About Us

A2Z Australia Distribution is a Project of the Montessori Adolescent Micro Economy Students at the Sydney Montessori High School

Maria's Market is organized and operated by members of the Adolescent Community at Sydney Montessori High School (Sutherland Shire Montessori School). It was registered as a business in early 2009 to provide a way to earn money to support our micro economy. As well as distributing A2Z Montessori equipment we sell, books, fresh produce, healthy energy drinks, handcrafts and recycled products.

Our business has grown from selling the occasional product at the school gate to a global organization that deals with suppliers in the USA, China and New Zealand and customers all over Australia. Much of our work involves e-commerce, so we are getting good at using spreadsheets and communicating with email, however we are still growing our face to face business through our shop located in our school grounds. While we are new at this we have the support of a several adults who are teaching us techniques of production and exchange and the accounting process so that we can keep track of expenditure and income and make good financial decisions. Everyone has a different job to do some work on producing, some work on obtaining products from other people, some work on e-sales and distributing, some work on the accounts and marketing, and some work in the shop. When asked who we are and what do we do, our reply is whatever you want us to be and do. Our job is to serve the community.

Tim Ghali
Adolescent Student (Stage 4),
SMHS – Maria's Market
Distributers for A2Z Montessori

About the Founder of A2Z Montessori

A2Z Montessori was set up by Juanita Benson in 2007. Juanita lived with her family in China for 9 years prior to her move to New Zealand and was involved in the manufacturing of wooden toys and educational equipment specializing in teaching aids.

Being fluent in Mandarin and well versed in the Chinese culture, Juanita participated in the setting up of a number of kindergartens while living in China. She also set up a quality control company which guaranties the quality of all her product imports to Australia and New Zealand. Her experience in education and teaching aid manufacturing along with her interest in making Montessori classroom equipment more affordable with a view to encourage their expansion has been the driving force behind the setting up of A2Z Montessori.