An Exceptional Preschool with a Heart of Gold!…read more Kawaii Kids is home to a team of teachers who truly love what they do, all under the fantastic leadership of the Director (Ms. Jenna). We want to give her a special shoutout for making the school run so efficiently and for pouring so much heart into the curriculum. Her creative weekly lesson plans and songs of the week are always a highlight, and you can see the excitement and care that goes into creating an intentional and pleasant experience for the children. A big Thank You to the new owners as well, who have transformed the school into a beautifully remodeled, modern, and impeccably clean learning facility. The environment is so bright and welcoming! Our son joined Kawaii Kids (formerly BCM) when he was only 2 years old, and we've watched him blossom into a confident, curious (almost) 5 year old. From learning new words to making his first friends and now speaking in full sentences, his experience has been nothing short of amazing. This growth would not have been possible without his wonderful teachers, who have been extremely patient and encouraging every step of the way. As our son gets ready for his next chapter, we are so incredibly grateful for the time and teachings he received here from Ms. Mary and Ms. Lisa. The school has truly helped him build a wonderful foundation, and we know he is prepared for what lies ahead. We can't thank the entire team at Kawaii Kids enough and highly recommend them to any family looking for a nurturing and exceptional preschool.

SAFE, CLEAN & INTIMATE SCHOOL!…read more I toured 3 different daycares in the area and felt like Goldilocks! The first one had great reviews but the school didn't have locks on their doors/gates and I felt uneasy, the second school was full of kids and offered lots of fun events but it was a farther drive and the third school was smaller in class size but they hit every check list so we chose it- KAWAI KIDS! PROS: - doors are locked, kids are safe with cameras recording at all times - this location just opened so the class size is small at the moment which means more one on one - Ms. Lisa her teacher is very patient and kind! Positive learning environment. - Ms. Jenna the Director has loads of experience with teaching and is hands on as well as always in the office to answer calls (one school never picked up their phones when I called) - they split the kids into two classes. 1-3 yr olds and 3-5 yr olds but they're all in one large space. I like this open floor concept better. - classroom is clean and organized - price was lower than the others - there is a chef preparing FRESH HOME COOKED MEALS and it's INCLUDED in your tuition! - they send me photos throughout the day thru their app and are quick to reply to messages CONS: - part time days are set in stone which for me is hard since holidays land on Mondays a lot and Fridays we go out of town. Other daycares allow you to come any day of the week as long as it's 3 days. But they were nice and worked with me. - bathroom could use an upgrade I highly recommend you come get a tour here at Kawai Kids to see for yourself. We started our first week and my daughter is THRIVING and already sleeping better at home! Located behind the church on Fremont street across from the 7-11.

Logistics: - They're open till 6pm!…read more- Little Sunshine is split into 3 classes based on age/readiness: Class A (3.5-5yo), Class B (3-4yo), and Class C (2-3yo). Classrooms have the appropriate mandated headcount (usually at least 2 teachers, plus admin staff who drop in as needed). - There's an optional lunch program. - Tuition is reasonable - parents can pay monthly or by number of expected days for upcoming month, and there are discounts for siblings. - They use the Brightwheel app to provide real-time updates, photos, and to communicate with parents throughout the day - Their Mandarin program is awesome (and no additional $$$). As a plus, there is also some Spanish taught in Class B and C (depending on teacher availability). - No nuts policy (helpful, because my son is allergic to peanuts). - Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your beliefs), the school is "Christian," which means the kids learn Bible songs (we're not Christian) and say a short grace at lunchtime. I for some reason wasn't aware of this until my son came home saying that his favorite song was "Jesus Loves Me." Outside of this, religion does not feature too heavily in the curriculum. Background: My son, who is about to turn 4yo, started here in May'24 in Class C at 2.5yo, moved to Class B at 3yo years, and then just "graduated" to Class A. Each of the three classes have wonderful teachers who are committed to teaching the kids and helping them grow at their own pace. In terms of curriculum, there's arts and crafts, physical play (playground outside), outside exploration (gardening, etc.), and classroom learning (counting, reading, singing, etc.). School supplies are included in tuition, and the teachers and administrators host fun events (i.e. a Mother's Day tea/breakfast, Easter egg hunts, Halloween Trick-or-Treat, Christmas celebration, or annual graduation) where the kids have activities or perform for the parents. The teachers seem to really drive the classroom curriculum, and they are all so skilled at thinking of creative activities for the kids. The only negatives are related to the administrators and management - they exhibit occasional off-putting behavior, and my impression is that they're somewhat disorganized in their communication with parents and cohesiveness with the teachers. A couple of examples: 1. The day that my son was to start daycare here, Director Sandy was wholly unprepared. We had been in communication the week prior and even had messaged the Friday prior to confirm that we were going to do drop-off for the first day of school and pay tuition via check. At drop-off, my son was screaming/bawling (because of course, it's his first day, and he was only 2.5yo). Sandy asked us if we can start the following week instead, because they apparently had another new student starting that day and "it would be hard." When I told her that was not possible, because we had work and other commitments, Sandy's reply to me was "I'm just thinking what's best for the kids." I was quite unhappy with this statement. Luckily, Denise was there and said that they would honor our agreement. But to even have this conversation was just ridiculously frustrating and tainted my initial impression of Little Sunshine and the Director. 2. When Bennett turned 3, he was held back for a month and a half in Class C. We wanted to move him to Class B alongside his friend whose birthday was the following month, but we were told that our son wasn't "ready". This was surprising to us, because he seemed ready academically and emotionally. Our understanding was that a transition would be easier if he didn't have to do it alone. After much back-and-forth with the teachers and admins, he moved to Class B a month after his friend moved. I suspect that the actual reason was that they didn't have space for an additional student in Class B (his friends' parents had asked about graduating to Class B two months earlier), and they had to wait until there was a space before they could move him. 3. Little Sunshine was closing for their annual teacher development day, which is awesome. What was not awesome was telling parents 7 business days before it was scheduled to occur, which is insufficient notice for parents to find other care arrangements for when school was closed. Enough parents were upset about this short notice and contacted Little Sunshine about it, so they moved it to the following week so that we could have a two week notice. My comment was that if this were an annual event, they would be more organized and have it scheduled/communicated earlier. Overall: The Little Sunshine community is strong - we all want the best for our kids, and I really believe that it is the best in the area. It's not merely a daycare - it's a preschool where the kids learn so much and make friends. My son loves going to school so much now and gets so excited at drop-off that he occasionally forgets to give me a goodbye hug and kiss!

The review is based off the tour I had. I was initially drawn to this preschool because of their…read morebilingual program, which led me to schedule a tour. The manager was very nice and friendly, providing detailed information before we toured the classrooms. However, during our conversation outside the classrooms, the director unexpectedly came out from one of the rooms and poured water from her thermos onto the floor--without introducing herself. I found this quite awkward. Even if someone is used to doing this elsewhere, it's not appropriate to do it in front of prospective parents. There were three classrooms, but they were not the cleanest and seemed generally disorganized. I also noticed that the teachers allowed the children to watch TV before naptime, which I am honestly not a fan of. At the end of the tour, the director finally came out to introduce herself, and something awkward happened. I was holding two pamphlets--one originally given to me and one to my husband. The director took one pamphlet from me and began giving me more information, then spoke to the manager in Mandarin about why I was given two pamphlets instead of one. (I understood perfectly well, though she probably thought I wouldn't.) She then took one pamphlet away from me. One pamphlet is just a piece of paper--so taking one away felt unnecessary. I found this both weird and funny. It's odd to behave this way in front of parents. How much does a pamphlet really cost? To me, this behavior seemed rude and frugal. No matter how great the teachers are (which the director kept emphasizing), at such a young age, I want my child to learn respect and politeness first--academic skills come after. Little things matter. If the director herself struggles to exhibit proper manners, it's a definite no for me.

My son has grown so much socially and academically since starting at Little Otters Academy. We've…read moreseen huge strides in his confidence and social skills. We are especially impressed by the extracurricular activities they offer; having Spanish and Chinese classes integrated into the day is such a unique and valuable benefit. They also recently added a Soccer Shots class, which has been a huge hit--my son absolutely loves getting out there and playing soccer with his peers. I also love that they have cooking activities, which is such a fun way for the kids to learn and explore. Beyond the academics, they put on the cutest little performances for parents to watch, like the Christmas show, which we absolutely loved. We couldn't ask for a more stimulating learning environment with amazing and attentive teachers for our little one!

We absolutely love Little Otters Academy! My daughter started here when she was 3 in their…read morepreschool program and stayed on for TK because we loved their curriculum so much. The teachers are amazing-so warm, communicative, and you can tell they truly care about the kids and their success. The school itself is great. The playground is huge, the campus is very clean, and safety is clearly a priority with security cameras around the school. Compared to other local preschools we toured, the classrooms and playground here are by far the most spacious, which we really appreciated. We also like that the school focuses on both academics and play. Even starting in preschool, they introduce light homework, which helps build good learning habits early while still keeping things fun. Another thing we love is their focus on community engagement. They bring in local police officers, firefighters, and librarians to talk to the kids about safety and the community. Fridays are especially fun with activities like pizza making, dress-up days, and arts and crafts. They also do a great job celebrating different cultural holidays so every family feels included. Mandarin and Spanish classes are available too (for an additional cost), which is a nice bonus. Overall, we've had a great experience and would definitely recommend Little Otters Academy to other families looking for a caring and well-rounded preschool/TK program.

I wanted to take a moment to say what an incredible experience we've had with the staff and faulty…read moreat Oneonta Montessori. We put our kiddos there in April 2021 during the pandemic which was a tough decision given the times. However, the staff and Ms. Fiona made us feel at ease and assured us of their safety. They attended Oneonta for three years ending their time their more than ready for first grade. As a result, our kids are more than prepared for first grade. Anytime we had a concern all of the faculty addressed them with care, empathy and concern. I truly felt we had a partnership with everyone there at our school. While every child is different, I know that our kiddos thrived there and are looking forward to coming back for summer camp in 2025! Thank you to everyone for giving our children a strong foundation to start on their academic journey!

We moved from the valley to Alhambra, and this school was the first school I inquired about when…read moreenrolling my kids starting preschool and kindergarten. My kids came from a Montessori school and I wanted to continue the same curriculum. My kids had such an incredible experience at Oneonta and are still there! As a mother of 3 kiddos, I loved that all the teachers knew the kiddos names right away and would communicate frequently via the dojo app, whether they were photos of their activities, classes, and even events when my husband and I couldn't make it to an event at school. From Ms. Theresa to Ms. Vangie, Ms. Carol, and Ms. Maryann, plus Ms. Fiona and Ms. Christina, it's been easy to communicate with them throughout my kids' education. They offer the STEM program and knowing that my kids are being taught these subjects will help them prepare for middle school and up. Coming from a catholic school and public school background, I was impressed by what the school had to offer with the activities/field trips/science fairs/math and spelling bees, plus a fun summer program! It's sad to know that my daughter will be leaving as soon as she finishes 5th grade, but I'm glad my kids have that foundation from Oneonta. :)

We love Little Acorn! My son started at 18 months and it was his first daycare experience. He…read moreacclimated pretty quickly and was fully adjusted in less than two weeks! The teachers in the toddler classroom as so sweet and caring, and we love seeing his smiling face at drop off and pick up. We pay extra for the lunch program but it is so worth it. Everything is cooked fresh in house and it really makes our lives easier. We would highly recommend Little Acorn and love their approach to teaching the little ones. They really try to incorporate a lot of practical life learning. Our son absolutely loves it. They are also very good about posting updates in the Procare app. We get to see when his diapers are checked and/or changed, when and how much he's eaten his snacks and lunch. We also receive at least one photo of him during the day.

Our daughter spent a year and a half at Little Acorn, starting from when she was 18 months old…read more It's a great daycare program filled with thoughtful and caring teachers, enriching activities, and overall, is a structured environment that supports the children well. In particular, I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Amanda's Toddler classroom. Our daughter came home weekly with beautifully crafted art projects and we received regular photo updates from the Procare app, which gave us peace of mind when she was so little. She also began potty training around 25 months old when Ms. Amanda noticed that she showed interest, and I attribute her potty training success to the consistent effort and support reinforced by her and the rest of the teachers. Another positive is that our very picky eater has been a big fan of the hot lunch program, which is cooked on-site (thanks Ms. Gene!) I would remove a star as there was quite a bit of staff turnover right as our daughter switched into the Pre-Primary classroom. This was unfortunate as the ever-changing staff made the transition more challenging for our child, and she had a bit of a regression. However, once Ms. Nona was instated as the main teacher, she was patient and worked with our daughter, meeting her at her level until she got over the hump. Though we're sad to leave Little Acorn, we're grateful that this program set our daughter up with such a great foundation. We will miss all the teachers at Little Acorn!

The school is amazing! Since the new management took over in 2023, it has elevated the schooling…read moreexperiences. My first kid went here a few years ago. Currently my younger one is attending. This is truly a gem in SVG. Good teachers, good balance of academics and enrichment, freshly cooked lunch daily, Chinese class included, very clean facility, Brightwheel app for updates and pictures, most importantly the tuition rate is very reasonable! It's a small preschool which I prefer for small group learnings and less sick time. My kid loves going to school every day and he loves all the teachers there.

The character limit of Yelp is what limits the good things I can say about this school. When I went…read moreto check out the school with my very shy daughter, on the very first moment, Ms. Janice was able to overcome her shyness and got her to start immediately playing with the children in the playground, and then fall in line to use the restroom and attend class. It's a Christian school, and you can feel it in the air. It feels warm, kind, loving, the kids are happy, laughing, having fun, engaged, interacting with each other and the teacher. Everything about this school is amazing, staff, spirit, layout, decoration, loadout. The director is very considerate, the playground is well shaded, to prevent kids from burning themselves in the sun, the ground is a form of rubber mulch, I think. There's plenty of little kitchen houses, a slide, and a couple of titter-totters. The dense playground also allows a single staff member to effectively watch ALL the kids, and I saw it happen, Ms. Nancy called out 3 kids, within moments of each other, the layout, combined with Ms. Nancy's eagle eyes was definitely impressive. Ms. Anna, saw that my daughter was having trouble communicating, and switched between 3 different languages to engage her. The class room is loaded with toys, and while they teach, they aren't harsh on the kids, each teacher I saw, had a very gentle touch, and the kids effectively can choose what they do, and how they learn. They also had cots for the kids, so kids can nap with a pillow and blankets lying down, instead of sitting up on a study list, or on a table. The pillows, blankets, and bedsheets are returned to parents Friday, so they may wash it over the weekend and bring it in Monday. Also, of all the schools, this school was the most proactive and concerned about health, to this day, the children are still required to wear masks. The minute they walk into the building, their temperature is checked, and their shoes are sanitized, then, the children have to wash their hands. They plan make masks optional in July, but, for them to have had those policies for this long is a good thing. Personally, given how often and quickly viruses spread in school, I'm not opposed to this policy being permanent, but, to a certain degree, I understand. This school is perfectly aligned with my focus of child-rearing for my child at her age, which is a combination of fun, socialization, curiosity, basic education, health, safety. I couldn't ask for anything more. My child goes into school happy, comes home happy, and that makes me VERY happy. I toured this school first, and this school has set a bar that no other school can meet. Every other school had soulless, sad, dejected kids, studying for college at the age of 5, but this school, laughs, smiles, little monkeys running around, doing their thing, not a care in the world, screaming along as teachers ask them to recite their ABCs. I'm a single dad, I don't really know much about girl stuff, I do the best I can binding my daughter's hair so it's not in her face, and I send it off. Ms Janice would re-do her hair, with all sorts of accessories I didn't even provide, and she'd come home like a princess. She went in depressed because my ex thought it was a great idea to butcher her hair with a bad haircut during a visit, and Ms. Janice's re-styling of her hair erased the pain my ex caused her. Also, my daughter keeps showing up with snacks and toys on a weekly basis. Like... WOW? I wished I had that growing up, I don't think any other school would do this, and I cannot imagine this place turning a profit. Also, other parents tell me that this school's meals has spoiled their children for public school. They whine about how the new school's food isn't as good. At this point, you're like... "For real?", yeah, for real. One of the best decisions I've ever made. This school was a blessing, and I hope it stays around for a long time, so more people may benefit from it.

Its hard to know whether kids actually like the school but we can tell that our son did. He asked…read moreto go to pre school all the time when he attended and we can tell that he learned a lot. We had Ms Pam and Ms May as his teachers and loved both of them. Top notch experience!

I really wish they had PK-8th grade. The teachers and staff are great. They have such attention to…read moredetails. Mr. Shannon will give kids compliments on their hair, backpack, shoes. Wow....they notice and really boost the kids self esteem. And they remember the cars of each parents. They really care about the kids. My daughter broke out of her shell and have such a positive experience here. She learned so much and is ahead of her class by leaps and bounds. Lilly also make sure the kids are respectful and proper etiquette for different things. Thank you for taking such wonderful care to my daughter. She learned so much. We already miss you!

All 3 of my boys attended Alpha Shen. My children and I have always felt safe and supported at this…read moreschool. Communication is great and the teaching is excellent. There is a calm and safe atmosphere in this school and you can see and feel that your child is being cared for. I am so grateful for Ms Linda and all the teachers and staff.

Updating my review as my daughter's first year is nearly complete before she continues onto the…read morenext class at Alpha Shen. My princess has really grown so much and learned how to write her name. She takes pride in showing me all of her fun projects and work that she's completed in Ms. Hilda's class. There are so many fun activities they do at the school and the children all enjoy being friends with one another. There was so much open communication between Ms. Linda and the teachers so it makes it easy for us to know what's going on. I can't say enough good things about this school and know that we will be taking our youngest child here pretty soon.

I couldn't have asked for a better daycare experience for my son! GPUMNSK took him in at 3 years…read moreold, helped potty-train him, and helped him thrive socially, academically & in every single way. He graduated after 2 years and it was so sad to say goodbye. I'm forever grateful for this school and all of the amazing & kind people in its community.

Great school and the teachers are all so sweet. They know exactly what to do when new kids start…read moreand make them feel comfortable right away. My son started recently and drop off is still a bit tough on some days, we're only doing Tues Thurs so we knew it was going to take much longer to get used to than a M-F schedule. But we knew he's happy here because he comes home happy always, wants to go back, he tells us the friends he's made (he knows their names and ages, supposedly lol), and tells me about his teachers and what they did for the day. Today he told me "mom don't come pick me up, I want to stay at school". To me that's the biggest compliment a school can have. Even if we have a rough drop off day, the teachers' calm demeanor always reassure me that my son will be well taken care of, and I've yet to receive a phone call to take him home because he's too "difficult" *fingers crossed lol* Some more info as of 2024-2025 for the prospective parents out there: - Tuition is very reasonable; I won't list the fees as they're prone to change of course, but they're still some of the lowest in the area. - They have a variety of schedule so you can pretty much customize your schedule. There's TTh, MWF, and M-F. Then on each schedule you can decide on how long they attend for - 3 hrs "strictly preschool", 7 hrs "preschool and some aftercare" (they'll nap there), and full days (you can drop off as early as 7am and pick up as late as 6pm). - They have two play yards, plenty of shades, wood chips. That was one of the factors I considered when picking a preschool - I want plenty of space to play outside and the play yards here are a lot bigger than some other preschools in the area. - You have to pack the kids' breakfasts/lunches. I feed my kid breakfast at home to reduce packing needs. They have fridges and will microwave if needed. They help the kids open the containers of course. My kid has always come home with forks neatly put away in the lunch bag. - Must be potty trained. I think that's why they have kids mostly 3 and up (as of 2024 officially they take kids as young as 2 yrs 6 mo but there aren't too many potty trained 2 yr olds). On the same token the teachers that I've observed do take kids to the potty and help undress/wipe if needed - they won't leave them to their own devices (unless they're older and/or show that they can do everything on their own). - Ministry: we are not religious and don't necessarily want our son to be taught any religion at this age. I was informed they do do some songs and brief prayer (?) sessions but my son has yet tried to convert us at home (or mentions anything religious for that matter) so I'm cool with it. I was also told I could opt out and my son could just stay in the office, but since they seem pretty laid back I didn't choose to opt out. Edit #1: a month in now, all good now, he's very happy to go to school, minimal fussing at home/at drop offs, and knows all his friends' names!

My daughter has been coming to this amazing place, she so happy with all the friends she has made,…read morethe teachers are very kind and caring Definitely the quality of care that this place provide is on point

When I first began looking for a Montessori/child care center for my 18-month-old son, I wanted…read moremore than just a place for him to learn -- I wanted somewhere he would be truly cared for and loved. My older sister's son had attended this school years ago (under previous management) and had a wonderful experience, so it was already on my radar. I reached out and spoke with Mrs. Dima (owner). During our first call, I had to hang up quickly because my son needed me. To my surprise and relief, Mrs. Dima followed up with me -- and I'm so glad she did. Finding reliable care was something I had been struggling with, and her call made all the difference. She explained that she and her mother-in-law were now the new owners, but some of the original staff remained -- including Teacher Jeremiah, who had taught my nephew. That instantly gave me a sense of comfort and familiarity. When I toured the school, I learned that Mrs. Dima's own son attended as well -- and that my son would be in the same group. Knowing she would be present eased so much of my anxiety. The first week was a tough transition for my little one (as expected), but the teachers and staff were incredibly patient and caring. I received daily updates, both in person from his teachers and through thoughtful text messages from Mrs. Dima (owner). The school also uses a parent portal that shares updates and photos -- such a wonderful way to feel connected throughout the day. The activities are creative and engaging for the children, and they even involve parents in fun ways. Recently, the school began offering lunch, which has been a huge help for me as a working parent. I'm also grateful for how supportive the team has been with my son's speech delay -- his therapist visits the school, and the teachers work closely with her to help him make progress. This school has made my first-time mom nerves settle so much. My son is happy, learning, and building relationships -- and we feel part of a caring community. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a nurturing, engaging, and supportive environment for their child.