Preparation
for life.

Preparation
for life.

Welcome to Westside Montessori School where
students, aged 18 months to 14 years, radiate
self-confidence and exhibit a love for learning.

Let us help your child achieve their fullest potential through
the Montessori approach to learning. Westside Montessori
School is CCMA accredited and the ideal environment for your
urban family from toddlerhood to adolescence.

Welcome to Westside Montessori School where students, aged 18 months to 14 years, radiate self-confidence and exhibit a love for learning.

Let us help your child achieve their fullest potential through the Montessori approach to learning. Westside Montessori School is CCMA accredited and the ideal environment for your urban family from toddlerhood to adolescence.

Montessori… what the…?

Montessori is an approach to education that fosters academic abilities, along with social and emotional learning.

Our child-centred approach, combined with individualized lessons and inquiry-based learning, enables children to excel academically, problem-solve, persevere and grow into compassionate individuals.

BOOK A TOUR BELOW

Montessori… what the…?

Montessori is an approach to education that fosters academic abilities, along with social and emotional learning.

Our child-centred approach, combined with individualized lessons and inquiry-based learning, enables children to excel academically, problem-solve, persevere and grow into compassionate individuals.

BOOK A TOUR BELOW

PROGRAMS


TODDLER

TODDLER
(18-36 months old)

Our youngest students build their
independence and self-care skills while
living in community in our loving and
supportive environments.


TODDLER

CASA
(3-6 years old)

Students build and strengthen their focus,
concentration, and independence while
working and socializing in our bright and
spacious classrooms.


TODDLER

ELEMENTARY
(6-12 years old)

Older children work collaboratively and
enthusiastically while growing
academically, emotionally
and socially.


TODDLER

ADOLESCENT
(12-14 years old)

Our eldest students pursue academic
subjects, spend time volunteering in their
community and run their own business
through our production and exchange
program.

PROGRAMS


TODDLER

TODDLER
(18-36 months old)

Our youngest students build their independence and selfcare skills while living in community in our loving and supportive environments.

Book a tour AT Dufferin Grove
Book a tour aT Kensington Market


TODDLER

CASA
(3-6 years old)

Students build and strengthen their focus, concentration, and independence while working and socializing in our bright and spacious classrooms.

Book a tour AT Dufferin Grove
Book a tour aT Kensington Market


TODDLER

ELEMENTARY
(6-12 years old)

Older children work collaboratively and enthusiastically while growing academically, emotionally and socially.

Book a tour AT Dufferin Grove
Book a tour at Kensington Market


TODDLER

ADOLESCENT
(12-14 years old)

Our eldest students pursue academic subjects, spend time volunteering in their community and run their own business through our production and exchange program.

Book a tour AT Dufferin Grove
Book a tour at Kensington Market

Our classrooms are designed with your child’s
growth and development in mind.

At both our Kensington Market and Dufferin Grove locations,
our classrooms are skillfully designed to cater to and
encompass the children’s developmental needs.

Our classrooms are designed with your child’s growth and development in mind.

At both our Kensington Market and Dufferin Grove locations, our classrooms are skillfully designed to cater to and encompass the children’s developmental needs.

Elementary Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Kensington Market

Toddler Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Kensington Market

Casa Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Dufferin Grove Campus

Casa Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Kensington Market

Elementary Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Dufferin Grove Campus

Elementary Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Dufferin Grove Campus

Toddler Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Kensington Market

Toddler Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Kensington Market

Toddler Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Dufferin Grove Campus

Toddler Classroom, Westside Montessori School, Dufferin Grove Campus

TWO LOCATIONS IN THE
HEART OF TORONTO

Westside Montessori School opened in 2008, in the historical Water Works Building, with just five children. Within a few years, we had outgrown our space and opened our doors at 95 Bellevue Avenue, a historical mansion in Kensington Market in 2014.

Growth and expansion continued, and, in the fall of 2020, we opened our second location on a tree-lined property across from Dufferin Grove Park. Between our two campuses, we now have over 160 students from 18 months to 14 years old!

TWO LOCATIONS IN THE
HEART OF TORONTO

Westside Montessori School opened in 2008, in the historical Water Works Building, with just five children. Within a few years, we had outgrown our space and opened our doors at 95 Bellevue Avenue, a historical mansion in Kensington Market in 2014.

Growth and expansion continued, and, in the fall of 2020, we opened our second location on a tree-lined property across from Dufferin Grove Park. Between our two campuses, we now have over 160 students from 18 months to 14 years old!

Book a tour at Kensington Market
Book a tour AT Dufferin Grove

Our Values

COMMUNITY | KINDNESS | ENVIRONMENT

Our values are rooted in kindness and respect for
ourselves, our communities and our environment.
We invite you to join us.

Our Values

COMMUNITY | KINDNESS | ENVIRONMENT

Our values are rooted in kindness and respect for ourselves, our communities and our environment.
We invite you to join us.

Book a tour AT Dufferin Grove
Book a tour at Kensington Market
Book a tour AT Dufferin Grove
Book a tour at Kensington Market

WESTSIDE NEWS

Stay in the know!

Sign-up to our mailing list to receive
information on upcoming open house
dates, program registration and special
event announcements!

WESTSIDE NEWS

Stay in the know!

Sign-up to our mailing list to receive information on upcoming open house dates, program registration and special event announcements!

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

"...the fundamental principle in education is the correlation of all subjects, and their centralization in the cosmic plan." – Dr. Montessori⁠ ⁠ Our elementary students, in the second plane of development, are eager to understand their place in the universe. 🌍✨ They are exploring the world around them, discovering how they fit into the bigger picture.⁠ ⁠ In Montessori, subjects are not taught in isolation, but are all interconnected—just like our universe. Where is art? It’s woven into geography, history, and geometry. Looking for math? You’ll find it in history, as well as language.⁠ ⁠ Cosmic Education encourages children to recognize the interconnectedness of everything, from the depths of the ocean to the vastness of space. It’s remarkable to see their curiosity grow as they explore the natural world and make their own connections. 🌿💫⁠ ⁠ And the best part? When they share their discoveries, they love teaching their guides something new!⁠ ⁠
Have you heard that children in Montessori "Write before they read"?!!⁠ ⁠ HUH?! 🤔⁠ ⁠ The large moveable alphabet, a beautiful collection of all 26 cutout letters, helps children bridge the gap between spoken language and writing. Using this material, children in Casa explore letters, sounds, and word-building in a way that not only sparks their curiosity and creativity, but is an integral part of them learning to read.⁠ ⁠ Here’s how our students engage with the moveable alphabet:⁠ 🔠 Identifying the sounds made by each letter, laying the foundation for reading,⁠ 🔠 Building simple (then more advanced) words by arranging letters themselves,⁠ 🔠 Strengthening fine motor skills as they handle and place each letter, preparing for handwriting⁠ 🔠 Gaining confidence as they experiment with building words and become authors themselves! ⁠ ⁠ They love to "write" their first words... ⁠ ⁠ ...personal story from my days as a Casa Guide...⁠ ⁠ I remember one of my students building so many words that she not only ran out of letters & had to visit a neighbouring classroom to borrow more, but also filled the floor mat with so many words that she then placed two more mats on the floor, taking up a significant amount of room in the classroom, which drew in her peers and they all shared in her excitement about writing! This is how it happens in Montessori. 💥⁠ ⁠
Toddler Life: Building Fine Motor Skills & Hand-Eye Coordination ⁠ ⁠ In our toddler classroom, every activity serves a purpose, and building independence is at the heart of it all! Whether it’s pouring water at snack time, threading beads, or working on a puzzle, these seemingly simple tasks are powerful tools for building both fine motor control and hand-eye coordination.⁠ ⁠ By using their hands to explore, create, and problem-solve, our toddlers are:⁠ ⁠ 🎯 Developing precise hand movements for everyday tasks,⁠ 🧠 Enhancing focus and concentration through uninterrupted repetition, ⁠ 💪 Building independence as they master new skills,⁠ 🎨 Strengthening their grip for later work in writing and drawing ⁠ ⁠ The joy and confidence they gain with each new accomplishment is incredible to observe. Our role as guides is to observe, note challenges and areas of strength and support them always, whether that means adding new materials to increase the challenge, move the child on to another activity or offer a re-presentation to break down the steps involved and remind them how to carry out the activity. We're here for it all! ⁠ ⁠ If you're keen for your child to benefit from being in a supportive and nurturing environment, tailored to their unique needs, reach out. We do have a few spaces available in our Toddler Program, DM to book a tour. ⁠ ⁠

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

"...the fundamental principle in education is the correlation of all subjects, and their centralization in the cosmic plan." – Dr. Montessori⁠ ⁠ Our elementary students, in the second plane of development, are eager to understand their place in the universe. 🌍✨ They are exploring the world around them, discovering how they fit into the bigger picture.⁠ ⁠ In Montessori, subjects are not taught in isolation, but are all interconnected—just like our universe. Where is art? It’s woven into geography, history, and geometry. Looking for math? You’ll find it in history, as well as language.⁠ ⁠ Cosmic Education encourages children to recognize the interconnectedness of everything, from the depths of the ocean to the vastness of space. It’s remarkable to see their curiosity grow as they explore the natural world and make their own connections. 🌿💫⁠ ⁠ And the best part? When they share their discoveries, they love teaching their guides something new!⁠ ⁠
Have you heard that children in Montessori "Write before they read"?!!⁠ ⁠ HUH?! 🤔⁠ ⁠ The large moveable alphabet, a beautiful collection of all 26 cutout letters, helps children bridge the gap between spoken language and writing. Using this material, children in Casa explore letters, sounds, and word-building in a way that not only sparks their curiosity and creativity, but is an integral part of them learning to read.⁠ ⁠ Here’s how our students engage with the moveable alphabet:⁠ 🔠 Identifying the sounds made by each letter, laying the foundation for reading,⁠ 🔠 Building simple (then more advanced) words by arranging letters themselves,⁠ 🔠 Strengthening fine motor skills as they handle and place each letter, preparing for handwriting⁠ 🔠 Gaining confidence as they experiment with building words and become authors themselves! ⁠ ⁠ They love to "write" their first words... ⁠ ⁠ ...personal story from my days as a Casa Guide...⁠ ⁠ I remember one of my students building so many words that she not only ran out of letters & had to visit a neighbouring classroom to borrow more, but also filled the floor mat with so many words that she then placed two more mats on the floor, taking up a significant amount of room in the classroom, which drew in her peers and they all shared in her excitement about writing! This is how it happens in Montessori. 💥⁠ ⁠
Toddler Life: Building Fine Motor Skills & Hand-Eye Coordination ⁠ ⁠ In our toddler classroom, every activity serves a purpose, and building independence is at the heart of it all! Whether it’s pouring water at snack time, threading beads, or working on a puzzle, these seemingly simple tasks are powerful tools for building both fine motor control and hand-eye coordination.⁠ ⁠ By using their hands to explore, create, and problem-solve, our toddlers are:⁠ ⁠ 🎯 Developing precise hand movements for everyday tasks,⁠ 🧠 Enhancing focus and concentration through uninterrupted repetition, ⁠ 💪 Building independence as they master new skills,⁠ 🎨 Strengthening their grip for later work in writing and drawing ⁠ ⁠ The joy and confidence they gain with each new accomplishment is incredible to observe. Our role as guides is to observe, note challenges and areas of strength and support them always, whether that means adding new materials to increase the challenge, move the child on to another activity or offer a re-presentation to break down the steps involved and remind them how to carry out the activity. We're here for it all! ⁠ ⁠ If you're keen for your child to benefit from being in a supportive and nurturing environment, tailored to their unique needs, reach out. We do have a few spaces available in our Toddler Program, DM to book a tour. ⁠ ⁠
Friendship 🩵⁠ ⁠ The Montessori environment supports close friendships by encouraging collaboration, respect, and a sense of community.⁠ ⁠ Closeness is fostered in several ways:⁠ ⁠ 1. Mixed-Age Groups: Montessori classrooms include children of different ages. This setup encourages older children to mentor younger ones and fosters close bonds among peers, much like a large family.⁠ ⁠ 2. Collaborative Work: Many Montessori activities are designed for collaboration. Working together on projects or group activities helps children build strong relationships and develop teamwork skills, negotiation and compromise are inherent.⁠ ⁠ 3. Respect and Independence: Montessori education emphasizes respect for others and personal responsibility, creating a supportive and trusting environment where children feel safe.⁠ ⁠ 4. Social Skills Development: The Montessori approach includes lessons on grace and courtesy, helping children learn how to interact positively with their peers and build meaningful friendships. ⁠ ⁠ 5. Long-Term Relationships: Children generally stay in the same classroom with the same peers for several years, building deep and lasting friendships.⁠

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH