Description:
Pleasant View Montessori is CLOSED, but has been reorganized as Sycamore Academy.
Sycamore Academy is a full service, traditional values, private school serving students 6 weeks old through 8th grade located in Pleasant View, Tennessee.
We specialize in the time-tested, research based, nurturing educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. Through the use of the Montessori Method we strive to instill in children a passion for learning. Our goal is to fan the flame of desire for understanding, naturally occurring, in each child. In the workforce today, companies need adults who have kept their spark for life and curiosity alive, people who are able to solve problems and bring creativity to the table. A child who has experienced learning through the Montessori Method is equipped for this type of contribution.
At Sycamore Academy, we place high priority on freedom within boundaries. In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, children happily work and learn at their own pace. Each classroom is equipped with high quality Montessori materials and Montessori trained guides. The materials have been specially designed to allow children to work independently with very little introduction or help from their teacher guide. Students are empowered to come into the classroom, choose their own work, use it appropriately, and put it away without help.
Sycamore Academy proudly offers its students bilingual care in Spanish and English for infants through toddler followed by Spanish Language classes through 8th grade.
We believe:
That children are capable and contributing members of their community throughout their lives
That it is okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.
That children should be allowed to have free time to be creative and imagine.
In Character Education, emphasizing the proper understanding and implementation of morals, values and community.
In living humbly and in way that is sustainable for the long term.
Call Ms Phyllis at 615-398-5123 to schedule your personal tour today!
For more information, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SycamoreAcademyPV
or on our website SycamoreAcademy.Org
We also have Sibling Discounts Available; Wheelchair Accessible;
Pleasant View Montessori is now Closed, but we have decided to continue Montessori education in Pleasant View by opening a new school at a new location called Sycamore Academy at 6517 Hwy 41a.
Contact Ms. Phyllis at 615-398-5123 for your personalized tour
or visit us at www.facebook.com/SycamoreAcademyPV or SycamoreAcademy.Org
I would like to preface this by saying we believe in the Maria Montessori method of teaching but our experience with Pleasant View Montessori (PVM) has changed the way we are educating our children and it will not be Montessori.
We have boy/girl twins who attended PVM from ages of 3 years until 5 1/2 years of age when we removed our children for safety concerns that we feel were not being addressed by staff. When we withdrew our children (May 2012) the primary class had 30 children their ages ranging from 2 1/2 years to 6 years of age. There was one certified Montessori teacher in the classroom and two assistants. I was concerned the class size was too big, and was reassured by the teacher that she was able to spend individual time with each student. Shame on me for expecting our children after attending PVM for 2 1/2 years to be able to recite the letters and sounds of the alphabet, be able to read simple sight words or be able to count past thirty. They could not, and we had to spend the summer trying to get them prepared on our own to enter Kindergarten.
The new school they are attending does assessment testing and our children scored in the lowest group for reading and math. Their new teacher requested a conference in which she told us the twins were very behind and gave us some books, sight words (44 words) and even the sounds of the alphabet and asked us to be reviewing these daily with the children to get them caught up with the other students. What a disappointment because we thought we were giving our children a head start by enrolling them in PVM.
When we removed the twins from PVM, it was because we felt they did not provide a safe environment for our children. We appealed to them on several occasions when our children were physically injured, and we were assured they were taking precautions to improve the situation...it never changed. I drove by the school multiple occasions, and I observed the primary class and some children from the elementary, on the playground with only two adults watching the children. Image eight-year-old children on a playground with 2 1/2 and three year olds...scary.
Finally, my husband and I were allowed to observe the primary class for 45mins each. We did and we both concur what we observed was chaos. There were very few children doing the activities and I never saw them being directed to do any work. The Montessori trained teacher assisted in two lessons during the 45mins and I observed the assistant's trying to provide damage control for the younger children. After our observation, we would ask the children what activities they did at "school”; and for three weeks in a row my daughter said she made lemon aid. I wish I had kept the twins home with me, and we could have made lemon aid and played all day long and not have paid private school tuition for the memories.
When our children were still enrolled in this Montessori school, we were required to submit a check for supplies for the 2012-13 school year in the amount of $320. We did so. After we took our children out of their school last spring, they refused on several occasions to refund our supplies fee until I contacted the wife and one of the owners who agreed via text dated June 24th to give us a refund. It is now October 28th and we have still not received a refund.
In conclusion, it is our opinion that Pleasant View Montessori is not a school but solely an expensive and unsafe daycare. If you are looking for a pre-school to prepare your children for Kindergarten...Pleasant View Montessori is NOT the place for you!
Concerned, Lara Jarrell