Childrens House Montessori
Categories:
Community & Social Services, Child Care
Products & Services:
The CHMS Toddler Program is for children 24 months to 33 months old. The CHMS Preschool Program is for children from 2 1/2 to 6 years of age.
Message from Childrens House Montessori
Children's House Montessori School (CHMS) is a Montessori school serving children from 2 to 6 years of age. CHMS is licensed by Arlington County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is our mission to nurture each child's love of learning; respect each child's individual development; and encourage each child to undertake with confidence that which inspires him/her. CHMS offers both academic-year and summer-camp programs. The academic-year program provides a progressive Montessori curriculum and special enrichment activities during morning classes, followed by an enrichment program during the afternoons. The enrichment program features art, gross motor activities, music, recreation, and storytelling. The summer program incorporates daily Montessori lessons as well as thematic sessions such as art, music, cooking, and nature studies. The staff is comprised of highly-trained professionals and certified Montessori teachers who create a caring, nurturing environment for your child.
Insider Pages Reviews for Childrens House Montessori
Do not get trapped into a 2 year contract!!!! The overbearing owner/administrator may try to force you in to one but you are better off going somewhere else entirely. They are not qualified to teach kindergarten and have only a couple of kids who stay because they were trapped. Teacher turnover is unusually high and there have been times when there has been no certified teacher in the classroom making it no more than a super expensive daycare. Teachers are not allowed to communicate directly with parents. Questions for teachers to answer during parent teacher conferences are supposed to be sent to the administrator for review a week in advance. What kind of policy is that? I wish we had never found this school and rue the day that we enrolled. Interaction between parents is discouraged. There is no parent advisory board and no board of directors. This is a privately owned business run by a dictator who will terminate your child from the program with no notice if you don't toe the line. Also, this school is a member of the AMS but only an Associate Member. This means that they are not an accredited Montessori School. Associate schools: The school must have an AMS-, AMI-, NCME-, or other MACTE-credentialed lead teacher in some, but not all, classrooms.
Posted 09/04/09 | Report Abuse
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I wished there were true and objective reviews for this school when I was considering this school for my child, but there weren't any at that time. I put my child there anyway hoping it would be a great experience but I was very disappointed. So for the other parents who are thinking about putting their children there, here is some insider's experience. The head of school expects children to obey orders and not to ask questions. She said more than one time to me "who cares how she (my child) feels". Last winter season when my child returned school from a week long sick leave her teacher volunteered to keep her inside at ourdoor activity times so she wouldn't get sick again but the head of school said "if your child is not well enough to go outside you cannot bring her to school". On the other hand, the teachers there are all nice and warm and loving. My child learned a lot from her teachers and she loves them too.
Posted 07/17/09 | Report Abuse
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Our daughter has had a great experience at the CHMS toddler program. Sure, it's the first year that the program has existed, so there has been a learning curve, but the progress I see in my child is great. She looks forward to going every day and loves her teachers (who she does hug all the time). The teachers have pushed us to push her more in learning and I appreciate that-thanks to them our daughter was potty trained a few months after her 2nd birthday and is very independent in lots of ways. She has become extremely communicative and loves all of the activities she does in school.
I think a preschool, or any private school, is a very personal choice-a school won't be able to please everybody, but we have certainly been pleased enough to enroll her in the older preschool with no qualms whatsoever.
Posted 04/15/09 | Report Abuse
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what I thought would be a great experience turned out horribly for our family. The " new" toddler program is just that new to all the uncertified teachers. They treat the toddlers as if they are beyond their years and do not allow for any interaction with parents. Can only interact with Director who is very controlling and has a very hostile temperment. Hyper crtical of children and never any smiles or warm embraces for you children. overall horrific experience. They should discontinue this program. If your child is at all active, happy or curious this is NOT the place for him/her.
Posted 01/17/09 | Report Abuse
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