There’s a lot to learn in the early years, one of them being a confidence to learn and to engage effectively with others. ABC, in keeping with the core tenets of the Montessori approach, was founded in 1995 to create a caring, supportive, family-centred environment, and that remains foremost in the school’s approach. An impressive roster of extracurricular activities is a draw, as is the attention to values. ABC’s reputation has been rightly gained through an individual attention to the needs of each student, and providing a solid foundation for their ongoing academic life.
We questioned the school administration
1. Who are you, as a school?
"Our goal is to provide every child with a rewarding, enriching, and meaningful early learning experience. Recognized for our commitment to academic excellence, we offer a carefully designed developmental Pre-CASA program alongside a modern Montessori curriculum for children aged 2 to 6 years. We focus on the whole child—fostering cognitive growth, social confidence, and independence. Our educators guide each child’s natural curiosity while encouraging self-directed learning, discipline, and a love of discovery."
Strong academic program
Small nurturing environment within a close knit family
Motivated and engaging teachers
Focus on Literacy, Mathematics, French
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
We’re a small school with big aspirations. Our families enroll at our school for the intimate learning environment and care meant to prepare students for future success in elementary school and beyond.
"We’re a small school with big aspirations. Our families enroll at our school for the intimate learning environment and care meant to prepare students for future success in elementary school and beyond."
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
Our commitment to core values does not result in giving a lower priority of other values. Our school runs on the belief that young children can succeed immensely at school if they are armed with the right academic foundations of reading, writing, numeracy, music, and French. These are our prime focus and serve to prepare students for success into elementary school and beyond.
"Our commitment to core values does not result in giving a lower priority of other values. Our school runs on the belief that young children can succeed immensely at school if they are armed with the right academic foundations of reading, writing, numeracy, music, and French. These are our prime focus and serve to prepare students for success into elementary school and beyond."
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
Our school started in 1995 with just a handful of students and slowly we have grown to a student population of 60 children. We aim to keep our student population small because our work is best done in smaller groups of students. Over the years, our school and its program have changed considerably as we adapt to changing times while adhering to our core values of focusing on reading, writing, numeracy, music, and French
"Our school started in 1995 with just a handful of students and slowly we have grown to a student population of 60 children. We aim to keep our student population small because our work is best done in smaller groups of students. Over the years, our school and its program have changed considerably as we adapt to changing times while adhering to our core values of focusing on reading, writing, numeracy, music, and French"
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
Beyond traditional childcare, our focus remains on the literacy, numeracy, French, and social development. We aim to support children in their educational growth
"Beyond traditional childcare, our focus remains on the literacy, numeracy, French, and social development. We aim to support children in their educational growth"
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
ABC Montessori provides a strong and challenging learning environment for students. To achieve success, students and parents must understand that effort must come from the student. Without commitment and hard work, students will not achieve success under any circumstances. Enrolling in a private school should not necessarily equate with guaranteed success. We provide a nurturing environment and the necessary guidance, but students need to put in the hard work and consistency. We go beyond childcare. Our students get ahead by build a strong academic foundation.
"ABC Montessori provides a strong and challenging learning environment for students. To achieve success, students and parents must understand that effort must come from the student. Without commitment and hard work, students will not achieve success under any circumstances. Enrolling in a private school should not necessarily equate with guaranteed success. We provide a nurturing environment and the necessary guidance, but students need to put in the hard work and consistency. We go beyond childcare. Our students get ahead by build a strong academic foundation."
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
Being a smaller school with a strong curriculum, our students excel in our nurturing environment with good life long habits that serve students well into elementary school and beyond. They prepare well academically with good manners and a strong work ethic.
"Being a smaller school with a strong curriculum, our students excel in our nurturing environment with good life long habits that serve students well into elementary school and beyond. They prepare well academically with good manners and a strong work ethic."
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
We are a small school with big ambitions. We have a unique system to develop the foundations of academic success. Our reputation for a strong academic program is well know through 32 years of word of mouth by past families and student alumni.
"We are a small school with big ambitions. We have a unique system to develop the foundations of academic success. Our reputation for a strong academic program is well know through 32 years of word of mouth by past families and student alumni."
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
While progress can seem slow at first, the habits formed and the direction provided by teachers really begin to show mid way through the year. The students transform into well balanced students with an enviable love for learning.
"While progress can seem slow at first, the habits formed and the direction provided by teachers really begin to show mid way through the year. The students transform into well balanced students with an enviable love for learning."
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
The intensity with which teachers engage with students to help them and guide them along the way is what makes our experience unique. The teachers are truly our most treasured part of our school and with dedicated students, the progress they make is remarkable.
"The intensity with which teachers engage with students to help them and guide them along the way is what makes our experience unique. The teachers are truly our most treasured part of our school and with dedicated students, the progress they make is remarkable."
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
Our focus has shifted to ensuring that students not only develop academically but also socially, emotionally, and physically.
"Our focus has shifted to ensuring that students not only develop academically but also socially, emotionally, and physically."
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
Our future plans include moving into a larger facility where students can thrive by adding a new dimension to their educational journey. A bigger and better facility that contributes to student learning will serve to strengthen our program and offering.
"Our future plans include moving into a larger facility where students can thrive by adding a new dimension to their educational journey. A bigger and better facility that contributes to student learning will serve to strengthen our program and offering."
Preschool to Gr. 3 (current), Nursery/Toddler to SK (current) — Watch our parent interview with Eileen Daunt to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to have a child attend ABC Montessori.