Testimonials

“I can tell you that MSOR prepared Nick incredibly well for a rigorous middle school and high school curriculum.  I expected a hard landing when he moved from the small world of Montessori to a larger, more traditionally structured school, but things went smoothly on every level.  The academic foundation, work habits and social skills that he got from Montessori continue to serve him well in the classroom and beyond.”  Katherine Powell, mother of MSR graduate 

 

“I attended the Montessori School of Rome for eight years. My MSR experience began when I was a third-year primary student in what would be Mrs. Kumar’s last class and continued until I completed seventh grade- and I loved every moment of it. Montessori’s unique teaching style creates a learning environment that encourages questions, values diversity, and enables students, and I could not be more grateful for the skills I gained here.
It seems like education today is all about numbers- about grades and standardized test scores and other forms of extrinsic motivation that seems to stifle the purest form of learning. My experience at MSR was vastly different. Our teachers were wonderful and compassionate and nurturing, and they worked with each student’s individual needs. I remember all of them encouraging me to take on new challenges and work ahead to make sure I was never bored. I got to control my own learning, and they facilitated my acceleration with so much enthusiasm and love. Whether I was hunched over at a desk or huddled around the green lesson table or sprawled beside a rug on the ground, the greatest reward for my hard work was a sense of satisfaction and pride. I looked forward to coming to class each day. I wanted to complete more Albanesi cards that day than I did the day before- write more in my morning journal, copy notes from the board more quickly and cleanly. I think there was a healthy sense of competition, but greater than that was just this drive to be the best that I could be. MSR really helped cultivate my love for learning. I wasn’t embarrassed to be smart, and I wasn’t afraid to ask questions, and I was never ashamed of wanting to learn more. I can’t overstate how far this attitude has carried me and continues to carry me today in college. Even now, I enjoy reading my chemistry textbooks and asking questions in large lecture halls and working for hours on end in preparation for a test. What a gift it has been to truly love learning.

Growing up as an Indian-American in a predominantly white town can be a daunting challenge, but I never felt that identity crisis because MSR was so open to appreciating new cultures. My Indian heritage seemed to fit so seamlessly, and I never remembering being uncomfortable with it. I studied remarkable Indian people of the past for Historical Timeline and delved into Ancient India one International Day where I wore a half-sari and ate Indian food with pride. I remember being a budding Bharatanatyam dancer and showing some of the younger classes a dance I had just learned and their warm response really solidified my appreciation and love for a sacred art that has now become irrevocably intertwined with my life. It almost baffles me to look back on my experience and remember how all cultures –not just my own- were respected and celebrated because such true cultural diversity is just so rare in our world today. We had Spanish and French lessons, dressed up like ancient Egyptians, sang Japanese songs at the Holiday Program, and even traveled to England with our class of four adolescents, a trip that I will cherish forever.

The mixed age classrooms were one of my favorite aspects of the Montessori environment. Getting to help the younger students not only reinforced concepts that I had learned before, but it taught me how to be a role model and how to be a leader. Working with the older students that I looked up to presented a constant challenge of reaching their level- one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The values of honesty, kindness, and integrity that I learned at home were reinforced each and every day in the classroom, equipping me with a high moral fiber that I uphold today. There was never any gender bias- never once did I feel lower or lesser or not enough because I was girl; this was so fundamental to my personal development that I was baffled to learn that many of my fellow female peers in college did not receive the same treatment when they were younger. The idea that teachers favor boys or that girls are conditioned to believe that they can’t achieve as much as boys can is so foreign to me based on my own personal experiences, even though it seems to be a prevalent, if tacit, notion in our society.

I am so grateful to the Montessori School of Rome and to Maria Montessori and her philosophy for creating a nurturing learning environment and constantly challenging me with rigorous academics. For helping me every single step of the way as I developed into an independent, inquisitive, hard-working, honest, accountable, responsible, compassionate Indian-American, woman, student, friend, mentor, role model, and leader. For helping me create friendships with other students and my teachers that will last a lifetime. And for enabling me to love learning, to always work my hardest, to never give up, and to always be the best version of myself.

I look back on my days at MSR fondly, and I wholeheartedly recommend it for high-achieving children of all ages and backgrounds.”

“Having graduated from Montessori, I am aware nearly every school day of a keen desire to return to a Montessori-type environment.  I had some of the greatest teachers I will ever have while at MSR.  I was wonderfully prepared for my middle and high school careers.  It is impossible for me to fully put into words the quality and the well-rounded nature of the education I received from Montessori.”

 

“When I became a mom and the time came to send my child to be in someone else’s hand, I asked myself how Luca will spend his days. After researching the Montessori method, I realized it is not only an educational process for your child, but also for yourself. The focus is on educating your child and helping develop parenting skills. There is a partnership between the school, the parent, and the child. I believe that the best investment to the future is education. So, Luca began MSR at the age of 18 months.

I have seen my child grow and develop beautifully. At the age of 5, his vocabulary, social skills, and understanding of life is quite impressive. I remember when Ms. Shannon, two months before Luca’s 3rd birthday, prepared Luca for a big step towards achieving self-independence. She also helped me work with him as he became potty trained!

The MRS community is an invaluable resource which we enjoy. The other parents become familiar with one another as we share our daily life routines. We have joy and peace that our children are being educated with kindness, knowledge and by guides who have a true love for children.

My Luca is a happy boy, who loves his teachers, enjoys going to school, and learns to treat living and non-living things with respect and kindness. All the structure and techniques through the years have helped Luca develop confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning while having fun.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the job of MSR educators give every day; surely you won’t regret it either.”

“My son was at MSR from the toddler program through the second year of primary. We moved to Atlanta, and his teachers at his new school ask how is he such a great reader to only be in kindergarten! I told them it was because of the awesome school he attended in Rome. His teachers give him first grade math and language work, and he is leaps and bounds ahead. We miss Montessori but know he had a great foundation there.”

 

“Both of our children, now ages nine and six, began their Montessori journeys in the school’s wonderful Toddler Program at the age of 18 months.  Their years thus far at MSR have provided them with so many opportunities for leadership, for self-directed work, for public speaking, for hands-on learning and other life-building skills that they wouldn’t be provided in other educational settings. The teachers and staff at MSR not only encourage our kids’ natural curiosity — they also help to build up their confidence levels so that they recognize they have the ability to find the answers to many of their questions on their own. We’re strong proponents of both family and community, but recognize the value of instilling self-confidence and self-reliance in our children, and Montessori, through everything mentioned above, has proven tremendously successful in terms of instilling these qualities in both our kids and in others that we have witnessed in our years here.”

“The Montessori method helped develop my entrepreneurial spirit. As a founding member of The Breakfast Box and The Lunch Box, I learned how to run a small business and reach our goals by working together. In my 9th grade year, we made enough money from our business to take a trip to the Grand Canyon and hike down into the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Knowing we earned the money ourselves through our business was an incredible feeling. I graduated from Darlington in 2010 and graduated from Berry in 2014 with a B.S. in Finance, but I credit my years at Montessori with developing my ability to think creatively and enjoy the process of learning. I work at Mannington Industries in customer service where my early foundations and work ethic help me achieve success daily. Ms. Shemi, when I have children, I’m sending them to you for their education! Get ready!”

“One of the best decisions I ever made in my life was sending Braylen to the Montessori School of Rome. Such a blessing to have him taught and loved by such wonderful people. “