**NO STARS** I am only adding a start to this review because it is the only way that I can't post my experience! My children and I are new to this school but we've been apart of CCSD for about 4 years now and the 3 weeks of school so far have been the worst experience when it comes to dealing with the office staff! The school we came from worked so efficiently that it is literally giving me aneurysm daily to deal with these people! 1. School starts at 8:00 but they CLOSE AND LOCK the gates at 7:58 every morning! Here's why that is an issue. For one the gates only open at 7:40. So if your closing the gates early your giving SEVEN GRADE LEVELS of children and parents about 18 mins to get on campus and to class. AND THERE IS NO GRACE PERIOD! But here's the catch, you can easily sit in the drop of line to drop your kid off for 5-10 mins because the staff "monitoring" the drop off are doing all but that! So you have parents at the front of the line almost completely getting their kids ready out of the car in the drop of line holding everyone up, and no one is saying anything! But when you sit there for 5 mins because you can't reach the point to safely let your child out of the car, they have no problem knocking on your window telling you to now get out of line, park, and go inside to sign your student in late! Also this morning in particular, since this has happened a few times, I actually walked my kids to school because I've had issues in the drop off line, I told the staff at 7:58 am IN THE OFFICE (and this is after I walked from the closed gate on the south side of the school) that I would not be signing the form because my child was not late and she literally told me "don't worry we'll fill it out for you". I'm sorry but I do not recall signing anything that said if I REFUSED TO SIGN, the front office staff had authority to ignore me and to sign on my behalf! 2. The power trip and condescension. I read other reviews before posting mine about someone who stated they were hung up on multiple times. The first week of school I needed my son's teachers contact information because she was new to the school and hadn't been completely set up so I called the front office. When they initially answered the phone, I was immediately put on hold for more than 5 minutes, which I understood being the first week! HOWEVER I am a parent just as the people in the office are so if I had to wait my turn to be helped once you pick up that phone, I should be helped. I asked for the contact information, the woman who answered the phone directed me to where she believed the information was, and when I told her that I was having no success locating it and requested that she please give it to me. She told me that it was too busy in the office and I would have to hold. She did not ask me did I mind being on hold or if I could hold, she made a statement and immediately threw me on hold before I could respond. Mind you I had already been on hold for over 5 mins waiting my turn and when she picked up the phone she did not truly address my concern! I called back six times before someone else picked up the phone and decided to help me because apparently she must've known that it was me calling back because each one of those calls no one spoke, the phone was picked up, there was no greeting spoken, and it was placed on hold immediately! Additionally, there is an older blonde (white at this point) in the front office that I am almost 100% sure was the Regina George of her time! She will smile and have a chippery tone but what comes out of her face is condescending and rude! Not sure if she was the one that I had the issue over the phone with or if it was the Hispanic lady that is new and doesn't have a clue ‍ but something has to be done! I am in contact with the school district to hopefully make a difference but if someone from the district happens to see this, please run an attendance report for the first 3 weeks of school on every grade! I can almost guarantee the numbers are disgusting because your staff could do better! This is an elementary school NOT a Jr. High, middle, or high school! These children are still reliant on their parents and your making things hard for the parents and penalizing the children in the process! read more

This review is specifically for the principal, the front secretary, and Mrs Carter 3rd grade teacher. They 100% do not know what they are doing and just follow an outline for their jobs. When dealing with a student who has behavioral issues the principal here does not listen and think she knows all. The parent can tell these individuals to their face what to do de-escalate the situation, then they look at you, tell you you're wrong, and continue to escalate the situation putting the child in harms way. The secretary will act nice, yet threaten you and the child and when you call her bluff she sits there and does absolutely nothing and will try to retaliate when wanting to get more information on a situation about your child. She will give no info and hang up multiple times all because you did not follow her directions. Now to Mrs. Carter. When a child how has behavioral issues and kids continue to pick on them and the child comes and tells her that this is going on, and she completely ignores it because she doesn't feel like she has to deal with this situation, and also plays favorites in her classroom, is wrong. When the child comes up with a complaint and you know if this behavior from other students is going to escalate the problem, why do you tell the student multiple times to just ignore it? Why does she not talk with the other students at all and only brush off the one student with behavioral issues knowing that others are going to trigger him? Talk about not knowing how to handle a classroom or basically wanting to start a problem in the class because you don't like a certain student in the 3rd grade. Honestly pitiful. Now in no way is the student not at fault because the behaviors that are shown should not happen, but if the student is giving a warning and telling the people that are suppose to be teaching and watching them in the classroom that something is going on for an entire year of school, they are giving these staff members warning that they can't handle it. To brush them off and do nothing at all is not professional at all. All think all 3 of these individuals need to be looked at by the school district. I know it won't happen. I've worked in the school district in the past and they all cover up for each other especially with the teacher shortages going on, but 100% these three do not know how to deal with kids, or parents who also again voice their concern as well as give them the tools that are needed to de-escalate a situation but they go do their own thing and make it worse. Horrible 3 right there so watch out because if anything happens that is not in a teachers manual you're at of luck. They don't know or understand real life situations or how to interact with anyone unless it's in a manual! read more

Sandra Thompson has been an amazing school for my entire family. I have always been greeted with kindness, the office manager always surprises me, she seems to know so many kids by name, now I think that says a lot. Now have I walked into the office and encountered rude people...yes but not coming from the staff its the other side of their counter. I was taught, and I always teach our children ...treat people the same way you would like to be treated. I just think this is a better way to try and come together as one. What I do like a lot is they are strict with checking ID's, doors staying locked, I can go on with my business knowing that my children and all students are safe while I am away. Maybe when we are having a bad day, we should think about it like that. Our kids safety and how everyone inside the school is doing their part to keep our kids safe! I have not had any issue with any of my children's teachers either, look no teacher is the same personality, you like some better than others, but they all are doing their job to educate our children the best to their ability. This Principal is new, but I always see her greeting the parents, and children. My son tells me she is always giving incentives to the students to help motivate them, heck I never was crazy about school but I wouldn't tell my children that. lol I think Sandra Thompson Elementary is a wonderful school and I am proud to be involved with the PTA, fundraisers, and anything to help out to make this world a better place ! read more

The only star I am leaving is for Ms Morgan. She was a very wonderful teacher to my son. But, the front desk ladies, the principal & everyone else that is representing the school is the most rude , unhappy, rude commenting people I have ever met. I have never ever dealt w/ more unhappy people in my life. The tone of their voice is just miserable & always saying a smart comment every time you walk into the office. Luckily my son will not be attending this school & will be going to a charter school. They should fire everyone in the front & replace them w/ people who are more friendly. read more

This is an amazing elementary school. The principal staff and educators are amazing. This school reminds me of the elementary school of my youth. Any child who attends this school will have an amazing experience. read more

school is clean and nice good teachers not disrespectful principle is angry half the time buys it's okay.

The best school with exceeding all expectations. The staff including Principle Mr. Holland, Ms. Rava, reception team Ms. Suzy's, kindergarten AMAZING teacher Ms. Weisanthal. read more

I would like to acknowledge the hidden gem on N. Campbell Road that turned into one of the best academic experiences for my son, and exceeded all my expectations. I think that in any given year, what makes a school great is a combination of teachers and leadership who practice excellence. A bonus for me, as a parent, was the easy and pleasant interaction with office staff who were always attentive to every one of my needs. Before stepping into Sandra Lee Thompson Elementary, I had never met an office staff with a perpetual smile on their faces! Equally pleasant was the principal, Mr. Halland, with whom I had enjoyed many conversations over the years. He was always approachable, but it's his interaction with students that impressed me most--he truly speaks the children's language. In my view Mr. Halland is definitely in the business of creating a "we" culture and strives for the best interest of the students through development and innovation; he also creates pathways to involve and improve the entire community embedded within the school. He is trusted, and a child at heart--never forgetting the value of a bit of comic relief in the courtyard--his unicorn costume . . . no need to expound. Each one of my son's teachers (grades 2-5) had inspired him--this reaffirms that the system works very well. He gained confidence, a breadth of knowledge, critical thinking, curiosity, a love of music, reading, writing, art, PE, technology, and developed interpersonal skills and qualities that have empowered him in so many different ways. His GATE teacher introduced so many more issues of human interest that piqued his interest and made his stay at Sandra Lee Thompson Elementary a benefit to him, and a great start to his academic journey. Oh, how I will miss those teachers' smiles during drop-off and pick-up, the way they would greet and welcome their students and of course, their tireless endeavor to adapt to each student's needs and make every lesson memorable and exciting. The way my son would walk out of class, chatty and smiling--that is a testament to the safe, warm, and stimulating environment that helped him thrive. Everyone at the school will be missed, but never forgotten. read more