Northwood Montessori

The Motor Court Company

The Motor Court Company

Well-known member
Need to make a decision today to whether send our almost 3 year old, potty trained but ultra spoiled kid to Northwood Montessori; the alternative is to keep staying at home and get free child care from the family members. So we will be paying for the private education and is it worth paying? Living in Irvine is not exactly cheap so the monthly savings can be used for future college fund or move up into one of the reptile villages.
 
I highly recommend the Montessori of Irvine schools (different from Leport and Great Foundation).

As for the cost expenditure... only you can determine if it's "worth" it or not.
 
Since you have free child care, it sounds like you don't need all the bells and whistles that come with the price tag. (e.g. it sounds like you won't need their "free" afterschool child care, maybe the hot lunches are not a necessity for you, etc.)  If you think preschool is important, you may want to consider a part-time preschool program somewhere else and save money?  Although, in irvine, a part-time program somewhere else may not be saving you all that much money.

I like preschool, I like the Irvine Montessori program.  Taught my youngest child that she couldn't boss everyone around like she does her older sister, was able to teach her to finally talk in an "indoor" voice, and taught her to be less picky about food.  Socializes the kids well.  Gave my mom a break.  Now she just picks them up at 4pm instead of spending the whole day with one of them.  For me this was a big deal.  Didn't want to burn mom out on child care before we were done producing spawn.  ;)

But i don't think preschool at 3 is a "must."  kids can learn what they need to know at home, and as long as you give them other opportunities to socialize with kids, they won't be missing out an a whole lot.  I think it's fine to wait until 4 to go to preschool.  However, you'll have to check to see if you'll still get to keep your priority if you decide to wait a year to send your kid.  That's the big problem with passing up on a spot, you may not be guaranteed a spot when you truly want it.
 
Send the kid... don't depend completely on family members.. flexibility is a must if you and your wife both work full time.. Since you live in Irvine I assume working a few days would pay for a month at Montessori..
 
My daughter attends NW Montessori.  She loves it there.  We love it.  It was also a tough decision for us, but in the end, best decision we ever made.  The hours work great for our schedule.  PM me for specific teacher recs if you decide to send your kid there.
 
TMCC - I assume that NW Montessori is similar to Westpark as they have the same parent company.  We have been very happy with the school and teachers.  They genuinely care and have been very accommodating with the transition.

As far as waiting till older or sending now, we are in the same boat as you and have free care but our daughter was outgrowing the grandparents and  6 hours a day seemed like it would be good for all.  Not sure how much teaching your family does but while my inlaws are wonderful at teaching her songs, letters, objects, etc, they have trouble teaching the small things like learning to take off shoes by herself, washing her hands, eating properly, etc.  Those kinds of things seem to be learned quickly by watching other kids.  In the 1 week she has gone, she already insists on washing her hands by herself and taking off her shoes by herself.

If you can find a really good home program in your area, it will be cheaper and give you best of both worlds. 
 
The Montessori business in Irvine is booming.
GF is expanding with a new location at the Woodbury Town Center, between Ralph?s and Walgreens.
 
USCTrojanCPA said:
Perfect franchise...open up a Montessori daycare in or around Irvine. 
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Not that easy... there is an education/certification process in order to claim Montessori-based... although I'm not sure if some of those home-based ones actually do it.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
USCTrojanCPA said:
Perfect franchise...open up a Montessori daycare in or around Irvine. 
Click to expand...
Not that easy... there is an education/certification process in order to claim Montessori-based... although I'm not sure if some of those home-based ones actually do it.
Click to expand...
Can't you just partner up with someone who has or can get that?  I wouldn't mind being the silent partner.
 
USCTrojanCPA said:
irvinehomeowner said:
USCTrojanCPA said:
Perfect franchise...open up a Montessori daycare in or around Irvine. 
Click to expand...
Not that easy... there is an education/certification process in order to claim Montessori-based... although I'm not sure if some of those home-based ones actually do it.
Click to expand...
Can't you just partner up with someone who has or can get that?  I wouldn't mind being the silent partner.
Click to expand...
Actually, I wouldn't mind investing in one of those also.  I'm risk averse but seems like a sound business in Irvine.  Or will it turn into too many too soon ala Yogurt places and Crispy Cream?  I know that NW Montessori is none too happy with so many opening up especially the one 1/2 mile away at Orchard Hills Plaza.  Success always builds a bunch of copycats.  I don't think the original Montessori schools have anything to worry about.  It's not the physical school or location, but the teachers and administration that makes and breaks a school.
 
OCgasman said:
USCTrojanCPA said:
irvinehomeowner said:
USCTrojanCPA said:
Perfect franchise...open up a Montessori daycare in or around Irvine. 
Click to expand...
Not that easy... there is an education/certification process in order to claim Montessori-based... although I'm not sure if some of those home-based ones actually do it.
Click to expand...
Can't you just partner up with someone who has or can get that?  I wouldn't mind being the silent partner.
Click to expand...
Actually, I wouldn't mind investing in one of those also.  I'm risk averse but seems like a sound business in Irvine.  Or will it turn into too many too soon ala Yogurt places and Crispy Cream?  I know that NW Montessori is none too happy with so many opening up especially the one 1/2 mile away at Orchard Hills Plaza.  Success always builds a bunch of copycats.  I don't think the original Montessori schools have anything to worry about.  It's not the physical school or location, but the teachers and administration that makes and breaks a school.
Click to expand...
Investing in one of these would definitely lower my risk profit.  haha  Booking 50% annual returns gets a bit challenging when you are dealing with bigger dollar amounts and the casino style stock market.
 
My wife called them again to check on our waitlist status.... man they are so snobby... I don't think I will want my kid to go there anymore.. pretty happy with the current setup...

Here is the response:

wife:  Hi, like to see what the status is on our waitlist for our little one, "name"
lady:  Oh!  She was put on the list on 2011, we have barely gone through people from 2010! (tone was very condescending)
wife:  ok....
lady:  Maybe next year, but we can't guarantee.

My wife called Westpark Montessori next.. similar response but without the snottiness... Looks like our firstborn will not have any Montessori training.. oh well.. I barely spoke english at 7, and still made it out ok..

Oh yeah, sign me up as an investor for anyone who wants to start a Montessori.. Irvine parents are crazy
 
ps9 said:
My wife called them again to check on our waitlist status.... man they are so snobby... I don't think I will want my kid to go there anymore.. pretty happy with the current setup...

Here is the response:

wife:  Hi, like to see what the status is on our waitlist for our little one, "name"
lady:  Oh!  She was put on the list on 2011, we have barely gone through people from 2010! (tone was very condescending)
wife:  ok....
lady:  Maybe next year, but we can't guarantee.

My wife called Westpark Montessori next.. similar response but without the snottiness... Looks like our firstborn will not have any Montessori training.. oh well.. I barely spoke english at 7, and still made it out ok..

Oh yeah, sign me up as an investor for anyone who wants to start a Montessori.. Irvine parents are crazy
Click to expand...

They can afford to be snobby--their wait list is 3 years long!!!

It is the same owner for Northwood, Westpark, and Village Montessori, so I doubt there is much difference with the wait list policy between the different campuses.

There is much more competition in Irvine and that is a good thing. If you still want Montessori, there are still many choices--Great Foundation, Le Port, Irvine Montessori etc...
 
irvinehomeshopper said:
I sent my ultra spoiled and highly entitled kid to Northwood Montessorri. I highly recommend it to you too.
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I am torn on this decision as well... I'm actually scared that my kid will physically harm other kids in the preschool...
No idea how she got to be this spoiled and thinks she owns daddy and mommy.
 
Crispy3 said:
irvinehomeshopper said:
I sent my ultra spoiled and highly entitled kid to Northwood Montessorri. I highly recommend it to you too.
Click to expand...

I am torn on this decision as well... I'm actually scared that my kid will physically harm other kids in the preschool...
No idea how she got to be this spoiled and thinks she owns daddy and mommy.
Click to expand...

How old is your little one?  I attended the parent night at LePort San Marino Montessori last week and in our pre-primary/toddler class (ours is 20 months) there were two parents who had the same concerns about their kids hurting others.  The teacher actually said they were well behaved and did not pinch/hurt any others.  So maybe they save all that for just mommy and daddy? ;)
 
zovall said:
Crispy3 said:
irvinehomeshopper said:
I sent my ultra spoiled and highly entitled kid to Northwood Montessorri. I highly recommend it to you too.
Click to expand...

I am torn on this decision as well... I'm actually scared that my kid will physically harm other kids in the preschool...
No idea how she got to be this spoiled and thinks she owns daddy and mommy.
Click to expand...

How old is your little one?  I attended the parent night at LePort San Marino Montessori last week and in our pre-primary/toddler class (ours is 20 months) there were two parents who had the same concerns about their kids hurting others.  The teacher actually said they were well behaved and did not pinch/hurt any others.  So maybe they save all that for just mommy and daddy? ;)
Click to expand...

23 Month... first thing she does when she wakes up is to climb on our bed and slap me across the face once. Once satisfied, she starts her morning routine of violence  which consists of using my face as playdoh
 
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