I can't say enough about this amazing preschool! Somehow we were fortunate enough to find this gem as we researched preschools, and once we toured it we didn't have a second thought. My twins attended Chrysalis for 3 years, including 2 summer sessions. Last year, we moved to Happy Valley and decided to transfer the kids to a nearby preschool, but after a couple of months we decided to transfer back to Chrysalis! The extra 15 minute commute time was more than worth it.
The three teachers at Chrysalis are all incredible. Every single time you walk in the door, you're greeted with a warm smile and sincere interest in every child and parent. Each teacher is skilled and gifted in their own way, and they make a great team. There is so much love that I never felt uneasy or nervous about leaving my little ones in their hands. Colleen is excellent with communicating with parents, keeping us up to date on all the new and exciting things going on at school and how the children are doing. She is always open to talking about concerns, answering parenting questions, recommending books and other resources, etc. She holds regular parent meetings and parent teacher conferences every fall and spring.
The focus at this school is to provide a warm environment for young children in this important developmental stage to thrive. They play outside every single day, either in the back yard (which has an incredible amount of learning opportunities like gardening, playing in mud, exploring, playing with trucks, making artwork, etc), or playing at the park nearby or the park blocks. The kids learn to appreciate our earth and make sustainability a priority. They learn about music, movement, and art. They read all kinds of books, make crafts, build with legos/small blocks/large blocks, do puzzles, play games. They have a "job" assigned each week so they can each have a responsibility to complete a task when it's cleanup time or lunchtime. And maybe most importantly, they learn social skills, empathy, how to problem solve, and the significance of standing up for what is right.
We will miss Chysalis dearly and feel so grateful for our time there. I have no doubt my children are prepared to move on to kindergarten, and I have Colleen, Joan and Lily to thank! read more