PARENT TESTIMONIALS

"We could not have made a better decision for our child."

One morning, as my husband was leaving for work, he turned around and shouted to our 4 year old son, ‘Have a great day at school!’ Without missing a beat, our son whipped his head around and shouted back, ‘Dad, I always have a good day at school!’ As a parent, this was one of the best things we could ever hope to hear.

​It’s also a perfect reflection of our experience with WMS. The community of educators that Bettina has gathered combined with the beautiful Montessori materials and classrooms make this school a wonderful place for young children to learn. 

- Daisy Hotson ​​
We have been fortunate to have two children (so far) go through the three-year program at WMS and we couldn't be happier with their school experiences.  

Both of our boys have clearly harnessed their innate curiosity and developed a true love of learning thanks to the incredible teachers and the amazing school environment they get to explore each day. They have also learned valuable social skills and have built long lasting friendships during their time at the school. We feel quite strongly that the staff have played a vital role in our sons’ development into confident, respectful and inquisitive students and we look forward to having our third child enter the program next fall!

- Jenn & Andrew Kirker
WMS is above and beyond any expectations we had. The teachers are so committed and passionate in their teaching that it is infectious. Having the same teachers and classmates for 3 years builds very strong and trusting relationships. Both of our daughters absolutely love WMS. Our youngest can't wait until next year when she is in kindergarten and gets to be at school all day! And our eldest, who graduated from WMS last year, gets so excited when she gets to go back and visit. We have made a lot of close friends at the school and feel grateful to be part of such a caring community.
 
- Dave & Erika Harriman
“I love coming to school everyday because I’m learning a lot and have so much fun. My teachers are amazing and they care about me. I can’t wait for my baby sister to come here too!

​- Olivia, age 5
It is a joy to see our daughter get up with a smile in the morning, excited to start her day at WMS. She has only begun her first year and already, we are witnessing how she is cultivating friendships while thriving in a program that allows her to explore and discover at her own tempo.

We are delighted she has attentive and experienced guides in Ms Portia and Ms Victoria; a naturally-lit and beautiful classroom that is tidy and inviting; and activities that allow flexibility within the Montessori method.

​We are thoroughly impressed with the professionalism, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness the administration and teaching staff exhibit. Looking forward to the next few years! 

- Cynthia & Roger Lui
Attending WMS has been one of the most important and rewarding choices we have made in our son's life. He has grown and thrived in ways we could not have imagined and we can truly say that this is due to his amazing teachers at WMS. The nurturing and attentive environment that is provided has been beyond our imagination. Every detail is so well thought out, from the curriculum to the lessons and activities. Westside Montessori has taught our son some of the most important life lessons, and I am happy to say that in turn we have learned a few important things too.

​- Yasmin Prol
We are so happy that we chose Westside Montessori School for our son. They have exceeded our expectations in many ways.

The staff are absolutely amazing, genuinely caring and work hard. They have set the bar high with how organized, reliable and seamless they are with communication within their team. The principal, Bettina, puts a lot of care, thought, dedication and love into fine tuning this already fantastic school. Our son can be very stubborn but the teachers at the school have a talent for understanding the character of each child and they were able to open our son's mind and also guide him to notice how he feels when he accomplishes something he thought he couldn't. As a result, his confidence and love of learning is showing in many areas.

​We feel fortunate to be able to stay for the full Three Year Cycle at WMS! 

- Monica & Ian Luu
"What do I love the most about WMS? - Everything!!!"

Audree ​- (age 6)
All three of my children have attended the 3-year Preschool / Kindergarten program at Westside Montessori School, and we have been thrilled with their experiences at the school. 

They have learned so much, in a nurturing and supportive environment.  They each emerged as independent confident young children, more than ready to start their early elementary school years, both academically and socially. 

The school itself is a bright and cheerful environment, and the teachers are amazing. They truly do understand each child's personality, and expertly guide them to learn individually as they progress through the program. 

​As my youngest is poised to graduate from Kindergarten, I find myself wishing I had another child so I could stay here longer!

- Nav Hundal
Our son has attended Westside Montessori  for three years and we don’t want it to end!

​From the outset we knew that this was a special place. There is a warmth and orderliness that our son responded to immediately. We recognized WMS as a safe and stimulating space, which has encouraged him to learn deeply and freely. The tools of learning are thoughtfully laid out, and the organization of lesson plans is detailed. All the while, solo and group learning is encouraged in just the right ratios. Fun and play, didactics and responsibility seem to be perfectly planned and age appropriate. The mentorship that grows between the different ages is a wonderful learning experience.

The teachers are top tier. As educators, they challenged and supported our son’s development in so many ways. As role models, they reflected the behaviours and values that we’ve sought to instill at home. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have had WMS as part of our early childhood years.

- Zehavit & Eytan David 
We would absolutely recommend WMS to parents who are looking for something more than a play based program. We firmly believe that there is nowhere better than WMS and we know that our children will be able to reach their full potential during these very important early years.

Since our daughter started at Westside Montessori only a few months ago, we have seen amazing changes. Her desire for independence, willingness to try new things, and ability to persevere through daily challenges have all progressed amazingly.

We have also seen a tremendous improvement not only in her language and comprehension, but also in her thirst to learn and understand more.   

​We have never seen a program as meticulously thought out as the program at Westside Montessori School. Every minute of every day is an opportunity for our children to be engaged and stimulated to learn!

- Matt & Amanda Arneill
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"Ms Bettina teaches me that ​I can do lots of things!"

​- Lauren (age 3)
As many parents can attest one of the most difficult and stressful decisions to be made is who to entrust with their child or children's first "school" experience. We feel fortunate to have placed our trust in the teachers and staff at WMS the past three years after having seen how our child has grown leaps and bounds both academically and socially. 

WMS' fluid and flexible approach with each student allows him or her to excel and reach their full potential. The teachers take great care  to understand the individuality of each student so that they can nurture and challenge at a pace uniquely suited to that particular child. The variety of learning tools, methods and experiences available to the children in both individual and/or group settings helps make each school day enjoyable  whether a child is a quiet cautious first year student or one of the “elder” kindergarten mentors. At WMS, not only are there so many ways to teach but there are so many areas and subjects beyond standard curriculum that are explored at an early age (art, theater, dance, athletics, languages, etc).

But WMS is not just focused on academics. It is also noteworthy for the attention paid to instilling the children to form good respectful relationships with their peers, with their teachers, and with the greater community as whole. Upon completing our time at WMS, we can confidently say that our child and the other kindergarten graduates are well prepared for their future school challenges because they are enthusiastic students and good citizens.

- Raymond & Angela Florendo 
There are so many things WMS excels at.  At the end of our son's three years in the preschool and kindergarten program, we wished he could spend even more time at WMS!  

The staff are what makes this school special; they are all warm, trustworthy, knowledgeable and fun.  Our son thrived under their professional and personable instruction and care.  They truly inspired our child's natural curiosity and piqued his interest in learning.  

During parent observations we were amazed to see a classroom full of children who exhibited natural interest in the materials and activities.  The hands-on mathematics and reading exercises, and teaching about art, science and culture were important highlights of the Montessori curriculum at WMS.  When our son brought home his completed work, we often found ourselves saying , "What an interesting project!" and "That's a great idea!".

The community the children are part of is one that is strong, loving, and full of childlike wonder and enthusiasm.  We are so grateful to this wonderful school community for contributing to our child's healthy and very positive growth and development during his foundational years of learning.

​- Tien & Luke Chen
Our son attended Westside Montessori School for three years and it was a truly great experience. Ms. Bettina and her team of teachers provide a warm and caring environment where they encourage children both academically and socially. They instill positive communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, which enhance the students’ confidence, kindness and empathy.  

For our third year we decided to enroll in the full day extended Kindergarten program. We were unsure how our son would adjust to full days at school, but that concern quickly melted away as soon he was asking for more. His natural love of learning only grew as the teachers really knew our son’s interests and suggested reading and work that he truly enjoyed. The extended days also meant he had time with all four Kindergarten teachers with each of whom he had a special relationship. He forged close friendships with the ‘lunchtime bunch’ and was excited to stay and participate in the Mastery Class programs which had a wide range of subjects, from creative writing to special science segments. 

There are so many details that make WMS a unique place but the overarching feeling is that the school creates a special community for the families.  We look back fondly and gratefully at our time at WMS.

- Bill Burton & Lesley Benham