Enrolling my son into York Montessori has been one of the best decisions me and my wife has made for his future. I highly recommend YMS to anyone who is looking for a school for their child. Here’s some more detailed information based on my wife and I’s experience so far.
Staff: The staff we have met have been amazing – teachers are very warm, experienced, and patient. In the parent/teacher interviews, there’s sufficient time for us to get our questions answered and we’re invited to set-up separate meetings if necessary. The Director and Admin staff are extremely accommodating and responsive as we’ve had to make last-minute requests for extended care on a few occasions and they always have made it work.
Program: Since starting at YMS (Toddler program and now in Pre-Casa), my son has learned so many new skills that wow us and is so proud when he shows them off. He’s always happy to go to YMS, a testament to the great program there. We get daily reports on sleep, meals, and potty plus detailed write-ups on the report cards. When comparing the information YMS provides vs. other Montessori’s that my friends use, YMS wins hands-down. Parents receive an orientation on the material that the children use and explain why it helps.
Food: YMS provides a healthy variety of food for lunch and snacks. It rotates weekly and changes each season. They have policies to accommodate common allergies (e.g. no nuts) and they are good at checking if something is brought in from the outside (e.g. treats for a bday).
Security/Cleanliness: We feel that our son is always safe at YMS. Their doors are locked, security cameras in place, good maintenance of property (e.g. snow removal), reminders about driving carefully in the parking lot, and play areas are safe. The classrooms are kept clean – never a problem.
Extras: The curriculum has a number of social activities for parents. For example, they have a “cheese and wine” event for parents to socialize and learn about the program, a fun BBQ in the summer, field trips for older children and attractions brought into the classroom for younger children who are not yet ready for field trips.
Dat K.