Maybe we've been spoiled with my daughters current school. Maybe my expectations were too high? But again I think everything I asked for was pretty standard. Toured the school today, and I'm hoping parents of these little ones should show up on a Friday and check out the school.
When I came with my daughter around 10:30, the school was filled with this wonderful smell from the kitchen. Immediately, brownie point! I was hungry lol. Everything just kinda went downhill from that point.
The school is located in a strip mall, in the corner next to a Vietnamese restaurant. Hmmm.. ok. Inside was nice, clean, but again, nothing can really impress me, my daughter has been going to Building Kids in Concord, nothing in this neighborhood including Castro Valley can compare to her current school. The positive: the rooms are separated. Not just by bookshelf or toy shelf, legit rooms. And that's about it! When I walked into the 3-4 years old room, it was pitch dark, I'm like wth? Then I saw a lady sitting all the way in the back of the class and another one next to the small 32 inch TV. They're were the teachers. Ohhh... the kids all gathered around the small 32 inch tv watching a movie. Teacher immediately came and talked to me, explained that they only do that on Fridays. Friday's are chill day/fun day so kids watch tv and do whatever they want... hmmm ok... there's no student art work in the class. No painting or art project... just a small area with students writing of their names... hmmmm ok.... so you don't teach art and music. Ok got it! Went to the older classroom, 4-5 years old, a little better, 44 inch tv? Lol no seriously same structure, 20 kids sitting on the floor in front of the tv, and I'm talking about REALLY CLOSE to the tv, watching a movie... hmmmm... red flag! Went outside and checked out the playground, wasn't impressed.
So on my way out, I asked about if there are extra curricular classes? Yes, but parents have to pay extra for all of them (science, gymnastic and soccer) hmmm ok, that's cool, at least you offer it... Asked when can I start my daughter? Was told as early as Monday, I said ok let's wait til may since I already paid her current school tuition this month. Ok no problem. The teacher gave me an enrollment package, ok cool, then she said "Oh you owe me $100!" Huh? I was confused.... she said in order for me to get the paper work, I have to pay her $100 immediately... hmmmm ok... how should I pay? Check or cash... hmmm... ok I'm fine with that. So I flipped through the enrollment package, looking for a schedule, every school I toured so far, no matter big or small, all have a schedule of some sort for the class. She told me they don't have those but it's in the classroom I can check it out when I drop off my daughter in May... what? First movie and do whatever they want all day, now not even able to give me a schedule print out? Hmmm. No thank you. So I told her I will talk to my husband about it before I pay. She said fine, and took back the enrollment forms. Hmmm... 10 pages of black and white copies doesn't cost $100. Just saying... read more