As a person who has attended many pools and gyms oh daily basis, I have something to compare to. As…read moreit relates to the indoor pool, I cannot say it is big but I'd say it is big enough for the amounts of people I see most of the time I come there; they have kickboards and other "floaties" which is always a good thing to have; however lifeguards do their job poorly (I'm a lifeguard myself) - they spend lots of time on their phone, talk to each other while on tower, do not even try to prevent kids from hurting themselves and never ever ever have I seen them cleaning the pool. They do it in the outdoor pool during summer though and they actually watch their water during summer, don't know why they cannot do it in the indoor pool too. So yeah, when I say ind pool is dirty - I really mean it. It feels even dirtier because of its size. Swallowing hair is a routine you get used to. The gym is solid good. Again for the amount of people who come there most of the time it's big enough. Rarely I didn't have access to any kind of equipment and it is usually barbells of some sort. Staff in the gym does their work - they clean the gym every day (you always can find equipment you are looking for), communicate well with people and just generally being helpful. Also equipment is being kept in good conditions and if something breaks it's being fixed or replaced pretty quickly. Another question I have is separate locker rooms (family and adult). While I understand the pool and gym separation I cannot understand why adult locker rooms cannot be used by people over 18 but under 21. They specifically say that spa, wet and dry sauna are NOT for anyone under 21. This is very surprising since I've been to lots of big places where they take things seriously and still, the strictest policy I've met about sauna and spas so far was an over 16 restriction. I personally think that at least anyone over 18 should be allowed to use wet saunas. You can serve in the military but can't use a spa blah blah blah you get what I mean.

The attitude by the administration at the Bender JCC is that what members think and complaints they…read moremay have are unimportant. They don't want to be bothered hearing from members, especially not their complaints. The CEO, Josh Bender, terminated the membership of many members who had the nerve to complain about the same problem more than twice though it had not been addressed. The Chairman of the JCC Board of Directors, Naom Fischman, is no better than the JCC CEO. He doesn't want to hear from members either. Unlike most organizations, although one can find out who the members of the JCC Board they provide no contact information. Clearly, they do not want to be contacted. No decent Board of Directors is like that.

While sitting at my desk, stressed about a work assignment, I looked out my window and saw my…read moredaughter happily prancing around our cherry blossom tree--full of light and carefree. At that moment, I realized I wanted to keep that spark in her as long as possible. So when it came time to choose a kindergarten, I knew I wanted more than our local neighborhood school and standardized testing. Enter Green Acres School, a hidden gem that focuses on outdoor play and creative learning - a school that would build a solid foundation for these early years. The atmosphere at Green Acres is warm and supportive from the moment the kids hop out of the car at drop-off. The staff respectfully engages with the children, giving them a voice to grow into independent thinkers who advocate for themselves. When the school recognized that my daughter was excelling academically, they adapted to her needs while keeping learning fun and engaging (and have done so with my son, too). She's eager to go to school every day and, to her father's and my irritation, even cried during a Disney World vacation because she missed it! That love for school isn't typical, and I attribute it to the outstanding teachers at Green Acres. I also want to highlight the fantastic work of the new head of the school. Under her leadership, the school is making great strides while staying true to its values. The balance between strong academics and a low-stress environment is something our family deeply appreciates--it's a place where kids are challenged without feeling overwhelmed. Overall, I couldn't be happier with our experience at Green Acres. If you want a place where your child isn't just fine but is great, Green Acres is the one.

Our child went to Green Acres for a few years, and we would never recommend Green Acres. We found…read moreit to be too small, with limited academic and extracurricular opportunities. Teachers, staff, and administrators at Green Acres did not seem organized and lacked the social-emotional skills and training to support students of varying academic, social and emotional abilities. They were quick to blame individual kids for systemic issues at the school. Classroom management was poor, and outside time for middle school kids is not monitored as it should be, both of which leads to highly unproductive behavior among the students. For parents interested in Green Acres, you should ask many questions about classroom management and overall supervision. In addition, we highly suggest you ask about the school's financial standing (income statements and other financial information) and how the school plans to address the loss of income from lost rent related to the Diener School move. Finally, we suggest that interested parents talk with doctors or others who know a lot of school aged kids. The problems at Green Acres are well-known in these circles. There are many great public and private schools in Montgomery County, and we highly suggest that you look elsewhere. We did, and we are thrilled with our child's new school.

Geneva day school is an expensive glorified daycare. My child is okay. But, I wanted to post this…read morereview to alert other parents because most have no clue what is going on in the school. I was impressed by the brochure and website. But, when I asked my child if you did this...or did you do that?....based on the brochure. Answer was no, no...nothing, none of those! So, they are very good at marketing with fancy flyers and brochures but sadly nothing is going on. If your child is underdeveloped....can i assure you it is likely due to this school. We had made this mistake before when we thought oh...we are paying solid $$$, so probably kid will have solid fun and development. We paid solid $$$, but we got just minimum daycare from Geneva. We have seen some really good programs....so we have very good perspective on when schools are just for minting money and when school really put 100% or 200% effort to help with child development. Cmon guys....it is not hard. At least, do what you say in your brochure. How hard is it to give some bubbles, playdoh, slime or bug catching kit to kids? They cost pennies. If you will just leave the kids in the playground for free play all day....that does not help with their development. My child just reported me that some kids were CRYING ALL DAY!!!! Seriously? Where is the money going?

How my heart sings when I think of Geneva Day School! The warmest, most kind, caring, and…read moreconscientious environment for little scholars to learn and grow. . . Am proud to have family as "graduates" of both the preschool and extracurricular activities. Am thrilled to have visited on many occasions, most especially for family events. I love the emphasis on Art, Mindfulness, Environmental Education, and Physical Education. Such traditional, pre-academic training (known to us as the "Geneva Method") is shaped by passionate professionals who love what they do and, yes, love the children. . . I am especially touched by the beautiful curation of Monarch Butterfly gardens; this Maryland Green School campus promotes environmentalism and invites exploration at every turn. . . I cannot recommend more highly this hidden gem of Potomac. Much gratitude for all you do!

My husband and I toured Whole Kids Academy when I was 4 months pregnant with our first child. Upon…read moreentering the facility, I immediately knew I wanted our son to attend! The Environment: Every staff member from the front desk, teachers, and administration was so welcoming! As a result, our oldest child attended Whole Kids Academy from Infancy through Pre-K. Additionally, our youngest attended from infancy through Early Preschool. Both of my boys have always felt loved and adored! It seemed that every teacher knew our kids' names, even if my husband and I didn't know them. Any time occasional concerns arose, the administration handled them promptly! Every staff member is eager to support, listen, learn, and educate! The Curriculum: Wow! From the infant room to Pre-k, WKA truly fosters an environment where children develop a love for learning!! I have pictures of my 3-month-old painting with corn during Autumn, exploring textures by painting on bubble wrap, enjoying music class, engaging in circle time, and learning about the outdoor environment through daily walks...and that was just the beginning! Recent Pre-K lessons included meteorology, biographies, and space, just to name a few! Each day, the lesson plan is intentionally crafted to develop each learning domain! Both of my boys are such curious learners, and people are genuinely impressed by their knowledge base. Our oldest just started kindergarten, and he's extremely ahead in all subjects. We absolutely love WKA and were sad to leave due to a cross-country move. If you're looking for a nurturing environment for your kids to fall in love with learning, WKA is the place!

My son's been going to WKA since he was 6months old, he's almost three years old now…read more We had to use the infants and toddlers program to help our son learn to speak. He's advancing now. WKA is a Spanish immersion program, our son only speaks in English from what we've learned to teach him. My son has also had several accidents at this school and when I've reached out to the administration for future preventative measures, they simply do not respond. I would not recommend anyone trust this school with their children

We have had a wonderful experience with the JCCGW. Great community! We love our teachers and have…read morebeen very happy. Moved to the area last year and so glad we found the JCC.

We have had nothing but the BEST experience with Sugar Plums…read more ALL of the staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcome, greeting you and your child by name with warmth and enthusiasm at each drop off and pick up, and engaging in meaningful and genuine conversation which shows that they truly care about the children they care for. They use an app to communicate with you throughout the day, and post adorable pictures and videos along with updates on your child's eating, toileting, and naps on there too. Our infant son has grown so much in his time at Sugar Plums. Each day he participates in gross/fine motor activities, outdoor time/walks, crafts, sensory activities, music, storytime, and more! I would highly recommend this center and am so thankful for the teachers and the positive experience they've contributed to.

Sugar plums is such a wonderful daycare, both the facilities and teachers are great! I really…read moreappreciate the app they use to provide pictures and real time updates on naps, meals, and diaper changes. My son's teacher Sophie is so loving, I know he is in excellent hands when he's there. They also do really fun activities with the kids, like gym and music classes, and lots of art projects. The owner Deborah and director Tricia are always very responsive and accommodating. I can't recommend them enough!

Glenbrook is a wonderful place for children to grow, play, and learn. (Disclosure: I am a board…read moremember.) One of our kids has just finished, and we have no concerns about his Kindergarten readiness. The 2nd child loved his first year and is looking forward to the next two. We've met many wonderful children and their families and gained a lot of good friendships. We are a play-based preschool. We are also a coop, which means that we rely heavily on parents to volunteer in the classroom and participate in the operation of the school. So it's not ideal for parents who have very heavy schedules. But if you like to be around children and watch what happens, you will absolutely love being here.

Glenbrook is an amazing preschool and community. My children grew and matured with the support of…read morethe wonderful teaching staff and I made lifelong friends.

Great school, caring teachers, and quality activities. Our son is starting his 2nd year and we have…read moreseen great changes in him. He knows his letters and numbers and is socializing great with kids his age. We plan on sending our daughter next year. What my wife and I really love about the school is the teachers, who genuinely care for the kids. We also like the other children and parents. It's a great and positive environment.

New Day Preschool is a small school but it has fantastic teachers! A big concern I had after…read moremoving here from Chicago was how competitive it is to be in the Wootton high school district. But the Pre-K teacher has not only made school fun, but really prepared my son for kindergarten. The 2 year old and 3 year old teachers are so patient and caring! They have curbside drop off and pick up, it's SO convenient not having to take my baby out of the car twice a day especially when it's cold outside! They have Chapel with the Pastor twice a month, where they learn Bible stories, sing worship songs, and donate money to buy mosquito nets for children in Africa. The tuition is really reasonable compared to many other preschools in this area. I'm excited to send all of my kids here!

This place was perfect and I mean perfect before the new director arrived in 2018. I would've given…read moreit 5.5 stars back then. As of 2020, I found the director rude and wondered why she's even working in this industry. Many good teachers that we grew to love, quit soon after she was hired and a couple of them told us why. Her new hires (teachers/contractors) in my opinion weren't as high quality as the others and we saw/experienced too many incidents that we could not tolerate for our children. We demand respect and a caring and safe environment for our children. It felt like the regional head did the bare minimum for us. I wish people working in this industry had a better moral compass.

Outstanding daycare center. My daughter has been at this center since it opened in 2015, and was…read moreat their previous location since she was 4 months old. They moved from Fishers Lane into a newly renovated building on Twinbrook in the summer of 2015. The center is beautiful with an art area and an indoor "movement matters" zone, and a natural outdoor play area with a mud kitchen for unstructured play for the older kids. The center provides care from 3 months until they are ready to go off to kindergarten. It is NAEYC certified, and provides lots of enrichment for the kids. It sometimes makes me sad that my daughter spends more time with her teachers than with me (at least, more hours awake) but they fill her day with so many activities that I don't think I would be able to manage at home. Great, responsive, caring staff in a bright, clean, and safe environment. We get pictures every day of what she was doing. I believe this is one of the best daycare centers in the area.

I have been a Teacher in childcare since 2016. I was in the business world for many years, but…read morefound that my heart directed me back to being with children. A brief essay by the State of Maryland gave me the opportunity to reflect back on why I chose to teach. In the simplest of terms, it makes my heart come alive. It fills me with joy each day I spend with the families the teachers, the staff and children here. I wanted to write this review to focus on how incredible the teachers are that work at this particular location. It is a team effort and they are all quite exceptional! New teachers have arrived since my hire date. They arrived with enthusiasm to share there compassion with these children. Eager to continue their education and learn. They joined a group of intermediate and veteran teachers that raise the bar high when it comes to the quality of care each child and their families receive. Due to the Covid 19 and the unexpected, yet necessary protocols put in place, it has not stopped this center or the wonderful teachers that have returned to do what they love! The administrative staff and teachers truly believe in the quality of care. The safety of everyone in this time is a top priority! Trust, quality, and care are what you will get here.

From the owner: The Sharon L. Hostler Child Development Center serves as a home away from home for many of our…read moreloyal UVA families. Our center consists of ten classrooms, each with a set of creative, supportive teachers that promise to nurture children's growth from Infancy to Pre-K. Our classrooms are known for their unique environments, their developmentally appropriate weekly lessons, & the health & safety practices implemented daily. Each of our educators recognize the importance of the early years & promise to provide your family the continuity of care you deserve. Our team at Sharon L. Hostler is also known for building strong parent partnerships-- we can't wait to build one with you. We look forward to meeting your family.