We have two children attending the Village School ("School"), and have been there for over 5 years…read more When our first son started there at the Primary level (at 3.5 years old), it was not our intention to stay at a private Montessori school. However, each year, we saw our boys thriving at the School; not just academically but in their overall development as a person. This is a result of the experienced and dedicated teachers, principal, and staff. The Village School is one of very few Montessori schools in Bergen County that goes to 8th grade. We chose the School initially for this reason, in the event our children stayed on beyond Kindergarten. The School fosters a caring community environment within the school and beyond. It is an ethnically-diverse population of students, with many mix marriage households. The School was (and has been) proactive since Spring of 2020 in complying with COVID requirements to re-open school; so the students were able to start school in September in-person (for those who chose to do so). One week after the March, 2020 lockdown, the School was up and running for virtual learning; keeping a full day school schedule. The teachers worked tirelessly from June to September to get their classrooms re-oriented and ready for in-person learning; which is from 8:30 to 2:30 Monday to Thursday, with Friday being a 100% virtual school day. Despite the challenges this year, our family feels that our children are still being nourished socially and academically because of the support from the Village School.

An amazing place! The Village School is exceptional, not just with its curriculum and academics,…read morebut truly educating the whole child. It teaches not for the child to memorize, but to master and understand fully the concepts. They also hold executive functioning as a corner stone in its approach to education, something many children are loosing these days. It has structure, a robust and rigorous academic curriculum, and their enrichment programs harken back to what we used to have as children (woodworking, maker space, sewing, engineering, robotics, chess). They also teach Spanish beginning at the toddler level all the way through to eighth grade. We couldn't be happier that our children have thrived there and call it home.

My family moved from Chicago to NJ a few years ago. The EC community has been so welcoming that the…read moretransition went incredibly smoothly. Amazing academics and values that align with our Christian faith are taught in every class. Would recommend to all Christian families!

We absolutely love Guidepost! Our toddler has been so happy here, and it's amazing to see how much…read morehe's learned and developed in such a short time. The teachers are incredibly caring, attentive, and truly invested in his development. They truly understand toddlers and create a warm, nurturing environment where little ones feel safe, supported, and excited to explore. We've seen our little guy become more independent, confident, and curious every day, which has been so rewarding to watch. The Montessori approach is thoughtfully implemented, encouraging independence, curiosity, and a genuine love of learning. We've seen such amazing growth in our toddler. The school is also exceptionally clean and well-maintained, which gives us so much peace of mind. Everything feels organized, safe, and thoughtfully cared for. Communication with families is fantastic. We always feel informed, included, and supported, which makes a huge difference. The sense of community here is strong, and it really feels like an extension of our family. We're incredibly sad to be leaving as we're moving. It was honestly one of the hardest parts of our decision--Guidepost made it so difficult to go. That alone says so much about the impact it's had on our family. We're so grateful to have been part of this community and couldn't recommend it more highly!

We're about to mark one year at Guidepost in Mahwah and our experience has been great over that…read moreyear. Erika, Jessica, the lead guides in the classrooms, the floaters, and everyone we've interacted with have always left a positive impression on us. Our child is growing and learning so much from the guides at Guidepost. We've learned so much along the way about Montessori thanks to the team there, there are endless opportunities to meet other families and connect over events that happen every month, it has truly been a great experience for us. We were in a different school prior to Guidepost and I don't feel like it's even fair to compare the two. The care and thoughtfulness at Guidepost is different than anywhere else, the attention to details and how much our child has gained from Guidepost has been so impactful to watch. I'll also mention for any caregivers who have children with allergies or dietary restrictions - Guidepost is extremely thoughtful with our Vegan child. Whenever there are events, they go out of their way to tell us about them and make sure our child is included with a vegan option, they keep vegan treats when the class is having ice cream or cupcakes, the guides are constantly in contact with us about the snacks and substitutes that we can bring in, it's been a really wonderful experience compared to the last school we were in and we appreciate how thorough they have been with our family and always making sure our child is included.

I used to go to this elementary school some 15 years ago and remember new updates would happen…read morefrequently; new playground equipment, new technology in the computer lab, etc.. I now nanny and the children I watch attend(ed) Sicomac. They still are doing frequent updates and seem to offer more programs then ever before. For sure a top school.

Excellent school system here in central Bergen County with the local property taxes reflecting the…read morehigh cost of living in this community. The PTO are very, very involved in the schools (too much so at times in my experience) and the helicopter parents keep the educators on their toes nearly all the time. One thing that is nice is since the town has a high percent of moms at home (more than 65% in one survey) you can get connected with the community quickly. Kids are expected to and do go to top colleges so competition is brutal for the Harvard, Yale, etc. slots but your kids will be well prepared for the top schools in each state across the US

Not Pat Whitehead's Holmstead any longer. Had contact with this school recently and the experience…read morewas negative and tense. Newer staff was unfriendly and unwelcoming. It was such a disappointing interaction.

Have you ever read the Harry Potter books? If you have, then you know how Harry feels about…read moreHogwarts. Well, Holmstead was MY Hogwarts. For three years, Holmstead was my home away from home. It was the place where I felt grounded and safe, and where my voice was finally heard; all things I'd sorely lacked in my 15 years. I think of Holmstead often, as I keep in touch with many former classmates via facebook. We all have our stories, and we all came out the other side with help from the amazing program and staff Holmstead offers students like us; those that public schools often let slip through the cracks. I began attending Holmstead on October 1, 1991. I was terrified and had major social anxiety. My family life was chaotic (to say the least). I specifically asked for an IEP and to be classified by my high school's child study team (something no other student had ever done, I was told repeatedly). However, to get their attention I had to stop going to school, and I missed half of my freshman year as a result. I started my sophomore year almost a month late, but thanks to Holmstead, I graduated on time on June 22, 1994. I remember these dates because they are amongst the most significant of my life, along with the anniversary of when I first met my husband, our wedding day, my baby sister's birthday or the days we adopted our dogs. I was always independent. I am the eldest of three and I was always the "grounded" one in my various groups of friends. What I lacked was confidence and the ability to articulate my needs and feelings in constructive ways. Holmstead helped me find my voice. I had no idea how much I would need that in years to come, but thanks to the three years I spent under the tutelage of teachers like Jean Karpowich and Barbara O'Dea I learned how to advocate for myself, how to accept my faults, how to develop my skills and how to be a better person. I mentioned earlier that, despite missing much of my first year of high school, I graduated on time. That's because at Holmstead I was given the chance to do a lot of independent study. In my early 20s, I was given copies of my HS records. In them I found notes from the superintendent of my school district doubting if I'd have enough credits to graduate. I laughed imagining the man's face when he saw the response from Holmstead... not only did I have enough, I had more than my IEP required. In 2004, I was honored to be asked to speak at a parents' night about life after Holmstead. My path was not the smoothest. I had flunked out of college the year after leaving Holmstead. I chose the wrong college for the wrong reasons. However, that was an experience that helped me grow as a person. Eventually, using the resources I had learned while at Holmstead, I was able to put aside the shame of that failure and realize it was just a bump in the road. I'd been through worse, and would go through worse later in life. I returned to college as an adult and completed a BA in anthropology. With more maturity and self-respect I was better able to appreciate the gift of being able to study something I loved. I also had the unwavering support of my husband, a man I would not be with had I not gone to Holmstead and learned what I needed to be true to myself. I would've been too afraid to take the chance on love, too timid to fight for it, too jaded to believe it could work out. Yes, believe it or not, these are all skills I first began to develop while reading The Tempest or learning about genetics at Holmstead. It was my intention, when infertility derailed my plans to be a mom, to become a teacher. I returned to school to get a Master's degree in secondary education. I wanted to teach at a public high school, to be the kind of teacher that could change lives for the better. I wanted to give back because of how much I'd been given by the teachers at Holmstead. Unfortunately I had to accept that this dream was not to be realized due to a chronic pain condition that also causes cognitive issues. Again, a lost dream that I had to face, and again something I don't think I could've handled without my husband and the life lessons and skills I learned at Holmstead. I don't think it's a coincidence that most of the current teachers and staff members at Holmstead today were there when I was a student, despite the 20+ years that have gone by since. My work in early childhood education taught me that you are given so much from the children you are entrusted with, and I believe the staff at Holmstead is so steady for this reason. I will be forever grateful for those years at Holmstead, and to Patricia Whitehead, Barbara, Jean and all the staff (especially Regina) and teachers (even those I never had a class with - like Steve) who give so much of themselves to help students like me. I take credit for being open to the journey, but view these amazing human beings as my tour guides. I can never thank you all enough.