Mount St. Michael Catholic School

Our child started at this school when she was just 18 months old, and it's been a truly wonderful experience for our family ever since. The Toddler Montessori Program is excellent-led by Mrs. Vanessa, a certified Montessori guide with a lot of experience. The environment is nurturing and engaging, with age-appropriate crafts and hands-on activities that supported growth socially, emotionally, and cognitively from the very beginning. We continued with the Montessori PK3-4 program, and it exceeded our expectations. Our child learned to read and write before turning five! Her teacher, Ms. Basia, is an experienced and highly trained Montessori guide who knows how to support and challenge each child in just the right way. The classes are mid-sized, and students receive a lot of individual attention. The teachers really take the time to get to know the kids and follow their progress closely. The school itself is small-just over 100 students from toddler through 8th grade-which makes it feel like a close-knit family. It's tucked away in a quiet, natural setting on Mt. Carmel, with a large outdoor space and a massive playground that gives kids the opportunity to explore, play, and have real adventures. From 1st to 8th grade, the curriculum shifts to a classical model, with a strong academic foundation and lots of opportunities for enrichment. Mr. Castro, the principal, is a fantastic leader-very involved, accessible, and truly has a pulse on everything happening in the school. Communication is always timely and thoughtful. The staff is kind, loving, and deeply committed to the students' well-being. We've loved the way the school builds character and community. Each quarter, the older students lead the whole school in focusing on a virtue, which becomes a theme everyone discusses and practices. There are also wonderful events throughout the year like Academic Museum Night and Celebration of the Arts Day, where parents can stay actively involved in their children's education. One of the things that makes this school really special is its working farm. From 1st to 8th grade, students have weekly agricultural studies classes where they help with farm chores, care for animals like sheep, chickens, and turkeys, and learn about crops and nature in a hands-on way. They even have beehives on campus and offer a Beekeeping Club starting in 4th grade! There's also a wide variety of extracurriculars-chess club, LEGO club, ballet, karate, theater, beekeeping, and more. The afterschool program is strong and well-run. Another big plus is the faith formation. The school offers daily Mass for students in 1st grade and up and twice-weekly Mass for Pre-K and Kindergarten. There's no Mass for Toddlers, but there's still a gentle introduction to faith through catechesis and prayer. Students also help lead music at Mass by playing instruments and singing-it's a beautiful way for them to express their faith and feel connected. All in all, this school has been a blessing for our family. Our child has thrived, learned so much, made wonderful memories, and built a strong foundation in both academics and faith. We would highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a loving Montessori program for toddlers and preschoolers and a strong academic and faith-based education for the years to come.

Mount St. Michael is an amazing school! I have been a part of the school community as a teacher for over 25 years and a part of the school family since the beginning of the school. This school has truly become my family and has a family atmosphere. The class sizes are small with the average size being about 12 students. The academics are rigorous teaching the students to think for themselves and make solid, faith-based decisions in all aspects of their schooling and life. The youngest students, 18 months - 5 years old, learn through the Montessori method where the teacher guides the student in their learning as they are developmentally ready. As students transition to grade school, they receive a classical education as they go through the grammar and logic phases in their learning. The faculty and staff truly see this as a vocation and care for each student in their care. The school emphasizes the importance of more "green time and less screen time" through the Agricultural Studies program and the outdoor learning classrooms. The families are involved in their children's education and support the school through being involved in all events and volunteering their time, talents, and treasure. One of the best aspects of Mount St. Michael is the faith, spreading the Gospel, Daily Mass, monthly Confessions, and Adoration. I could not imagine teaching anywhere else.