I've worked here as a sub for a few months and I will say that the teachers Bre hires are caring,…read morekind, respectful and really care for the children. My short time there was good and I felt the team I worked along side with was supportive of each other and the kids. I would send my own kids here if/when I have children

Miss Abby & Miss Akina are the best preschool teachers! The…read morepositive impact they've made on my son and my life is truly a gift. It's a good feeling knowing I can trust my sons whole well-being in their care while I'm at work.

I have a 4 year old who attends this coop and we absolutely love Miss Emma and all the families at…read morethe school. We only volunteer 2 times per month and there are only 4 general parent meetings throughout the school year. My son also loves his friends. It has been a very positive experience for us :)

We are very pleased with Lakeshore Learning Center! From the staff to the curriculum everything is…read moretop notch. Previous to the school opening, our daughter had only been watched by us or a couple of family members. So transitioning to a school or childcare facility was definetly a learning curve. The teachers really spent the extra time with our daughter that was needed to help to help with the transition. Really caring and nurturing to her. I feel that real positive relationships are being formed. Great environment to learn. Clean and bright. Safe and personal. I would highly recommend this facility.

Our first experience with childcare outside of our home was with Lakeshore Learning Center. Our…read moreeldest joined when he was 4 and our youngest, 2.5. We primarily have worked with Ms. Kristina, Ms. Gaby and Ms. Journey. Seeing that this was a new experience for us, there were a lot of reservations I had about this new chapter; as with any parent, I was scared that they would not receive that attention they need, the level of care, etc. The teachers at Lakeshore Learning Center quickly put my anxiety at ease after seeing how they took my children under their wing, looked after and genuinely cared about their growth and wellbeing. Each teacher has a warmth to them which makes it very clear that they are there for your kids as both a teacher and friend. I was/am impressed by their structured daily routine and how they keep the children engaged with art, science, dance, song, sensory, etc. The center itself is clean, well organized and operated with kind people. Also, I cannot say enough about how pre-K at Lakeshore really provides the essential tools for Kindergarten readiness. We are thankful and blessed to be attending Lakeshore Learning Center. Thank you for all the love you have shown our kiddos!

Loved our experience here- you should see google reviews for more current responses from parents…read more Teachers genuinely care for your children Lesson plans are dynamic and introduce even the littlest to early learning, independence and a rhythm of prayer & worship.

Excellent daycare! Both of our kids have gone here. The teachers are so loving and our…read morekindergartener was very prepared for kindergarten. I can't say enough good things about this school! I am so thankful our kids got to go here!

We can't say enough about the quality of care and education that both of our children received at…read moreChildroots. Our oldest started there around age 2.5 and our youngest started at 6 months, so we've had the chance to see all aspects of teaching and care at the SE location. The preschool program is excellent. Along with plenty of free play, indoors and outdoors, Childroots has the kids participate in small workshops (called ateliers) in which they explore various aspects of art, science, math and reading. Having your child come home every day and tell you about the science experiment they did or, at a young age, talk about the chapter books that were being read to them, was wonderful. One great aspect not to be ignored, is food. Kids start eating at a table with utensils and real cups once they can sit up, and then as they approach the 1 year mark, Childroots starts serving family style vegetarian meals. Our kids have always been good eaters, but it doesn't hurt when they're having quinoa, beans, rice, kale, squash, cabbage etc at school. Knowing that they were getting a healthy morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack definitely took a lot of pressure off of meal planning for us. Entrusting others with your children is never an easy process, but the quality and passion of the teachers as well as the training they receive, should give you no pause if you are thinking of sending your kids here.

I am extremely satisfied with Childroots. Everyone is incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and…read morepassionate about caring for children. Their philosophy (the Childroots way) guides everything they do and it's clear that there is a lot of time and attention given to train staff in this philosophy. I have also been very impressed and satisfied with how they have handled the COVID-19 crisis through transparent and thoughtful communication and processes. My child has been attending another Childroots school (Northwest) as the Southeast center closed temporarily and I have been so pleased with how easily my child transitioned into the new setting. I believe it's a testament to their philosophy and staff training which provided a safe and familiar structure for my child during this uncertain time. Overall, I highly recommend Childroots.

Coming from another Montessori elementary school in Vancouver, the Earth School is a breath of…read morefresh air - it is what every Montessori/private school should be! There are 4 Lower El classrooms (1st-3rd), 3 Upper El (4th-6th) with plans for another, and the Middle School (really a Jr. High) with 50+ kids. In making my decision to transition during the school year January 2015, we were allowed a trial day for my boys to take part in the classrooms. My 5th grader stated that he learned more in the one trial day than he did in a week at his other school. My suspicions were confirmed and the decision was made to change schools. (We also tested the Gardner School, which was way too easy). My son was obviously right - his testing went from mediocre on the MSP at the old school to 85% on the Stanford 10, with 5 of the 12 categories at "post-high school level" and 4 at high school level. This in less than 14 months. There was no emphasis on test-taking - the education was simply that much better. His new teacher Gladys Munoz shows an interest and engagement with him that was lacking at least in conferences with his former upper el teacher, and reminiscent of the passion his lower el teacher Tami O'Kinsella had for him. Another difference was the clearly articulated plan with achievable goals that Gladys created for and communicated not just to me but to my son as well. She modeled a belief in his ability to achieve the standards she sets for him. I believe she does this for all of her students. So how do you know if a private school is living up to what is it supposed to be? Without standardized minimum expectations for academics or actually seeing the children interact in different environments to know how they handle bullying and other social problems, how does a parent know? Specifically, how do you know whether a Montessori school is successfully implementing a Montessori curriculum? There is Montessori teacher certification, but you need more than that (yes, there are horrible Montessori-certified teachers out there just like any profession). There is Montessori school certification by AMI and that would be best, but is expensive and limiting to the school and therefore not all Montessori schools apply for it. School management is the key. The Head of School must have the experience, training, and aptitude to manage, delegate, guide, motivate, and correct when necessary. She must have an ability to mentor the teachers, spot problems/weaknesses before they blow up, create a plan for improvement, and then follow that plan. If he/she does not have the training and experience, AND aptitude then she cannot support your teacher. This requires experience and training teaching the higher level classrooms or beyond so she can understand what a properly functioning classroom looks like and what type of support teachers need. If the Head of School does not have those tools, she might still be able to support the staff if she has great management skills - she would need to use outside consultants on a regular basis, but she needs the skills to follow through with the consultant's recommendations. Otherwise, you as the parent are left to rely on luck to get a great teacher. Our prior school did have great teachers, but but my boys drew the dud cards. The Earth School has an experienced Head of School who is accountable to her higher-ups and has decades of school management behind her. She seeks her customers' input. She has great hiring skills and the staff is experienced and top notch. Sister Therese is constantly seeking ways to improve the school and attends parent forums to here concerns and suggestions yet can firmly let you know the current priorities. As my mother said "Franciscan nuns run a tight ship!" She was right and they do it kindly, firmly and with love. So, what should you hear from a prospective teacher? You need to hear her/him discuss how they will be creating a plan for your child and the steps to follow that plan. You need to see that teacher be excited to find out about your child and how they will assess your child. You need to watch that teacher "follow the child', i.e., listen to your child, ask probing questions, patiently await the answer. In the case of my preschooler, the teacher literally followed him, allowing him to go first and point things out and ask questions. Good luck in your quest. The Montessori philosophy is amazing and needed in this world. Our Montessori schools will create the entrepeneurs of tomorrow! http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2011/04/05/the-montessori-mafia/

We have now been at this school for three years and we could not be happier. We left our…read moreneighborhood school mid-year because our son was being bullied and despite numerous conversations with his teacher, the counselor, and the principal little to nothing was done. When I picked our son up from his shadow day at FMES, he said it was the best day of his life. Within a week he was more joyful than he'd ever been at our neighborhood school. Three years later, he has some of the sweetest friends and is the happiest I've ever seen him. This past weekend (end of spring break) he said he was missing school because he is really enjoying math. Our younger son has ADHD and is also thriving. The options and flexibility really work well for him. FMES feels different from the moment you walk through the door. It's a very warm and welcoming community. Having taught special education in public schools for twelves years it was tough for us to make the decision to switch but we could not be happier. The love and care our children receive at FMES protects their innocence and joy, giving them a wonderful childhood.

After dealing with other after-school programs, I didn't realize the quality of this place--how…read morewell they handle children and guide them in the process. They would get five stars if their communication and correspondence were better, so I figured I would update their rating. Hopefully, I can get my son back in there.

Excellent school! My child attended for 4 years and had a wonderful experience. The community is…read morevery inclusive, and the teachers and staff are caring and supportive. We love the Montessori approach and the Spanish program--both have been amazing for our child's development. Highly recommend!

Per the suggestion of a friend, we decided to tour A Peaceful Path Montessori (APPM) when our…read morefirstborn was approaching the age to be eligible to enroll. With very little knowledge about the Montessori method, we took a chance and were fortunate to secure a spot for our little one. We couldn't be more pleased and grateful to have not one, but three children under Ms. Julie and Ms. Liz's care. For the past almost six years as APPM parents, it never ceases to amaze me when I ponder how all three of our very different children have blossomed from their time with Ms. Julie and Ms. Liz. I appreciate that the classroom setup, both inside and outdoors, provides many opportunities for the children to develop independence and confidence. They learn to dress themselves, develop vocabulary, tend to the garden and care for a class pet--just to name some examples. Not only have our children learned so much, but so have we. Ms. Julie and Ms. Liz have been models of compassion and nurturing for us. Their parent education sessions have been so helpful and informative. They have led us in learning about the development of our children and how to feed their need for learning and connection by showing us ways to include our children in daily tasks. There aren't enough positive things we can say about this place! We highly recommend APPM to anyone and everyone!

I highly recommend A Peaceful Path Montessori. Our daughter attended for a year and loved every…read moreminute of it. It is a small school so the students get lots of individualized attention. We really felt they knew our daughter very well. It's a very gentle and enriching environment and is quite remarkable that a room full of toddlers could feel so calm and peaceful. The focus on developing practical life skills through choice fostered a lot of independence in our child. There is a lovely outdoors area for exploring nature and they learned a lot about gardening. Ms. Julie is extremely knowledgeable and communicates well with parents, I learned a lot from her myself. My daughter is aging out otherwise we would be back next year for sure. I can't say enough good things about this school and recommend it to all parents of toddlers.