As a practicum student at Westside Montessori School, I had the privilege of experiencing firsthand the exceptional educational environment that this school offers. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a nurturing and enriching Montessori education for their children. Throughout my practicum, I was welcomed with open arms by the dedicated staff and teachers at Westside Montessori School. Their commitment to Montessori principles and their passion for early childhood education were evident in every aspect of the school. I was immediately struck by the warm and welcoming atmosphere at Westside Montessori School. The sense of community and collaboration among the staff and children was palpable. The teachers fostered an inclusive and supportive environment where every child felt valued and encouraged to explore and learn at their own pace. Under the guidance of the experienced and knowledgeable teachers, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of the Montessori approach. The classrooms were carefully prepared, with thoughtfully arranged materials that engaged and stimulated the children's natural curiosity. It was inspiring to see how the children independently chose their activities, developed concentration, and gained a deep understanding of the concepts they were exploring. One aspect that truly stood out to me was the emphasis on mixed-age groupings. This allowed children to learn from and support one another, promoting empathy, cooperation, and a sense of responsibility. I observed older children taking on leadership roles, guiding their younger peers, and fostering a strong sense of community within the classroom. Throughout my practicum, the teachers at Westside Montessori School provided invaluable guidance and mentorship. Their expertise, dedication, and genuine care for each child's development were truly remarkable. I was fortunate to witness their ability to adapt lessons and activities to meet the unique needs and interests of each child, fostering a love for learning and empowering them to become independent thinkers. My time at Westside Montessori School has been an enriching and rewarding experience. I am grateful for the opportunities I had to observe and participate in the Montessori classrooms, witness the growth of the children, and contribute to their learning journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Westside Montessori School to any parent seeking an exceptional Montessori education for their child. The dedication of the staff, the inclusive environment, and the inspiring Montessori approach make this school truly outstanding. Westside Montessori School is a shining example of Maria Montessori's educational philosophy. read more

I speak from the heart when I say that I LOVE Westside Montessori School. It is an incredible home away from home for my children. You can easily see the dedication and care that the school puts into everything it does. Here is just one example... When the world went into lockdown in March 2020, without skipping a beat, school went online, reaching out to the students and families through Zoom, providing class meet ups, storytime read alouds, activity tutorials, science experiments, Montessori ideas for the home, songs to sing along to and so much more. They created and uploaded teacher made videos to Youtube so that families could access them at anytime. The school even set up online activities that the whole family could participate in together like family time yoga and whole school dance parties on Zoom. Oh boy did we love those dance parties! They were the highlight of our week. We could send in song requests ahead of time and the children were so excited when "their" song came on. It was so heartwarming to see the school community come together for these special events. Westside Montessori School provided us with so much joy and light during what was a very scary time for our family. When schools and businesses were closing down, this school and its amazing, dedicated teachers, opened up their hearts and zoomed into our homes from their own to make sure that the children felt connected and cared for. You could feel the love through the screen, a love for what they do and who they do it for. Two months into lockdown, schools were given the go-ahead to re-open. While our family was still nervous about leaving the house, we felt confident that our "home away from home" would be the next best place for our children to be. I am so thankful to have found this school. read more

This school is the best investment I've ever made. I'm a Montessori teacher myself and am (according to literally everyone who knows me) extremely picky. The staff- from the teachers to the admin- at WMS are the best. My daughter started a year ago, and in that short time, she has thrived. She comes home asking questions, is curious, and loves learning. She hates vacations because she misses her teachers. Even during Covid-closure, the school was phenomenal. They put out way more videos than anyone had a right to expect, did daily Zooms and made sure the students and families were engaged and made aware of every change as it happened. The school makes it very clear at the beginning- when you first apply they make it known that it is a three year program. It's written into every contract and yearly renewal, and there are no surprises for how the curriculum, payment schedule or non-refundable deposits are laid out. I love how simple and clear the entire process and expectations are. I'm planning on sending my daughter to the WMS elementary program in 2 years to continue with this fabulous group of educators. I literally cannot recommend WMS enough. Wonderful school, wonderful and dedicated staff, and clear and direct admin. It's been an incredible experience for us. read more

Westside Montessori School sets the standard for how all early childhood programs and schools should be run in our city. Their motto, "a different kind of school" couldn't be more true. Their Montessori-inspired program is without question the BEST-every child flourishes in their remarkable care. However, what sets this school apart from others is its heart. If you are searching for a school that honours the whole child- where children are viewed as strong, capable and full of wonder and potential this is the place for you. At this school, you will find the most loving, nurturing, dedicated, passionate and professional teachers. Every staff member gets to know the children on a one-on-one basis. They see your child for who he or she is and diversity, individuality and creativity are celebrated. The teachers respect and embrace every child's stage of development and individual learning needs. These beautiful connections give your child the confidence and support to develop key skills in early literacy, mathematics, inquiry and social-emotional learning. I feel blessed that my son has begun his educational journey in their incredible program. read more

I was so nervous to choose a school for my children. After 3 years of having them at home, loving them unconditionally and seeing every smile and tear, how do you send them off to be with "strangers" for hours every day? How do you pick that perfect school with staff who will love your child, nurture their social and emotional growth, and teach them to expand their understanding of the world around them while nurturing genuine curiosity and love of learning? You pick WMS. My children have both attended WMS and it has been an amazing period in their lives. The attention to detail, the personal understanding of each child as an individual and the exceptional academic experience makes this a school like no other. No school has a more dedicated staff, a more well-planned curriculum or a better experience for each and every child. Children come out of the school ready to dive headfirst into their elementary experiences with a strong foundation in general knowledge, math, reading and writing. My girls loved each and every day there. WMS was absolutely the perfect choice! read more

This is THE VERY BEST early years environment. This preschool through Kindergarten program is unlike any other. The Montessori teachers are incredible. They are kind, warm, talented for whom I have the highest respect. The classrooms are bright, engaging spaces with age-appropriate learning tools where children learn in a hands-on way. Every detail of my daughter's development is thought out and guided. The holidays are celebrated, the atmosphere is fun, dynamic. There is always a lot happening, plenty to look forward to. My daughter LOVES coming to school everyday. She adores her teachers and can't wait to see them and her friends each day. I've also formed friendships with parents at the school. It's a wonderful, supportive community of families who are committed to a true Montessori school, a three year foundational education for their children. These are a child's key formative years and WMS is an incomparable school setting for my little girl. read more

I'm a huge supporter of Westside. We moved into the neighbourhood hoping to get in. It was the best day when we got the call and I jumped up and down all the while trueing to remain calm during the call - "Yes, I'll take the spot." while my heart burst with joy. My kid is starting Kindergarten in September. I feel good every time I drop her off knowing that she will be taken care of and loved. The education is well-rounded. She is exposed to composers and artists, field trips in the city that I would have never thought of. What I also love is how diverse the community is. There are all walks of life which you can tell from the birthday parties. This is where I want my kid to grow up, to spend her Kindergarten year. She gets to be a leader and I see the confidence in her that she can only get by being a part of a strong Montessori school. I love Westside and am thinking about having another kid just so we can keep attending :) read more

I cannot begin to express what WMS has meant to our daughter and our family. Westside Montessori truly goes above and beyond for your child once she steps through those magical doors. If education is truly the best gift parents can give to their children then every parent should consider having their children attend WMS. The classrooms are absolutely beautiful filled with soothing colors and stimulating learning tools and the teachers, the teachers are what makes WMS so special. Each teacher is tremendous and really cares about your child. They are accommodating to each child's ability and embrace them as bright and curious individuals. In my honest opinion any school our daughter will go to afterwards will not compare to the attention, care, environment and quality WMS provides. I truly see the difference WMS brings in our daughter's life and my husband and I are proud to be part of the WMS family. read more

Westside Montessori School is EXEMPLARY. Everything they do is above par. During school closings after Spring Break, they stood out for how they handled virtual learning. They produced outstanding content and connects that showcased the excellent teaching standards that my child is fortunate enough to receive day in and day out. I knew the school was great but during this glimpse into how the teachers teach, the level of education my child is getting makes me that much more grateful to be a part of such a place. How they handled the re-opening after covid again showed the commitment to the children and families. From the teachers, administration, assistants and specialists staff, I congratulate them on a superb job. read more

Westside Montessori School was highly recommended to us by several couples in our neighbourhood. As a first time dad, I didn't know much about Montessori or really what to look for in a preschool. My wife and I were so impressed by the amazing classrooms and warmth and experience of the teachers when we attended the school open house. The administration team is very welcoming and knowledgeable and gave us great information on the Montessori philosophy and teaching method. We knew this would be a great place for our son. He loves school and comes home every day sharing what he has learned. His confidence and vocabulary has grown so much, all thanks to this fantastic school. read more

This is an amazing place for toddlers to become global citizens. The staff are kind, warm, respectful and loved by their students. The program is developed with so much research and science behind it, and taught in a way that feels effortless and natural. The integrity, confidence and leadership instilled in the students is so amazing to see. Three year old students at this school can read short words and teach you about geometric solids and how to care for plants. Truly a different kind of school. Also their holiday musicals are not to be missed! read more

My son loves Westside Montessori School. The Amazing teachers and the beautiful classrooms are what attracted us to the school! In fact, my son never wants to leave there! He is so happy and excited to attend each day and he's grown so much in the little time he has been at WMS. We have an amazing relationship with all the teachers who are encouraging and loving with my son and all of the children. We can see why this school is so special. It feels like such a warm community here and we are so happy we chose this school for our family! read more

Exceptional in every way. Westside Montessori School has quality, loving educators and incredible learning spaces. Check out the many reviews that have unfortunately landed in the not-recommended section. They far outnumber the begrundled parents who broke the rules and lost deposits. We fully understand what we sign on to when joining this amazing community. Rule breakers take advantage and try to spoil it for us committed families who know just how lucky we are and appreciate a Westside Montessori School education. read more

Simply incredible. I feel like won life's lottery being a part of this school community. The teachers are some of the best people I know and the classrooms are what one could only dream of giving our children and beyond. It's unlike anything else and I count my blessings being a part of Westside. Watching my little guy run happily to schoot everyday is the best feeling in the world. I'm reposting this as I hope it gets published rather than moved to the section of unrecommended reviews. How sad! read more

The teachers, the classrooms, the materials ... I love everything about this school. The care, love and attention is incredible. It shines brightly in every way. Take the time to read the 17 hidden reviews. This place is cherished. Hateful reviews are written by people who believe rules don't apply to them. Do not choose Montessori if you aren't going to follow through. read more

Westside is undoubtedly an outstanding place. They've been at the Oak Street location since the 80s. Their teachers are standouts and the team is a special mix of personalities. Together they are caring professionals who clearly love what they do. And they are exceptional at it. When you visit other Montessori schools, you realize why this one is the best in every way. read more

A very special place ... it's one of a kind with incredibly talented and caring teachers. The community is tight-knit and our children grow up together. It's the only early years school I would ever want my children to grow up in. read more

This is a great school. They do a lot to build community and a sense of belonging. Both my child and I have have made some wonderful friends here. The parents, teachers, admin and students are super. I would highly reccommend. read more

This is one of the best schools I've ever been in! The staff were so caring and nurturing towards the students and the quality of education the children receive is out of this world! I wouldn't send my kids anywhere else! read more