Schools

First Discovery Montessori Shutters, Blindsiding Parents

Report says parents were shocked that the pre-school so suddenly closed.

The First Discovery Montessori School in Smithtown has reportedly shut down, upsetting parents who had sent their preschoolers there.

The school, according to a News 12 article, posted a note on its door announcing the closure after 18 years in the community.

Calls to the school by Patch on Thursday were not answered, and it appeared that the voice mail system was shut off. The doors of the school were also locked on Thursday, though some lights inside were turned on.

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Local parent Cynthia Grimley said in an email that she was surprised to find out the school was closed only when she brought her daughter there on Wednesday.

"It has been there a long time, and it is upsetting that it is now closed," she said.

Find out what's happening in Smithtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to News 12, many of the children were only a few weeks away from their moving up ceremony as they head off to kindergarten next year.

"I feel bad for the parents that had students graduating to kindergarten this year. It is unfair that it closed suddenly, without any notice from the director," Grimley said.

First Discovery is not the only Montessori school in the area, which uses an open format dubbed "discovery" to educate children. The Childrens Montessori Center in St. James, the and all run in the area.

Were you a parent of child in First Discovery? Email henry@patch.com.

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