Itsy Okamoto says:

This school is the BEST!!!! I was very fortunate to have lived close to this school. Since I was always intrigued by the Montessori method of education, I was determined to put my child there when she was “potty trained”. My daughter joined this school shortly after she turned 3 years old and she went to this school for about two years. The founder and the principal, Ms. Carmen is the BEST. I had NO worries whatsoever my child was attending her school. She was very helpful and caring when I took a tour. Her passion oozed out of her demeanor. The school is always so organized and clean. All of the children played so nicely together. I cannot thank Ms. Carmen and other staff because now my daughter is about to turn 5 years old and her interaction with other children means SO much to me. She earned it from learning at this school. Every child is different. That is why this school is so valuable and meaningful. I was fully satisfied and happy that I sent my kid there. It is a true investment in my child’s early education for those two years.

Lucy Joo Alberto says:

Both my children went to preschool at Peace Rose and I have no bad things to say about this wonderful school. I moved my children (age 3 and 4 at the time) from another nearby preschool, looking for a place that was more nurturing and focused on the individual child. Peace Rose more than exceeded my expectations. My children thrived in this school, both emotionally and academically. We moved to another town and had to leave the school, but my kids (now 8 and 9) still talk about wanting to go back and visit their wonderful teachers at Peace Rose. I miss this school and the wonderful care they gave my children.

Sonum Patell says:

My son loved going to Peace Rose Montessori school. I was so scared and overwhelmed on his first day of the school, first day without me, but Miss Carmen took such a good care of him, and kept texting me updates for the whole day. All three teachers Ms Carmen, Ms Carla and Ms Sandra are so amazing and they have helped my son grow tremendously. Since he has been home, he keeps wanting to go to school to see his teachers and friends. She cares about her students from her heart. I truly love how she runs the school. Thank you Miss Carmen for taking such a good care of my son.

Mac DeMassari says:

I don’t know if there’s a way to adequately share how grateful we are for finding the Peace Rose Montessori. During our initial tour, I knew instantly that this would be the perfect fit for our family, so much so that I cried happy tears in the parking lot. After my child’s first year here, I can tell you I was right. My son had such a wonderful experience, and I could see how much he prospered within this past year. I was so overwhelmed in the beginning of sending my child off to school, but Ms. Carmen went above and beyond to not only make my child comfortable, but me, too. She runs an amazing school and I can’t say enough good things about our experience! I highly recommend The Peace Rose Montessori!

MFrancis M Cruz says:

I love my son new school, the facilities are awesome and the staff is great!!! He has learned a lot since he started its like a home away from home!

Melissa Simanski says:

I have nothing but positive things to say about Mrs. Carmen and the school she runs. She truly cares about how her students are doing and works with them based on their individual needs. My daughter LOVES it there and is always surprising me with the new things she is learning. My daughter also HATES reading but with the gentle nature of her school and teachers has begun blossoming. I could not give a higher recommendation.

Bryan Backas says:

My son very much enjoys going to school in the morning. All the kids seem to love the staff, and the other parents have been very friendly. Everyone’s been inviting each other to their kids’ birthday parties, which has further enriched my son’s life, as he has so many fun events to go to with classmates on weekends. We went to one party where the head teacher, Miss Carmen, was also invited; all the kids were clearly happy to see her. It’s obvious that every kid in the class likes the teacher.

Facebook likes to show this one negative review claiming that a kid was permanently scarred by the mean teachers at this school. That seems like a personal vendetta by this parent rather than a genuine review. No parent I talked to with kids in this school has had one single bad thing to say about it, nor has any kid ever seemed scared of any of the staff. Don’t hesitate to send your kids here if you like the concept of a Montessori school.

Susan Sprague Lee says:

Words cannot describe how grateful we are for Ms Carmen and her staff at Peace Rose. This school truly changed our son’s life. Having 3 older sons, we have had a great deal of experience with schools at all levels, both private and public. The experience we had here was incomparable.

Our youngest son began in Peace Rose when he was 3 1/2 and graduated in June 2018. He has a number of life threatening food allergies. This made sending him to school very anxiety provoking for us. From the moment we met with the staff, I was reassured that they were not only knowledgeable about food allergy protocols, but they made sure to make my son feel included and normalized his experience with food while he was there.

He also struggled with severe speech issues and was barely speaking when he entered school. Within days of working with him, Ms Carmen met with us and helped guide us to get the evaluations and treatment we needed for him. The school worked along side of us and his speech therapist to reinforce the work he was doing outside of school. Each day, the staff would work with him in his sound formation and speech development. Within a short period of time, our son was speaking clearly and his vocabulary increased dramatically. His speech therapist requested information about Peace Rose to share with other clients. She could not believe the partnership we had and how willing the school was to work with us on his speech.

Due to the incredible teacher to student ratio, my son received individualized attention. Not only did his vocabulary increase, but he learned math skills, he began to read and comprehend and most importantly, he developed beautiful self confidence. He learned to handle conflict and developed problem solving skills. His social skills flourished. He was treated with such respect and love and, in turn, continues to exhibit the same to others.

Watching our son flourish and grown at Peace Rose was one of the greatest gifts I have ever received as a mother.

Ms Carmen and her staff not only provide their students with an excellent education, but also a wonderful environment in which they can develop socially and emotionally.

My husband and I are both therapists and were completely shocked by the amount of emotion coaching and development our son would receive in this school.

We will be forever grateful to Ms Carmen and Peace Rose. We truly believe our son would not be speaking the way he is today without her and her staff. He joyfully went to school each day so eager to learn. He transitioned beautifully to KDG this September. He is reading above grade level and mastered KDG sight words while still at Peace Rose. His intelligence, beautiful spirit and respect for others all flourished because of the experience we had at this school.

Matthew Beverly Alberto says:

We are having a great experience with The Peace Rose Montessori School. My son started attending this place 2017 and now 2018, he’s picking up new words and skills everyday and would occasionally amaze me with his innovative art work.

He is always having a great time with the teachers and other kids here. The teachers are very loving, caring, fun and responsible. My husband and I are very happy with The Peace Rose Montessori School and everything. We cannot be more appreciated with the care they’ve been giving to our son.

Desrene Edwards Wynter says:

My eldest daughter graduated from the school, and we loved it so much, we kept her at the school for Kindergarden as well. The feedbavk from her new school was that they were impressed with her reading level and her academic progress.

Our youngest daughter still attends the school and we are pleased with how much attention the teachers show and how much they care for each child. The small class size is one of the things that we loved at the school. You are getting a very customized program and almost a one on one, at prices below day care.

We would definitely recommend Peace Rose, and the Montessori education method.

We love you guys,
Mom & Dad

Har-Simran Kaur Virdee says:

The teachers here are superbly experienced, the staff is warm and you’re treated like family. This place is beyond words and there is no other school like it in Sayreville !! My older daughter went to a Montessori for a year and we loved the teaching method. I made sure my younger son went through the curriculum from age 3 to acquire the foundational skills that will carry him throughout his education. If your a parent who wants your child to do well academically, this is THE PLACE to start!

Angela Harris says:

The Peace Rose Staff makes this progressive learning environment feel as safe and nurturing as a one room school house of long ago. The teachers spend individual, personalized time with each student. If you are looking for a special environment where your childs unique learning ability is recognized and cultivated, look no further. As a children’s book author and mindfulness educator who visits many schools monthly, I highly recommend The Peace Rose.

Erika R. Linden, NJ says:

I homeschool my oldest child. I chose to put my second child in private preschool with low expectations. This school has surpassed any Expectations I ever thought possible. My daughter learns so much every week that I can’t keep up. She loves school so much that she gets upset on the weekends when she doesn’t have school. I can’t really say enough. The school has given me comfort in knowing that the teachers are taking care of my child as if she were their own. Maybe TMI, but my kid doesn’t ever want to poop at home and poops in school on the potty on her own. Lol. She holds it in for a week. Lol. She knows the days of the week at 3 years old because of this school. I tried teaching her at home and no response. She has learned so much in only three months!! I wish I could add everything she has learned. I’m so thankful we have such an amazing private preschool here in Sayreville that offer such an educational and loving environment!!!!!

Mac D. Parlin, NJ says:

Kelly P. New York, NY says:

This is the best thing you could do for your kid. Don’t take my word, go in and ask Carmen about her story. Her passion for kids drove her to put her personal resources towards this school and it’s amazing. & it’s ideal location if you commute into the city!

Jason Gross says:

“Carmen taught my daughter from 3 to 6 and in that time I have become a huge believer in the Montessori method. The behavior of the kids in her class was amazing, the amount they learned was incredible, and most important my daughter enjoyed learning. The biggest problem you will have is your kid will be too advanced when they go to another school.

Reshma Merchant says:

“My daughter, Zahra, was a student of Ms Carmen’s from the ages of 3 to 6. From the moment she started under her instruction to the day she left, she absolutely loved her teachers! Ms Carmen was not only an exceptional teacher who followed the Montessori principles to the tee but also a loving, caring person who addressed my concerns as well as my daughters’ needs. I attribute Zahra’s success in school so far solely to the great beginning she had with Ms Carmen!

Avani Patel Former Montessori Parent says:

“Carmen was a wonderful teacher and mentor to my son Lucas. Lucas joined Carmen’s class when he was 4 years old. Carmen provided a comforting yet disciplined learning environment for him. Lucas was curious about different places in the world, so Carmen ensured that most lessons would include some facts about other countries, culture or climates. By the time my son was ready for first grade, he was not only excelling in math and reading, but was also aware of multiple cultures, recent news events and even history. Carmen helped Lucas develop a love for learning, something that will last a lifetime.

-Regards,

Abena Acheampong says:

“Dear Ms. Carmen,

We just wanted to take some time to express how much we enjoyed being in your class. We can’t think of a teacher who could have made these past years any more special than you did. The assistance you gave us was tremendously remarkable, you are truly a standout teacher because of your sheer dedication to your students. Being able to count on your extra help and clarification was really special to us and shows us how much you care about your students. We will never forget all the fun activities “chicken dance” you included in your class to enhance learning. We hope that you continue your great work in teaching students like us. We appreciate everything you have done and the time you have taken to invest in our future!

We are both doing extremely well in Oak Hill Academy in Lincroft, NJ and you will be proud to know we are math and reading champions in our class.

God bless you for your good work! We both love you!

Hugs and kisses from both of us!

Ruth Dyke says:

August 29, 2009

To Whom It May Concern,

Greetings! My name is Ruth Dyke and I am pleased and proud to write this letter of recommendation for Sylvia Carmen Melendez. I am currently a Lead Teacher in a Montessori Early Child Classroom, a position I have been at for over 12 years. I also serve as a Lecturer for our school’s Teacher Education Program. It has been my great pleasure to work with Carmen, both professionally and personally, during this time.

Carmen is an outstanding individual, with a wonderful work ethic. In her capacity as an assistant teacher in my classroom, Carmen demonstrated exceptional abilities at problem solving and organizational skills, helping to keep our busy classroom productive and on track. She has a natural gift when working with children, easily being able to comfort them and put them at ease. Carmen is an exceptional caring teacher, always prepared for the day’s lessons and able to adapt to the ever-changing preschool environment.

Carmen was also an exceptional student in our Teacher Education program. She demonstrated outstanding leadership and teamwork skills when working with her classmates. Academically, she met every challenge and exceeded my high expectations. It was with great pleasure that I served as her internship supervisor, watching her further her career goal of becoming an exceptional Montessori teacher.

Through the years we have developed a great kinship for one another. I am pleased and proud to consider myself her colleague, mentor and friend. I treasure her wonderful gifts she has shared with me through the years. I know she will be a wonderful asset to any program.

If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me at my home address.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Simanski says:

May 20, 2008

To Whom It May Concern,

I am Gretchen Simanski, Head Lecturer/Intern Supervisor/Curriculum Director for the Christopher Academy Teacher Education Program (CATEP) for Montessori Training and am writing this letter of recommendation for Carmen Melendez.

I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing Carmen for four years. Carmen is a self confident, mature, young woman who is highly motivated, extremely focused, and willing to accept challenges. She approaches each endeavor with care, concern, and integrity of thought. She is open, friendly, and authentic.

Carmen is a pleasant person and working with her has been delightful. I have had the pleasurable opportunity of having Carmen as a student in the CATEP Montessori Training Program. I was able to see Carmen’s abilities as a student as well as her talents as a teacher.

Our program requires the first year to include 470 hours of an academic workshop and independent study which consists of Montessori Principles and Philosophy, Child Development, Classroom Management and Observation, and presentations on Montessori materials. Carmen Melendez was an active and conscientious member of the class. All assignments were well written, well supported, organized, neat, and timely. It was evident that Carmen wanted to learn more and challenge herself.

The second year of the CATEP was an independent study, internship, program which required the student to work within a Montessori classroom environment of 3-6 year-old children accepting all responsibilities and duties of a full-time teacher. Carmen gained the respect of her colleagues, the parents, and the children that she worked with during this internship year. She was dependable, flexible, and self confident with each task that was presented to her. She exhibited excellent communication skills with her colleagues and took initiative when necessary.

In addition to interning in a Montessori classroom, the student was required to develop five independent study albums (portfolios) relating to each of the five areas present in a Montessori environment. A year-long project album demonstrating the student’s creativity and knowledge of Montessori philosophy and developmentally appropriate practices for young children was required. Carmen’s albums were all graded as Pass with Distinction, the highest achievable grade.

As the Curriculum Director, I have had the professional pleasure of working with Carmen for two years now. She has been a remarkable teacher and an asset to our program. I feel confident that she will continue to succeed in whatever endeavor she undertakes. Carmen has demonstrated her ability to successfully develop plans and implement them. She has demonstrated leadership abilities in interactions with colleagues and parents. She consistently displays a pleasant and encouraging attitude. She is a focused and determined young woman.

Carmen has my professional endorsement and my deep personal respect.

It is with pleasure that I am able to write this recommendation letter on behalf of Carmen Melendez.

Please feel free to call at any time if I can be of further assistance.