Our family has been involved with Santa Fe Montessori School for about 12 years now.  Before I had children of my own, I was a nanny to two children that attended the school.  It was while taking care of them that I decided my own children would attend SFMS.  My oldest daughter Shayne started when she was 2.8 yrs old in the Children’s House.  She then continued on to the elementary.  She has finished all three years in Jr. I and is now midway through her first year as a Jr. II.  I believe she has learned to be a very independent thinker and learner.  She has established amazing relationships with her teachers and peers.  She has been around the same teachers for 8 years.  I do believe she feels very much at home when she attends school.  My youngest daughter Morgan started SFMS when she was 2 years old.  She began with Ms. Corrina in the Toddler Community.  When she turned three she moved into the Children’s House.  She is now in the elementary midway through her first year as a Jr. I.  She loves her teachers and her friends.  Not only are my children very independent, they put so much thought into everything they do.  I believe my children will do anything they want because of the education they have received at SFMS.  My plan is to have both of my children complete the cycle in both the Jr. I and Jr. II classrooms.

 February 10, 2009

Busick Family

SFMS has been a part of my family for over 13 years. My husband and I were introduced to the school when we first moved to California 14 years ago. My brother and sister in law both attended SFMS from the age of 3 all the way through 6^th grade.

            Before I had children I found myself in the Children’s House classrooms learning about the Montessori philosophy and the different elements to the classroom. I found myself interested and in awe of what the children were learning at such a young age. The way teachers talked to the children, the way the children moved and worked in the classroom, the flow of it all was intriguing. I quickly decided this was the school my children would have to attend. I had never been around anything like it.

            My interest in the school continued to grow as my in-laws children grew and they moved into the elementary side of the school. By this time, my daughter was now in the Children’s House.

            Both of my children have attended SFMS from the very beginning. My son was in the first year they offered the Toddler schedule. Ms. Maria was his teacher. She is an excellent, loving, devoted teacher who not only loves her job but loves children. SFMS is lucky to have her on their staff.  This year (2009) my daughter will graduate from SFMS. I can honestly say that this was the best school for her education. She has grown and blossomed into such an intelligent young woman. The school has taught her to love learning, to love the experience, and to want to learn more. The work is hard, but rewarding. She loves the time she has spent at SFMS. It is truly a unique and wonderful place to learn.

            My son will move into the Junior II level in the fall (2009). He also has had an amazing yet different experience. I say this because the teachers strive to teach to each child and to have them excel at their own pace. This has been very good for my son. His elementary teacher (Ms. Fibi) has guided him to places in his education that neither my husband nor I could ever have imagined.  He is excited to continue his education and excited to move onto the next phase of his development at SFMS.

            SFMS is a wonderful place for your child to start or continue his/her education. I would recommend this school to anyone who is looking for a place that allows children to learn, allows children to excel at their own pace, teaches children to love learning, teaches children the excitement of figuring out the problem, and above all teaches them to be responsible human beings and how to find and make their own place in the world.

March 9, 2009

Josh and LeAnn Rytz