I hope my words convey the deep respect I hold for Guiding Light Montessori and its exceptional…read morestaff, particularly Justine, the owner and Head Teacher, and her dedicated handyman, Hubby. Their unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing environment for children to flourish, grow, and gain confidence is truly commendable. Which brings you to my story. Earlier this year, I lost my adult son; he left behind my beautiful grandaughter, who now lives with my husband and me. Her world changed from one day to the next, and life as she knew it was different and absent. Being an only child who desperately needed structure and friends, we enrolled her at Guiding Light Montessori. It was a rough 1st week, and when I say rough, that is being softly put! Justine was a Godsend; she gently guided and helped my granddaughter feel safe, welcome, and loved! It didn't take long for that transition to happen because of Justine's genuine heart for the grace of children. These early experiences play a crucial role in shaping our children's self-confidence. My granddaughter has learned to trust that her feelings are respected, welcomed, and loved at Guiding Light Montessori. The education and daily experiences at Guiding Light are beyond measure. I do have to circle back to the tender care the children receive daily. Because of that, the children are open to receiving the teachings. My granddaughter comes home singing and sharing; she wants to do everything all by herself--a true reflection of a Montessori student. I am beyond grateful and feel completely blessed. Thank you, Justine, and every wonderful teacher who helps guide these little people. Your work is truly appreciated! With Sincere Gratatude, Jim and Michelle Service

We spent three wonderful years at Guiding Light, enrolling my son starting at age 3, and it shaped…read morehis early childhood in the best possible way. The teachers are warm, attentive, and truly invested in each child as an individual, and the Montessori approach is carried out thoughtfully in a way that makes kids feel safe and excited to learn. We appreciated how present and communicative the staff were, with regular parent-teacher conferences that made us feel genuinely involved in his growth every step of the way. Our son adored his time there and his confidence blossomed in ways we are still grateful for. Any family looking for a nurturing, quality early education program in the area would be lucky to find Guiding Light.

This is a message of immense gratitude to Ms Teresa, Ms Kecia, Ms Michelle, Mr Allan, Ms Devie, Ms…read moreSara, Ms Sabrina, Ms Sam, and Ms Alice. My son is now six, and I'm a bit heartbroken that it's now time for him to move on to first grade. Yes, he did attend morning Zoom school for kindergarten at one of the public schools--and yes, Alice's did have compassion for the families by offering a special kindergarten afternoon daycare to help support during the pandemic. This was such a priceless gift to the families. My son has attended Alice's since he was two years old and in diapers. As a parent, I likely had all of the same interests and concerns as you currently have when looking for a preschool...and then some. I'm cautious and well-researched. Thanks to the glowing reviews for all three of the locations, I'm grateful to have found Alice's. All of the positive reviews are true. During non-pandemic operation, the school brings in guests like firemen and nurses, children learn tremendous social skills to take care of others and their environment, and the Montessori-style of teaching allows children to thrive. Thanks to their focus on phonics, my son is currently reading beyond first grade level. The teachers are natural educators and caretakers. To be honest, I would trust them to take care of my son over most of my family. Haha. I guess another way to put it is that they feel like the best of our chosen family. There were definitely tears from me, my husband, and the little guy at the thought of not seeing Alice's teachers on a daily basis. We hope to stay in touch with them for some time.

Love love love this school. Our son continues to amaze us with what he's learning. Not only in the…read moreeducational sense but also in his social skills, manners and independence. The Montessori theory is great and Alice's is a clear step above the rest

Springfield Montessori is, hands down, the best option for children ages 2-5. From the moment you…read morewalk in, you feel the warm, loving, and nurturing environment that the school has cultivated. Each classroom is a well prepared environment. The educators are experienced and genuinely dedicated, guiding and leading not just in the classroom, but in every interaction throughout the day. What sets Springfield apart is that they don't take a one-size-fits-all approach -- it's one size fits MOST, meeting children where they are and helping them grow at their own pace. The administration team is outstanding and truly hands-on, involved in day-to-day operations and knowing each child by name. That level of personal attention is hard to find. With over 35 years of experience as a private Montessori preschool, Springfield has a track record that speaks for itself. I can't wait for my grandchildren to attend and have this same incredible academic experience as I've seen, firsthand, with so many children who have come through the doors. Highly recommend to any family looking for the best start for their little ones.

I really wanted to love this preschool, but unfortunately our experience with the admissions…read moreprocess was so poorly handled that I would not feel comfortable enrolling my child here. It started before we even toured. I spent some time trying to get in touch with someone and received no response. I was ultimately only able to connect with the school after a coworker, whose child currently attends, reached out on my behalf. Once we finally had a tour scheduled, the school canceled on us the day of the tour and rescheduled us for the following week -- despite the fact that we had taken time off work specifically to attend. When we finally toured, we actually liked the school and were excited enough that we planned to enroll our child. We discussed the schedule we needed and understood that the 7am-6pm option was available. We told the staff that we would immediately pay the deposit. She was fine with us leaving to go home to get our check and coming right back. We live 5 minutes down the road. We left to go home and get our check and returned immediately afterward to secure his spot. In that very short window, we were suddenly told the 7am-6pm schedule was full and that they could only hold 9am-3pm. If we needed care outside of those hours, we were told it would be an additional $30 per hour. I understand that preschool spots are limited and availability can change. What I cannot understand is how a family can be sitting in the school discussing enrollment and availability, leave specifically to retrieve payment, and return shortly afterward to find that the schedule they had just discussed is no longer available -- without any communication or acknowledgment of the "confusion". The entire experience left me with serious concerns about the admissions process and the emphasis on additional fees. When you're choosing a place to care for your young child, communication, transparency and trust matter enormously. If communication is this difficult and inconsistent before your child even starts, it is hard to feel confident about what communication will look like once your child is actually in their care. Afterward, I went back and read through Yelp reviews and was surprised to see other parents describing similar frustrations with the admissions process, including concerns about communication, transparency and cost. Obviously I can only speak to my own experience, but reading those accounts after what happened to us reinforced the concerns I already had. I understand the school has recently had a change in admissions leadership, so perhaps some of this is related to that transition. Regardless, families are making significant financial commitments and, more importantly, trusting a school with their children. They deserve clear information, empathy and consistent communication throughout that process. We genuinely wanted this school to work for our family. Instead, after time of unanswered outreach, a tour canceled the day of after we had taken off work, and then having the schedule we were prepared to pay for become unavailable in the short time it took us to retrieve our check, we walked away feeling that we could no longer trust the admissions process enough to enroll our son.

First and foremost -- we love FMS so much we will keep coming back even after our kids have…read moregraduated! Our experience: Our son (Lake, Year 2): Truly loves school. Ms. Ifra, Ms. Fere, and Ms. Boey are so doting and have created such a sense of love the second you walk into the classroom. Our son misses the teachers after missing days for holidays, vacation or sickness, and constantly asks to make art or cookies for them to show his love! Spanish immersion: He just started with Ms. Gigi, Ms. Rosa, and Ms. Jungwen and is thriving. So for example -- within two weeks he could count to 10 in Spanish and is beaming every pickup telling us what he learned. Science with Ms. Amy: A total highlight. If we pick up early his first reaction is "aw I was just starting X." Our daughter (4 years at FMS, now in 1st grade): So well prepared because of Ms. Sarah, Ms. Destinee, Ms. Rosa, Ms. Gigi, and Ms. Isabel. Result: She reads books, writes sentences with little to no spelling errors, and is extremely helpful to her teacher + listens so well. The community: We still visit our old classrooms because we miss everyone. Ms. Connie, Ms. Sinaye, Ms. Annabel, and Ms. Juweda are all so kind and always welcome us with open arms. In summary: warm teachers, strong academics, and a community that feels like family.

Very pleased with the director and the staff at the school. Everyone makes our family feel welcomed…read morewith open arms. Appreciate all of extra activities that FMS provides like science activities and presentations with the one and only Ms.Amy. Many thanks to all the hard working teachers and administrators who make this school run.

Thank you Empire for taking care of my little one! Shoutout to Ms. Lin, Ms. Rosalie, and Ms. Seema…read more Teachers here are kind and vigilant, facilities are clean, and there is a good mix of playing and learning in the curriculum. My child has grown to be independent, eager to learn, and considerate of others. By the end of our stay at Empire, he was well prepared for school. If my testament isn't enough, here is a message from his kindergarten teacher after the first week of school: "[Child's name] has been doing great in class the last three days- outstanding behavior on the carpet (listening, engaged, respectful), doing great work independently, and being kind to others. Keep it up!"

This message is you Sharon the owner. I've reached out to you several times to find a resolution…read moreover our daughter's situation regarding Ms. Julie whom no longer is with you. She was fired! Not for just our experience but for several other families with children with IEP and special needs. Now I don't know how the school treats students currently with specific needs, but I do know that me being public about our situation opened the doors of many families to come forward with their negative experience. I went as far the legal route and you and your team didn't even acknowledge the letter received that was required to be signed via delivery. Your generic message to everyone's negative review goes so far and shows sooooooo clearly of whom you are as an individual and what you care about regarding the appearance of your school. I haven't dropped my anger with what our daughter went through and hearing what other families endured makes me so upset. I'm a huge IEP advocate and what that specific teacher did and how the school treated the situation was completely unprofessional and heartless.

Our daughter attended stepping stones from ages 2-5 and loved every minute of it! Each of their…read moreclassrooms is well thought out with age appropriate toys, multiple activities throughout the day, peaceful naps and loving teachers. We received support for lots of milestones including potty training, peer interaction and engagement, fine motor skills. Their T-K program also laid a strong foundation for letter, number, shape and color recognition through activities that felt like play, cute songs and arts and crafts. We could not be happier that we chose the Stepping Stones family.

If you are looking for a daycare or PreK class, look no further. My son is in his final months of…read morePreK before embarking to Kindergarten in the Fall. He has loved his time at Stepping Stones since he was 2 years old. He has made great friends, learned so much & has a blast. All the teachers are amazing and so helpful. Ms. Francie and Ms. Lydia have been wonderful and are great communicators with updates and reminders. I also have a now 1st grader who attended for 2 years, and she loves picking up her little brother so she can go hug all the teachers & see what crafts are set up in the classrooms. PreK has special visits with the Carlton Senior Living next door, which my daughter loved participating in. The visits have continued with my sons class this year. We have never regretted our choice in sending our kids to Stepping Stones.

My family and I LOVE Center of Gravity!!! It was a wonderful time of learning and growth for my…read moreson, as parents, and as a community. The teachers are so supportive and nurturing teaching the kids life long skills and beliefs in unique, innovative, and fun ways that have stayed put throughout the years. So much of who my kid is now is shaped by his early experiences with the COG teachers and staff (& families) and those abilities and skills are still very much a part of who he is! His commitment to caring for others, not because he should, but because that's his civic duty. His awareness for justice and injustice are due to the child-appropriate conversations that take place in class and followed up at home (with tons of resources from the school.) His ability to communicate, create, design, be an empath etc. are all things he learned at COG. We picked COG because of its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and its STEAM-focused and child-centered instruction. We stayed for it amazing community of parents and teachers. COG isn't like everywhere else, and its not for everyone. Families who choose COG and stay at COG are intentional about a space that matches their own beliefs and values. Ask about how they approach holidays, birthdays, current events, etc - it's truly unlike most places, and if it resonates with how you value those things, then COG is a place to consider. I feel like we've met lifelong friends because of the shared belief systems and values, which is an added benefit to being a COG alum. Do yourself a favor and attend a tour when researching preschools, and you will immediately "feel" the difference. Look at the walls and see the uniqueness of the activities, projects, and themes selected by the students through meticulous planning and coordination . Listen (truly) to what's being said by the kids as they engage with one another and in community. Spend a moment and put yourself in the mindset of a kid experiencing choice, exploration, and curiosity in TRUE fashion. Ask about the "dailies" which are an epic insight into what your kid does all day, similar to a "Day in the Life of a kid."

Both of our kids have gone through Center of Gravity, and we couldn't be happier with the…read moreexperience. From the very beginning, we felt totally at home. The teachers are warm, caring, and incredibly thoughtful. They truly know and value each child. The school is mission-driven in everything they do. Our kids came home every day excited to share what they were learning and doing, and as parents we receive a daily slide-deck of photos and notes on what the kids did that day. It's quite impressive! We've also really appreciated the parent education support, especially around the Kindergarten transition. It helped us feel informed and supported during a big change. Communication is another big strength. The monthly emails are clear and detailed, with updates on classroom activities, school-wide events, and helpful resources. Extras like art, music, Spanish, Capoeira, and nutritious meals (included) make the experience feel well-rounded and intentional. Center of Gravity is more than a preschool. It's a caring, connected community that has given our kids a wonderful start. We're so grateful to be part of it!

Our son is now 3 and a student in ASW's pilot preschool program, and we just couldn't be happier…read morewith the management and staff at this school The class sizes are intimate, and the teachers truly love on our babies. As for the education -- our son is learning more at age three than I did in pre-K. The school excels at keeping parents informed through social media and other communication channels, responding promptly to inquiries, and accommodating the diverse needs of both parents and students. They also go out of their way to make both parents and little ones feel special.

Our son started at Small World at just five months old, and was there until his second birthday (we…read morewould have kept him there longer, as they offer childcare up to age 5, but ultimately it made logistical sense to move him to a daycare closer to our home). During our son's time at Small World, we found the staff - led by Haseena - to be warm, welcoming, kind and very accommodating. We needed part-time care and Haseena made that happen for us. All of the caretakers he had throughout his time there were loving and so sweet with him, and I always felt like he was in excellent hands. Leaving your little baby anywhere is difficult - but at Small World we always knew he'd be very well cared for. I absolutely recommend them for infant and toddler care, and beyond!

Our daughter attended here for a year and a half, starting on the baby side and graduating to the…read moretoddler school. We are so grateful to Miss Marzi and her staff for their amazing care of our little girl. We watched her blossom and learn so much. We highly recommend them.

I recommend this school because I saw how hard the teachers were working to help children i worked…read morethere for 9 months if I ever have a child, I want Ms.Tamiko to be his/her teacher, i want my child learn kindness from Ms.Zhaleh, Ms.Mahsa,Ms.Nikita, Ms.Rachel. Also the owners are really helpful and respectful they actually like a family.