Anonymous wrote:So happy to see the parents writing about how awful Ms. Antonucci was on the interview. We interviewed there two years ago, and we were not accepted. I'm not writing this as bitter grapes, but I walked into the interview loving everything I had heard about the school and I left hating it. My newly 2 year old daughter was graded on whether she could find items in an i-spy book and hang her coat up on a hook among other things and then graded on a playground visit. Ms. Antonucci was so rude -- she told me my daughter needed to go to the eye doctor because she hesitated slightly while climbing up the icy stairs leading towards the slide. Ugh. They should really have someone less bitter interviewing kids and parents.

LMAO. Graded? On a playground visit? I continue to be amused by this city.

To 22:01: When a teacher, and one with a long career teaching young children, makes a comment such as the one made to you, I personally would not dismiss it. I might even follow up on it at the next pediatrician's appointment. It may be nothing, fine. But it could be something. Other people see things about our children, that we, as their parents, cannot. Don't be so sensitive.

I am the PP with the kid at Aidan. I should have elaborated. Diversity goes beyond skin color (for me, anyway).
In the class there are:

2 British families,
2 gay/lesbian families
1 Australian family
1 family with a stay-at-home dad
1 African family
2 or 3 African American families

And a handful of other families with foreign accents

If you want a more detailed breakdown, contact the school!

Anonymous wrote:My child goes to Aidan. We love it. She was not potty trained when she started (she was 2 months shy of her 3rd birthday). I had tried to get her trained but didn't get very far. They were fine with it. What we did was simply send her in her underwear; she had an accident on the first day and she changed her clothes. Happened again the next day, etc. By the end of WEEK ONE she was potty trained (at school anyway). POsitive peer pressure! Then at home I just doubled up my efforts with the help of M&Ms.

It was no prob and not that uncommon. Just plan on doing your best and having Sept as your goal. if it works, it works!

As for the diversity: I know in my daughters class of 26 (?) there are 2 African Americans and 1 African. And 1 Latino/Hispanic boy. Aidan makes a big effort to maintain diversity. It's a lovely welcoming school, in my experience....

This doesn't sound like alot of diversity to me....

So happy to see the parents writing about how awful Ms. Antonucci was on the interview. We interviewed there two years ago, and we were not accepted. I'm not writing this as bitter grapes, but I walked into the interview loving everything I had heard about the school and I left hating it. My newly 2 year old daughter was graded on whether she could find items in an i-spy book and hang her coat up on a hook among other things and then graded on a playground visit. Ms. Antonucci was so rude -- she told me my daughter needed to go to the eye doctor because she hesitated slightly while climbing up the icy stairs leading towards the slide. Ugh. They should really have someone less bitter interviewing kids and parents.

Every school and every teacher will be different. We moved our child from a Montessori program with gentle loving teachers to a "progressive" school kindergarten. The Montessori program was instilling a sense of organization and order that was constructive.
When she changed to the progressive kindergarten (not play-based, but with a play component, also, structured and organized, but more child-centered) chock full of bright, creative verbal kids with whom she could richly interact, there was a rapid growth in her language development that I do not think would have happened for her in Montessori.
That was exactly what she needed. Different things for different kids at different time.

Anonymous wrote:Not the PP, but I think Franklin Montessori is a wonderful school, although (or perhaps because) it is of the more relaxed Montessori variety. We also have friends who liked Auguste Montessori. Both are on Connecticut; Franklin near the Van Ness Metro and Auguste at Elliott.

I agree - Franklin Montessori is an awesome choice. I've got 2 kids there with completely different personalities, and they are both thriving. The teachers at Franklin recognize what motivates the individual child and make learning fun. When my oldest applied to Aidan, it was made clear to us that he was too energetic for their school.

My child goes to Aidan. We love it. She was not potty trained when she started (she was 2 months shy of her 3rd birthday). I had tried to get her trained but didn't get very far. They were fine with it. What we did was simply send her in her underwear; she had an accident on the first day and she changed her clothes. Happened again the next day, etc. By the end of WEEK ONE she was potty trained (at school anyway). POsitive peer pressure! Then at home I just doubled up my efforts with the help of M&Ms.

It was no prob and not that uncommon. Just plan on doing your best and having Sept as your goal. if it works, it works!

As for the diversity: I know in my daughters class of 26 (?) there are 2 African Americans and 1 African. And 1 Latino/Hispanic boy. Aidan makes a big effort to maintain diversity. It's a lovely welcoming school, in my experience....

I am thinking of applying to Aidan and I am new at this whole thing really. My child has been with her caregiver since birth really and now we want her to have an educational component to her day. First, are any of you, racial minorities, as I am, and if not, do you know the general racial make up of the Aiden school? Surfing it's website you'd be lead to think diversity is rather overwelming, which I feel is a good thing for my child. Additionally, what is the deal on the potty training. We have just begun the process, and I think kids must be fully potty trained before they can be admitted.

thanks

Ms. Antonucci interviewed my son as well and I was very impressed with her. Thought she was very professional and warm with him. It was a no-nonsense interview and she certainly wasn't chatty but I left with the impression that she was a very good teacher.

We interviewed at Aidan with Ms. Antonucci last year. We chose another school but it had nothing to do with Ms. Antonucci. She seemed highly professional, certainly not frivolous -- a great reflection on the school.

My DD started at Aidan this yr. WE LOVE IT!! She is the happiest she has ever been; excited to go to school each day and excited to share her learning with me when she comes home. They are SERIOUS about Montessori at Aidan. If you don't like Montessori, don't apply. It is the only internationally accredited Montessori school in the DC area.
The parents and teachers have all been very welcoming. Sure, the interview was a little unsettling but, in the long run what is more important is that most kids at Aidan love learning and love their teachers!
It's about the kids not the parents.

I am not an Aidan parent, but our DS had an interview with Ms. Antonucci. Based on the comments on this post, I was very worried. But Ms. Antonucci was nothing but professional and gracious. In fact, of all of the educators we encountered through our preschool process, she was the most impressive in her dealings with our DS. I feel obligated to post this because I think it is unfair that Ms. Antonucci gets such a bad "rep" on this post when our experience was so opposite of what I had expected. A couple of bad experiences can blow up into a legend in these anonymous posts, and I think the readers should be careful and read the negative comments in proper context.

Anonymous wrote:
Hey, I have no dog in this fight -- didn't apply to Aidan (or any school that required an interview), so I have no personal experience with Ms. Antonucci. But what the PP was doing wasn't "speaking up" for Aidan -- she was accusing other posters of lying about their experiences because they didn't comport with her perception of the school. Considering how many people have posted negative impressions of Ms. Antonucci, it takes a lot of nerve to suggest that they're all making it up. It doesn't matter how wonderful Aidan actually is (and I believe that it probably is a great choice for many families); posts like hers simply reinforce the image of Aidan as an unwelcoming, judgmental place.

I have no dog in this fight either. Nor am I the spirited defender PP 13:19. However, perceptions may differ and on this we'll have to agree to disagree.

What you see as the reinforcement of an unwelcoming, judgmental image, I see as families who didn't meet the school's standards and/or expectations and have sour grapes as a result. We're unlikely to change each other's minds and that is after all, okay. There's more than one point of view, and I congratulate the spirited defender on sticking up for hers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm sure that the PP is relieved to hear that you believe her now.

If you want to help Aidan, I'd suggest you stop posting as its advocate. You're doing the school no favors.

Oh this is utter nonsense. I'm not 13:19 btw, nor am I an Aidan Montessori parent, staff member, etc. I have no connection to the school, whatsoever.

I find it ridiculous however, that someone would suggest that a spirited defense of the school is somehow unhelpful. Especially when so many of the posts about the school have the bitter, huffy tone of sour grapes. Personally, I think it speaks well for the school and its family community that someone is willing to speak up for it. Aidan Montessori is widely known as a good school, but this forum offers anyone the opportunity to slime and smear just because they're angry that they got rejected. (Sorry, but that's completely how these negative posts come across.)

Hey, I have no dog in this fight -- didn't apply to Aidan (or any school that required an interview), so I have no personal experience with Ms. Antonucci. But what the PP was doing wasn't "speaking up" for Aidan -- she was accusing other posters of lying about their experiences because they didn't comport with her perception of the school. Considering how many people have posted negative impressions of Ms. Antonucci, it takes a lot of nerve to suggest that they're all making it up. It doesn't matter how wonderful Aidan actually is (and I believe that it probably is a great choice for many families); posts like hers simply reinforce the image of Aidan as an unwelcoming, judgmental place.