The Yes You Can Speak program was amazing. In only four 90 minute sessions, CORE Repatterning…read morehelped me feel 100% released from the traumas that have been holding me back. Before the program I had a challenging time speaking my truth from my heart with people I felt might not be safe. Now I can have difficult conversations with an open heart rather than needing to be protective or defensive. My general confidence has improved immensely, and so has ability to pause instead of saying "um," my vocal variety and use of hand gestures. I love how deep it was, especially the part where we connected with our core values and spoke from that place of authenticity. It's powerful! This program is not at all just about public speaking, it's about giving you tools and techniques to live a much fuller life whether you're with an authority figure, a team, in an interview, on stage, or with a loved one . I loved it so much, I just asked Lynn, "What will it take to be part of your team?"

I never feared public speaking, I feared speaking without preparation. I felt confident when I had…read moretime to think things through, but if I was calleyyd on spontaneously, I froze. My inner critic would chime in: "You're rambling! You're not making sense! Hurry up!" And just like that, I'd lose my train of thought and sound anything but clear or confident. As someone pursuing speaking more seriously, I knew I had to get past this. I joined a local Toastmasters club, which helped with structure and delivery techniques, but it didn't get to the root. I didn't need to memorize a speech. I needed to feel confident grabbing the mic with no idea what I'm going to say, and still pack a punch with my message. I met Lynn when she stopped by my local Toastmaster club as a guest speaker. By the end of her workshop, I was speaking freely, no notes, no rehearsals. In less than an hour, she got me to trust myself, and my message came across clear and resonate. So, I joined her Level 1 course. I'll be honest, at first, I was hesitant. The exercises were simple, even a little "woo-woo" and I doubted if it would really change me. We practiced looking in the mirror to say affirmations. We marched around chanting, "I don't know what I'm going to say, but it's going to be great!" and various other fun things! But it worked. Week by week, those small practices paired with real speaking challenges rewired my brain. This class brought me to tears countless times. In 4 weeks, I grew more confident, more self-assured. For the first time, I believed that I could do this. I could trust that I knew what I wanted to say and didn't have to rely on perfect preparation to say it, and say it well. Lynn created an extremely safe, low-pressure container, that feels easy to do, yet the internal shifts and changes are monumental. Everyone in the class went from unsure, to confident. Our last session was so powerful. The new-found authority in the room was palpable. It also happened to fall on my birthday. The group, who by then felt like family, surprised me with a cake and a song. So nice! Lynn teaches from the heart. Her approach gently unearths the root of fear. A month later, I'm still applying what I learned. I'm leading meetings more clearly, toasting at dinner, raising my hand to speak, looking myself in the mirror with kindness before judgement, and, most importantly, trusting myself more than ever. If you want to uncover what's holding you back and try simple yet powerful tools to break through it, Lynn's class is a safe and transformative place to start. I highly recommend!

If you are not familiar with Toastmasters, it is an organization committed to helping adults get…read moreover their fear of public speaking. It also offers opportunities for leadership development. San Carlos Belmont Toastmasters is a very friendly community based club. It is a diverse supportive group that allows you to work at your own pace. I have been a member for years and have kept my membership even though I moved recently.

This review is long overdue. I joined San Carlos Belmont Toastmasters over a year ago, and I'm…read morestill a member to this day. What I learned is that Toastmasters isn't just about public speaking, it's about building confidence and finding your own voice. The skills that I've learned can be applied to any situation whether it's work or my personal life. Everyone I've met has been supportive and the club provides a great environment for anyone who is shy or just starting out. Definitely worth checking out.

These programs are awesome! They teach you practical skills to use to get jobs or for everyday…read morelife. I did the Biotechnology Program and the Automotive Specialist Program, both were amazing. The biotech program not only had tons of hands on projects, lab work and an opportunity for an internship; the teacher was very knowledgeable and start a template for a national biotech course. Great experience, real world job skills. I am so thankful I took the automotive one! Now when I go to get my car looked, at I feel confident at calling bullshit when they tell me my engine needs to be replaced or something is leaking. Not only that, the skills have saved me money! Now I can do the car stuff myself. Highly recommended. Even better, these courses cost only $80 and are free if you are in high school!! What a great deal considering how much a college degree or even an AA can cost. I really want to go back and take more classes!!!

Sharon is very excellent interview preparation coach. She listen carefully, very friendly, and very…read moreprecise to help me with interview questions I might get. She not only fix my pronunciation and grammar but also help me organize my answers, making them sound more polished and comprehensive. After two sessions with her, I got accepted for the position. making them sound more polished and comprehensive. After two sessions with her, I got accepted for the position. I greatly appreciate her help!

Sharon is an excellent ESL (English as a second language) teacher. I take online English lessons…read morefor 60 minutes once a week. I wanted to improve my English grammar, pronunciation, writing, and conversation skills. In a few lessons, not only did I notice big improvement, but my colleagues did too. Her approach is to work on quick fixes and to give immediate feedback so I can incorporate that learning immediately in my daily life. In addition to helping with daily conversation, she has expertise in resume/LinkedIn profile review and job interview preparation. With the help of her sessions, I landed a wonderful job opportunity.

I strongly advise against this school based on our experience…read more The administration is more interested in controlling and punishing students rather than fostering an environment that encourages critical thinking, love of learning and a feeling of safety. The culture is antiquated as is the curriculum. Teachers are underwhelming. There is a stark lack of innovation and limited use of technology. A revolving door of teachers. With those who remained, issues loomed. The administration had no interest in hearing from parents. The science program is a disgrace. It lacks instruction and labs. I have attached a photo that is telling. The Spanish program is a joke. Social Studies was inconsistent. A new, inexperienced English teacher had no accountability. She humiliated more than one child by timing them when going to the restroom in front of the class. She demonstrated questionable rationality and a tenuous relationship with reality. At some point, we hired tutors to advance our child in certain areas which we likely would have done at any school, just as many students take math at RSM. We do that as well. The vice principal reprimanded my child when she heard this, claiming it was unfair. This was outrageous, but not out of character. Every opportunity they had to tear down a child, they took--and that treatment extended to parents. Additionally, the school actively discouraged transparency and honesty, instructing my child and myself to conceal a learning accommodation from other students and parents. We were told, "Do not tell anyone, and if it gets out, we will know it was you." This culture of fear, intimidation, and dishonesty are toxic. Stapled your paper incorrectly? That will be 10% off. Did not include your last name? Turn in the next day at penalty. Why not simply speak to the student and offer support if needed? Is this about learning or control? It is 100% about control and you control through fear. The anxiety our family experienced during our time at NDE was profound. If you're looking for a forward looking school that fosters critical thinking and helps develop confidence with supportive adults rooting for them, this is absolutely not the place. For some, this culture may be acceptable, but others, including myself, may consider it a form of emotional abuse on top of an antiquated mode of teaching and curriculum. This school has the potential to be a positive neighborhood institution, but it requires significant leadership change to transform.

It's very unfortunate for the community to have Dr. Jeremiassen as the principal of the school. Her…read moreonly conflict resolution methods are 1) sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened, and 2) get rid of the people involved, be it students, teachers, or volunteers. (Yes! MANY times!) There is a typical oppressed atmosphere at the school: People are unhappy, but dare not say anything. Students jeer at the "fake smile" of the principal behind her back. How ironical it is for a Catholic/Christian school, and how unfortunate for everybody who had to go through this "educational experience". To be fair, Dr. Jeremiassen may have done some good things like modernizing the school's IT system, so she might be an Ok administrator, but lacks empathy, the basic nuance to handle problems appropriately, and the drive to try to fix problems at their root. She should never be a leader in any position.

My son has been in the Challenge preschool side since 2 years old and continued on to this…read moreChallenge School since Kindergarten. The teachers are fluent in Mandarin and immerse the kids in Chinese speaking environment. The teachers are very encouraging and warm to all parents What I like is the consistency and stability of the class - my son has been with most of his classmates for over 6 years and really have gotten to known them. same with parents - many of us started with Challenge early on and have gotten to known each other over the years. There are monthly public speaking practices as part of routine class curriculum. There are many cultural celebrations as well for all to enjoy kids' performances.

Our kids have been attending Belmont Challenge after school program for years. Not only does the…read moreschool offer a trusting and organized learning environment for the kids, the teachers are patient and friendly towards the kids. Our goal was for our kids to maintain their bilingual skills and be in a fun learning environment, and Challenge offers what we wanted and more! Under the guidance of the teachers, our kids have improved greatly in their public speaking skills (in both English and Chinese) due to the school's thoughtful curriculum in helping to develop students' public speaking skills. Most importantly, our kids thoroughly enjoyed being at Challenge and often requested to be picked up later :) Overall, we are grateful that our kids can maintain and develop their Chinese skills in a safe and friendly environment at Belmont Challenge!

My son went to challenge school blueberry class and we had a wonderful experience! The teachers…read moreare kind, caring, and truly go above and beyond. Most importantly, my son was excited to go to school every day -- as a parent, that means everything. Grateful for the nurturing environment and the joy it brought to our family! Highly recommended it!

My son has been at this school for almost 3 years. Compared to other daycare my two kids have been…read morein, Challenge is well organized and welcoming of parents. They get a week rounded Chinese and English education. They have time to explore and play and still learn the fundamentals like the alphabet and so on. They have building toys, sensory bins, special art and science projects, Chinese cultural performances, field trips, you name it they've probably done it. The teachers are generally very good, although like all day cares they sometimes have a hard time retaining the best ones, but that's pretty typical. The director Jenny is great, very communicative and on top of things. In terms of actually learning Chinese, they do their best. The kids are split, some speak mostly Chinese and some mostly English. There's usually one Chinese speaking teacher and one English-speaking, and activities like circle time are also split half Chinese half English. My son definitely understands Chinese but he aggressively refuses to speak although the teachers do their best, that's more on him than them. He has also sometimes been a problem child and they are patient and do their best to work with him while still making sure all the kids are happy and safe. I'm also glad it's in the same system as Challenge Afterschool, which is a big bonus. Next year, my son will join my daughter and several of his preschool classmates there!

I cannot say enough positive things about the Charles Armstrong School and the incredible impact it…read morehas had on my son's academic experience and truly, on the trajectory of his life. He is a dyslexic and dysgraphic learner who is now thriving thanks to the skills, tools, and confidence he's gained at Armstrong. It's so refreshing to be in a learning environment where every subject is taught through the lens of the dyslexic learner. My son was happy at his previous school, but his academic confidence was rapidly declining. Since joining Armstrong, he feels like a star and is finally able to live up to his full potential. He's no longer an outlier. Here, everyone learns the way he does. The teachers are incredibly dedicated and deeply knowledgeable about how to reach and teach these remarkable learners. The small-group instruction has been key, and we also love that Armstrong offers all the benefits of a larger school--sports teams, student government, performing arts, and a wide range of extracurriculars. If you have a child with a language-based learning difference, get them to Armstrong ASAP! We only wish we'd come sooner.

We are new to CAS but so far our experience has been exceptional. Our son participated in their…read moresummer program and after a month we observed a discernable improvement in his reading skills. The school seems intensely focused on working with the parents to set goals and objectives for students' development over the school year and the level of communication with us as new entrants has been high. They appear to be incredibly well organized. The kids wear uniforms--that gets a "like" from me. I will update this review over time.

The year my daughter turned 4, we came to LDA-PBS and found our studio for as long as my daughter…read morecontinues dancing. She started with only ballet where even the smallest ballerinas learn the importance of becoming confident dancers with a strong foundation in technique. She has since joined tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and even tried some contemporary. The teachers are kind and innovative and are loved by their students. Even through Covid-19, everyone at the studio has gone out of their way to make sure our students continue to grow as dancers. Our classes may look a little different right now, but I have watched my daughter get stronger and persevere. Liv DanceArts, Professional Ballet School has become a part of our family over the last three years. When we changed elementary schools, instead of finding a new studio closer in location, we stayed because of the relationships that we have created with those in the studio. We have been lucky to find our place.

My granddaughter started dancing at LDA when she was four. In the last eight years she has gone…read morefrom an adorable little ball of energy, skipping and hopping across the stage to a beautiful, graceful, confident dancer! I'm looking forward to when her recitals can resume. They are the perfect way to kick off the Christmas and Summer seasons. I've been attending them since she started and have enjoyed seeing all of the kids she has been dancing with grow into accomplished dancers. Thank you, dedicated teachers and staff, for all of your hard work. I'm so glad my daughter chose your studio for my granddaughter!