John XXIII Montessori Center

We have loved the faculty and staff at John XXIII since day 1! They have always had our children's best interest at heart. The time and effort put into each child to help them foster a love of the world around them astonishes me. My children come home every day truly happy and fulfilled. The practical life lessons they practice at school have helped us transition at home to having more independent and confident kids! Highly recommend the center!

John XXIII Montessori Center has been a great gift to our family. The guides, catechists, and staff are deeply invested in the education and wellbeing of the children under their care. When my daughter was struggling with reading, they went above and beyond to make sure she got the extra help she needed.

The Center's beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces meet the children's needs for order in their environment as well as wonder at the discovery of the natural world. All three of my children have grown and thrived in the context of these environments.

The parent education provided by the Center has influenced our family in numerous ways. The resources we've received on things like parenting, child development, and Montessori philosophy - in the form of newsletters, free seminars, and individual meetings - have helped us become more attuned and confident parents.

We are wrapping up our first year at the Center. I have one son in Primary and one in Atrium. All of the materials are available and well maintained, the guides and catechists show love and beauty to my sons, and the community has been a positive and healing experience to my family of 5. My sons come home wanting to return to the Center soon after and love sharing their knowledge and experiences with us at home. I am humbled by how well my primary student has adapted and is growing leaps and bounds. He is not pressured to perform but invited to grow and gain self mastery and knowledge of the world. Because of the environment, he has learned that he can do hard things and learn alongside his friends, all of whom encourage each other and not tear down. My atrium son has found a love of the Faith and comes home happy and confident. Since the start of the school year he has been more curious about the Mass and prayer life in the home. Overall, the aspect I am most grateful for from John XXIII is the community of friends, both kids and parents, all striving for virtue and love of God and each other.

We love John XXIII! Our son has been attending since a toddler and it has helped him grow in so many ways. We love that he is surrounded by good Catholic people and he's been instilled with a love for learning and wonder at God's creation.

Six of my children attended the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at John XXIII from ages 3-9 (and a few beyond that!), and my seventh just entered Level II. One reason why my husband and I have continued to send our children to “the Atrium” all these years is that it provides such a wonderful complement to our homeschooling efforts. We are committed to teaching the Faith to our children at home, through formal instruction and through the everyday practices of Catholic family life; nonetheless, the “hands-on” environment at John XXIII provides another dimension for our children to encounter the mysteries of Faith, one which is tailored to their age and size, one which is tactile and vibrant, and one which allows for that necessary repetition which is a part of all human development. They can approach their favorite works again and again, gaining more insight into the mystery or parable with each encounter. Furthermore, the calm and reverent atmosphere of the Atrium inculcates in them the proper disposition for approaching our Lord at Mass and in the other sacraments.
Witnessing the way in which the teachers communicate with the children at John XXIII has been very inspiring. I can honestly say that learning about the Montessori Method through their example has affected my own parenting. I have been inspired to maintain my calm in stressful situations; I have learned the importance of creating an environment at home that attempts to expand rather than shorten my children’s attention spans. I have learned the difference between being attentive to my children’s projects and efforts rather than simply praising them, of asking questions before lecturing, of really trying to listen to my children before passing judgment on a situation.
A final reason why my husband and I have been so grateful for John XXII is the quality of the teachers themselves. Through the years, my children have had several different women—some mothers of very large families—as their teachers. Each one of these women—in spite of, or perhaps because of her own family, has somehow managed to make my own child feel unique and valued. They took notice of the smallest details I might wish to hear and communicated them to me; the way they spoke and interacted with my children made me feel as though they loved them as I did. What a gift to be able to entrust my children to such wonderful women—who will echo and enhance the perspective that my husband and I try to impart at home!
-Mary and Trey Stanford

My son is in his 5th year here, having gone through Step Up Toddler and Primary, and is now in Elementary. He continues to thrive in the Montessori environment. The delicate balance of rules and rituals with independence and self-determination, along with individualized attention has been so beneficial for his development - academically, emotionally and spiritually. The Guides and Catechists are well-trained, experienced, faithful, patient beyond belief, and truly love the children they serve.

I would highly recommend this authentically Catholic, authentically Montessori Center, both their academic program and their atrium-only program. Signing up our children as 2 year olds in their toddler program has been more beneficial than we could have hoped...so much joy, so much pride and ownership in their "work" (like making bread!), so many opportunities for developing concentration, seeing themselves as part of a community, taking direction from other adults and best of all (in my view), contributing to the development of a loving relationship with Jesus.

An authentic Montessori education, with a solid foundation in our Catholic faith, through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd religious formation. Grateful for a pastoral setting where the children have an opportunity to explore God’s beautiful creation here in the Shenandoah Valley. The guides are seasoned experts, inspiring and aiding this generation of children to reach their greatest potential!

This is a beautiful school in a peaceful, retreat like setting. We are very happy with the excellent Montessori academic education and Catechesis of The Good Shepherd Program our children are receiving here. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program at this Center is a highly respected example of an authentic catechesis program. This center has a 20 year plus experience in the CGS program originally created by Sofia Cavelletti in conjunction with Maria Montessori. The academic program is amazing and works in relationship with parents to form a plan for each child's unique abilities and gifts. The academic and atrium rooms are beautiful! The children are joyful and the guides are highly experienced and capable. We love this place!