Judy Raspante - Parent Alumni

“We began my pre-school search for my oldest child Carly, who was 3 years old at the time. Carly was already very social and ahead of the learning curve. I was looking for a school that would foster her interest in learning and not just serve as a social setting focused on playtime like traditional daycares and pre-schools. I found Webster Montessori. WMS was sharing space with the Webster Recreation Department on Ebner Drive when we went for our interview. Although the school looked very ordinary from the outside, what I found on the inside was anything but ordinary. A nurturing environment focused on a systematic approach to learning, one that fosters independence and critical thinking, one that encourages children to work at their own pace.

I knew immediately that we had found the perfect fit for our family. My daughter flourished at WMS. She loved school, was very enthusiastic about her work and was already reading midway through her first year … at age 3. Then WMS moved into the new school, our school was growing. Around the same time, my family was also growing. My son Nicholas was born. I was initially planning to keep Carly for just the Primary Program, however, when I saw how well she was doing academically, I knew she needed to stay at WMS for Elementary. Nicholas turned 3 years old shortly after my daughter started the Elementary Program.

I was excited for Nicholas to go to WMS. Nicholas was quiet, curious and more laid back than Carly. However, at WMS Nicholas blossomed into a confident, outgoing child who soon showed great leadership qualities. A few years later, I had my third child, Sam. Within a couple short years, Sam would also become part of the WMS community. Carly graduated from Elementary, Nicholas moved into Elementary and Sam started Primary all the same year. While Carly and Nick were interested in their work, Sam was clearly more creative and wanted to pave his own path.

WMS was able to foster his curiosity and creativity, while keeping him focused on work. Although my children’s learning styles are very different, WMS provided the ideal environment for each of them to grow into their own person and not only learn, but to thrive. It has been several years since my last child graduated from WMS and as I look at where they are now; Carly is in her second year of Vet School, destined to be a Who’s Who in veterinary medicine. Nick will be graduating high school this year and has already started his own business, developing into a future leader. Sam is a freshman in high school, he writes music that his band performs and creates mini movies and vlogs, a budding next generation Steven Spielberg.

My family was part of the WMS community for 15 years and I think the expression, Engaging Inquisitive Minds accurately sums up our experience. I look at all our years at WMS and without a doubt it was money well spent because it was more than a quality education, it was an investment in my children’s future.”