Pincushion Hill Montessori School

TESTIMONIALS

We kind of stumbled on Pincushion Hill by accident. I was looking for *something* to do one Saturday in February with my very active three year old, Daniel, and saw an ad for an open house at this place call Pincushion Hill Montessori, and thought, well... they won't mind an active kid climbing all over their stuff! We walked in, and instantly, *I* wanted to go back to school. The classroom was so warm and inviting and full of things that looked liked they'd be so much fun to learn with. We were thrilled when Daniel was accepted.

Since then, we've watched Daniel blossom under the watchful eyes of the very attentive faculty. They clearly enjoy seeing him grow and learn just as much as we do. We worried a little that Daniel would not respond well to the self-directed nature of the Montessori classroom. In fact, he did have some problems keeping himself productive each day, so the faculty suggested a process for helping him come up with a daily work plan that gives him structure, but still allows him the freedom of choice that is so important to the Montessori method. This creative solution has been critical to his success, and, I think, an excellent example of the kind of solutions typical of the faculty of the school.

This year, his younger sister Emma has joined the school. We continue to be so thankful that we have the opportunity to provide this kind of education for our kids. Emma is a very different kind of kid than Daniel, and that's reflected in the educational approach her teachers take with her. We really appreciate the respect that Montessori schools have for the individual child, which allows our different kids to both grow in the same environment.

Roy Lurie and Mary Beth Rettger

As a parent of a child who has spent three wonderful years at Pincushion, I am very happy with how my daughter has blossomed from a quiet and shy three year old into an expressive, assertive, and independent student. The teachers and setting have been absolutely wonderful for her and I look forward to having my second child who will start school in Fall 2007, thrive just as beautifully in the Pincushion multi-age environment.

Priya and Rajesh Yadav

The very first time we stepped into Pincushion, our son Andrew was still in diapers. We were struggling to find an environment that he would enjoy and grow both academically and emotionally. Now, Andrew is seven and thriving. Looking back, we've traveled a long way.

Andrew started at Pincushion four years ago in the Upstairs Children's House and was there for three years. He is now a first year student in the Lower Elementary classroom. Moving from Children's House to Lower Elementary, Andrew went through no transition phase, he jumped right in. He commented one day on how much he loves to come to school by saying to us: "I wish I could live in my classroom!" This was simply music to our ears. As the years are passing by, it is amazing to watch Andrew blossoming from a frustrated little toddler into a well mannered, well-educated, confident young boy.

Pincushion is a very nurturing environment not just from the academic point of view. The teachers and staff at Pincushion, especially Chris, make great efforts to care about the Children's overall well-being. They are not only there to teach the kids ABCs and 123s, they are there to teach the children how to be confident, how to hold their heads high, how to grow up to be a balanced and caring human being. To be honest, they even teach us to become well-balanced parents.

At the end of the day, what's making us coming back to Pincushion year after year is the ultimate trust. We trust that our son is at the care of a very safe and nurturing environment, we trust that all the teachers are doing everything solely for the well being of the children, and we trust that Chris and Gus will do whatever they can to keep the quality and the integrity of the school for years to come.

Kate Yu and John Deng

We would like to thank Pincushion Hill Montessori School, its teachers, specialists and staff for providing a wonderful educational foundation for our oldest son. We have been impressed with the program and all that it offers the children from the day we first entered the school. Three years later, we continue to be thrilled with the education and learning experiences it has offered our child. When you decide to enroll your child in Pincushion, it really becomes a family affair. There is so much to get involved in at the school and it really allows you to understand how dedicated the teachers and staff are to the development and life long learning of the students.

The true testament to the school, however is to hear our 5 year old son talk about his experience at Pincushion and to see his progress over the past 3 years. He adores the teachers and staff and has enjoyed a challenging and rewarding program year after year. He has had the opportunity to engage fully in music, art, Spanish, private piano lessons, karate, and a multitude of other fun learning activities. It has been very important for us that our son enjoy his learning experience and to see him progress academically has been a wonderful complement. His favorite subject is math and we are continually impressed with the work he does on a daily basis with his teachers and fellow students to help reinforce basic mathematical concepts. He is reading on his own beautifully and is so proud of his progress in this area as well. This morning I asked him what he liked best about his school and this is what he had to say, "I really like my friends and teachers. My teachers help me with different works and help me learn new things. They are so nice. It's really fun too to play outside on the playground at recess."

We are continually grateful to have found Pincushion Hill for our children! We look forward to the time when our youngest children are old enough to enter the program and flourish in the same way as we see the children today doing.

Timothy and Kimberly Brennan

We are very glad that we are part of the Pincushion Hill Montessori family. The directors, teachers and staff truly care about the well being of children. After the first couple of weeks of attending, the teachers have already learned about my son's character and make him feel comfortable to communicate with them.

We are very happy that we find a school that gives our son a wonderful and positive school experience. Children are exposed to a variety of subjects and activities, such as Geography, Maths and Science. The mixed-age classroom works out very well. The children learn how to care and respect each other. Our son is very shy and we can't believe he can perform singing and dancing on the stage during "Evening of the Arts" night. That is the power of a great school.

Ernest Ng and Elsa Leung

Our daughter Bella started at Pincushion Hill Montessori school at the age of 3 and half two years ago. We were at first a little worried about transitioning her from her old daycare to Pincushion because Bella is a shy and reserved girl, and we were not sure how well she would do in a new and more structured environment. However, I did like the Montessori method and philosophy. I believe in respecting children as individuals and fostering the joy of learning at an early age. I liked the fact that the Montessori way of teaching encourages independence and freedom with limits and responsibilities. So we decided to give this new school a try.

Now Bella is five and she is thriving in all areas. She is reading independently. She loves numbers and interesting math problems. She is keeping a journal. She is counting in Spanish. She is saying good morning and thank you. She has educated us on what the proper way of interrupting others is!

She knows the importance of respecting other people, their work and their feelings. She is very proud to be the snack helper and to help clean up the classrooms and water the plants. She has made so many friends at school and she is very confident and comfortable at Pincushion. Every day she comes home happy and enthusiastic, telling us all about her day.

We love the fact that the classroom doesn't have those noisy shiny commercial toys. All the work materials are very carefully designed to make learning fun and natural. We love the fact that there are different ages of children in the same classroom. Bella is still on the shy side. The Montessori structure gives her an opportunity to help the younger kids and assume a leadership role. The classroom environment is stimulating, but non-competitive and not overwhelming. Kids get exposed to a large variety of subjects, including language, math, music, science, practical life, arts, foreign languages, etc. We also love the fact that Pincushion is a multi-cultural environment. We think it is very important for our child to learn and respect other cultures.

The teachers at Pincushion are just wonderful. We think the parent teacher communication at Pincushion is the best. We get a bi-weekly report on our child and a five page progress report twice a year. There are three one-on-one parent teacher conferences. We feel that we are very involved in our daughter's school life and the teachers are always happy to provide updates and discuss issues by email or on the phone. The staff here are also very helpful and friendly. The two directors are very serious in what they do and they are very warm and dedicated. Everybody that works at Pincushion shows a tremendous pride and love towards the school and the kids. They are truly doing everything possible to make this school the best they can. They made us feel that we are a member of the Pincushion family.

We know what the school has done for us and for Bella, so when our second daughter became old enough to attend Pincushion, we didn't hesitate to enroll her also. We have so much confidence in this school and its faculty that we feel that we are giving our daughters a great learning opportunity and a nurturing social environment.

Qing Dong and Steve Tate

I have been thrilled with Pincushion Hill Montessori School. The Montessori environment, so well presented by the Pincushion staff, meets the child at his or her level. Rather than teaching the student class as a single entity, Pincushion teaches to the individual student. While lessons or lectures may be given to a class as whole, the follow up work is then personalized to the needs of each child. The result is a classroom of children happily focused and engaged. My oldest child, who started Pincushion terribly shy, has blossomed into a confident, happy second grader who loves to learn. My more outgoing younger child has embraced the Children's House Montessori material and is equally at ease scooping, pouring and sanding in the practical life area as she is practicing multiplication with numbers in the thousands. We could not be happier.

Tracy W.

We are truly delighted with how our children are embraced, nurtured and supported by the Pincushion teachers. The way the Montessori philosophy is implemented by Chris Kovago and her team is resulting in confident and happy high-achieving students.

Drs. Christina and Per Lampe-Onnerud

Pincushion Hill Montessori provides a caring and nurturing environment, where we have watched our children excel in math, reading, science, Spanish, music and the arts. Our children have been very proud to show us their work and tell us about their days at school. We are often amazed at what they are learning in Preschool and Elementary school, as we weren't exposed to these concepts until middle school.

As parents, we are always encouraged to come in and observe classes. It is a safe, warm and friendly school. We also appreciate the multi-cultural environment, where the children are exposed to the world and the various cultures within it. The Library and school materials cover a wide range of topics and can accommodate studies up to 8th grade. The teachers are very dedicated and able to adjust to children's needs for growth, due to low teacher/student ratios and Montessori training.

We are very pleased to have chosen Pincushion for our children and encourage everyone to visit the school to see things firsthand.

Suzanne and Jeffrey Barnes (Alumni)

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Kovago,

It is extremely difficult to touch the life and make a difference in the life of even one child. You, Mr. and Mrs. Kovago, have touched the lives of many children. Your work is truly commendable. Thank you both so much for taking such an interest in our children. The best thing that could have happened to Siddardth has been Pincushion. We truly appreciate your effort.

Mr. and Mrs. Parasnis (Alumni)

Dear Chris,

As the school year begins I can't help but think of you, because for the past five years it has been your cheerful face I see on the first day of school each year.

Now Laura and Eric are grown up (relatively!) and going their separate ways and I feel this strange feeling of leaving the warmth of the nest you made for them at Pincushion.

I could never thank you adequately for everything you did for them in their half-decade in your care. Your love of children and your stake in their future is unsurpassed by all but God and their parents!

My gratitude is eternal, and I wish you all the best at Pincushion and at home.

Liz Falcone (Alumni)

Dear Chris & Gus,

Barry and I wish to thank you for your constant efforts in making Pincushion an incredible school. Returning to your school was probably the best decision we've made for our children. They have thrived this year thanks to your teachers that you have trained. You are constantly smiling, comforting, and of course teaching the children all aspects of life…above all - respect for each other and of course our planet. There aren't many schools that do that.

With warmest thanks and a happy, relaxing summer.

Veronica and Barry Lundgren (Alumni)

Dear Chris and Gus,

Thank you both for everything that you do to run this beautiful school. We appreciate your dedication, intelligence, and warmth. Our children have had a successful and inspiring year - we look forward to another year in the fall!

Love, Dianna & John Vosberg (Alumni)

I toddled into PHMS at two and a half years old and now I am walking strong and proud, ready for the seventh grade. Throughout my years at Pincushion Hill Montessori School, I have discovered many things. Here I have enjoyed learning the typical school subjects, like math and language, and of course I have learned important social skills that have helped me make treasured friends.

This school has taught me the importance of caring and friendship, compassion and determination. I'm sure all of these things will help me in the future. But none of these things would have been possible without the Kovagos, teachers, staff and specialists. The people who give so much to the children at Pincushion are amazing, and without them I would really be nowhere.

So I really want to thank them, especially the Kovagos, for all the things they have given me. I will be sad the leave Pincushion, but I am confident that wherever I will go, I will do fine - all thanks to the wonderful school that started me on this journey into the wide world.

2005 Graduation Speech by Patricia Vosberg (Alumni)