Making the decision about where to educate our precious children is one of the most profoundly…read moreimportant parts of being a parent. Our goal was to have our daughter in a place where she would love being just as much as she does our home, and where she would develop academically and emotionally without the stress of repeated assessments. Our desires for her have been met and have been exceeded in ways we never dreamed they would. To explain the beauty of VMS is impossible to do in a short review and yet it's quite simple; the school is a place of peace. Some concepts are only understood when they are experienced first-hand. Come see the way the children operate like a well-oiled machine, how the teachers are keen observers who gently guide when they meet in small groups and individually with children and how they facilitate peaceful interactions between even the youngest children. Come see the carefully planned, stimulating environment which encourages creative learning and freedom of choice within a structure specific to each child. Walk the grounds and breathe in the air of the field, around the lake, in the garden and in the forest habitat beside the school. My truest, most heartfelt desire is that our country would experience this type of educational structure for the well-being of our children. Maria Montessori would be proud to know her legacy is being honored by Village Montessori School at Bluemont.

This is an incredible school that stays absolutely true to the Montessori philosophies and embraces…read moreeach child exactly where they are. The entire staff is child-focused and you can tell they truly enjoy what they do. The setup of the campus is nothing short of incredible. The children are given so many experiences they could never have inside of a "regular" classroom. The whole-life teachings are truly the way I wish all education would be designed. The empowerment, life skills, and sense of self your child will gain from this environment will benefit them even more as they get older. The elementary children are given even more opportunities to blossom with school plays, field trips, and maximizing their developing intellect to create "joyful scholars". Additionally smaller class sizes allow the children to be able to investigate and subject more deeply so they gain mastery of a concept as opposed to just a basic understanding. The staff is also very open to questions and brainstorming sessions to secure an environment for your chid to flourish. The kind, knowledgeable, and warm way in which they interact with students and parents alike is a beautiful example for any education system. I have 3 children who have attended Montessori programs spanning nearly 20 years- this school is the very best and I am so grateful to have found it.

I don't know what Bill's standards are but this place is not a dump by any means. The center is…read morewell maintained but even more so, it's very much geared to be a loving and enriching environment for the kids. Different sections of the building have been built at different times so the look is more quaint but it's clean and organized. Michele (the director) is amazing and goes above and beyond to make sure that you and your kids are taken care of and to make you feel like this really is a family environment. All of the teachers there are very warm and inviting and foster the family feel that Michele has established. My kids (now 10 and 4) have been going here for over two years now and I have no intention of taking them out! They love it here and I trust this center wholly. Also, I don't know why it says I'm in San Francisco, CA because I live in Charles Town, WV.

Honestly, this place is a dump. The "director" can't even compose a coherent sentence. Reading her…read morecorrespondence is like reading a 5th grade book report - you just want to go over it wth a red pen and send it back. Truly embarrassing.

So glad we came to MLMS! After two years of frustration with the local public school system, I…read morechose to homeschool our son. I found homeschooling was not for us. Being a mom is hard work but being mom and the teacher of a very active boy was just not for our family. We looked into the private school options and MLMS was recommended to us by close friends. I researched the Montessori Method and felt it was the best fit for our family. We were warmly welcomed into the Mountain Laurel family. Throughout our sons first year, I participated in workshops at the school and was asked to help at school events. We really were began to understand the Montessori method and how we can incorporate these principals into our home. I really wished we found MLMS years ago.

My younger two children have been enrolled at MLMS since they were very young. My son started in…read morethe toddler program, and my daughter in primary. They are now 10 & 12 years old, and have blossomed academically and socially at this school. Their math and reading skills are strong, and they are excellent at solving problems. I've found that math is actually one of the strengths of MLMS, as the concepts get presented in a concrete way, allowing for a firm grasp of the material. Later, as more abstract thinking is required, being able to return to a strong spatial foundation is greatly beneficial. The opportunity to master skills is available even above their current grade level, and being able to demonstrate that mastery to the younger students in the form of lessons is an excellent way to cement those skills and to form personal confidence. One concern I have had at times was that my children were falling behind in one area or another, but this was always addressed as it became apparent. Recognizing when one needs help in a particular area, and then moving to meet the challenge of addressing it is a skill in an of itself. Successful adults do this all of the time. The physicist Richard Feynman pointed out in one of his discussions of mathematics that early math does not proceed in an orderly fashion. You can often learn the concepts out of the traditional order, finding that it is often possible to derive ideas in multiple directions. Much (though not all) of early learning is like this - you can attain more strength in one domain, and then address another as you note available challenges. This is one of the great strengths of the Montessori system.

Had a great time, learned lots and had wonderful bread to eat!! what could be better except a five…read morestar review?

I've been following Melinda for a while and was really excited to attend her class in Middleburg…read more Unfortunately, there were a few obstacles that kept getting in the way, like coordinating with my family. However, things fell into place during our layovers and we were able to join the open class during our available time slot. It turned out to be a lively and enjoyable experience overall. In the class, you have everything you need to succeed right at your table. You'll be sharing a table with another baker, so I recommend bringing a friend or family member along. Additionally, you'll receive a folder and a recipe sheet with a pencil to follow along with. The class is very hands-on, and I was lucky that my partner was able to take some photos while my hands were covered in flour. While we were working, we had the option to enjoy some refreshing beverages like lemonade, water, and tea. We worked diligently from 1pm to 5pm without any breaks. By the time we finally got to eat around 5:15, I was quite hungry. As someone with a creative mind, I would have loved to have some time to experiment with different dough designs or decorate the Danish pastries. It would have been exciting to incorporate bold flavor choices into our rolled-up croissants as well. Perhaps in the future, there could be a class dedicated to a creative open studio session day. Another suggestion I have is to have a grazing station with chilled snacks near the drinks, so we could nibble on something while working or receiving instructions. However, since we were on the go all day and didn't eat, that was on us for arriving to class hungry. I highly recommend this class. The community of students and Melinda herself create a wonderful atmosphere. You can tell that she goes beyond just teaching the course and keeps the conversation going. If you don't have any experience in bread making, I suggest starting with the fundamentals course and then progressing to the intermediate and advanced levels. Make sure to check the website for the available classes, as they tend to sell out quickly. It took us years to find a class that fit our schedules, but we would definitely do it again. It was a lot of fun!

Excellent education for our daughter with small class sizes. Lots of education resources provided.read more

If you feel like doing charity work, then send your daughter here! The tuition is just a waste of…read moremoney, all the school wants is money. Once you pay up, you'll never get your money worth just like donating to a charity. Well, worst than charity, because at least by donating to charities you get to deduct taxes, but here you just get dysfunctional, socially awkward and spoiled brats after your generous donation :)