We didn't have a very good experience with this school. I did find the lead teacher engaged, worked hard and seem genuinely interested in the children. The other two were clearly there for the wrong reasons because they demonstrated that their interest and care for the children was minimal. ( Perhaps, just for the paycheck.)These two teachers didn't smile & certainly without any true intention. They did what minimal movement they could do while helping children. For the majority of the year, no one said hello to the children when they entered which I always thought odd. It was quite curious, what the teachers wrote on both of my twin's progress reports. In the box that the teacher writes a suggestion about what they could do better was to say "hello" when either twin walked into the room. It happened a couple times, there after and no more. All the kids just kind of filter in as if they were zombies because they were not even addressed in the morning. No smiles.
Although I could continue to go into more detail about other reasons why I have given this school 1 star, I think the horror of my last experience is enough to some-up the entire experience. Any reasonable parent should see that they must think twice about sending their child there.
It was graduation day. The children were all excited. They came out on to the playground. They sat in a long row. Abc's were sung. It was time to call children up one by one to receive their certificates. There were 4-5 ahead of my twins. Then one twin was called. They boys in the class (my twins are girls) started repeating, then began a taunting type tone while trying to be funny and repeated to say her name strangely. They were making fun of her. The two lazy teachers said NOTHING to stop them. The boys were quite loud. The whole audience heard it. This includes my daughter as she had to walk passed them. She put her head down and scooted to get her paper. She timidly took the paper and looked sad. She came back to sit and I could see tears in her eyes. This didn't stop!!!!! The next twin was called and the making fun of her, got even worse! There were more boys continuing with the name calling ( since they twins have the same last name). They were talking over other kids to get the attention of other boys! Again, the teachers did NOTHING to stop this. The name calling got meaner. My poor child also had to walk past these loud kids who she clearly could hear, like the entire audience could. When she turned and took her little diploma she has a very sad face with a frown. I looked at one of the lazy teachers at this point. My child was coming back to her spot to sit. The teacher must have seen the expression of someone in horror ( me) because she kind-of winced in place and walked over to the boys to tell them shhhh....( Of course, addressed nothing about what they were doing. She didn't even give them a "stop saying that", etc.) Due to all the awkwardness, that even the audience felt, the audience didn't really clap for either girl which was also noticed by my twins. Of course, no parent did anything about their taunting child either. ( If my girls were doing that, I'd walk up to them and make them stop! They would apologize to the child and parents, too! )
It all happened pretty fast. In the moment, you would think I would have just jumped up with no one doing anything and yell out do those boys to stop. However, I didn't. I didn't want to escalate the scene and add to my daughter's already negative, embarrassing experience. I was hoping they may not remember this, if I don't point it out. Also, I was stewing in embarrassment for my daughters were so publicly mocked. I felt the awful, terrible feeling of helplessness because I could not fix this for them. It was too late and I had to see it with my own eyes and just sit there.
Needless to say I took my girl's told the lead teacher what happened, and immediately left while everyone else was staying to play and have cookies and cupcakes. ( The ceremony basically ended right after handing out the diplomas.) My twins did notice this and had wanted a cupcake. However, if I didn't leave at that moment I may have lost my temper with these people and really gave it to them. I immediately told my twins we were leaving to go and get slurpees instead, which they were happy about.
I called the director of the facility, left a message and didn't receive a return call. I also wanted someone who may be interested in how their employees handle these situations and was only able to leave a message. I received no return call for her, either. Luckily, it was already a planned last day for the twins or it would have been a last day, regardless. This worries me about how they've/all the children have been treated all along. LDo not put your child to substandard care. I have video to support what happened. It's on You Tube and if you type in KIDANGO DUBLIN, CA you can see what happened. There are 3 very short videos. read more