McDonald Montessori School

We had the pleasure of visiting McDonald Montessori over the weekend for their annual open house. We were so impressed by the community coming together around the school. So many kids and parents having a great time. We spoke with some of the students and their academic strengths were apparent. The students (and graduates) knew their stuff and especially knew how to articulate what they had learned. Really awesome conversations over snow cones! Great place!

McDonald Montessori is helping our child find his place in the world. After visiting numerous schools we signed our child up for another school. It was bright and shiny but the packaging was much better than the content. Our child needed a place that could tailor his education to his abilities and interests while also assisting in his journey to building friendships and becoming a kinder human. Our family found this in McDonald Montessori.
The Director of the school spent a lot of time answering questions and offering input about our child's education plan. Though we all knew it would be a challenging transition, we all felt that if we kept close communication McDonald Montessori could be a great success for our family.
There were challenges but there were even bigger successes! We were greatly impressed with the way the teachers took the time to get to know our child and his needs. The work was catered to his level and interest. Really!
The most impactful thing we have seen (so far) is the great work they have done to teach our child how to be kind, make friends, treat people with respect and be mindful of his emotions. He is a kind and loving soul who wants to have friends but had a tough time connecting kindly with others. Notice the word HAD. He's only been at the school for 5 months and we no longer have to fret that he might hurt someone on the playground because he doesn't understand how to get them to play with him.
I really cannot say enough great things about this school. We are EXTREMELY hopeful that they will expand their program so our son can continue with this great school past the 3rd grade.
There is also lots of other great things about the school -- knowledgeable and approachable teachers; optional activities like soccer & yoga; lots of opportunities to connect with other families outside of school; a program that truly fosters independence.

McDonald Montessori has been the perfect fit for my kids. The school delivers authentic Montessori principles in a highly respectful environment. The students are loved and elevated; my kids are offered countless hands-on learning experiences in a setting that is both orderly and beautiful. McDonald Montessori's teachers are outstanding - expert in cultivating independent, engaged, and enthusiastic learners. I know my kids will take the lessons learned through their Montessori education with them through life. Very grateful for this school and the people that make it go! Thank you!

I am a very protective mother and have endured very difficult situations at a few schools with my daughter. When I came here to Norfolk on orders I was extremely nervous about finding not only a safe environment but a caring one as well. THIS school is by far the SAFEST school in Hampton Roads. The owner of this school truly cares about each and every child's well being and definitely keeps her children safe. My daughter has improved academically here within the first few months she attended. She has been there 2 years now and has shown improvement in her reading, writing, and willingness to learn. I love the student/teacher ratio. I believe a smaller ratio gives more time for one on one to help the children feel not rushed about trying to learn new lessons. The only con I see is that McDonald Montessori only goes up to 3rd grade! I cant get enough of Ellen and her love for her students. Absolutely the BEST!

Having come from a Montessori education as a child myself, I knew I wanted the same introduction to learning for my own children. McDonald Montessori is exactly the what I was hoping to find! The teachers are warm, caring and exceptional educators! My kids are excited to go to school every day and can't wait to tell me what they learned or what new lesson they were given. I truly, couldn't be more pleased with the experience we've had at McDonald Montessori!
The whole concept of Montessori is that the child will learn what interests them, and at the pace they want to learn. It's so fun seeing the work they bring home every week. Sometimes my daughter (5 yrs old, her 3rd year at the school) has written 10 sheets of numbers and done 20 metal insets. The next week she's into painting and stencil work, or fine motor skills with punch-outs. My son (3 yrs old, his first year at school) brings home strips of paper from cutting work and lots of paintings, but tells me all about lessons he's learning and one-on-one work he's done with the teacher.
I'll never forget the first year my daughter was there. We were laying in bed after stories and she was telling me about her day when she looks at me, so serious and says "Mom, the heart pumps the blood around the body". She then went on to tell me about kidneys, lungs and intestines! She was 3.
I love this school and simply cannot say enough good things about it!

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We have been a McDonald Montessori family for 6 years, and cannot say enough nice things about the program. The teachers and staff are some of the most caring individuals I have met anywhere. After six years, they feel more like family than teachers. The small environment of the school allows a lot of personal interaction and both of my children have developed wonderful relationships with all of their teachers. There is wonderful focus on not only education, but also on manners and character.

While a caring environment is our biggest priority, the education at McDonald Montessori has been top notch. Both of our children were reading at the beginning of their third year. More importantly, they both developed a very deep love of learning and were excited about what they were learning. There were weekend days where they would cry because they couldn’t go to school! When our first child left McDonald Montessori, he moved to another private school where he was ahead of the rest of the class.

We truly feel that McDonald Montessori has done a phenomenal job at preparing our children. We are very grateful that we found such a caring and well-structured program!

My two daughters love going to school here and are both excited to share with my wife and I what they are learning. Here they are shown that learning is a fun aspect of life (a lesson I wish someone would have taught me as a child). I am always amazed at how well the Montessori way of learning works and how well it is integrated here at McDonald Montessori. There is a class per semester for us, the adults, to see and hear from the teachers about their current curriculum and to calm our nerves about all the mystery behind a Montessori education (pleased to know that the children actually get ahead of their counterparts in public school, and that the transition is a relatively smooth one). That coupled with student observations and parent, teacher one on ones, makes what the kids are learning and doing very accessible. We plan on keeping our kids there until they "age out."