Our family had a very negative experience at this school. We chose to change schools mid-year because we were so displeased and uncomfortable with the lack of communication and negative treatment from the leading teachers.
Regarding communication, on multiple occasions we did not receive important information until the last minute, or after it was too late:
On one occasion, I found out there had been a child with pink eye at school well after the fact.
On another occasion, my daughter had an open scratch on her chin. She was complaining during the entire evening, and said she had fallen at school and the teacher got mad. My husband had asked the teacher what happened when he picked up my daughter that day. The teacher stated that she didn't see anything, my daughter never complained about it, and suggested maybe she came to school with it already. I had washed her face that morning - she didn't have a scratch. There was no written communication regarding what happened. When I spoke to one of the co-owner teachers the next morning she said she saw something written down about it and would speak to the teacher. We still received nothing in writing.
On another occasion, I learned of a class holiday presentation two days prior. When I told the teacher I did not know about it she scoffed at me, said parents aren't paying attention, and that the information went home in a newsletter at the beginning of the month (2-3 weeks prior) in the cubby. I had not seen such a newsletter.
Regarding treatment, we experienced the co-owner teachers as judgmental and cold. We experienced this towards us as parents, and witnessed the same towards our child.
First, and most importantly, my daughter could never get comfortable with going to school here. She cried, screamed and clutched on to me tightly for weeks when I dropped her off. This did not happen at her prior school. This has not happened at the school attends now- ever.
Next, when I told the teacher I had not seen the newsletter in December (on the occasion stated above) she rolled her eyes and spoke to me in a judgmental manner thereafter. She said she knew I was "organized," but in a sarcastic way, implying I was not. I confronted her about it and she insinuated again that I was disorganized and that is why I did not receive the newsletter. I did not receive or see the newsletter, ever.
Once my mom took my daughter to a field trip to the pumpkin patch the one day per week she watches my daughter and she does not attend school. My mom told me that one of the co-owners sternly told my daughter to get out of the sandbox because it was time to go. My mom was standing by the teacher, had just conversed with the teacher, and she knew my mom would be taking her home. The other children were playing in the same area but the teacher said nothing to them about leaving. The other kids then played for about 10-15 more minutes before the field trip ended and they returned to school. My mom didn't understand why she spoke to my daughter that way about leaving when they weren't leaving then, and given that my mom was right next to her and would take my daughter home at her leisure. This was my mom's experience and it's consistent with the way I observed this same teacher speak to the children.
I asked if the newsletter could be emailed once a month to parents. The response was No, it was too much time email all the parents. I heard suggestions from other parents about needing increased communication. Such suggestions were rejected and met with a defensive attitude.
Prior to this school my daughter attended another preschool where she was happy. At that school we were satisfied with the loving and patient way the teachers treated the children. Now, post Fairfield Montessori, our daughter attends another school where she is happy, singing songs daily that she learns at school, and constantly and enthusiastically telling us about what she learns. I do not believe that our negative experience with this school was because of the Montessori model. I believe it was due to the cold, judgmental and unhappy environment created by the women that run the place. I am so glad we left. read more