I received my 100 Ton Master Mariner license through Maritime Institute in Alameda, Ca and it was…read morean excellent experience. I was able to earn my license in the San Francisco Bay Area. The instructor was knowledgeable and patient and having the class close to home made it affordable. This school is top notch and a highly recommended getting your license here.

We spent quite a bit of time reviewing middle schools and trying to find a good fit for our 6th…read moregrade daughter. After touring a few middle schools including our district school (Wood), other Charters (Academy of Alameda, NEA), and possible inter-district transfer schools (Bay Farm Middle School) we decided ACLC was the best fit because of school size (smaller, staff will know your child), curriculum (good balance of academic focus and college preparation), and a focus on learner participation and self-governance (lots of activities are learner-led and there is a fair amount of "independence" on how to accomplish work). Overall we feel like ACLC has been a great fit after a semester there. - CURRICULUM: The curriculum seems to be well-balanced with a mix of knowledge-based learning (learning math principles and math worksheets) along with more open-ended projects (team-based science fair project which seems largely student-run in groups) - SMALL SIZE: A smaller school has meant knowing most of our daughter's facilitators as well as the principal (aka Lead Facilitator) and other staff - INDEPENDENCE: The school makes it a point to really involve the students in self-governance, leading activities, and learning to manage themselves. For example, we were really impressed that all 6th graders had an overnight camping trip at the beginning of school (Hannah Camp, named after the student who founded the program) which was organized by ACLC high schoolers (with staff supervision) to welcome new 6th graders. Other "Pros": - It sounds like other AUSD middle schools are dealing with some bullying issues. So far (fingers crossed) it seems that ACLC hasn't experienced as much. - There seems to be good accountability from staff to students. Issues seem to be addressed quickly and students seem to be involved in much of the process. - Good communication. There are weekly updates from the principal. There's a portal where we can contact teachers directly and they respond quickly. There's a Slack channel for the PTA and the wider ACLC community. "Cons": - Homework load is light. We came from an elementary school that didn't assign any homework. We expected a little more work than they've received - Campus is pretty small and spare compared to many of the newly renovated middle schools - It seems like mobile phones and other devices are pretty prevalent and distracting... including in classrooms. Facilitators should try to manage this better.

Our daughter started 9th grade, new to ACLC. The school is super small, relaxed, and promotes…read moreindependence. Regular project periods provide freedom to manage her own time. Soon she will take some college classes nearby. Facilitators (ACLC's teachers) are on a first-name basis with learners (ACLC's students). When I signed my kid out early, I stated her first name and the office staff knew exactly who she was. In September, she had a large Scout project to complete. The principal, head facilitator, parents, and learners helped her refurbish the school stage. She even appeared before the school's funding board; it was empowering. Her favorite event to date was a field trip to San Francisco to attend a mock trial by the SF Trial Lawyers Assoc. The class then staged their own trial, using the storyline from John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" The school isn't perfect, but works well for us She is being prepared to go out on her own, in an environment that suits her introverted, artistic self. Plus, the parent community is wonderful!

I attended a beer making class with the Alameda Elks and I had an absolute blast! Hans is a…read moregracious host with a true appreciation for beer and beer making. The snacks and soft pretzels were superb. The garden was stunning and the beer was delicious. I will definitely be back!

Loved the different varieties of pretzels! Also the variety of mustards, chocolate and cheese!…read moreThe beer was delicious! The garden is full and beautiful! Can't wait to go again

Very satisfied with the service and instruction. They have a…read moresystem down and waste no time on getting you on the water. Good instruction when needed and left alone to ride when appropriate. Did the efoil as training for wing-foiling. Good practice. Now time to sail that foil.

First time foil boarder here; had a fantastic time with our instructor Mike Wang! Mike's a great…read moreinstructor who helped my clumsy self get out on the water and learn basic foil board skills all while we were having SO MUCH FUN FLYING ON WATER! We practiced foundational skills in the calm waters, then wandered out into the bay to see a phenomenal view of SF. Mike's up beat attitude was wonderful when I was feeling nervous out on the water. Odds and ends: All of the staff were incredibly friendly The facility had tons of parking Wetsuit provided Covid safe activity and covid precautions are still being taken seriously

Weezie is amazing, and her cooking classes are so much fun. When I "grow up", I hope I have a…read morequarter of the life experiences, joy, knowledge, and energy that she does. Weezie and her wonderful husband, Howard (aka: The Sommelier), have traveled the world, and in the process have gained a massive amount of knowledge about food, cooking techniques, and wine. Classes are done in the kitchen of her home, and she is excellent at walking you through every step. She is always prepared and takes much pride and enthusiasm for what she does. I use tricks that I have picked up from her classes every time I cook. As a side, Weezie was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco Professional Food Society. So, if you don't believe me that she's incredible, believe them! :)

I adore Weezie and her classes...and meet so many interesting 'students'. I have brought friends…read morehere, husband and daughter and they all have enjoyed these experiences. If we all could live life as full as our 94 year old Weezie and with such exuberance! Bon Appetit!

Our Three Years at YYY -- A Full Journey Review…read more This review reflects our complete experience watching our son grow from a shy two-year-old into a confident, bilingual kindergartener, all within the walls of YYY. Choosing the School When we began touring preschools in Alameda, YYY stood out immediately. We loved the structure -- the cleanliness, the balance of learning and play, and the Montessori-based approach. The fact that they conduct live scan background checks on all hires gave us added peace of mind. Our only hesitation was the bilingual curriculum. Neither my husband nor I speak Mandarin -- we're an English-only household -- and at two years old, our son wasn't talking much yet. We worried that introducing a second language might confuse him. Still, something about YYY felt right, and we decided to take the leap. Year One -- Group 1: Finding His Footing When our son started at YYY, he had just turned two. He was still in diapers, not very vocal, and still getting steady on his feet. The first three months were the hardest. Every morning brought tears -- he didn't want to be dropped off, and it was the first time he'd ever been away from home in a care setting. By month three, however, something shifted. The crying stopped, and in its place, we began to see a little boy growing more independent and comfortable each day. The first year, we measured success differently. It wasn't about academics -- it was about care. Were the kids safe? Were they being guided toward potty training? Were they learning to feed themselves, follow simple directions, and transition between routines? On every count, YYY delivered. Our son became especially fond of his teacher, Ms. Emily, and that bond told us everything we needed to know about the warmth in that classroom. Year Two -- Group 2: The Emotional Roller Coaster Around the time our son turned three, Ms. Emily pulled us aside with exciting news: he was ready to be potty-trained. We were thrilled. We reinforced the process at home, and within a short time, he was fully trained. Shortly after, he moved up to Group 2, where Mandarin learning began in earnest with Ms. Du and Ms. Chen. At three-and-a-half, a new challenge emerged. Our son was struggling to manage his emotions -- when he didn't get what he wanted, he had a hard time expressing himself, likely because he was still working on his verbal communication. We found ourselves questioning again: was the bilingual environment too much for him? Were we doing the right thing? But the teachers met him exactly where he was. They worked with him patiently -- teaching him to speak up, take a breath, drink some water, and step away to calm down. We mirrored these strategies at home, and gradually, the tantrums gave way to something better: self-regulation. The turning point came in October. The kids were asked to talk about their Halloween costumes in both Mandarin and English, and when we watched the video of our son confidently describing his costume in both languages, we were genuinely amazed. We checked in with Ms. Du, who reassured us: he understood Mandarin well -- he might not always speak it aloud, but he could follow along and even sing songs. That was enough for us to commit. We stayed, and we're so glad we did. By age four, our son was singing songs in Mandarin, making friends, managing his feelings, and coming home to tell us about his day. Year Three -- Group 3: Exponential Growth The final year at YYY brought it all together. The focus shifted toward English readiness for kindergarten, and the growth we witnessed was nothing short of remarkable. One of our most memorable moments came when the kids performed on stage at a church. Our son -- the same boy who once cried every morning at drop-off -- stood up there without a trace of stage fright, belting out a Mandarin song at the top of his lungs, complete with all the dance moves he'd learned from Ms. Pearlie, Ms. Du, and Ms. Chen. My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief, the proudest we'd ever been. The rest of the year unfolded in the same beautiful way: daily journal writing, reading his first books, learning to count, drawing, coloring, and deepening his bonds with every teacher and assistant in the school. The graduation performance was the crown jewel -- every child had memorized speeches in both English and Mandarin and performed choreographed dances with joy and confidence. Talking with the other parents that day, it was clear we all felt the same thing: these teachers had given our children something extraordinary. Not just academic skills, but a foundation -- emotionally, socially, and linguistically -- that will carry them far. We couldn't be more grateful for everything YYY gave our son, and our family.

Our son has been going to the after school program since TK and he loves the STEAM program (STEM +…read moreART)! He enjoys the van ride from Bay Farm to the big island with the other kids and now that he's in K, he spends about 2-3 hours after school there - playing with new and old friends, learning more coding, math, reading, and science and experimenting with art methods. It definitely fills in the gaps of public school with the stronger focus on academics. We are very happy with his progress. And of course, he loves his STEAM teachers, Ms. Yuan and Ms. Jamila, as well as the coding, art and math teachers (Mr. Francisco, Mr. Patrick, Ms. Emily, etc.). That being said, this school isn't for everyone and parents have to be open to finding the right school for their child (which can change over time). For our family, I appreciate that this school respects the learning environment best for kids who are ready and motivated to learn on their own. This means that the kids are ready to learn and appreciate the lessons prepared (not yelling, standing on tables, napping, or other disruptive behavior), responsible/sensible to sit in a van full of kids and listen to the teacher, get along and be respectful to others, etc. To keep the kids on schedule with the van and different subjects requires tremendous patience, planning and care from the teachers, staff (Mr. Long) and Director Sunny - we appreciate you! If your kids can focus and manage at YY, they can sit through movies, dinners, airplane rides, etc. - self-managed discipline is what I appreciate the most. The staff communicates well in advance and also is very responsive and accommodating (e.g. if I have to pick up early, miss school, have another parent pickup, etc.). They also have parent-teacher conferences twice a year with a newsletter about your child's class with photos. Also, when we first signed up for TK when my child was 4, I was worried about the transportation, but that's one of the best part that our kid looks forward to when he goes to YY with his friends - it's safe and the van is there early for pickups (and the fee is very economical for us working parents!). We also have friends in the Mandarin program whose parents are very impressed with their children's language and writing skills and enjoy their class performances! We also have a friend who moved their child here due to allergies. Our kid also has a mild allergy and Yuying is very good about keeping everyone safe with allergies (making sure there's no nuts in anyone's lunchbox, no sharing, educating kids about allergies and keeping everyone safe, etc.) and also keeping up with the parents for updated EpiPens and meds.

The classes are generally good but the program needs better organization. The website is confusing…read moreand needs design improvements. The office is not easily accessible on the phone. To improve service, it would help if the school were to put itself in the position of its students and then proceed to design better systems, both online and by phone. All information needs to be well-organized and easily understandable.

The yoga class was canceled and it's a HUGE hassle to get my refund…read more I show up for class dressed and with my new yoga mat and it was canceled via a piece of paper on the door. Really?! You have my email and phone number, can you let me know before I go through the hassle of changing and driving there that I shouldn't show up? I email AND call to try and receive a refund to no avail. My phone call with Kristin this morning was something like "Did you pay online?" "Yes" "Oh well we can only give you a cash refund. And we only get cash on certain days so call us in the afternoon and you might be able to come by and get your money." "Well can't you set aside the money for me to come by tomorrow and get it?" "No, call us this afternoon." Blech, would not recommend.