Welcome Message
The decision about where to send your child for school is an important one, and we want to help you determine if Montessori is the place for your preschool or elementary-aged child.
I invite you to get to know us better — first by requesting an Admissions packet, and then by attending an Open House and observing in one of our classrooms. You can read more about the different steps of the admissions process below. Meanwhile, I look forward to meeting you and showing you our wonderful school!
Warmly,
Susan French-Lawyer
Director of Admissions
Our History
The Montessori School of Syracuse was started by three women — Mary O’Connor, Susan French-Lawyer, and Patricia Choice Getz — who wanted to offer a Montessori education to their children and the community. In 1995, they opened the Montessori Learning Center with seven students and one teacher.
In its first five years, the school grew from one classroom to five and from seven students to nearly 100. Despite its success, the school underwent a true test of strength and character in the fall of 2000. An arson attack at Temple Beth-El, where the school was housed, caused such damage that the building was closed for months. Both the temple and the school received an outpouring of support from the community, and, within days, the school reopened in a temporary home — St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church.
Meanwhile, parents, trustees and administrators worked tirelessly to find and finance a permanent home for the school. They succeeded, and the school purchased the former York State Manor, a teacher’s retirement home, on Waldorf Parkway. The school opened its new doors at its permanent campus in January 2001.
Currently, Montessori School of Syracuse serves over 130 children, ages 3 through 12, from approximately 20 school districts in Central New York.
How do parents feel about Us?
What Parents Are Saying About Us
“I could never say enough about how wonderful Montessori School of Syracuse (MSS) has been for our boys. We actually tried our oldest in the public kindergarten at the beginning of this past school year and switched him back to Montessori School of Syracuse after a week. Both our boys are confident, kind self-directed learners and for that we give so much credit to MSS and the amazing people who dedicate so much of themselves to our children.”
~ LIZ E. – MSS PARENT
“All three of our children have attended the Montessori School Syracuse (MSS) since they were 3 years old. Our oldest graduated from 6th grade last year, our middle child is now in 5th grade and our youngest in 1st. We never intended to keep them there past kindergarten, but the more we learned about Montessori education and MSS in particular, the more we loved it. MSS graduates are far ahead of their classmates from other schools academically when they enter 7th grade, but it is the non-academic stuff we love most about MSS. The multi-age classrooms and open environment (no desks, no front of the classroom) provide lots of opportunities for the kids to learn to work together, to think independently and to lead. The music program is phenomenal. The community is great.”
~ MSS PARENT
“My daughter has become a solid public speaker, and advocate for herself in her new classroom (she graduated from MSS last year). We attribute these skills to her experience with the staff, curriculum, and extracurricular activities over her three years with MSS. Her ability to be a strong advocate for her own needs has been remarked on by her teachers, as she’s comfortable approaching them for help, works well on group assignments, and adds to classroom discussions regularly.”
~ MSS PARENT
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Open Now~08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- Monday08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- Tuesday08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- Wednesday08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- Thursday08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- Friday08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
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