Preschool to middle school Montessori based private school in Ithaca, NY.read more

I can't say enough good things about this wonderful place! Our daughter spent 8 years at EACMSI and…read moreit was a fantastic experience. She absolutely found her place in the community and developed as a caring and compassionate individual and as an artist. She was also extremely well prepared for a very rigorous high school experience. The integrated curriculum, trips, and community focus all come together to provide a well rounded and magical school experience.

Would absolutely recommend this preschool to anyone who is looking for a school for their littles…read more The teachers are all amazing, very caring, and take pride in their students. The kids all love it, and come home with new and relatable knowledge daily. Teachers are kind and very understanding, and go above and beyond for their kids and their families. Additionally, the other parents are amazing as well. Friendly, and very welcoming.

I firmly believe this is the best place in Syracuse for 3-5 year olds. I have three children who…read morehave attended, all with very different personalities and needs. MDS has been nurturing and perfectly suitable for each of them. The teachers are wonderful, and they care about each child's needs and strengths. And they have an amazing capacity to bring out the very best in each child!

My son currently attends Namaste and has been for a little over a year. He was with us in our home…read moreuntil 18 months, and I wanted to be sure he would be in good hands for a majority of the day. From the visit, to the first day, and now an year in, I can't think of another place I would want to send my child. He is so happy there: he talks about his friends, he shares how much he likes his teachers (the guide in his classroom has been there for over a decade - it was important for me to know that the people working there are also long-term and they're happy there), he walks in with so much confidence every morning. My child has grown so much over the past year - from toileting on his own, to dressing on his own, to learning patience, trusting other adults and children, feeding the goats his leftover lunch, spending time outside, interacting with children from a wide age-range - Namaste has it all. I am looking forward to many more years with them, and sending future children of mine there. I cannot recommend it enough. Logistically, the hours work for my family, there is after-school and occasional use hours, the families are kind, there's opportunities for parents to be involved with the community, the school breaks when the district breaks, and they are transparent about the schedule so you can plan around school being closed. There are different payment options. The school updates parents regularly on classroom happenings, and I get pictures of my child in his "natural habitat" regularly. They provide healthy snacks a few times a day.

Our daughter attended Namaste for three years, in the same classroom. The gift of her experience is…read morehard to capture in a few sentences. She has continually been challenged and supported academically, socially, and emotionally. Her artwork includes still-life and portrait drawings. She writes her name in cursive and was empowered to read at the age of five. She has solid math skills and knows all the continents...This is but a taste of what she has learned. More importantly, she is empowered to learn. The classroom environment allows her to help guide her own growth while challenging her to work on skills that will help her in the future (including things like using a hammer and nails and taking space in a place like a "peace loft" when she needs to!). She hasn't just learned how to be a student: she has learned how to be a human being in her world and contribute to it. People constantly comment on how "mature" she is for her age. She has self-control, she's relatively independent, she shows empathy for others, she is endlessly curious and asks thoughtful questions, and she can talk rather deeply about her feelings - among a myriad of other notable qualities related to her time at Namaste. The teachers are incredible, and the progress reports are detailed depictions of our daughter in the classroom. The school also encourages family participation throughout the year, including a "bring an adult to school day" and "gardening day." It is a beautiful community. My husband and I often remark on how Namaste is one of the best decisions we made as parents. What an incredible gift to give her this foundation for the rest of her life.

This institution does not feel like an institution. It feels like home, with lots of natural light,…read moremusic, laughter. Teachers are patient, kind, present. Mindfulness is practiced here among students and teachers alike. Yes, students do chores. That is one of the tenets of the Montessori way, and one main reason why I chose Trinity. Kids are taught to be civil with each other, to be responsible, to learn practices associated with real life in addition to the usual disciplines, such as math, writing, reading, etc. The approach at Trinity is to nourish the whole person with kindness, patience while imbibing a sense of responsibility to the whole classroom. This clown who complains about "child labor" doesn't understand the point of Montessori or its value.

I could not love Trinity more! As a teacher myself, I value the individual attention, attention to…read morecommunity, and developmentally appropriate curriculum that montessori affords. The teachers are all incredible, loving, and skilled professionals. The campus is stunningly beautiful, and could not be better designed to instill a sense of calm and wonder in our youngsters. We have one in the 3-6 classes now and one in Lower Elementary, and both are so happy every day to go to school, and I know it's because of the incredible environment that Trinity has created for them. I recommend this school to everyone I know.

My daughter has attended the Harley School since she was 3 years old and she's always excited about…read moregoing to school. And even more excited to come home and tell me about what she learned that day. Math is presented in fun and engaging ways so that she has learned to love it rather than be afraid of it. Risk taking is valued as part of growth and development, and the joy that comes from inquisitive young minds is heard throughout the halls at Harley. I cannot imagine my daughter anywhere else and it makes me feel very good as a parent to know that she is at the best school in Rochester.

High quality teachers.there is a very wide range of teaching styles.all of the teachers are very…read moreknowable in there fields and care about there students.school building in great condition technology is a big part of teaching at Harley!