Reviews of Raritan Valley Montessori Academy (Kindergarten)

ANAND RAMAKRISHNAN

My older son graduated from RVM (Kindergarten program, after spending 3 years in the Primary program) and I immediately enrolled my younger one in the Stepping Stones program. We have now been going to RVM for the last 4 years now and love all the teachers and staff at RVM. We love the Montessori philosophy of independence and learning at your own pace, along with the mixed age group classrooms and our experience at RVM has only reiterated this more emphatically. The teachers are wonderful and they genuinely care for each and every student to ensure that they are positively challenged without losing the joy for learning. The teachers work closely with you for the overall development of your child. This has worked very well for us as a family. We have evaluated other Montessori's and exclusive private schools in the area and can confidently say that the program at RVM is comparable if not superior to many of them. We are proud to be part of the RVM family.

Shailesh Paranjpe

Our son started at RVM at the Kindergarten stage and continued through until the 4th grade. The experience has been great-the curriculum and the teachers are excellent. Individual attention is assured. He was challenged to use his full potential in the core subjects but the learning outside of the core has been great. Art, Spanish, Music, Tech and Sports round up the complete curriculum. The school emphasizes quite a bit on developing leadership and other social skills. The highlight of the 4th grade is the Montessori Model UN-it is one experience that you cannot put a price tag on. We had many options but we are glad that we chose RVM for our son's education especially in the early formative years. We highly recommend this independent school for early elementary education.

Solomiya Hydro

I was terrified when it was time for our son to start school, granted he was 5 but he was home with me since his birth and a transition into school was one of the scariest moments (for me more than him). RVMA has truly been a blessing. We feel so confident about the people that are raising our son, the staff and teachers have turned into a loving family and the open relationship and communication is exceptional. The environment encourages children to reach their full potential in all aspects of life, I am pleasantly surprised about how much love is poured into our son and the growth we have seen in such a short amount of time. Blessed and thankful to have such a wonderful place for our boy. Highly recommend it.

leeloodallas22 .

My daughter started preschool this year in the Rosa Parks room with Ms. Freitag and Ms. Blardoni and it has been the most wonderful experience for her and for our family. From the very first time we visited the school, everyone we met has been friendly, supportive, and encouraging. Our daughter wasn't even 3 yet when he started school so we were worried about her adjusting socially, but everyone has gone out of their way to make her feel safe and comfortable. I knew that their educational standards were very high, and that they followed a very traditional Montessori method, so we weren't worried about what she would learn, but the fact that she loves going to school every day is what truly speaks to us as parents. This school has been the best decision we could have made for her and we can't wait to start our younger daughter there as well!

Martha

We have two boys who started at the school this fall - a three year old in a primary classroom and a six year old in the elementary classroom. The teachers have been amazing - both boys settled in right away, even through the Montessori environment was foreign to them. Our six year old went from dreading school in public kindergarten to being excited to go every day - even as he has needed and received extra help from the teachers to learn how to use the Montessori materials. Both boys have grown so much in the last three months and are noticeably more independent and confident. We couldn't be more pleased with the school and the teachers!

Ana Victoria Calimani

The Raritan Valley Montessori Academy served our family by teaching and caring for our daughter from 2nd through 3rd grade, and our son from Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Raritan Valley is a small school, with some limitations regarding the structure of the school. However, the qualifications of their staff and their teachers by far make up for any limitations that the school may have in terms of structure. This little school places a strong focus on academics. They instill in their students a love for reading, and consistently build reading, writing and math skills painlessly for the children. Both of our children loved going to school and enjoyed the many activities in school, as well as outside school premises on different field day trips that directly related with school work and discussions. It is important to mention that both of our children are very different, and both were among the youngest in their respective classes. Yet, the teachers were able to cater to their differences. They were also able to identify their strengths and weakness, and use their individual strengths to over time minimize the weaknesses. Even though they were both very young, they both thrived academically and socially. Teachers and staff members are humble, loving, caring, and down-to-earth. They have an open door policy and are always willing to discuss any issues that may be of concern to a parent or caregiver, particularly those that directly involve the welfare and education of the children. When the time came for our family to move on from Raritan Valley Montessori, we were very proud of what we had achieved in partnership with the Raritan Valley staff and faculty. Our kids were prepared academically and moved to another private school without any academic or social deficiencies. We thank all the teachers from Kindergarten through 3rd grade, and we are forever grateful! We will always remember Raritan Valley Montessori fondly and we highly recommend this school to anyone considering it. Ana V. & Giovanni B. Calimani

Muirey McKraken

My two children (ages 5 and 3) have been attending Raritan Valley Montessori for years and enjoying every day. When there are holidays or extended time off they yearn to go back to their classrooms and continue their work. The teachers are very knowledgeable and help each child to move forward at their own pace yet keep them challenged as well. The teachers are always available for questions about what is going on in the classroom and regular parent/teacher conferences are held for an even more in depth conversation about the progress our children have been making. Outside of the classroom the staff continues to be very friendly and welcoming of any questions or concerns a parent could have regarding their child or any other aspect of Montessori. When the time allows for it I have even spent extra time after dropping my children off to have casual conversations with them over coffee. The kindness of the staff and the enjoyment our children get from learning in their classrooms make for an outstanding experience.

Annapoorni Shivakumar

My daughter (3 years old) is a student at Raritan Valley Montessori and started in their stepping stones classroom before recently graduating to the primary classroom. Before enrolling my little one at RVM, I went for walk-through and briefing sessions at 7 schools, including RVM, all affiliated to different early learning academies. What I like about the school is that the emphasis is really on the student and even during the walk-through session I could clearly see this. As a parent, it has been amazing to see my child become a confident and independent toddler. The teachers are very patient and engaging with the kids and they never rush a child’s learning process. I particularly like how they include so many different and new activities to expand the kid’s areas of interest and engage their curiosity. I remember the day my daughter came back home from school and kept talking about the big red fire truck that had come for show and tell to school. Forget summer holidays, my daughter is restless even over the weekends (especially during the winter) and cannot wait for school to open for the week! As a working mother, dropping my daughter off every morning, I feel happy knowing she is receiving the best care and education. The teachers do a wonderful job of providing regular update on the child’s progress and anytime I have had a question or wanted to discuss something, they are always available to talk – in person at drop off, a one on one session, an over the phone conversation, or by e-mail. I have recommended RVM to a couple of parents and I will definitely continue to do so. Continue the good job guys!

Anne Govindaswamy

Our daughter is a third grader at Raritan Valley Montessori Academy. She is eager to go to school everyday. She is having lots of fun while learning. She loves Math, Science, and Language. She and her friends enjoy reading during their free time. She has flourished year after year under the guidance of her teachers. The students participate in sports and performing arts, and public speaking skills are extensively developed. We are glad that we chose Raritan Valley Montessori for our daughter's education. We are extremely happy with the school. The faculty is just amazing. The teachers and administrators are very supportive and are always open to communication. The environment is very nurturing, yet it challenges the students to achieve and do their best. The school feels like a second home.

Natalee Coward

Our children have been at RVM since they were 22 months old, 2012, and 4 years year later (going into 1st grade) they are still a part of the school and the community. Our children love to learn, love going to school, and get upset when they cannot go due to holidays/weekend/school closings. We continue to keep our children enrolled there for many reasons. One is because the teachers and others are absolutely supportive and understanding. Another is because our children love learning and respond to the learning and the teaching at RVM. The teachers respect the children and are supportive of the individual learning ability of each child. It's not about the classroom, it's about the child. You would not receive that style of education at any other school (a.k.a., public education). We have recommended RVM to many families who are now part of the RVM community. They all have wonderful things to say about the school and how their children have responded to the education. I often say that I wish the school would go through the high school grade level. Maybe one day :).

George McGovern

Our child has gone K to 4th grade with RVM and we can not praise it enough! Every Teacher has been caring and excellent in the Montessori teaching methods. Mrs. Dodds and her staff always get the job done and are dedicated to the students. Our Son says he will miss the school ands staff when he completes his final school year.