Pieces of gratitude from our past CHMS families.

Adan

Children House Montessori is truly a hidden gem! Our family enjoyed two incredibly positive years at CHMS, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the experience. The guides and staff are not only loving and nurturing but also deeply dedicated to helping each child develop a genuine love for learning, self-respect, and respect for their peers. The school environment is thoughtfully prepared to foster independence, creativity, and curiosity in every child.

Our daughter experienced remarkable growth in her confidence, social skills, and academic curiosity during her time at CHMS. The guides are highly trained, patient, and genuinely invested in the well-being of each student, nurturing not just academic progress but also emotional and social development, ensuring the children are well-prepared for future success.

The sense of community between students, parents, and staff is something we will always cherish. Our daughter loved her time at CHMS and formed lasting friendships with both her classmates and guides. In fact, there were many days at pickup when she didn’t want to leave because she was enjoying school so much!

We will greatly miss our time with the CHMS community, especially the mid-year and end-of-year performances. For anyone seeking a warm and supportive Montessori preschool, we recommend CHMS. It’s an experience that has left a lasting impact on our family.

Steven

Children's House Montessori School (CHMS) has been an invaluable part of our family's journey. One of the most striking aspects of CHMS is its strong sense of community. The school's commitment to building connections among families was evident even during the challenging COVID-19 years, when they organized a beautiful outdoor graduation ceremony. Such events truly made us feel like part of a larger family, and the friendships that were fostered have continued many years since my daughter graduated.

Moreover, CHMS was instrumental in identifying our daughter's unique learning style. This early intervention significantly impacted her academic and social development beyond her years at CHMS. Beyond the classroom, our daughter's experiences at CHMS inspired her to pursue various interests. She started playing Suzuki piano and began learning languages following our time at CHMS. The school's holistic approach to education encouraged her to explore her passions and talents.

CHMS stands out as a truly exceptional school community. The dedication of the teachers, the supportive environment, and the enriching curriculum have made a lasting impact on our daughter's life. We are incredibly grateful for the foundation they have provided her for future success.

Gabrielle

When we first walked through the doors of CHMS, we knew we were onto something special. This wasn't just going to be our daughter's school; it was going to be her second home. And guess what? We were right. CHMS has been this magical place in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, where little ones like ours not only learn but thrive.

The heart of CHMS? It's all about those Montessori vibes – independence, confidence, and making friends. It's like watching our little girl grow her own wings. Every day, she comes home buzzing with stories about what she did, what she learned, and all the fun she had. It's music to our ears.

But here's the real deal – CHMS's core values. They're not just fancy words on a website. They're real. Safety, community, character, and sticking to what Dr. Montessori envisioned. We see it. We feel it. It's in the way the teachers guide our daughter, in the way she's learning to be her own person, and in how she's learning to play and work with others.

It's more than just education; it's about building a foundation for life. And the community? It's like a big family. Our daughter knows she belongs, and so do we.

So, to CHMS, a huge thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You're shaping our daughter's future in ways we could only dream of. You're not just a school; you're a part of our family's story, and we're so grateful for every moment.

Marcy

During the 2.5 years our son was at CHMS, the teachers were incredibly supportive and nurturing, encouraging his growth and independence while working with him on essential skills at a pace that allowed him to reach his full potential. Beyond laying a strong educational foundation, we were particularly impressed by the emphasis placed on positive interactions with peers and being a respectful member of the community. We are deeply grateful for the care and dedication of everyone at CHMS!

Tony

CHMS provided an exceptional preschool experience - fostering both academic growth and personal development in a warm, nurturing environment. The teachers and leadership were incredibly attentive and created a structured space where our daughter felt safe, confident, and excited to learn. Overall, it was the perfect foundation for our daughter’s future success.Thanks, CHMS!

Diana

CHMS will always hold a very special place in our hearts! Our son attended CHMS from 2017-2019 and we come back and visit whenever we are able due to the incredible connection his teacher made with him. She (and the entire school) instilled such a love of learning in him that made school an exciting adventure. They see such amazing potential in each child. We are so grateful to all of the amazing and dedicated CHMS faculty!

Lisa

We have had such a wonderful year at CHMS and it couldn't have been a better experience for our Saige. From the warmth and brilliant care of Saige's teachers, to the tremendous management and conscientiousness of Ms. Denise, Mr. Jad, and the entire management team, to the kindness and hard work of all of the staff, we will miss CHMS very much. We will always be part of the CHMS family, and are so happy Saige gets to spend this summer with you.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for taking such good care of our daughter. Saige--and we--will never forget the home she found at CHMS.

Laura

Ella is our second child to attend CHMS. Ella and her brother are very different, yet have both had truly wonderful experiences at CHMS. This highlights that CHMS teachers challenge each child from where she enters school. CHMS fosters a positive classroom environment, which children bring home -- literally singing about peace and geography!

Elizabeth

We are so grateful for the time our son spent at CHMS, and for the incredible growth we saw throughout his two years there. The school really nurtured his love for learning, and greatly helped foster his social skills and independence. While he started preschool nervous and shy, he graduated from CHMS a confident, happy kid who was beyond prepared for kindergarten.

His Montessori Guides were truly wonderful; they were exceptionally caring, warm, and supportive. And the administration is very dedicated to making the school a special place. I particularly loved that music classes were a part of the curriculum, and that all students perform in winter and fall concerts. We are also deeply appreciative of the community the CHMS administration creates, and for the friendships our family has made!

Amanda

Sam has adjusted so well to CHMS. We are excited to see how he is developing his skills and language and new friendships. We love the activities CHMS has held including the monthly playdates. Thank you for putting these together. I also appreciate the love and kindness from the teachers. Sam's teacher sends such thoughtful emails helping to guide Sam through toilet training, etc. I never have worried during a workday about Sam, I know he is well taken care of and that he is enjoying school and learning.

Leena

CHMS provided a unique and fun learning environment for our preschooler. When we started with CHMS soon after our daughter turned 3, we were pleasantly surprised by how quickly she adjusted and, in fact, thrived within the Montessori method and style. Throughout her 2.5 years at CHMS, our daughter clearly enjoyed both the independent and group work time in the classroom and the creative ways in which she was introduced to numbers, letters, geography, and other academic and life skills, as well as the extensive free play time outside with friends and exploring nature.

As an only child, we appreciated that her classroom included children ranging from ages 3 to 5, so that she could learn how to interact well with other children in different stages of life. As a young three-year-old starting out in a new school, our daughter looked up to and learned from the older children, and as a 5-year-old gearing up for Kindergarten, she cherished the opportunity to care for and be an example for the younger ones.

The administrators and teachers at CHMS demonstrate a clear passion for education and sincere care for the children. They played an instrumental role in our daughter’s early development, not only academically, but socially with peers, and with respect for authority. We saw the fruit of the experience in the way our daughter and her peers in the classroom genuinely show care for one another, and still today when we run into one another around town.

Emma

Based on our child’s conversation, we can tell that the teachers at CHMS are thoughtful and nurturing. She is thriving at CHMS with the support of the amazing staff and teachers. She looks forward to return to school every Monday.

Etaf

We have always appreciated the values at CHMS in terms of activating discipline, a love for learning, and building character in children. While we appreciate the Montessori method in terms of encouraging independent learning, we are happy that CHMS staff still provides ample guidance and appropriate boundaries in terms of both behavior and academics. After having one child spend her pre-elementary years here, we have complete trust that our second child will also be fully prepared for kindergarten.

Susan

Ella has blossomed in the montessori environment allowing her to harness her desire for independence in constructive ways that positively challenge her to continue to learn more. She has also strengthened her ability to concentrate and be respectful/courteous of others.

Radha

Vihaan has only been at CHMS for about two months. However, the transition was surprisingly smooth thanks to his teachers. He seems to love school, which is very important to us. We love the little art projects he comes home with and the stories he tells us about class. We are excited to continue to see him develop and thrive at CHMS.

Alumni Parent

Our years with our daughter attending CHMS have made us believers of the Montessori philosophy for the rest of our lives!

Guenevere

Our child has been happier with school since transitioning to CHMS from another Montessori school. We can tell that she is being treated with love and having a happy child before and after the school day has been a tremendous positive change for all of us!

Cherylyn

We have sent all of our children to CHMS for preschool and could not be happier with our decision. With three of our children now in 1st and 3rd grades, it is abundantly clear that CHMS prepared them well for kindergarten and beyond. The rich and robust curriculum at CHMS, in addition to the nurturing and caring disposition of the CHMS teachers, staff and director, provided our children with an excellent foundation as they transitioned to elementary school. We highly recommend CHMS to those who are considering preschool options in the area.

April

E is thriving at school and loves to go everyday. We love to hear about his day and what has excited him about it--it is always something different. A new story, playing with friends at the playground, interacting with his teacher, and for him it is his world. Thank you to the amazing teachers and admin for his wonderful early childhood experience!

Alumni Parent

From the early days with the daily tearful goodbyes in the morning, he has blossomed into a confident, bright young boy. We are so proud of what he has accomplished and learned at CHMS!

Jillian

In these 3 short weeks, although James has been emotional during drop offs, I’m comforted seeing how happy he is in the afternoons and how accommodating the faculty at CHMS has been in helping James to adjust to his new routine. He talks about how excited he is for school and to see his friends and his teachers. The sense of community and being a part of the CHMS family has been a blessing and I’m so thankful to you all!

Monica

The help that CHMS has given us is endless. Brandt is much more independent since he started pre-school, his vocabulary has increased, and his using his manners at home and when communicating with us. One day Brandt was coughing, and I had to pick him up early from school. He was so upset and didn't want to get in the car because he wanted to have lunch with his friends in school. It definitely made me happy to know that the enjoys his time in school.

Sean

We could not be more happy or enthusiastic about Leo’s first few months at CHMS. We’ve seen wonderful new skills emerge and increased confidence. He comes home happy and is excited for the next day at school. We are grateful for the CHMS staff and Leo’s teachers who obviously have a deep passion for early childhood education. Lastly, in these uncertain times we are grateful to CHMS for finding a path for education during COVID.

Alumni Parent

One of the hardest things in the world is to leave your child in the hands of others while you are away at work. Thank you for making this so easy for us. We never worried about our son’s well-being at Children’s House!

Kelly

Henry makes us pause before dinner and do the same mindfulness routine they do at school at lunchtime. It's delightful. 🙂

Jon

We have enjoyed watching Javier develop his focus, concentration, and courtesy while at CHMS. Thank you, CHMS Team!

Arielle

Aden was nervous about school at first but now every morning is excited to put on his CHMS uniform and head off to school. He lovingly talks about his teachers and his friends from class. Ever since Aden started at CHMS we have noticed his curiosity and personality blossoming.

Ashley

CHMS has been great for Julian's love of learning and we sensed a shift in his development almost from the start. We can see that the teachers care deeply about their work and help to support the children and the parents.

Tony

Sophia's growth since at CHMS has been tremendous. She loves going to school and adores her teachers, and she says that she "wants to stay at CHMS forever!"

Elizabeth

We have really enjoyed our experience with CHMS. We were quite worried about Louisa starting school. She had not had anyone outside of her family take care of her before. She had never really been with other kids besides her brother. And she has handled the transition beautifully. We have been amazed that she walks in nearly every day without tears; that she comes home so happy; and that she can tell us a little bit about her day on most days. Thank you for nurturing Louisa and for making CHMS and her first school experience such a wonderful one.

Sandhya

Before we started at CHMS in June, our son would throw his plate and cup on the floor after he finished each meal. One week in, that behavior stopped. He used to whine a lot. That behavior has stopped. We have enjoyed hearing new songs he has learned at school (he puts on performances for us nightly). He really likes his teachers - talks about them all the time. We have been very happy with his progress and we are grateful for what he has gained at school so far. We needed help getting him to listen because he was with us for a full year while we worked. He got away with a lot because we gave in. We are learning ways to get him to follow instructions now and implementing some boundaries in a way we were not doing before. What he is learning at school and the boundaries he has there has made a huge difference at home.

Kelsey

CHMS was such a wonderful school for our family. Our son absolutely thrived during his 3 years there and the community/teachers made such a positive impact on our lives. Our son entered kindergarten beyond prepared and we love how the CHMS Montessori curriculum really allowed for him to learn at his own pace. I can’t say enough great things about the teachers; they really took the time to know our son and figure out how he learns best - he was so eager to go to school each day and he really took pride in the challenging lessons he was learning. Our son is also a totally active kid and he LOVES to run; the CHMS playground was perfect and allowed him to get out his energy and he still talks about all the “races” he did on the playground. We are looking forward to sending our two younger children there as well and we highly recommend CHMS to any family who is looking for a challenging, well rounded, playful school environment for their child. We will be forever thankful for the CHMS community.