This review is long overdue - not because I had nothing to say, but because I had SO MUCH to say…read morethat it took me a while to put my thoughts together.
I will say this right at the beginning: sometimes you pay for what is NOT there as much as for what IS. NO bullying in our experience. NO constant drama. NO feeling that you or your child have done something wrong just by walking through the door. Those things have enormous value.
The actual review was much longer but I had to shorten it for yelp.
I am a mother with an older child already in high school and experience with SIX different schools due to moves, COVID, and family circumstances. So I can compare. School culture matters academically AND emotionally, for children and parents - yes, us parents who actually pay for it!
THE FIRST thing you notice at Kirk: the office staff actually smiles and is eager to help. No stiff faces making you wonder, "Did I park incorrectly? Is my shirt backward? What did I do wrong?" Immediately you check the box: "They are kind. They do not lack empathy. Continue."
Kirk values being smart AND being kind. Children are encouraged to ask questions, express their ideas, and think for themselves - not just memorize paragraphs and prepare for standardized tests. More programs or more homework do not automatically mean a better school. My older daughter's 4th grade projects involved tears at other school. At Kirk, my younger daughter learned just as much, if not more, without that hassle.
SCHOOL AWARDS - do not take them for granted or think, "Everyone is doing it." In my experience, some schools have moved away from individual awards in the name of tolerance and acceptance (oh, if we award this child the other one will feel discriminated so we better not award anyone) , while others give awards to almost everyone. At one of our previous schools, 23 out of 24 children received the Principal's Award. Easier to name who did NOT get it, right? Imagine being that one child.
At Kirk, teachers give an ACTUAL SPEECH about YOUR child at assemblies, and the ENTIRE school listens. Their effort, their growth, their strengths. Not just a name and a piece of paper. You can see that teachers know the children they are talking about. I cannot stress enough how important that personal recognition is.
THEATER PROGRAM - absolutely incredible. The best musical theater program my daughter has attended.
CONCERTS/OPEN HOUSE/SCIENCE FAIR - Incredible and amazing!
PE COACH - an absolutely hilarious individual who genuinely loves ALL children. My daughter hated PE before and now loves it. Thank you, Coach Eric!
ANOTHER THING that is rarely seen, especially in private schools - there is NO BULLYING in our experience here. Literally, I have not seen it. Kids are nice. Yes, all children are different, and children argue, that is for sure. But there is no ongoing drama due to bullying. It feels almost impossible here because being cruel to another child goes against the whole atmosphere of the school. Kindness is the expectation here. It is reflected in how the adults treat the children and how the children treat one another. That makes an enormous difference.
PARENTS - do not take this for granted either, thinking parents are not that important. They are. Kind, sensible parents are VERY important for your well-being as an adult, too! I have to say these are the nicest parents I have seen out of 6 schools. The nicest, and I thank them GREATLY for that. They are absolutely incredible people, and I feel depressed thinking that 5th grade is the last year and that I will have had only 2 years of this greatness. I do not think I will get this lucky again. Parents at this school are as special as the school itself. Thank you parents if you read this review
STAFF - Ms. Amanda, Lorena, Heather, Mr. Dave, Mr. Robert, and the rest of the staff are AMAZING people. No wonder the children are kind: they are led by example. On her first day, my daughter could not remember Ms. Heather's name and called her "the one who is an angel."
When comparing schools, look beyond brochures, test scores, and lists of programs. Are children heard? Are they valued? Are they happy to go to school? Kirk's kindness is every bit as valuable to me as its academics.
Parents, invest in your children's future and avoid the personal toys - cars, bigger houses, etc. Those things can wait. Childhood can not. Your children and their legacies will thank you greatly.