Our daughter has been a student of Northstar since she was 18 months and she is now 9 years old. We are blessed with a bright, funny and studious child who loves to learn. We have been thrilled with her accomplishments at the school and know that it is her attitude coupled with the supportive staff that has made her so successful.
We did try a different learning environment for her at the start of grade 4 and became quickly aware of the positive and exciting learning opportunities that Northstar offers. Our daughter missed her teacher and the “always learning something new” (as she put it) environment of Northstar. While she easily grasped the routines of the new class and thoroughly understood the academic requirements, our daughter was clearly bored and there was a shift in her attitude toward school. And for us this was a turning point. While we appreciate and feel blessed with her academic abilities, we pride ourselves on our child’s willingness and readiness to learn and approach new experiences with confidence and curiosity.
We have returned to Northstar, and true to the Montessori curriculum our daughter was able to pick up where she left off and she has moved forward without difficulty; most importantly her love for school and learning has continued.
...Nav G. (3 daughters)
It is with great pleasure for me to submit my testimonial concerning my daughter’s attendance at Northstar Montessori from 2008-2012.
My daughter Monique was privileged to be a student of Northstar Montessori up to 2012. During that period, because of the understanding and nurturing attitude of the teachers, Monique became more self-confident, independent and always looked forward to attending school daily. It is to be noted that Northstar is a very disciplined and at the same time an Educational Learning Centre. It is not about Race, Sex or Gender, but it is about equal treatment and opportunity for each and every student.
I can rightfully say, it is a place where every Creed, Gender and Race find an equal place. Northstar brings out the best in every student and it is the ideal school for one’s child overall development. It assist in developing our young people, thus creating wee-rounded adults. When their term ends, our children’s skills that they would have acquired at Northstar usually make them stand out above the rest. The principal, vice-principal and the entire Northstar staff should be very proud the students they put out for tomorrow’s world.
Thank you all so much for the head start you all have given to my daughter Monique M.
...Berea C.M.
Our son has been attending Northstar Montessori since the Toddler Summer Camp program. Even within the first few weeks of enrolling, we saw that he was becoming more independent and improving his social skills. He is now in the Casa program, and we've seen so many positive changes in him, whether it be educational or social. There have been many challenges along the way, but the teachers and staff have been more than helpful and have tackled each issue in a professional and nurturing manner. The teachers take the time to talk to the parents on how to work together to make the most of the child's Montessori experience. We love the experience that our son is getting at Northstar and believe that he is on the right path to success.
...Helen Rei-Kabigting
My son is a Casa student and has been a part of Northstar’s family since Toddler. His level of development today is so beyond any expectation I have as a parent for my 4-year-old – he corrects me when I (intentionally) recite the continents wrong!
Northstar provides a curriculum and offers extra-curricular activities both within such a broad spectrum that my son has been exposed to so many things and which otherwise would be challenging for a working parent to expose to their children to at the frequency that Northstar can afford. For examples: teaching the planets of the universe; how to cut with scissors; karate, swimming, Monkeynastics (gymnastics) all in the same year and during school hours and in the supervision of and planned by the Northstar staff; trips to the waterpark, the farm or the Toronto Post Office). Northstar’s curriculum and wide spectrum of extra-curricular activities sets their students up for success in becoming a more well-rounded student and, more so, outside of school, they are more knowledgeable about so many things around them (in the real world) that we (parents and in some cases, siblings), take for granted.
The staff at Northstar are as if each were selectively hand-picked for their specific roles in the school. I can say that my son has 1 specific trait or memory that he remembers each of his teachers for. He will remember one teacher for a certain song he learned; another teacher because she sits with him at lunch; and another teacher for a pet she keeps in the classroom. The teachers are: #1 – caring; #2 – thoughtful; #3 – patient. They know each and every one of their students and they treat them with all the care in the world. They respect the needs of the parents and respect that each parent has different levels of expectations.
It is so easy to trust that my son is in a good place with good people and that he is developing, learning and growing, in Northstar Montessori.
...Gladice Sarmiento
