ST. MARY'S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Our daughter has attended St Mary's since April 2013. She loves going to school! Some days she isn't ready to leave when we come to pick her up. St Mary's is a school not just a daycare provider. Yes there are several days a year that we have to make alternative arrangements for our daughter because of holidays and teacher prep days. This information is provided to families before enrollment so they can decide if the school will fit their families needs. The tuition is very reasonable for a private school. If you take a tour of the school you can see how much of an investment Chris and Nel have put into starting this school. Every classroom has plenty of Montessori materials for students to choose from. Montessori materials are not cheap. The classrooms are kept in immaculate condition. We are so happy to have found St Mary's and look forward to our daughter spending the next two years there. We only wish St Mary's Montessori taught Elementary ages as well :)

Pros: If you compare this place to Kinder Care, the teachers at St Montessori do a better job of caring for the kids. However that care is withering away lately because of higher enrollment and increased teacher/kids ratio. Cons: The fees are high. The school charges $945 or more for full time attendance ($945 for 8:00 am to 6:30 pm and higher if kids attend from 6:30 am). However, they close 4 weeks each year. When school is closed, parents pay extra $150/week. This is in addition to the monthly fee. They also close one week without giving parents any options at all. For 2014, the school closed July 28 to August 1. This feels like daylight robbery as parents must find alternative care after paying the full monthly fee. Quality of learning is subjective depending on which parent you ask. Extras $150 or so per week for 3 weeks that school is closed in addition to full monthly fee. Closed for a full week after charging full monthly fee - Cost $250+. Out of school field trips - optional. Last time cost $28. In-house field trip - NOT OPTIONAL. Fail to pay and your kid is NOT allowed to attend school that day even though you paid your monthly fee in full. Last time cost $50. Early check in or late pick up - $1 per minute. Want to watch your kid's end of year performance - $5 per person, $7 at the gate.

My son has been attending this school since January 2014 and he will continue until Kindergarden, with respect to other people, in my opinion in regards my son attending to Montessori school, he has improved his learning skills fast compare to previous schools he attended. I noticed this is a great quality school to prepare your child. I will highly recommend this private school.

My 4 year old son previously attended a large name daycare where my husband and I saw serious concerns in his educational development. He was basically left to play with toys and there were no outward signs that the staff cared about his growth. At this other daycare, he was surrounded by children who were acting out and who were not learning how to deal with conflict and frustration often coming home with bruises, bites and unexplained injuries that the teachers hadn't witnessed. When we moved our son to St. Mary's Montessori, it was as if a prayer were answered for us. I immediately felt like my son was in the hands of true educators! I felt an immediate connection with the staff from my first interaction with Mrs. Nel and her husband Mr. Chris, I knew this was more than just a business venture for them, they truly had a passion for what they were doing and they were making decisions that were in the best interest of all of the children (this could be seen in the delivery of healthy meals/snacks; the new playground equipment that had been installed; as well as the educational focus of each activity I could see the children engaged in). Within the first two months I saw dramatic changes in my son. He was becoming much happier, it was obvious that he began interacting with other children and adults in a more polite and courteous manner. He loves the teachers at St. Mary's! Within months of transferring he was able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, identify all of the continents, and was writing. In addition to teacher conferences where I receive an assessment of his educational development, I receive daily communication and pick up his work each Friday. This is truly a school, not a daycare. Our son is now asking to write numbers and letters independently and is showing more interest in attempting to read on his own. Studies prove that children develop lifelong study habits at this time in their life, and his enthusiasm for education makes me realize his placement at St. Mary's Montessori school was the perfect decision! My husband and I both agree that if you want your child to learn and take a positive step forward, then St. Mary's is the place for them. I also love that the school ensures there is a strong connection between the parents and their staff. I've thoroughly enjoyed attending the classroom parties for holidays. I saw that one of the other reviews said something about parents providing snacks and juices, etc. - and I wanted to comment that on the very rare occasion that I've noticed a sign up sheet for parents it was to provide additional food so that the parents could attend an event and eat with their child. I would love being involved more, I would absolutely love the chance to volunteer for any of the events. I, for one, certainly don't find the requests of the school to be any different than I encountered at the big name daycare - they too wanted a yearly registration fee. While the parent association has done some fundraising for additional money for special event venues and teacher appreciation, I've never felt it was inappropriate - as those funds shouldn't be expected to come from the money we spend for the normal schooling. I feel I get more than my money's worth.. St. Mary's is priceless in my opinion! We couldn't be happier!

My son has been enrolled at St. Mary's Montessori School for over a year now. I highly recommend the school for its high quality education in the Montessori tradition, excellent security (video cameras everywhere!), on-site chef who prepares healthy meals and snacks, open communication with the school administration (via email) and wonderful teachers. My son comes home everyday with new words. He even has a favorite teacher (Ms. Kelly) and subjects (geography). Surely that is a great sign. Addressing some of the negative reviews -- most seem to involve unexpected fees and days off. - Extra fees: There are fees and extras at every school. As a parent you learn to budget for these extras because there is no such thing as "all inclusive" at any school. Even in public schools they have fundraisers, after-school activity fees, sports uniforms and such. Many parents budget 10-15% additional for this per year. I think new parents go into sticker shock, but experienced parents know that this is normal. - Tuition: Private school education isn't cheap, but St. Mary's is well worth the expense. It is not the most expensive, but it is certainly the highest quality (even compared to private schools that cost more). Considering St. Mary's fees include an on-site chef who prepares fresh and healthy meals for the children, plus all snacks and drinks, I think the tuition they charge is well worth it. - Days off: I think those complaints are appropriate for a daycare facility. But St. Mary's is a school, not a daycare facility, hence the name. While they do provide care for younger kids, the majority of the students are in primary (Montessori version of pre-K) and it is run like a school. This means some parents will need a second childcare option on non-school days. Both my spouse and I are full-time professionals, yet we are able to manage. The alternative is just to stick with daycare or a nanny for your child instead of enrolling him or her in an actual school. Overall, I give St. Mary's five stars. The school administration and teachers are very responsive. I can tell they genuinely care about our children, which is what matters most in early childhood education.