REVIEW OF Gatehouse Montessori School BY parent, Anisha Somji

(4) Student Experience

We have a great relationship with the teachers, as they always make our children feel welcome and bring them into the classroom with care. They learn through many different stations, and geography is one of them. When our older child attended Gatehouse, he spent time working on a world map that we still have to this day. It was amazing. We also love that they introduce math and the decimal system. Making friends and having time to socialize are important for children's development. They learn how to interact with others and respect one another's space. Our son thoroughly enjoys the friendships he has made in his class. He gets excited to be around other children his age. We like that our son currently feels safe. We can tell by the way he confidently says goodbye to us. We also appreciate that the teachers communicate well with us if there is an issue, if they want to share something special, or if there is any information they would like to pass along.

Why Gatehouse Montessori School?

Our family likes the Montessori concept, and the school is conveniently close to our home. Once our children attended, they got to know the teachers, who were amazing. Both of our children connected greatly with their teachers and felt safe in their care.

Expectations vs. Reality

Gatehouse diverges from our expectations in that a child who is 3 may not be eligible for some full-time days, even if only 1 or 2. We believe it is important to help prepare a child for full-time eligibility when it eventually comes. A child may also have a sibling at another school and therefore may not spend 3 full years at Gatehouse, but that child may be ready to be at Gatehouse for longer periods during the day. I would also say that I am not sure there is enough playtime for the children as they develop friendships. I am only saying this because it sometimes feels as though my son wants to stay at the school and continue playing with his buddies, as if he has not seen them during the morning he has spent there. Gatehouse aligns with our expectations in early childhood development when it comes to learning. We would want the school to encourage our son to pursue other stations when he is fairly great at one, so that he can gain exposure and continue to grow.

Your Advice

Our family's experiences have been wonderful, especially because of the teachers both of my children have had, who created this environment for our family. Early childhood development is important, and Gatehouse helps introduce children to learning, behaviour, and socializing with other children. This helps set the proper foundation for our children, with the attention and care given by the teachers. Each classroom is managed by two teachers, and the total number of children is kept smaller so they can provide that attention and care.

(N/A) School Leadership

The Head of School has communicated with me via email regarding any concerns or questions I have had, and I appreciate that. The Head of School also welcomes and greets both my child and me each time I drop off or pick up.

(4) Teaching

Both of our children had the same teachers, and that has been one of the driving forces behind keeping them at Gatehouse. I was recently able to sit in the classroom and observe my child in action as he learned. I appreciate the encouraging attitude of the teachers, as well as the clear instructions and guidance they provide while helping my child grow and learn. I can say that the teachers our son currently has are doing just that. Challenging our child is also important to us.

(4) Academics

The academic program is great, with its different learning stations. I would like our child to focus on math, reading, geography, and geometry when there are signs that he is ready for additional challenges. I would like the school to meet our child where he is. If that means math may not be introduced until a certain time, I would absolutely support that. At the same time, I would like the teachers to continue challenging our child and seeing where his interests and abilities can take him.

(2.5) Extracurriculars

At our child's current age, and with this being his first year at Gatehouse, I feel that outdoor playtime is important. I am not sure whether outdoor play includes games that involve competition, but I believe these types of activities are both fun and beneficial for developing young minds.

(4) Students

The teachers, students, and parents all seem very kind to both my child and me. They make time to say hello and engage with my child as well. My child has built friendships with a couple of individuals in his class and is always positive and eager to enjoy playtime with them. I can see that his spirit is happy when he interacts with his peers and teachers. With only three classrooms and smaller class sizes, the children are able to receive more attention and support in their learning.

(4) School Life

My child loves going to school. He's been learning lots and making friends. The smaller-sized classrooms really help with giving our child attention as well.

(3.5) Community

All of the parents at Gatehouse are kind and involved in activities such as the Gala, classroom observations, parent-teacher meetings, Mother's Day and Father's Day celebrations, and cultural events. I do not feel that the school overbooks the calendar, and I appreciate that. In regard to communication about the Gala or cultural events, emails could be sent out inviting parents to volunteer as speakers in the classroom if they are interested in participating.

(4) School Location

I like the privacy and security of the school, with the doors being locked and unlocked only by the Head of School or the teachers. I do think there is a lot going on within the facility, with a daycare, synagogue, and Montessori school all operating in the same space. As a result, parking can be quite busy at times.

(2.5) Admissions

I feel the admissions process could be more streamlined. For our first child, we walked in and spoke with the Head of School at the time. She took notes and conducted an interview. We then proceeded with the paperwork and assumed we had been accepted. A welcome letter could be a nice touch, along with all of the required paperwork and a designated contact person to help guide families through the process. For our second child, I emailed the school requesting two specific teachers. Paperwork was then sent to me, but I did not hear back for some time because it became summer and there were changes happening at the school. Renewals are typically easier to manage, as we have learned which forms need to be signed. We were disappointed to learn that a 3-year-old could not attend full-time and by the way the program was structured.