Montessori Kids Universe School Location Opens In Chester

CHESTER, NJ — After Ti Patel and her husband Dipen settled into the Chester area and started a family, they began seeking a Montessori-style educational program for their daughter.

They found few options, with one school they considered 45 minutes away. Many of the programs they looked at additionally were not feasible for working parents, the school day typically ending at about 2:30 p.m.

That was how she found and partnered with the Montessori Kids Universe franchise to open the Montessori Kids Universe Chester location. The school on 395 Route 24 in Chester celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 5. Tours and registration are happening now, with classes expected to kick off in March, Ti Patel said.

In speaking with their friends within the community, including where they live on the border of Chester and Far Hills, Patel said fellow parents faced similar challenges. Many of the two-parent households they know have both parents juggling full-time jobs, plus the demands of raising families. That included having to wrestle with childcare and educational options that might interrupt the workday. Some parents Patel knows work from home, while their small children are nearby in the house.

With a background in finance and business management before daughters Naya, 3, and Layla, 7 months, were born, Ti Patel told Patch in a phone interview that she began seeking options to open a Montessori School on her own.

Patel said she decided to bring the business to Chester, a community that has become close to her family’s heart. She and her husband decided on the Chester area after learning about it from her former boss, she said.

“We loved the school system here,” she said.

Having lived throughout New Jersey, they appreciated the warmth of the Mendham and Chester communities, especially their close-knit neighborhood.

Starting a Montessori school in Chester was important to Patel with hours to help working parents, with the school’s hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., she said.

A Montessori-style education, created by physician Maria Montessori, is based on hands-on, independence-based and self-paced style learning for children. Montessori Kids Universe — the parent company in Florida — partnered by guiding Patel through the entire process of building the school, down to the materials and colors used in construction. Paint shades are earth tones, with wood within the building’s style, which she said helps keep students focused on their learning.

Franchise owners also receive between 60 to 90 hours of training from the company before opening their schools, Patel said.

The school is expected to be open year-round to accommodate working parents, she said. A typical day for children begins with their Montessori education in the morning, focusing on learning and activities in an independent and encouraging environment, said Patel. The day continues with yoga, she said. Children next take lunch, which is followed with a nap or quiet activities for kids who would prefer not to nap. The afternoon snack period happens after the quiet time. Children next participate in STEAM, which is science, technology, English, art or math, she said.

During the day, children will also learn sign language, with the school seeking a teacher as well who can teach the Mandarin Chinese language, Patel said.

The day winds down with outdoor time, which Patel called “crucial” in a child’s day. The school has an indoor gym on the days the weather is too cold or hot for outdoor activities.

The 2021-2022 school year is scheduled to last through the end of June. About a week later, the school’s summer activities begin, which is an “around the world” themed curriculum each day through August. That includes the kids learning about different countries, which the school plans to team up with local restaurants and international musicians, depending on the country, said Patel. The 2022-2023 school year begins again in September.

Looking for more information about Montessori Kids Universe? Call 908-650-1658 or click here.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.