REVIEW OF York Montessori School BY parent, Xiaoqiang Chen

(4.5) Student Experience

My daughter has had a wonderful experience at York Montessori School. She started in the toddler class and is now in the casa class. She loves going to school every day and always comes home excited to tell us about her day. For example, she often talks about the fun she has with practical life activities, like pouring water and buttoning frames. These activities make her feel independent and capable. She also loves the art classes—they did a painting project where she made a beautiful rainbow picture. She feels happy and safe at school, and she’s made some great friends. She especially enjoys the mixed-age classroom, where she can learn from older kids and help younger ones. The only thing she finds a bit disappointing is that sometimes the outdoor playtime feels too short.

(5) School Leadership

The school leadership at York Montessori is very approachable and responsive. Whenever we've had a concern, they've addressed it promptly and thoughtfully. For instance, when we had questions about our daughter's social progress, the principal took the time to meet with us and explain everything in detail. They also foster a positive environment by encouraging open communication. Discipline is handled fairly, and they always make sure to explain the reasons behind any decisions to both parents and students. The regular newsletters keep us well-informed about what's happening at the school.

(4.5) Teaching

The teachers at York Montessori School are outstanding. They create a warm, engaging environment where children feel excited to learn. Lessons are designed to be interactive and hands-on, making even complex topics accessible and enjoyable. Storytelling is used to teach math concepts, helping children grasp ideas through relatable narratives, while visual aids like toy animals make learning about nature and animal behaviour more tangible and memorable. At one point, our daughter tended to stick to activities she was already comfortable with, avoiding more challenging tasks. The teachers quickly noticed this pattern and brought it to our attention in a thoughtful and supportive way. They explained the importance of gently encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone and suggested specific activities we could do at home to help, such as describing pictures in detail to improve focus and critical thinking. Their insight was incredibly helpful, and after incorporating their suggestions, we noticed positive changes in her confidence and willingness to take on new challenges.

(4.5) Academics

The academic program at York Montessori School is really good. It helps kids get strong in reading, writing, and math by using fun, hands-on ways to learn. Instead of just memorizing things, the school lets kids play with stuff to understand better. For example, in math, they use blocks and counters to make numbers easier to see. The school also helps kids solve problems and be curious. They teach reading with phonics, which has made my daughter love books. In science, they do cool experiments, like mixing different liquids to see what happens. This helps kids learn about the world around them. My daughter even did a mini-project on rainbows, which she loved. It helped her learn how to find and share new information. The school is great at mixing structured lessons with time for kids to explore on their own. This helps them stay interested and excited about learning. It also gives them the skills and confidence they need to do well in school later on.

(4) Extracurriculars

York Montessori has a few good extracurricular activities, like French, music, and taekwondo. These give kids a chance to try new things outside of regular schoolwork. Our daughter really likes French. Her teacher says she’s very active in class and loves singing French songs. However, we think there could be more variety to meet different interests. Adding activities like art, drama, or science clubs could make it even better. We like that the school wants kids to grow in many ways and hope to see more choices in the future.

(4.5) Students

The students at York Montessori are really nice and make everyone feel welcome. They come from different places, but they all treat each other with kindness and respect. Our daughter has made lots of friends and is always excited to see them at school. This shows how friendly and positive the school is. One cool thing about the school is the buddy system. Older kids help younger ones, and our daughter loves it. It’s fun for her and helps her learn from her older friends. This system helps older kids feel responsible and gives younger kids someone to look up to. When kids support and encourage each other, it helps them build strong friendships, feel more confident, and learn to care for others. It makes the school a great place for kids to grow and learn together.

(4.5) School Life

Our daughter absolutely loves going to York Montessori every day. She wakes up excited and can't wait to get to school. When she gets home, she's always eager to share all the new things she learned and the fun activities she did. For example, she recently told us about a science experiment where they mixed different liquids to see what would happen. She was so excited about it that she wanted to try it at home too! One of the things we appreciate most about York Montessori is how they balance learning and play. The school makes sure that students have plenty of time for focused learning, but they also get lots of time to play and explore. For example, there are special play areas where kids can build with blocks, draw, or just run around and have fun. This balance keeps the kids motivated and helps them develop in many different ways. Our daughter has made a lot of friends and is learning important social skills, like how to share and take turns. However, we think there's one area that could be enhanced: more outdoor activities. Our daughter loves being outside and would really benefit from additional opportunities for outdoor exploration and play. For example, there could be more nature walks or outdoor science experiments. Right now, the school has a small playground, but we think expanding this to include more outdoor learning would be fantastic.

(4.5) Community

The parents at York Montessori School are really nice and always ready to help. From the start, families are encouraged to get to know each other and be part of the school community. When we first joined, a teacher paired us with another family who had been there for a while. They helped us figure out the daily routines and school events. It was great to have someone to ask questions and get advice from. There are lots of chances for parents to stay involved. We have parent-teacher meetings where we can talk about how our daughter is doing in school. The teachers share what she’s good at and where she might need some help. These meetings help us feel like we’re part of her learning journey. The school also has fun events that bring families together. One of our favourites is the summer picnic. It’s a chance for parents, teachers, and kids to hang out and make friends outside the classroom. These events help us feel more connected to the school and each other.

(4) School Location

The school is really close to the highway, which makes it super easy to get to, no matter if you’re coming from work or home. Drop-offs and pick-ups are a breeze, and you don’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic. This is a big plus for busy families. The downside is that the playground is a bit smaller than some other schools because of the limited space. But the school does a good job of using the space they have. Even though the outdoor space is small, the classrooms are really big. They’re much larger than those in many other schools, which gives the kids plenty of room to move around and do hands-on activities. The bigger classrooms also mean smaller class sizes, so the teachers can give each student more attention. This helps create a calm and focused learning environment where the kids feel comfortable and can learn better.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process at York Montessori was really easy and not stressful at all. The people in charge of admissions spent time getting to know us and understanding what we needed. They were very helpful and made sure we had all the information we needed. For example, we moved to the area right before the school year started. We knew the school had a long waiting list, but we reached out to see if our daughter could start right away. The admissions team was really understanding and made an exception for us. They said yes, and we were so grateful! One tip for parents who are thinking about sending their kids there is to visit the school and see it in action. That really helped us decide.