in college, DuBois teamed up with a friend to develop what would be the first incarnation of Solo Circus. Their idea was to create a show that showcased technical skill, audience involvement, and a variety of entertaining segments incorporating magic, juggling, telepathy, circus & sideshow demonstrations.

Upon graduation, DuBois continued with the show, and has “never had to hold a ‘real job,’” he says. The act has appeared on national television, from NBC's Jay Leno show to MTV. DuBois has been featured in numerous national magazines including Campus Activities Magazine and Young Money, entertained millions of subscribers on Sirius Satellite Radio and performed at over 300 colleges, universities, and corporations across the country. Currently, Solo Circus maintains a full schedule of performances throughout America.

About Montessori Education

Based on the teachings of Dr.Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, the Montessori approach to education has proven its merit for more than a century. Recent brain research and studies in developmental psychology have continued to affirm its value. According to the American Montessori Society, “What ultimately became the Montessori method of education developed there, based upon Montessori's scientific observations of these children's almost effortless ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest in manipulating materials. Every piece of equipment, every exercise, every method Montessori developed was based on what she observed children to do "naturally," by themselves, unassisted by adults.

Although Maria Montessori’s tenet that “children teach themselves” has led skeptics to worry that children in Montessori schools simply do whatever they feel like doing without direction, “nothing could be farther from the truth,” says Conway. “In fact, our students are carefully guided to ensure that they not are not merely exposed to all of the learning tasks for their developmental level, but that they master them. This becomes very motivating for students, and they become eager to learn and very determined to accomplish their goals.” Indeed, CVMS students score well above regional averages on standardized tests.

More information about the approach and curriculum may be obtained by contacting CVMS at (607/562-8754), extension 110.

Enjoy some photos from the event!