It has taken me over a year to gather the courage to write this review, and my motivation is not…read moreborn out of anger alone, but from a place of profound disappointment and a broken heart. My journey with this school, which spanned nearly five years, was full of moments that initially filled us with hope but ultimately left us deeply disillusioned. When my daughter and I were first accepted, we were elated. I remember the tears of joy as we shared the news with family, and we even brought a cake to the staff to express our appreciation. We believed we had found a safe, nurturing Christian environment where my daughter could thrive academically and spiritually, and where she would form lasting, meaningful relationships under the guidance of a Christian curriculum and staff. Unfortunately, as the years went by, our experience was consistently marred by disappointments, particularly with the behavior of some of the teachers. What was even more troubling, however, was the principal's response--or lack thereof. Time after time, when issues were brought to her attention, Miss Westgate, the principal, would dismiss concerns or, worse, turn the situation around, making the staff out to be the victims despite undeniable evidence to the contrary. This lack of accountability was heartbreaking, but I continued to hope that my daughter was still receiving a good education. One of the more distressing events during our time at the school involved a teacher who submitted a letter to CPS, claiming that I was unsafe with my daughter because she sat in the front seat of the car. The car in question was a two-seater, and the airbag had been turned off--perfectly legal. CPS, when contacted, dismissed the claim as frivolous, noting they often receive baseless reports from this school. This was just one example of many, where the school staff overstepped, and yet no action was taken to address the behavior. Another shocking incident involved the leaking of private information from a live scan to parents who were not authorized to see it. Despite my attempts to bring this to Miss Westgate's attention, there was no explanation, just a shrug and an admission of ignorance. I had nothing to hide, but the idea that such sensitive information was handled so carelessly was inexcusable. As time passed, my daughter's emotional well-being became a growing concern. She was bullied by a former close friend, and after repeatedly addressing the situation with the staff, I was forced to take matters into my own hands. I spoke politely with the child involved, reminding her of their past friendship and encouraging her to reconcile. I even communicated this to the child's father and Miss Westgate, who assured me she would look into it. The following day, however, Miss Westgate informed me that I was no longer allowed on school property, that my behavior was deemed inappropriate. I was barred from participating in school activities I had been a part of for years, including chapel and father-daughter events. Despite my efforts to resolve the matter amicably, the school took an aggressive stance, forcing me to withdraw my daughter. When I made the decision to pull my daughter from the school, it wasn't out of spite but out of necessity. I needed to protect her, and unfortunately, staying at this school was no longer in her best interest. The final blow came when we enrolled her in a local public school, only to discover that she was a year behind academically, despite having been told that private education would provide a better foundation. This gap in her education, combined with the emotional toll of her experience at this school, has been incredibly difficult to navigate. We've had to hire a tutor to catch her up, a process that has added more stress to an already challenging situation. As I reflect on this experience, it is clear to me that the principal, Miss Westgate, failed to hold her staff accountable for their actions. Despite providing her with ample evidence of their misconduct, she chose to defend them and, in the end, made it impossible for us to continue our relationship with the school. It's with a heavy heart that I share this review, but I feel compelled to speak out. My daughter's experience, our family's experience, was far from the Christian, nurturing environment we had hoped for. I would caution any parent considering this school to carefully weigh these factors and consider whether this is the right place for their child.

I'd give this school no stars if I could. If you don't live in Danville or Alamo, find another…read moreschool. I reside in Walnut Creek, and everyone looked at me like I was poor or would question why I'd consider going there (even though my house in Walnut Creek is upwards of 3m and theirs in 1.5-2). My daughter went to the preschool for two years. Poor communication with teachers (they only communicate at pick up in front of other parents, while other schools have apps for communication. No focus on whole child, sit, read, write mentality. If you question anything they will slowly push you out. Was told after testing that she wouldn't do well at the school (she was four). They tested her multiple times without communicating that. There was no communication all year that she had been struggling (shows they don't care about how the kids are doing until testing). Ms. Kalina is awful. Very fake (most of the staff and other moms are). Shows favoritism and said "we will see how this baby turns out" while I was pregnant. Wasn't a good fit. Don't waste your time and send your child to Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church or Contra Costa Christian (some of the teachers at SRVCA said they heard great things about it). My kids now go to those two schools, are thriving and so happy. My daughter told me "I like my new school because they don't put me in time out" (a which we knew nothing of-go figure). Older facilities but genuine and loving community-everything you want for your baby and at least they have real grass. Oh yeah, we donated over 1k to have a buck with our name put on it for their upgraded outdoor area.

Sunday School is available for free to the public on every Sunday, during the regular church…read moreservice (from 10 to 11 am). No prior spiritual or Biblical education needed! Each Sunday School class is designed to meet the needs of each individual student. Classes are based on the Bible, and, together with teachers, students can gain new insights into it with the help of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Students of all ages are taught the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and its spiritual interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, and the Sermon on the Mount. And, there is a continuing emphasis on the idea that everyone can practice the healing ideas discussed in class.

As a high school soccer/lacrosse referee, I will be writing reviews for all the fields I officiate…read moreat. Although you give 1 - 5 star ratings for Yelp, I will be making five separate ratings and the overall average will be the final Yelp rating. The following is my rating for San Ramon High: Field / Turf Condition *** Field configuration ** Lights **** Seating **** Scoreboard *** OVERALL RATING 3.2 Note: All the fields in the San Ramon Valley School District are changed at the same time. I'm not sure why San Ramon's is in the best condition. Monte Vista, Dougherty and Cal definitely need to be upgraded. My only pet peeve with San Ramon's field is the concrete strip between the track and the turf field. Quite dangerous for players and referees. Cleats don't do well on concrete. I have seen quite a few spills over the years.

Cool school, kinda gives too much homework.read more

Danville Congregational Church is a place of peace, offering a community of support and compassion…read more We believe that every person is a child of God, and every person matters. We are a progressive, Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ in Danville, attracting visitors and members from across the San Ramon Valley and beyond. We are a diverse community, with a rich mix of young and old; single and partnered; gay and straight; republican and democrat; believer-since-birth and spiritual-but-not-religious. We are an active people, with many ways to get involved for children, youth, and adults, including faith formation, music, and fellowship. We seek to reach out with hope and healing in our local community and beyond. We express our passion and compassion for our friends and neighbors through prayer, presence, financial support, food and supplies, and hands-on-work and service. If you're wondering what to do next, we invite you to come and worship with us on a Sunday. Sit in our pews and experience the warmth of a welcoming community, the vibrant music, the meaningful preaching, and the wide variety of activities. If it feels like the right place for you, or if you have questions and want to learn more, don't hesitate to be in touch. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

When looking for a church in 1999 I found this safe, loving congregation. Through the past two…read moredecades, we seen change in leadership, found strength in times of personal and national tragedy, sadly said good byes to dear friends who have passed or moved away. This church family continues to thrive through the word of God, our commitment to community involvement, as we strive to be loving and welcoming...demonstrating extravagant welcome and love to all. Please join us...come as you are and feel at home.

As a former educator, I placed a lot of pressure on myself when selecting a preschool for my…read moredaughter. After reading reviews and talking with various people, Garden seemed to be a good fit for our family. Garden Montessori fosters independence while providing a warm and supportive environment where children thrive. The teachers encourage children to create and discover new things. I appreciate that my daughter has the autonomy to choose what she wants to work on or learn, on a daily basis, while still being prepared for the next steps in her education. My daughter loves learning and practicing new skills, and I feel that the teachers at Garden really help fuel that passion. In addition to academic skills and independence, Garden nurtures children to be confident, kind, and caring. Garden is a great place that my daughter looks forward to going to everyday, and I agree with the other parents when they call it a gem! I am so glad to be part of the Garden Montessori community.

This is my way overdue review for Garden Montessori. My daughter is already 14 yo, she attended…read moreGarden when she was 3 to 4 and it had such a lasting impression on her. It shaped her learning experiences, she still remembers the tree climbing, plucking the fruit trees, preparing the stone soup for Thanksgiving, teas with parents and not forgetting the furry bunnies. She learnt so much on the essential life skills, social skills and most importantly having fun at school. She grows up to be an independent and responsible girl. I am grateful Garden built this foundation during her early years. Garden Montessori is a hidden gem. Thank you to Jaye, Troy and Karine.

Located inside St Mary's College. To my surprise, it was open and sat in there for a few moments of…read moresilence.

Even though I'm Jewish, I occasionally end up at Mass or inside a Catholic Church. Gayle has a…read morecontinuing love-hate relationship with the Catholic Church, and I'm happy to tag along when the spirit moves her. My most memorable Catholic moments during the last few months were the Pilgrim's Mass at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (led by Archbishop Julián Barrio Barrio wearing a nice red kippah) and visiting Fatima Portugal. But perhaps the best example of religious Ying and Yang on that trip was visiting the Convent of Christ (Knights Templar Castle) and the old synagogue in Tomar during the same afternoon. Gayle's daughter-in-law regularly attends St. Mary's, although her son isn't a big fan of going to an occasional (and long) healing Mass in Spanish. So when we read on her Facebook page that they were going to Christmas Eve Mass, we offered to go along. We also went to Christmas Eve Mass at St. Cecilia (Ames Iowa) last year, but this time there would be no magical snow storm as we left. We arrived at 10 PM where we were treated to reflective readings and some pretty decent choir music (accompanied by cello, guitar, and piano). I particularly enjoyed a woman's trio singing Hallelujah. There's also a lot to admire about the architecture of St. Mary's, complete with a high vaulted ceiling, nice dark woods, good acoustics, and a main "welcoming" Jesus in the Sanctuary. And by the time the Mass started at 11 PM, this house of worship was full and festive. As it was way past my bed time, I had trouble staying awake during Mass. I enjoyed the style of the Senior Priest, but his homily didn't really inspire. However, I appreciated the warm and friendly nature of the congregation, the participative nature of the service, and that cute and smiling baby sitting right next to us. Best of all was leaving into the evening and enjoying that community Silent Night that you really only experience but once a year.

We had been looking for a new faith family after moving from Tennessee and the CPC community was so…read morewelcoming! We have 5 kids from ages 2 to 15 and there are faith based programs for the whole family! We feel so lucky to have found a home away from home at CPC!

Great Christmas message today - accompanied by angelic Christmas Carols…read more It was a back to the basics and very universal for all. I like the most fundamental messages the best. Sometimes its easy to get carried away in the details and miss the point. "I loved the message... I really know a friend who needs to hear that." Pastor Scott mentioned he hears this so often... "So And So really needs to hear this." The whole thing about universal messages are that they are for you and for me and for So And So... and for EVERYBODY. Angelic Christmas Carols this year I think with the help of an affiliate church. Very special and beautiful - as beautiful as the message if you fully understand it. No, no... this year if you were present your not just going to remember the loud, festive and colorful outfit the pastor wore but also the simple but powerful message. For the Valley for the world is the motto. I like that very much. Often its so easy to get hung up with "for myself, for my family." Its a great and constant reminder. I believe Christmas Day and Christmas Eve is a great time to visit this church. There are so many dates and times that something will be sure and fit your schedule.