Woods Academy Montessori Program - Current Feedback?

[Anonymous]

Considering enrolling my 4YO DS into Woods for the Fall. Any current parents who can provide feedback on the school? I am also somewhat new to the Montessori approach and have not yet quite "bought into" it. Some of my reservations stem from the fact "pretend play" is not allows in the Montessori approach. What creative outlets do kids have in a Montessori program to fulfill this gap of "pretend play," and particularly, with any specific feedback about Woods?

[Anonymous]

For what it is worth, I attended Woods Academy Montessori decades ago and have very fond memories of the teachers even now. My parents say I loved going to school so much I didn't even say goodbye to my mom in the mornings. And I definitely did a lot of pretend play at home. If I lived closer I would definitely consider sending DD there. Obviously, this isn't current feedback - sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it is worth, I attended Woods Academy Montessori decades ago and have very fond memories of the teachers even now. My parents say I loved going to school so much I didn't even say goodbye to my mom in the mornings. And I definitely did a lot of pretend play at home. If I lived closer I would definitely consider sending DD there. Obviously, this isn't current feedback - sorry!

It is definitely not the same as your experience from decades ago. On our tour the teachers seemed burned out. We were in the classroom for 15 min while the admissions director took us around and the teacher engaged with one child and the rest of the kids were in a free play. She said they were in centers. One child had a plate on his head and she did nothing to stop it. Which center would that be? It does not represent the Maria Montessori principles that you are used to seeing if Montessori is your cup of tea.