Washington Montessori School,

240 Litchfield Turnpike, Washington, CT 06777

"My son attended WMS for 10 incredible years (kindergarten through 8th grade). Having grown up in NYC, I was fortunate to attend Riverdale Country Day School. When I moved to CT I was unfamiliar with the teachings of Maria Montessori. I decided to tour the school and saw the brilliance of joining a super smart academic program with a nurturing socialization environment. I can assure you now that WMS is academically on pair with a school like Riverdale. However, WMS has the the great advantage of teaching our children what it means to be part of an inclusive community and how good that feels. That's baked into the curriculum and the culture of the school. My son is now a senior in high school and has been accepted to his first choice for college. He is bright, respectful, kind, happy and thoughtful. Thank you WMS!"

"Both of our two girls have been at WMS since they were less than two years old (our oldest is now 7.5yrs old). It has been a wonderful experience for all of us. My husband and I both come from families of educators, and we are consistently impressed by the professionalism, empathy, and sense of community shown by the entire staff. Our kids' safety is paramount, and WMS works diligently to proactively address any potential security issues and keep the school community updated and informed. I never worry about their safety when my girls are at school. To be frank, we never planned to keep our kids in Montessori after pre-school, but after the experience we've had here and how excited our girls are to get to school every day, I can't imagine taking them to a different school now. Most kids go through a time where they feel pushed around/picked on by older kids, or experience other challenges (e.g., having a hard time leaving parents; missing family to the point of tears; transitioning to new classroom/teachers)...our kids are no exception. At WMS, as soon as teachers/administrators became aware of this issues, they were handled promptly and with a great deal of understanding and kindness -- for us as parents, as well as all children involved. Our kids are treated like people and are encouraged to use their minds to seek out information, rather than simply memorizing facts or figures. They're learning to think for themselves, which is a skill they will use for the rest of their lives. My husband and I are both busy working parents, so it can be quite a challenge for us to stay on top of goings-on at school. WMS is extremely conscious of this and makes every effort to communicate clearly and in a timely manner. They also offer childcare hours (at extremely reasonable rates), both before and after regular school hours, as well as after-school programs such as sports, cooking, and crafts, among others -- which has been a lifesaver for us on many occasions. Bonus: The girls actually want to stay for childcare and sign up for special programs, because they love being around their peers, teachers, and staff at the school that much, and they're eager to learn more whenever they can. We cannot recommend WMS more highly. Having grown up with parents (and grandparents) who were teachers and administrators ourselves, my husband and I recognize how difficult it is to keep everyone in a school community happy, safe, and informed. No one is perfect -- schools are certainly no different than people in that respect; but I can say without question that WMS is far better than most. If any areas are lacking, all you have to do is speak up and they work like crazy to improve it. You can't ask for better than that."

"We joined WMS when my older son started 4th grade. Because we had moved, this was the third school he had attended in three years, so we were concerned about his transition. However, since his first day at WMS 4 years ago, his teachers and classmates have treated him (and our entire family!) as if he had been there since kindergarten. The entire WMS community is warm and welcoming, and is committed to a comprehensive approach which values the whole child. My boys are now in 7th and 2nd grade and are thriving in the WMS environment which emphasizes hands-on learning and strongly values respect, mindfulness and awareness. The experiences my children have had at WMS are simply amazing. We are grateful every day to have found this wonderful school."

"For the last six years our family has had the privilege of being a true part of the Washington Montessori School community. The teachers and administrators present a calm and peaceful environment in which our spirited daughter thrives. The challenging and specific by design curriculum continues to amaze. It fosters the child centered Montessori philosophy which emphasizes and respects the individual, and his or her natural curiosity. Years ago, our then 6 year old child asked us for a calm place to learn. We found it. She has been home at WMS ever since."

"WMS has the most qualified, invested, nurturing, insightful and receptive teachers, who clearly want every child to succeed. Students learn through trial and error, are supported and guided through the process of learning and discovery, and are helped to be independent and take ownership of their learning. The program is extremely intentional, starting from the early years through the last, with consistent themes and subjects built upon and expanded as students graduate from one class to another, taking on greater academic challenges. The curriculum is well developed, hands-on, and supported and enhanced with wonderful resources and meaningful experiences. As parents, we have also had the privilege of spending time in the younger classrooms, and these Montessori principles are well rooted and students as young as 18 months are showing incredible independence, responsibility, compassion and awareness. The WMS program and community are exceptionally enriching and stimulating for its students as well as families, and beyond its educational mission, WMS has cultivated an incredible community, which includes the faculty, students, parents, and alumni."