We just celebrated our son's graduation from Hillside after four fantastic years. We entered the…read morehigh school years with trepidation given our son's need for academic support and fears about the bullying and social issues prevalent in public schools in our area. We couldn't have chosen better. Our son enjoyed four years of study, safety and friendship in an environment where the faculty and staff know each student and family and communicate academic and social concerns freely. Our son loved Hillside and never regretted not attending the larger public schools, and certainly never had to deal with violence, drug abuse or bullying of any sort. The years went fast, and we will miss them. Thanks for making us a part of the Hillside family.

Hillside school is a hidden treasure. When it came to teachers & faculty they were the best of the…read morebest! Had a great experience and always recommend the summer programs they offer as well!

To add clarity the events in this review were experienced by EVERYONE in our group for over a year…read more Many of our fellow parents unenrolled as a result of these events. As class parents we heard the concerns of the remaining parents in our class and voiced our collective concerns, only to be met with retribution from the owner. That being said, If you would like your children to go to a facility where the owner is okay with your child sleeping on a carpet that smells like a casino floor this place is for you. I was debating not writing anything but after spending time at other day cares in the area that take cleanliness and consistency seriously I had to share my experience. We spent over a year at this location with our toddler and during the one year there we experienced a HFM out break that impacted the entire class, yes the entire class was out for weeks. When one child would return even with no others present they somehow would contract the virus, we cited cleanliness concerns that were not addressed. We loved our first teacher unforunately she left after two months, from then on our experience with the leads was a merry go round of turn over during the time there. Every day we wouldn't be sure if our lead would be present, on leave or fired. Turnover is a huge issue here. Once, all of the parents spent a half hour at the gate locked out of the school when we were trying to pick up our children at the end of the day. They could not find their spare key so the children were trapped inside. And lastly after our families were all devastated by the fires, this location opened with a ventilation system that had not been professionally cleaned and carpets that smelled like smoke for weeks. They did not take their role in the recovery process seriously. If leadership, consistency, cleanliness and communication are important to you I would say DDP ranks low on the list of options in pasadena. There are better options down the street.

Our son went to discovery days preschool from July of 2021- May of 2025. We had a wonderful…read moreexperience here especially in the TK (sequoia) classroom. There are a lot of great enrichment activities available for a fee (karate, yoga, dance, soccer, theatre to name a few) on campus. They have state of the art facilities and great teacher to student ratios. They also have a woman who comes in periodically to teach social emotional learning classes (SEL) and supports students one on one if needed for an extra fee. We were extremely satisfied with our experience here, the only negative for us in the earlier years was the high teacher turnover- which seems to be a problem in a lot of preschool environments. All in all though, Discovery Days fostered a very welcoming and positive environment. Our son is absolutely ready for kindergarten socially and academically.

Suraiya goes above and beyond to lead the kids towards the aretistic and building skills…read more My daughter did at Imagine the most beautiful art! Suraiya sees the kids already as masterful artists. She creates the environment for them to focus and explore. It's a one of a kind place!

Imagine is a one-of-a-kind preschool! Our daughter has been enrolled for 2 years now, and it has…read moretruly been formative for her. The teacher-student ratio is low, allowing for focused one-on-one attention and for learning to occur at the pace of the child. The yearly curriculum is modeled around on the interests of the kids and is approached through various lenses, allowing for deep exploration and finding connections in the material. What sets Imagine apart is their genuine commitment to fostering independence and critical thinking from such a young age. Rather than just giving answers, Teacher Suraiya and Teacher Diana encourage the children to problem-solve and explore the 'why' behind everything they do. Not only do they facilitate this with academic learning, but with peer-to-peer interactions as well. Their approach to social-emotional learning is thoughtful and inspiring, and we've seen a huge shift in how our daughter identifies her emotions and navigates social interactions with empathy and confidence. Imagine's thoughtful approach to academic and personal development leave me with no doubts that our daughter will be well positioned to transition to school when she's of age. Highly recommend!

I have nothing but incredible things to say about Little Acorns Grow! As a first time mom I toured…read more11 daycares and interviewed 6 nannies in the area and ultimately decided to send my 5 month old to LAG with zero regrets. The teachers in the infant room were some of the most warm, welcoming, and wonderful women I know. I genuinely felt like they loved my daughter and knowing she was in such caring hands every day meant so much to me. When picking a daycare you can go somewhere that is simply just going to keep your child's needs met, or you can go somewhere that your child can actually grow. The latter is LAG. There were specific times for activities, music class, snack time, outside time, etc. Even at a young age I noticed the difference in my daughter after her being at LAG. The facility itself is so well-kept. The classrooms are clean, not overwhelming with too many toys or screens or colors, and they have a beautiful outdoor area as well. We unfortunately had to withdraw our daughter from LAG recently because we are relocating to a new area and trust me when I say it was the hardest and saddest decision to make. LAG is such a special place and we feel so lucky our daughter got to attend here.

When I was searching for a daycare, I visited many, but Little Acorns Grow stood out from the…read moremoment I walked in. At first, I thought the parking lot was plain, but as soon as I stepped inside, it was a whole different world! Definetly worth to visit on a tour. I absolutely loved the play yard. They have two main outdoor areas: one for the little kids and another for the older ones. Plus, they have a garden where they plant vegetables and strawberries, and there's plenty of shade everywhere. It's truly a lovely space. The outdoor play area immediately made me feel happy, and I knew this was the place I wanted my kids to be. My daughter attended from ages 2 to 4, and now my son has started at 2 years old. LAC also has an infant center, which looks wonderful! I seen parents taking off their shoes in the infant center, keeping it extra clean! Last year, they did a bunch of new updates in all classrooms and bathrooms. The classrooms are nice and well-maintained. I especially loved Ms. Priscilla, Ms. Joan, and Mrs. Shannon. And if you need anything, ask for Leilany in the office, she's super nice and always helpful. I highly recommend Little Acorns Grow to any parent looking for a nice, clean, beautiful and outdoorsy daycare!

My son has been attending Kids Klub for about 2.5 years, starting as a toddler, and it has been…read moresuch a wonderful experience for our family. The environment feels genuinely safe and welcoming every single time we walk in -- the ladies at the front desk are always warm and friendly, which makes drop-off so much easier. He's blossomed socially, made great friends, and always comes home excited about the activities and programs they do. I truly feel like he's a step ahead because of his time here. Highly recommend Kids Klub to any parent looking for a nurturing place for their little one!

My daughter has been attending Kids Klub for a year and a half now and we couldn't be happier. Her…read moreteachers are amazing and all staff are friendly, kind, and wonderful with kids. I'm amazed at how many of the office administration and general staff know the names of every child and parent given how many kids are enrolled there. The events they host for holidays are so thoughtful and well planned. Their flexibility of rates with drop off and pick up make it easy for us as we have an atypical day to day schedule. A highlight is the option for nutritious hot food made in-house, which makes life so much easier not having to pack food every day and still knowing your child is eating a variety of healthy foods. The curated activities like Mandarin / Spanish class, regular art time, balance and coordination, kitchen creation, and music are all wonderful. My kid comes home wanting to replicate the parfaits they learned to make and eat, and refers to colors and sings songs in all the different languages. We will be sad to leave at the end of this school year when she transitions to TK.

We learned early on how incredibly important and foundational the learning ages of 2-5 were going…read moreto be for our son's growth. Until the age of two, we were able to nurture his love of creativity through art, get him engaged in reading and music, and keep him active and independent while learning at home, but his social-emotional growth needed a community like Modern Schoolhouse to truly develop. We met another family at his favorite playground that had an AMAZING experience at Modern Schoolhouse and their daughter, who was academically gifted and raised with similar philosophies, was thriving under their care. We enrolled and discovered for ourselves that Modern Schoolhouse was indeed an absolute gem for child development. Our son entered after turning two, and he was very shy/reserved at the time. The talking, dancing, singing, bilingual artist that blew us away with his funny ideas and love of learning at home, needed help expressing himself in the larger group. Over the next several years, Leonardo was able to grow and thrive his ability to emotionally self-regulate, from having a 'safe space' at home to being able to identify what he was feeling and how to 'calm his body,' to listening to others and respecting common space. What we didn't anticipate was not just the top quality of the school, the clean aesthetic spaces, and the exceptional teachers (Teacher Alicia from class 3 was truly amazing!!), but also the like minded and kind community that became a key part of our son's social life. During our son's first years at home, we studied Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia- instituting some principles of each in our approach at home. It wasn't until we met Sue and her philosophies at Modern Schoolhouse did we see some of these same philosophies embodied in an American child care setting; and we must have interviewed or toured at 5 or more local schools before finding Modern Schoolhouse. The core beliefs consist of the idea that children are competent, capable, curious individuals with hundreds of ways of self expression. The role of the school and family should be creating a structured, clean, and aesthetic environment that is conducive stimulating exploration and discovery. Teachers in this sense guide and foster collaboration rather than just 'delivering information.' Giving our son a new challenge was hard at first, but Sue and her staff were quick to offer suggestions and outside resources so we could reinforce some lessons at home, especially around his development of social/emotional skills like managing anger, dealing with disappointment, and learning to communicate when he needed space. He also was given the chance to learn how to build relationships and have positive interactions with new friends. Each 'season' and month had different themes that would be clearly delivered in monthly/quarterly emails along with chances to meet with teachers on child progress in key development areas of language, tracing, use of scissors, how to put on shoes/jackets, counting, class participation/listening, and emotional self expression. By class 3 (3 years old and above), our son was giving 'show and tell' presentations, using the 'sharing bee' to discuss their weekend, and playing inventive games to stimulate imagination and curiosity. Through the use of brightwheel, we were always shown photos and videos of our son having fun with friends and doing some fun activity. The school also offered many events at the school such as the "annual art show," "parent and me" day, and music sessions from Teacher Gaia culminating in a student led music performance (the cutest!). This year all the 4 classes made their own animal costumes and acted out various Disney themes. It was extraordinary to see him flourish and thrive under Teacher Alicia in class 3, who is truly remarkable for her ability to connect to kids and meet them where they are on the journey. By the end he was more confident in his presentations and even singing his favorite Disney songs Karaoke style to the class! Everything ended on a wonderful note with his graduation and small speech to parents and the graduating class. We were given an opportunity for a graduation photoshoot and his 'family book' with messages from all of the teachers as a keepsake that he created during his time there. As he graduated before many of the others in class 3, everyone created a special hand painted art for him with with the handprints of all his friends. It is bittersweet to go onto the next chapter, but he graduated school scoring high in every single metric of development, and he easily was interviewed and accepted into an international private school. Thanks you for being such a key part of his childhood journey and we hope to stay in touch with Leonardo and our growing family!

Our son began attending TMS at 18 months old, and it was his very first daycare experience. We…read morecouldn't be happier with our decision. Initially, we had some concerns about starting him so young, but it quickly became clear that enrolling him early was the right choice. He is truly thriving--emotionally, mentally, and intellectually. The curriculum at TMS is incredibly well thought out. Each activity clearly connects to the weekly or daily theme, and we've seen real growth in our son's development. He's starting to learn the alphabet and has become much more verbal since he began. What stands out even more is how happy our child is at TMS. Every photo we receive through the app shows him smiling, and we always feel confident dropping him off, knowing he's in caring and capable hands. The teachers, staff, and owner (Sue) are exceptional. Our son absolutely adores his teachers and lights up when we mention their names in the morning. Even though he's usually very attached to us, he was so excited to see his teacher at the Annual Art Show that he practically leaped from my arms to greet her. That kind of connection is exactly what every parent hopes for in a school: a place where your child feels loved and supported. On top of all this, the school is extremely clean. Our son has hardly been sick, and we've noticed how attentive the staff is to hygiene--little ones always have their noses wiped, diapers changed very frequently and the environment is clearly well-maintained. TMS is far beyond a typical daycare--it's a place where our child is growing, learning, and genuinely happy.

Great experience. Booking was easy and flexible. Price was good. Instruction was fun and…read moremotivating. I'll be doing it again.

Had an amazing private lesson, where I learned how to position myself on the board properly and…read morethen I was finally able to stand up and ride the wave. I'm a surfer now :) Highly recommend this place! Mel

Dear Committee Members and Treasurer,…read more I hope this message reaches the owner of the school as well, as it addresses an important concern regarding the treatment of community vendors by representatives of the committee, Ani and Angie. In March, I was approached by Ani about providing floral arrangements for a Mother's Day lunch at Castaways. After a consultation to discuss details and budget, I provided a proposal, including a sample centerpiece, which the committee and parents enjoyed. We were thrilled to be selected for the event on May 3 and accepted a $1,000 deposit, as outlined in our invoice. Our proposal clearly states that deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable, with the remaining balance due 15 days before the event. However, as the date approached, my assistant and I made several attempts to finalize details and settle the remaining balance. Ani informed us that we would need to coordinate payment through Angie. Unfortunately, our attempts to communicate with Angie were met with resistance. She questioned our request for payment ahead of the event, despite our clear policy requiring full payment prior to ordering flowers. After negotiations, Angie decided to reduce the order value from $3,800 to $2,700, leaving a balance of $1,700. We continued to reach out for the final payment, but communication was inconsistent and often unproductive. On April 17, I informed Angie that without payment, we could not proceed with the floral arrangements. After weeks of silence, I received a last-minute text from her on May 1, confirming the centerpieces, which left me frustrated. I reached out to Ani for clarification, but was met with vague responses, including claims of a check being mailed, which we never received. Ultimately, on the morning of May 2, I was informed that they were canceling their event due to our inability to order flowers--an outcome that was entirely outside our control given the lack of payment and communication from their side. This situation reflects a troubling disregard for the policies that protect our business and the community relationships we strive to maintain. I urge all vendors to be cautious when engaging with this committee. The management of this event has not only wasted our time but has also impacted our business financially. It is disheartening to see representatives of the school behave in this manner, ultimately tarnishing its reputation. I have been in business for 20 years and have worked with numerous schools, but I have never encountered such disrespect and lack of professionalism. I hope this message prompts a reconsideration of how community vendors are treated and the individuals representing the school. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please understand that as much as your concern is to remove our review, my complaint. I will rewrite and repost my review. instead of getting my complaint and feedback deleted your concern should be addressed and apologize for the inconvenience and behavior you have caused toward our company.

It was my daughter's 3rd year coming back for summer and it was my son's first... THEY LOVED IT!…read moreThe teacher's approach is engaging and the kids retain everything they're taught. It is clear that the teachers love what they do and the enthusiasm spreads to the kids. Highly recommend!