The school is beautiful. However, what you see is not always what you get. The environment is rather austere when compared with other school environments. This is an AMI school, not an AMS school. With AMI, the child's self direction is the goal. If the child is not self directed, they are verbally redirected. A child who does not have self direction might find this environment difficult as engagement of the child to the materials is considered the duty of the child, not the teacher. Special effort will not be undertaken to engage the child. Hence, a child who does not meet the ideological criteria, primarily the ability to interest themselves in the work, will not succeed here. An AMS environment differs in that the teacher asks the question "how do I assist the child in engaging in the work" and an effort is made, even if it requires the imposition of a reward structure, to ensure the child's engagement. This is not an AMS environment. I repeat, at this school, it is the child's responsibility to engage in the work. The teacher is merely the lesson giver and an observer. The parents at the school are wonderful human beings. The administration has some issues with honestly explaining the philosophy to parents, so there is some "buyer's remorse." Please investigate the difference in montessori philosophy before you select this school.
