Reviews of Harmony Montessori School (Kindergarten)

Michael Street

We simply love everything about Harmony! The teachers and staff are so dedicated, caring, patient, and kind—we have felt warmly welcomed since the moment we walked in the door for our tour. As a Montessori kid myself, I am so happy that our son can participate in the same curriculum, and Harmony is an exemplar of the Montessori model, helping kids grow in all aspects of their life. In addition, the school has a great diverse, inclusive and community-building mission that's reflected in heart-warming outreach programs (picture elementary school kids making dinner for homeless families, then feeding them). Everyone is so involved in the school, and there are tons of events for parents and kids to make friends and build a community. Our son is excited every day to attend Harmony, and we are delighted that he has found a place where he is so comfortable and eager to learn. I spent twenty years as a teacher, and this is the best school I've ever been a part of.

Wes Christiansen

We love it and our twin girls love it.

Megan Young

As a teacher myself, I am very particular about the education of my own sons. In fact, I wasn't sure anywhere would be able to live up to my high expectations for early childhood education - until I found Harmony. Harmony Montessori has been a true gift to our family, igniting a love of learning for my boys. The teachers are caring, compassionate, and highly educated in the Montessori methods. The director and office staff are highly organized and supportive, and the opportunities for enrichment the school provides amaze me. But what really said it all to me was when my oldest son (now a first grader at another Montessori school) asked me why he couldn't just stay at Harmony forever, because it was "just like another home but with friends and good teachers."

Tia Hain

Since we have moved a bit in the last couple of years, this is the 3rd school our almost 4 year old has attended. Not surprisingly, he takes quite a while to warm up in new situations. The teachers and staff have been so supportive and helping for him entering Harmony. It has been so wonderful to watch him open up and make friends over the last couple of months. So much so that when I volunteer once a week for playground time, he now completely ignores me. Couldn't care less that I was there. It is HIS place to be, now. It is so wonderful to watch. In addition, I get to see how the teachers and staff interact with the kids during school time. I am so impressed with their patience and understanding with the children. Over just a few months, I have watch so many children grow in such amazing ways with the guidance of the teachers and staff. We drive quite a ways to have our son attend here, but it is so worth it. So many times he surprises us with a new song or skill he has learned at school. He will put away his toys on his own before moving to a new task (most of the time). Started helping us put the dishes away, etc. Also, the parents come together a lot to make it a great community. They are proactive in reaching out to "new" parents and families, as well as finding ways for all to gather and get to know each other. Overall, I just don't think I can recommend Harmony Montessori enough.

ted rydmark

Fantastic school right here in east Portland - so fortunate to be a part of this community. Kim, the Head of School, is the best in the industry. She has developed and sustained a truly marvelous synergy of educators, classrooms, and programs for kids starting at age 2 1/2. My daughter excels in this environment. The community of teachers and parents is very active and supportive. We love Harmony!

Emily Dickerson

Gosh, I’m not even sure how to begin expressing our love of Harmony. My daughter is halfway through her second year, and we feel so fortunate to have found such a caring community of staff and parents. Last winter, Harmony moved into a great new space- the outdoor area is better than any playground. It’s made from primarily natural materials- my daughter builds dams of rocks and climbs around on little hills of bushes, there’s a canoe and all these wood pieces that the kids use for whatever peaks their imagination. They have soccer balls and trikes, all the typical stuff, but there’s also digging and searching for certain kinds of leaves and all the things kids would do if left to their own devices. When we started our school search, we weren’t looking for a Montessori school specifically- we were looking for a calm and enriching environment. Harmony is an amazing gem. I couldn't imagine a better fit for our family.

Liesl Vistaunet

My four year old is about to finish his first year at Harmony Montessori and we couldn't have been more happy with the experience. My son was/is reserved when it comes to firsts. He's a bit timid and anxious. But Harmony's approach to students was gentle, respectful, and easy for parents and kids. The transitions for new students are so very thoughtful. A couple of weeks before school started we had a day when my son and husband and I brought him to his classroom to meet the teachers, explore the news surroundings, try out a few "work projects," and find where his "stuff" would be (like his coat, lunch box, and his water cup). Just us! It was great. For him and for us as parents. We could ask questions and help get a grasp on where he'd be each morning. The next time we came, he went for just 30 minutes or so and was with just the teacher. I was allowed to sit in the room because of his attachment struggles. But typically they encourage the parent to sit out of the classroom so the child can explore without mom or dad. The "first week" of school included two hour mornings with just the new students. In my son's class, that meant four children along with the three teachers. My son immediately bonded with another child and, from what I could tell, each of his teachers. Those gentle ease-in experiences made the first drop off day go so smoothly. There were some alligator tears in his eyes, but because we had talked about it and even practiced the drop off process, (as suggested by the school), it went so smoothly. The teachers were honest about how he did. That first day, he stayed close to them and his new little friend. And yes, there were some moments he needed to pull out his stuffed animal for comfort. Harmony adapts to the child! And they work gently and beautifully through each child's unique struggles or gifts. And transformation happens. My son, who started off the year timid, anxious, and not so sure about being away from home, eventually has blossomed into, what seems to be, a class clown. Our worry for him originally was his shy nature and now I worry that he's so talkative, silly, and social he has trouble not pestering his little friends. What a good problem! We'll come to a balance, I'm sure. :) Besides my son, I've also seen incredible transformations with other children. The teachers are great at giving ideas on how to incorporate the same principals they teach with at school right into our homes. Not just education material or ideas, but ways to help our mornings go smoothly, ways to deal with parenting issues we all deal with, creative ideas on how to manage potty-talk, temper tantrums, or other behaviors common to young children. One of my favorite things about Harmony is the community feeling. There is a symbiotic kind of cooperation between the parent, teacher, and child. Parent volunteers and leaders are a huge part of what makes this school a great place. From gardens, to laundry, social committees and fundraising, there is a way any parent can share their energy and talents to help the school. I love knowing we are all working together to make it a great place for our kids. The lunch program impressed me, right away. We are vegetarian so I assumed school lunches wouldn't be an option for us. But that wasn't the case. The majority of the meals are vegetarian. Many of them are dairy free and there are lots of options for the G-free children, too. I have been impressed with the variety and the focus on healthy-whole food. This is a green school as well. I am the recycling mom, actually. The children eat on real plates (family style), with real utensils, and with cloth napkins (my other mom friend is the laundry mom). The playground is natural and very fun for the kids. They have great equipment but not a typical school playground. They can run through a mini-forest, a willow-tunnel, water the veggie garden, make mud pies, drive around big trucks, and even just dig holes if that's what they want to do. This is truly a harmonious place to be. For children and families.

KariAnn Assur

Words cannot describe this little amazing school, but I will do my best. My son is in his last year at Harmony, as he turns 6 in the Spring. I get choked up even thinking about leaving this school. Our family has had it's fair share of challenges as we've navigated the waters of education for our children, and I have been absolutely humbled by the time and patience the entire staff has shown us. The Montessori model of independence, stewardship and love of learning has fostered so much growth in our son. I only wish I had adequate words to express our gratitude to Harmony - the staff, the parents, the entire community is like none other we've been a part of. If you want to be part of a diverse, thriving community where you will watch in awe as your children bloom, look no further. The drive (20 mins one way for us) and the tuition (very reasonable for Montessori) are more than worth it.

Penny Godwin

Both of my children have loved their experiences here. The guides, the children and the parent population are rich and diverse. We love it here!!

Jessica Doran

Our son has been at Harmony since the Fall of 2017. We absolutely love it and most importantly he does too! He’s learned such a tremendous amount and gained a ton of confidence in a short amount of time. His Guides are fully engaged and really keyed into his needs. The Harmony community we’ve been welcomed into is warm, inviting and collaborative. We can’t wait for our 6 month old to become old enough to attend also!