M M O Programs

My daughters (currently ages 3 and just-​turned 5) have been attending MMO since July, 2013. They attended summer camp (full-​time) first, and have been enrolled in the full time/​pre-​k program since September of last year.
First, my review of pre-​k: I am impressed with many things at this preschool. Most of all, the staff. Everyone, from the secretary to the director, is wonderful, warm, friendly, and nurturing. Just the kind of people you want your children to be around all day — if you can’t be! All the teachers have college degrees and are certified teachers. The classroom aides are also wonderful. They are mostly mature women and college students who are studying education. They have real professional development which the teachers and staff have to take part in and are encouraged to pursue additional training on their own.
The curriculum they use is really fantastic — it’s all hands-​on. My girls are learning geography, foreign language, science, basic math, and reading/​letters. At her recent evaluation for kindergarten, the teacher said my daughter was «advanced» for her age. It must be from MMO, because it certainly isn’t from me!
The school’s hours are flexible and the director has been accommodating in every way possible when we had some crazy stuff going on with our work schedules. They’re a non-​profit (and non-​sectarian) and you can tell by the way they put children first.
The facilities are OK. They are located in an old, beautiful, church. There are stairs, but the high teacher-​child ratio (I think it’s like 1:2) make up for the multiple staircases and windy hallways. The space is bright and modern and the toys are new and clean, and the tables and chairs are new-​ish looking. There is a big gym for playtime on bad-​weather days and a nice big playground outside that is getting updated. The kids go out just about every day. They are adding additional security features to the main lobby area.
Now, camp: The girls really enjoyed the summer camp program. They were outside a lot of the time, getting fresh air and playing on the playground in the water (there is no pool but they have sprinklers) and taking part in science experiments. The staff was good about making sure my Irish-​skinned girls didn’t get burned. We would go again in a heartbeat but my husband wants the girls to take swimming lessons so they are going to a different program this year that offers swimming lessons during camp.
One thing I really like about MMO, and think is worth mentioning is the diversity: of the staff (male and female) and students. Children speak other languages in this school and that really reflects the city of Montclair, unlike some of other places I visited.
My only complaint is that there isn’t a kindergarten. My town doesn’t offer full time K, so I don’t know what I’m going to do next year!