What Makes a Great Montessori? 10 Qualities That Define The Mint School.
Montessori education transforms lives but only when schools stay true to its vision. At The Mint School, we honour that promise with purpose. Discover the qualities that set us apart.
The Montessori school tour often begins the same way. Parents scan bright classrooms, ask about menus, and note the playground. They focus on the visible. But the real test lies in the quieter details: the hum of concentration, the ease of independence, the joy of purposeful work. Great Montessori doesn’t boast. It reveals itself.
Montessori, when done right, shapes how children learn, grow, and lead. At The Mint School, a fully Montessori Canada-accredited Montessori in Toronto, we commit to that vision daily. These ten core qualities guide every decision we make.
1. A Montessori Foundation That Stays True
Authentic Montessori starts with trained educators, child-led learning, and purposeful materials. At Mint, our guides create calm, prepared classrooms. Children move freely, concentrate deeply, and own their learning, just as Dr. Maria Montessori intended.
2. An Enriched Curriculum That Goes Further
We stay true to Montessori’s foundation and build on it. Our Enriched Whole Child Curriculum adds early literacy, STEM, logic games, art, music, athletics, and wellness. These enrichments strengthen, never replace, core Montessori principles. Children explore more, think deeper, and thrive in a philosophy that centres them.
3. Bilingual Classrooms That Build Brainpower
At Mint, children hear and speak French every day. As the children’s brains are in their most sensitive period for language, they absorb new sounds and patterns with ease. We immerse them in French through songs, stories, and conversation. They build fluency naturally and strengthen cognitive and cultural skills for life.
4. Educators Who Set the Standard
A Montessori is only as strong as its guides. Ours raise the bar. Many train at Montessori Teachers College, a MACTE-accredited institution, and bring both technical expertise and deep empathy into the classroom. Executive Director, Saarah Shivji, J.D., leads with purpose. She combines a UBC law degree, education in early childhood leadership from Harvard, and fluency in French. Her vision drives Mint’s culture of excellence.
5. Individual Plans That Honour the Child
Every child learns differently. Our educators observe closely and design lesson plans that match each child’s pace and interests. We follow their curiosity, not a preset path.
6. Purposeful Environment Design
In Montessori, the environment teaches too. At Mint, our classrooms speak with light, order, and intention. We extend that care outdoors. Children explore nature daily, tending plants, watching seasons change, and learning through hands-on discovery. Every space supports independence and sparks joy.
7. A Curriculum That Builds Leaders
Montessori shapes more than minds. It builds character. At Mint, children practice empathy, leadership, and grace each day. We model conflict resolution. We trust independence. We teach patience by living it.
8. A Culture of Calm, Focus, and Respect
Walk into any Mint classroom and you’ll feel it immediately, the calm focus, the quiet hum of purposeful work. Children move with confidence because they feel safe, trusted, and seen. Mutual trust shapes every interaction. That security fuels confidence and deepens learning.
9. A School That Partners with Parents
Good Montessori schools don’t go it alone. At Mint, we build true partnerships with parents. We host curriculum nights. We share updates. We keep conversations open. Parents stay informed, involved, and connected.
10. A Relentless Commitment to Excellence
We pursue excellence in everything, from bilingual instruction to thoughtfully designed spaces. We stay focused. We work with care. We refine, improve, and elevate, because your child’s potential calls for nothing less.
A great Montessori doesn’t just prepare children for school. It prepares them for life. At The Mint School, we hold that responsibility with care, with purpose, and with joy.
Come see what a great Montessori looks like. Book a tour today.
