Hawley Elementary School

As a parent, I believe communication and consistency are key, especially in a Montessori environment. Unfortunately, my experience at this school has been disappointing. The staff are quick to report minor issues such as a 3-year-old not lining up, refusing to nap, or not taking turns — all of which are completely age-appropriate behaviors for toddlers who are still learning.However, when more serious incidents happen — like my child being excluded from outdoor play, not eating in his classroom with friends but instead being taken to eat alone in the support student office, or being pushed or bitten by another child — I was not informed unless I specifically asked. In one case, my son came home with a bite mark on his finger that left a visible trace, and no one mentioned it until I brought it up. These are things that deeply affect a child emotionally and physically, and parents deserve to be informed right away.What’s even more concerning is that staff were using fear-based tactics with my son. He told me that when he didn’t “listen,” they would threaten to take him to a lady whose name starts with “G,” someone who works in the student support office. He described her as “not nice,” and he would get scared every time they took him to her office. No child should feel fear in a place that is supposed to be nurturing and safe.One day, my son also told me that an assistant shook his arm while she was holding his hand, just because he wanted to keep playing on the slide when it was time to line up. That’s not the kind of gentle and respectful interaction I would expect from trained caregivers (That I didn’t think they’re all Montessori trained), especially in a Montessori setting. Young children deserve to be treated with patience and care, not handled roughly.To make matters worse, there’s a constant rotation of assistants. Toddlers need consistency to feel secure and develop healthy relationships, but they were being asked to adjust to new caregivers every few weeks, which only added to their confusion and stress.I do not recommend this school at all. There are so many other details that I cannot share, as they were shared with me by staff members working there. But based on my experience, I cannot say that it is a safe or supportive environment for young children.

Our son is a 4th grader and has been going since Kindergarten. Great school. Great teachers. Very good communication from his teachers and the school administration.