ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER PRESCHOOL REVIEW!!!! …read more
Where do I even begin?
I want to start with Ms. Juanita. She is one of those educators who you immediately know is doing what she was meant to do. She is incredibly passionate about STEM, education, and learning, but more than that, she is passionate about creating experiences for children that they simply cannot get anywhere else. She goes above and beyond every single day, and you can feel how much she truly cares about the children and their experience at school.
I was incredibly lucky to have my oldest son accepted into the Orlando Science Center Preschool when some of our school friends decided to leave our previous preschool for what they felt was a better program. We had heard so much about the Science Center Preschool and knew what an incredible opportunity it would be if we could get a spot.
And I am SO grateful we got that spot.
My oldest son, who is now 7, truly developed his personality at this school. He wore dinosaur shirts constantly, brought his favorite animal figurines for show & tell every week, and fell completely in love with science, space, engineering, nature, and everything around him. But what I loved most was that the school gave him the freedom and confidence to just be himself.
The preschool also taught him something I value tremendously: respect. They celebrated different cultures, values, backgrounds, and perspectives and taught children to appreciate what makes each person unique. That kind of foundation is priceless.
My son is now enrolled in one of the top ranked charter schools in the state, and while I am incredibly proud of him and happy with his education and grades, I truly credit the Orlando Science Center Preschool with giving him the fundamentals and confidence that helped prepare him for where he is today.
And I have to admit... I miss the dinosaur shirts. I miss the silly Mohawk. But most of all, I miss those daily updates with pictures and videos showing us exactly what our child was experiencing, learning, discovering, and enjoying throughout the day.
Fast forward a few years, and I am reminded of all of those things again because my baby, now 3, is officially a Science Center Preschool student.
There was absolutely no question in my mind that he would attend this school. He was enrolled in the 3 year old program as soon as we had the opportunity. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Before starting at the Science Center, my youngest attended a part time church preschool. I want to be very clear that we loved that school and the people there. They were incredibly loving and sweet and will always hold a special place in our family's heart. But having now experienced both environments, I can already see such a difference in the learning style and opportunities when comparing the two side by side. (Ms. Chau, Ms. Michaela my baby loves you!)
He WANTS to go learn.
For a three year old, I can't think of a better gift than that.
My oldest still remembers all of the things that made the Science Center so special. When I asked him what he thought about his little brother going there, his only wish was that he could still go there himself as a second grader.
And that says everything.
Ms. Juanita somehow always seems to be pulling strings and creating opportunities for our kids, from getting them into special events and theater experiences across the street, opd firetruck surprises, to sending home books, creating incredible show and tell experiences, plays/events for parents and finding ways to make learning exciting and memorable.
I still have books that were given to us during my oldest son's preschool years. I still remember the excitement of his weekly show and tell. I remember the daily photos and videos, the weekly take home agendas with curriculum information, and all of the ways the school kept us connected and involved in our child's learning even when we weren't physically there.
As a parent, that means so much.
You aren't just dropping your child off and hoping they had a good day. You get to SEE it. You get to be part of it. You get to watch them discover something new, make friends, explore, ask questions, and grow.
My oldest had such an incredible experience here that there was never a question about where his little brother would go. And now, only two weeks into this new chapter, I am already seeing that same excitement for learning beginning in him.
I truly cannot give this school enough credit.
Orlando Science Center Preschool is hands down the best preschool in Florida in my eyes. It is so much more than a preschool. It is a place where children are encouraged to be curious, confident, kind, creative, and completely themselves
Thank you, Ms. Juanita, and thank you to the entire Orlando Science Center Preschool team, for giving my boys such an incredible foundation and for making school a place they genuinely love. My baby is already so in love!
