St. Cassian Elementary School

190 LORRAINE AVE

Montclair, NJ 07043

34 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 23, 2024

Our family is so gratefully for the teachers, parents, and Principal of St. Cassian that we want to make sure that they are recognized for their extraordinary efforts, their dedication and the loving and encouraging school community that they have worked hard to grow and foster. Before joining our family carefully researched schools and quickly recognized that the extracurricular activities, wide range of sports and excellent reviews set St. Cassian apart from others. From kindergarten through to 8th grade, the principal and teachers have always gone above and beyond to ensure that the kids were learning, always made themselves available when there were concerns or questions and just showed honest and genuine love and care for the children, their education and wellbeing. Over the years, when extra support and help was needed, both the principal and teachers lovingly gave us guidance, advice, in-class support, and graciously offered accommodations to the best of their capabilities – often going above and beyond. Through the Pandemic, the Principal worked relentlessly to continue with the full curriculum so there was no interruption to their education and ensured that the school was prepared and ready to open the following school year with every precaution and consideration for the safety of the school and families.Over the years, I have been so appreciative and grateful for the parent community that volunteers to organize so many fun events. Once able, I strived to participate with the HSA and school committees and was even more in awe of these amazing parents, teachers and the principal, Mrs. Llanes. I can honestly say that I saw an amazing level of love, care, and dedication like I have never seen. It really was a blessing and joy to participate and get to know these incredible parents, teachers, and school principal. I came to see Principal’s Llanes unwavering dedication to each and every school event, her genuine care to make each one safe, fun, and memorable. I witnessed the incredible amount of time after hours Mrs. Llanes commits on a daily basis to guide and ensure the success of each one. I sincerely feel that Principal Llanes and the teachers came to love my children and have celebrated their successes as if it were their own children’s accomplishments. It has been a wonderful experience to have them grow up in such a loving environment and amazing school. I am confident that they are well prepared and wholeheartedly recommend the school.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2024

I am not one to write reviews, but with it being the end of the school year I feel so grateful to have found St. Cassian School. My husband and I relocated to the area and joined the school, and LOVED it so much that we also joined the parish! I love that the school is centered in the Catholic Faith with traditional values. Any issue, concern, or idea that I have had has been welcomed and acknowledged. I appreciate the open communication with the principal, Mrs. Llanes, who is always willing to talk and sends many updates. I find that the school focuses on the whole child and also offers many opportunities for parents to be involved. Overall, I would highly recommend St. Cassian (and have recruited families to join!)
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2024

took me sometime to decide to write this review but I feel is important to share my experience. My family was looking for a catholic school for our two children and were willing to travel for the right school that had great academics and the Christian values we hold dear. We started the application process at St. Cassian because we believed it met both those standards. At the time we were coming from a working class town in Hudson County where our children attended elementary school. From the time I met the principal I had an uneasy feeling that I was being looked down upon but I dismissed it thinking it was all in my head. However, I kept getting asked why I wanted to travel so far for school-- repeatedly-- like 4 times. Meanwhile under their own admission they had kids in the school that came from places at least as far. I explained that we were in the market for a home and were willing to travel for the right school. After my children went through the school's evaluation I held one of the most degrading conversations with the Principal. She pointed to some deficiencies she noticed in my son, which I had no problem hearing from her. But that was about 15% of the conversation. The remaining 85% was her giving me unsolicited real estate advice about how expensive real estate is in Montclair. None of this was relevant to the application, but she clearly was looking down her nose at us because of the town we were coming from. She assumed we could not afford a home there and clearly did not want us in her school. I could not believe that classist behavior was coming from the Principal of a Catholic school with supposedly Christian values. It was a horrible experience and she is a terrible representation of the school. We actually are well off financially and chose to do early childhood in a town where we had multiple investments because they had a wonderful, world recognized early childhood program. We're not afraid of being around working class folks because we came from that and worked hard for what we have. We found our dream home in a great town with people that are thankfully not like this woman. I guess if you come from the "right place" this school might be for you.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2024

I love reading reviews, but usually I am not a big fan of writing ones. However, after checking this website, I felt that I must share my experience and provide a heartfelt review of St. Cassian School. As a parent, I have had the privilege of being a part of this exceptional educational institution, and I am truly impressed by the dedication, quality of education, and overall learning environment provided at St. Cassian School.St. Cassian School prioritizes academic excellence by fostering a challenging yet supportive learning environment. The curriculum is great! It’s designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The school consistently achieves outstanding academic results. At St. Cassian, education goes beyond textbooks. They offer extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, music, and community service. Students can participate in Choral Music, Musical Theater, Bell Ensemble. Last year, the students played Frozen Musical in collaboration with Bergen PAC, it was outstanding!! They also have additional activities like Mini Model Program, Mock trial, Robotics, etc.The teachers are highly qualified; they try to understand each student's strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles, tailoring their teaching methods accordingly. They combine the curriculum with Arts and technology to make learning more interesting, fun, and engaging.The technology is top-notch! Every class has a smart board, and each student has an iPad or a chrome book, depending on the grade. Students have access to the paper copy of their books as well as the online version (nobody wants to carry the huge heavy paper books every day!)They have regular parent-teacher meetings, and many school activities that create a supportive network where parents are actively engaged in their child's education. The community is wonderful! Not just the kids make friends at St. Cassian School, parents do too!In conclusion, St. Cassian school is an outstanding educational institution that excels in every aspect. It provides students with a well-rounded education and prepares them for the challenges of the future. The supportive faculty, state-of-the-art activities, parent-teacher collaboration, and wonderful community, enhance the overall experience. I wholeheartedly recommend St. Cassian School to any parent seeking a nurturing and excellent educational environment for their kids.
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2023

We would highly recommend this school. Coming from another catholic school that was not as advanced with their faculty training, curriculum and policies this is a welcomed change. The teachers and faculty are extremely dedicated. Teachers care about the success and happiness of the students. The school has a fantastic, nurturing environment, which supports the academic and spiritual development of each child. They also have a thriving sports program. The principal is innovative; always striving for improvement and progress. My children enjoy going to school and we are blessed to be a part of the community. Best investment in their education we have made as parents.
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2023

I am writing this review to share what a gem the school has been for my family. The school led by a compassionate and caring principal and an extremely dedicated staff. The teachers go the extra mile to provide the best experience possible for each student. The principal provides exemplary leadership and is a great listener. The school offers a unique implementation to the curriculum, with many programs such as its electives, which are not taught at other schools. In addition, the school has a great sports program. The wonderful staff, the school’s academic excellence and the warm welcoming school families make the school very special. My family has made friends for life at the school, and we feel fortunate to be part of this extraordinary community of students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2023

The school likes to setup meetings individually so she can deceive you and make you believe that your kid or you are the issue. They wouldn't let a child attend graduation bc the principal MEAN NATURE., even if Her own staff don't agree.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2023

The experience we've had after transferring our child to St. Cassian has been wonderful. Not only is their curriculum very advanced, but they are also very welcoming, and we are all like one big family. We switched schools because our child needed to be academically challenged and St. Cassian provided that since day one. During the pandemic, the school was well prepared, and the children didn't miss any school days; instead, they jumped right into virtual learning and followed their regular schedule. The teachers are very supportive, and I can honestly say our child will be well prepared to go into High School. I highly recommend this school if you are looking for a family like setting with an advance curriculum.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2023

In my opinion, hands down this is one of the best schools in the diocese of both Newark and the surrounding counties. Let me start with the way Covid19 quarantine was handled and the implementation of remote learning, the school was way more advanced than any other school. This is my experience speaking with parents of children in other schools and counties alike. What I love about the school is the norm (belief) they've established with our children. Our challenges are nothing compared to what I witness, in other schools both private and public. The school community as a whole is welcoming and it is like a family. I've had the pleasure of meeting great parents, and children that without a doubt is what I want my child to be social with. I'm not saying things are perfect, but tell me a family that is. The key word is FAMILY. The St. Cassian family, we're not all meant to agree, have the same frame of mind, or have everything go our way. What I do know is, our children, agree, disagree, make up, continue to socialize. Our kids grow with a diverse culture, great teaching plan, are exposed to things some children don't have the privilege to experience. I've seen our children win, lose, but most importantly I've seen them challenged, adjust, and continue with their developmental stages. What the St. Cassian family does is priceless beyond a return on our investment. It genuinely is a home away from home. From a proud Cougar patent.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2023

Had to pull my kid out of this school due to toxicity. A cutting edge and traditional school which really means teachers are untrained and depends so much in technology such as videos when teaching. The school follows the old testament teachings versus the new, which is not accepting to others and kid's differences. To be fair, some teachers are good if you get lucky. Schools is focused on test scores that they practice taking tests weekly to ensure kids are ready when taking standardized test and forget to focus on inspiring learning. We would have stayed in this school if the principal, Mrs. Llanes, is open to suggestion and constructive criticism. She doesn't provide an open avenue to hear school-wide issues or classroom problems. She likes to setup meetings individually so she can deceive you and make you believe that your kid or you are the issue. She also has favorites and don't treat kids equally which leads to no accountability on the kids part.HSA, board, etc are very exclusive which is probably due to the principal's controlling nature. There is no visibility on what's going on in school.We would have stayed if they were at least loving, open and use Pope Francis new way of teaching as an example of acceptance and love. Good luck to them.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2020

The school community has been very welcoming, attentive and innovative in it's approach. This progress and education level has been wonderful and challenging for my children.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2020

Saint Cassian School, a “National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School”, has been a wonderful place for my daughter to learn, grow and make awesome friends. She’s been there for few years now, and every year she’s been having amazing and caring teachers. SCS strives to help each child develop as an independent person whether spiritually, physically, intellectually and socially through a faith-based curriculum that integrates the visual/performing arts and technology. Students score in the top 15% on national standardized tests. 100% of graduates are admitted to the most prestigious secondary schools in the area. SCS has also assumed a leading role in technology integration: there’s a smart board in every room, each student in Kdg-4th grade has an iPad, every student in the middle school is assigned his/her own laptop! Plus, SCS has implemented several programs that enhance the academic curriculum through the integration of other disciplines. One of my daughter’s favorite program is MIAD (The Multiple Intelligence Art Domain). It offers unique ways of expanding the students’ knowledge through high level thinking, creativity, and problem solving skills. Some of the MIAD classes are Video production, Robotics, 3D printing, Mini Model Congress, Tap dancing, Mock Trial, etc. Lastly, the school environment is very family-oriented. SCS has a beautiful community with a lot of opportunities to be involved in your child’s school experience. It’s a lot of fun and the kids can make life-long friends!In summary, if you are looking for a school that engages in academic excellence, a community of faith, “gifted and talented” experiences for every student, and a warm-family centered environment where students thrive socially and academically, then Saint Cassian School in Upper Montclair is definitely the right place to go to!
Submitted by teacher on May 30, 2018

St. Cassian is a fantastic place to teach. The community of parents, teachers, staff and students is like nothing I have ever experienced. We are driven, hardworking teachers who strive to instill a sense of responsibility, Catholic value, and challenging academics. St. Cassian's focuses on developing well rounded students exposing them to challenging curriculum, innovative technology, many different facets of the arts, and sports. My students are accomplished athletes on our school's basketball, track & field, and soccer teams as well as our dance program. As a class, through a partnership with BergenPAC, learned Ballroom Dancing, which we carried into our literature and writing lessons, and took them to compete in finals. I had students act in our school's production of The Little Mermaid directed by BergenPAC. All while maintaining academic excellence shown by being named Honor Roll and Principal's List recipients. We at St. Cassian school are committed to our students and fostering their development to ensure they become the best they can be.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2018

Outstanding. All three of my children, 2 boys and one girl, have had very positive experiences at Saint Cassian school. They have felt supported, made good friends and outstanding academic progress.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2018

St. Cassian School is a Catholic school that offers an excellent, well-rounded, faith-based education for students, preK-8th grade. Even before it was recognized as a Blue Ribbon school in 2016, St. Cassian's enrollment was growing because of the commitment shown by so many people in our Catholic community. Their yearly investments in time and resources have helped the school grow its arts, elective, sports and technology programs. Without question, this base of support from volunteers has been critical to the school's and the students' success over the past 65 years. Therefore, any student of the past, present and future has, is or will benefit from the collective volunteering and fundraising efforts, and, as a parent, I am thankful to them! For instance, four years ago, the school purchased chrome books for middle school and 1:1 iPads for the younger grades. The school has added more visual and performing arts programs, like musical theater and ballroom dancing through partnerships with NJPAC and bergenPAC. In addition, the school for decades has offered all kinds of sports team opportunities for most age groups. On top of it all, the school has many special events that the kids and parents love. Yet, even with all of these activities, no one is required to volunteer and the vast majority of parents, like me, are grateful for the volunteers' and teachers' efforts to give our kids a well-rounded experience and education. The school has excellent teachers and they make the most of student learning by integrating the arts, math, social studies, science, technology and religion across the curriculum, including the elective program. They are also nimble, well-equipped and certified to teach different grades. Lastly, the principal provides teacher aides to help teachers meet the needs of individual students and class sizes -- just like many other schools do. We love the school and the school community, and through thick and thin, they make it happen for the kids. Because any school leader knows, a well-rounded education can't happen without the help of many stakeholders in the school community. Therefore, if you're new to the area or not, St. Cassian School is definitely worth visiting.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2018

Following its 2016 Blue Ribbon Award St Cassian has had a influx of students; for example,, 1st Grade has about 27 students and Kindergarten has about 25 students. The principal says she aims for 25-30 students per class and grades will not be split into two classes unless above 30 students. As a result, students are packed into small classrooms and reading tables and other features have been removed to add students. There is no predictability as to what teacher will teach what grade; a teacher who teaches kindergarten one year may teach third grade the next. The principal is not afraid to change staff; the first grade has had three teachers this academic year. On the other hand, the parents are great and are incredibly supportive of the school. It basically runs like a co-op so the parents are expected to commit an incredible amount of time to the school and can expect to get multiple emails a day regarding volunteering etc. This is a school where you really have to "drink the Kool Aid": you'll meet great families but your child will probably be in a bigger class than in public school and you won't know until late August who your child's teacher will be and if that teacher will even make it to Christmas. It's less expensive than other Montclair privates and you make up the difference in what the school expects of your time.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2018

Main reason i looked into this school because they were Blue ribbon awardee in 2016. I am glad we end up at our lady of lakes who got the blueribbon award in 2017. We applied at preK-3 and got accepted but decided to go to another school that is walking distance to the house. Then a year later we applied at preK-4 but was told we need to go back to pre-k3. During the interview my son was able to answer all questions such as his alphabeths, colors, numbers, etc. My son is even more advanced however hewas laughing in many occassions, having fun. We got a call saying we did not get in. I emailed the PreK4 teacher who did the interview to ask the reason and she ignored my calls and emails. I did not understand why but the principal called me and said they decided to take an older kid because my son is younger. His birthday is almost to the cut-off but still eligible to enter prek4. I think this is unfair because we applied 1 year in advanced to make sure we had a spot and i was informed by St. Cassian's admin that it's a first come first serve basis but then you tell me that you decided to give my spot to an older kid. Glad we went with OLL 2017 blue ribbon awardee.
Submitted by principal on January 24, 2018

St. Cassian School scores in the top 15% of all schools nationally. in 2016 it was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. It is not only strong academically, but also in the performing arts and sports. This year, the school is partnering with BergenPAC to direct the students in the production of Little Mermaid Jr. It's also hosting its first STEM fair for the elementary grades and its 2nd STEM fair for middle school students who may be invited to compete within the Archdiocese of Newark's STEM fair competition. The St. Cassian School experience is family-friendly experience with a lot of opportunity to be involved in your child's school experience. From family and class events, it's a lot of fun and parents make life-long friends.
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2016

St. Cassian School just won the National Blue Ribbon Award for exemplary academic performance. The recent Terra Nova test scores place the school in the top 15% of all schools -- public and private -- nationwide. This absolutely reflects the investments made in a fabulous principal, teachers and staff who have a common goal to engage students' "multiple intelligences." The principal recently gave tangible examples of how the school is doing this. For instance, the school invites authors to share with students how life experiences can develop into a book; it fosters students' appreciation for democracy through the Mini Model Congress experience which includes hearing directly from state legislators; it combines history with art when students create a silent film about the “Roaring Twenties"; and it strengthens math and critical thinking skills when students design and build model bridges together. Engaging students in this manner makes learning a creative and fun process at St. Cassian School and its National Blue Ribbon Award signifies its successful approach. St. Cassian is also a leader in utilizing technology in the classroom. In addition to its computer lab, it provides WiFi enabled Chrome books, iPads and Smartboards in the classrooms. As a Catholic school, students are grounded in Catholic Christian values. Regular mass, religion classes and many family school events provide students with a foundation of faith, community and charity. It's a wonderful school -- preK-8th grade --filled with a lot of love and caring for students and families. As a parent of a 2nd grader, I highly recommend it.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2015

Our sons have been attending St. Cassian School since kindergarten and we are extremely pleased with the school. The teachers and staff are all very kind and attentive. We have had great teachers who have all been exceptional and dedicated to the success of our boys. We are very pleased with the principal and pastor of the school and we are excited to watch our sons grow up in this warm and nurturing environment that Saint Cassian provides.