Avant Garde Montessori School

This would have been 5 stars but lately there are cracks forming in the way that the administration runs the school and the quality of care that the children are receiving in CH. Here are some specifics: 1) my daughter is 3 and was transitioned to the CH environment in September. For almost a month, her lunch was coming back completely uneaten. We had to complain multiple times and ask the Guides to pay close attention and encourage her to eat. The Guide should have taken notice and come to us (not the other way around). 2) for the first two months of my daughter's transition to CH she was having pee accidents almost daily. Again - the Guide should have approached us to discuss solutions but never did. We had to force the issue and had to get very upset with them. Then, magically, the accidents stopped. Clearly, they started paying more attention when we complained... But only after we complained. 3) thanks to these accidents and poor overall bathroom hygiene, my daughter developed an infection that lasted weeks. When we complained about it, the administration told us they changed the hygiene policies in the classroom because a few other students had a similar issue. In the CH environment, the Guides do not help the students in the bathroom unless they specifically ask for help.... A fact that we were NOT told when we transitioned her. I am sorry but if you think a three year old can properly wipe themselves after a BM, you are delusional. I appreciate fostering independence but not at the cost of medical issues. 4) my daughter was rudely denied a snack, after she politely asked for one. This happened right in front of me (the teacher's aide who did this had her back turned to me so she was not aware that I was standing there). This is unacceptable. No child should be denied food when they ask for it. 5) my son (13 months old) is in the Nido environment. His Guide and teacher's aide are both amazing (shout out to Ms. Amal and Ms. Andrea). However, the administration, without any warning or notice, pulled the aide out of the classroom. We go to drop off our son and there is a random person that we have never met standing there. My son refused to go to her and was basically crying all day. This is the second or third random aide we have seen in the classroom. Given the young age where stranger danger is so real, it is so unprofessional to keep changing aides on the kids. It is also highly unprofessional that we (as parents) are not notified when a new person is going to be interacting with our kids. Because kids that age cannot communicate, it is important that the administration does. 6) this is minor but the parking situation is horrid. During busy drop off and pick up times, there are scarcely any parking spots available. You would think that administration would be cognizant of this fact and park their car in a further away spot, but nope. Every morning, we notice the Range Rover with the vanity plates bearing the school name parked in the best spot..it's minor but speaks to how out of touch the administration is to the parents needs. 7) administration bills the daycare as a Montessori school however it is not a certified Montessori school..it is registered as a daycare because it does not have its certification... Not sure why it still does not since it's been opened for over a year. Administration never bothers to discuss this with the parents and doesn't foster a transparent environment. The reason the school gets three stars is because of the amazing teachers and aides that are present in the Nido (Ms. Amal and Ms. Andrea) and the YCC (Ms. Alessandra and Ms. Melody) environments. However, the turnover rate is very high. I hope the administration does not chase away the amazing teachers. The school also does a good job on having great tools and materials for the kids. There is definitely great potential for the school, however for what they demand in school fees (some of the highest in the area), combined with the poor administration and communication, it is definitely lacking.

How can a school “layoff” someone and tell her that she’s laid off because your overstaff. You hired my cousin around April and you tell her late June that your overstaff. Meanwhile you’re still hiring more teachers. She came for to work in one classroom but you made her a floater and didn’t tell her. She got sick and told you that she would like to stay in one classroom and you told her that you’ll see what you can do. I’m happy that she’s not there anymore, she’s more happy then ever.

We are parents of two children, a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, and we cannot express enough how wonderful Avant Garde Montessori School has been for our family. From the moment we walked through the doors, we felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and community. Mrs. Jolly, the head of school, has created an environment that is both nurturing and stimulating. Her dedication to the Montessori philosophy is evident in every aspect of the school. She goes above and beyond to ensure that each child feels valued and supported. Mrs. Jolly's open-door policy makes it easy for parents to communicate and feel involved in their child's education. Our experience always begins with Ms. Bandita, the front desk receptionist, whose friendly, kind, and caring nature makes every visit a pleasure. She has an incredible ability to connect with each family, remembering every student's name and creating a welcoming atmosphere that sets the tone for the entire school. Our 5-year-old has thrived under the guidance of Ms. Leslie. She has a remarkable ability to connect with the children, making learning an exciting and engaging experience. Ms. Leslie's patience and creativity have helped our child develop a love for learning, building their confidence and curiosity every day. For our 2-year-old, the transition into a school setting has been seamless, thanks to the caring and attentive nature of Ms. Alessandra & Ms. Cassandra their warmth and nurturing approach make our youngest feel safe and loved, while her emphasis on hands-on learning perfectly suits her developmental stage. Avant Garde Montessori School has truly become a second home for our children, and we are incredibly grateful for the positive impact it has had on their growth and development.

My kid absolutely loves going here and loves all of his teachers. Just in the first month of him attending, we saw tremendous development and reaching milestones we didn’t expect him to reach so soon. As a first time mom, going back to work and leaving my kiddo at daycare made me so nervous but I’m so glad that my experience at Avante Garde took my nervousness away. Aside from this, the staff is super approachable and they listen to any concerns or questions that parents have.

AGMS has been a great transition for our little ones after relocating from a different city and school. Although the school is a newer establishment, with Mrs. Jolly as the director, my family and I feel AGMS will be around for awhile. She’s very professional, kind and an active listener ensuring that any of our parental concerns are addressed immediately. The lead guides are great, both communicate well about our little ones on a daily basis. There are quite a bit of activities throughout the week in addition to the day to day lessons such as soccer shots, splash days, music day, etc. The variety of activities is definitely appreciated. Some of the activities are at an extra cost and some are not. In regards to meal times breakfast, lunch and snacks. Breakfast is included in the tuition, it’s not a hearty breakfast, usually a muffin and a fruit of some sort. Lunch options are available for an additional fee. We don’t participate in the lunch program. However, there’s no microwave to heat up the food we send, so only cold lunches if you’re bringing them from home. Snacks typically include a variety of ingredients (goldfish, fruits, crackers, dried fruits, vegetables). Overall, AGMS is a great trusted school for a little one.

I’ve had to have my baby come here from a young age of 3 months and they have been so absolutely wonderful! I was very nervous about bringing my baby and leaving him but the detailed notes left by the teachers/affirming words at pickup have been so reassuring. It is also an extremely clean and well taken care of facility. I would definitely recommend this facility for small babies and look forward to the friendships/teachers they will grow with over the years.

To be fully transparent, this is our first experience with a daycare facility. Our toddler and infant have both attended Avante Garde Montessori for approximately a year. Overall, we have been very impressed with the Montessori and its staff members. The director, Jolly, is the heart of the program. She has always been very easy to approach with my parental concerns or questions. She always makes the time to meet with myself and thoroughly listens. It is quite clear that she is passionate about her job and the well being of the children. Benita is the constant warm friendly face that greets you everyday. My toddler loves to interact with her and gives her hugs before he leaves. Our toddler is in YCC2 and has the absolute best teacher, Ms. Amanda. Our son has grown in leaps and bounds this year in regards to his socialism, independence and academics. They took the time to be patient with his potty training which is much appreciated. He comes home every day saying “Mommy I had fun!”. They have incorporated several fun summer activities such as a splash pad and foam parties. The Procare app is user friendly. The staff try their best to send daily updates and cute photos of the kids which is comforting as a parent. The staff keeps us up to date on illnesses, events, student’s progression etc. If you’re looking for a facility that has a professional and kind director, passionate staff members and engaging activities for your kids, then I’d highly recommend Avante Garde Montessori.

I’ve had a positive experience with Avant Garde. I say that based on “they listen!” Any concerns or issues you might have, they work with you to find a solution. The teachers are great and the environment is super clean and inviting. I’ve really appreciated all the effort Ms.Jolly puts in to bring extra curricular activities for the kids as well! Overall, I highly recommend!

We are one of the founding families at Avant Garde Montessori. From my first conversation with Ms. Jolly, the Head of School, I was confident this was the right choice for my son. He had been in an environment where I felt he had more potential to grow but wasn’t. At AGMS, he has not only thrived academically but also gained more independence. After a year, I knew I wanted my daughter to join this newfound family. The transition was a big adjustment for her. Initially, she struggled with her fast-paced class, refusing to eat and crying excessively. However, Ms. Jolly developed a plan to ease her into a more independent learning environment, which worked like a charm. Now, my daughter cries much less, is more independent, and genuinely enjoys going to school. I wish they could attend forever. I have no idea what I will do when my kids graduate from Avant Garde.