Montessori Academy of Virginia, Chesapeake | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

Montessori Academy of Virginia, they’re just a business!

Our son had been in Montessori for nearly 3 years. There were no issue identified during his kindergarten’s second semester’s teacher conference kindergarten. His Teacher informed us that he was ready to move up for 1st grade. At the same time as the Second Semester Parent Teacher conference, we had a death in the family. Our son’s Grandfather died and so did his dog, all in the same week. I had to travel back home for my father’s funeral, so our son was home with his father (my husband) for two weeks, while I was gone, my husband informed the Admin and Teacher of everything that was going on, in case he started to have bad days at school, while mourning. After I returned home, my husband left for three weeks, for his work. Three days after my husband left for his trip, our son had a crying tantrum at school, so the school called me to have me pick him up. When I arrived at school, I was told he was suspended for two days and could not come back until Monday. Prior to this incident, we had never received a call from Montessori Academy Virginia concerning our son, all year. I wanted to support the school, so I of course disciplined our son for acting out at school, hoping this would correct the bad behavior. But we would continue to get calls once or twice a week to pick him up. I was asked to meet with the Admin and my sons teacher after the third week, where they told me that we as parents had to enforce the same structure at home, as the school. My husband had only been home for a week at this time, before leaving again for two weeks. The school would continue to call me if my son cried for any extended period of time.

We had a meeting with the Director, MR. Pawli. At this meeting, which was a Friday, we were told that they wanted our son to stop coming to school, with only 7 weeks left. My husband and I were shocked by this, since we were never told anything about not finishing the year, just that 1st grade had a wait list and they would not accept our son if he did not improve with his crying tantrums. My husband and Mr. Pawli came to an agreement that our son would finish Kindergarten with the school, but not be at Montessori for Summer Camp. If our son was able to get his emotions under control by the end of the year, they would then talk about 1st grade. We informed Mr. Pawli and the Admin that we had arranged for professional counseling for our son, to help him work through all the things he had been going through since February. Over the next three weeks, we got 4 phone calls. On 10 May we received a call early in the morning, so I went to the school and talked to him, because he was already calm. I told the Admin that I would not take him home since he was calm and participating in music class.

On Monday, 13 May, I was informed by the Admin that it would be my sons last week at school. My husband and I were able to get him register with a public school and had him start the next week, but what kind of organization does not support a child that is going through so much at such a young age. All this was over the course of 2 and half months, after we had been there for almost three full years. Our son had received two incident reports over the first 2 years, but they were so quick to get rid of him, when he could not keep his emotions under control.

After these last three months it is easy for us to see that Montessori Academy of Virginia pretends to care and want a family setting, but truly they do not care. If the staff cared they would have helped our son get through this emotional time, but instead they added to it but always sending him home when he was difficult and then telling him he only had one more chance before they would kick him out. What school would tell a 5 year old that you only have one more chance, when they knew his grandfather and dog just died two months ago. This is why we would NOT recommend Montessori Academy of Virginia!!!! This is a horrible school.

Questionable care tied to a Montessori name brand. At pick up i got a “he had a good day” report, nothing regarding anything else. My son was in the 2year old class, the amount of rashes he had due to diapers not being changed frequently was unbearable. The cleanliness of the facility was questionable as well, he consistently got sick for 7 monthly, hands were always dirty and didnt seem well watched. They have 3 teaches to 10 kids but still managed to miss my son being bit in the forehead.

They clean up the kid before pick up, but my concerns were noted, “addressed” and the same level of care was give .

Prior to signing up with this school my son was almost potty trained, i asked the Director Ms Davis if they do the potty training assist, she said yes. Once we started i was told “none of the other kids are potty training and he would have to wait until the next class up”.

All in all they served as a mediocre childcare facility, but in way shape or form a Montessori grade learning/care facility.

Waste of money.