Review is for their summer program - my highly functioning child spent the summers here and it's a…read morelovely experience. We do the whole day program. The small size classroom setting really helped. It is more on the expensive side as a summer camp but I do think it's worth it! Sara does a great job to make sure new parents are familiar with the school and the staffs helping out during the summer camp. Although they don't do field trips during the summer camp, they go to the local library and the playground a couple blocks away from the school each day. That worked out for my child during the summer. It is sad that we outgrow the age - but I love the amazing work that Sara has put into the Sequoia Village Schoolhouse. I do wish we have more offerings like Sequoia Village Schoolhouse throughout the city/area. So many highly functioning autistic children are often overlooked, especially during the summer time.

Very nice owner, safe space for kids who need more support than public schools can offer. Most…read morekids have serious needs and it's frequently a temporary placement, it's sad that our system is so broken and that many privates discriminate but it's wonderful that schools like this assist when there is a gap in education. This is a home based school, great for kids who need low stimuli, not a fit for us but wonderful nonetheless.

My family has been with Sherry Spencer for 4 years. When our son, Liam was first diagnosed with…read moreAutism, Sherry was one of the first people we talked to about his diagnosis and getting him services outside of the district. She has been with our family ever since and has really fought for Liam at every turn. When we first started with her Liam's behavior was starting to go extremely downhill to the point where he was hitting and biting, he even gave me a black eye. Today he's in 2nd grade, is one of the sweetest kids I have ever met and is incredibly happy. I think some of Sherry's greatest strengths are: -parent training -putting a tailored program together that meets the need of your child -working with insurances to best meet the needs of the family -finding other services and programs that would be beneficial to the family

Sherry Spencer started working with our family when my son was 3 years old. I believe the most…read moreimportant thing that she taught me, as we began this journey with Rowan, was not to put limits on his potential. Sherry always had high expectations for Rowan, pushing the boundaries of what he could do to encourage him reach for the next logical step. She kept a strong focus on Rowan's intellectual and emotional growth, developing programs that supported both.Sherry was always friendly and supportive to all she interacted with, whether it was family members or therapists in training. In addition, she trained school aids, and assisted to teachers with program development. She blended different types of therapy, with approaches and techniques that utilized the best of all. Her creative thinking has stimulated ongoing positive expectations for Rowan.

It has been over 1.5 years since my last review, and we love the school as much as we did when our…read morechild started school 2+ years ago! Everyone on staff has been incredibly easy and pleasant to collaborate with, and responsive to my questions. The school expanded over the summer to add 2 more classrooms, so that Burkard now has 6 classrooms: K/1, 2/3, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7/8th. Having experienced a few private schools and a public school between my 2 kids, I am confident this is the best environment for my child, for both academic differentiation and SEL support. It's often lamented that parents have to choose the least bad educational option for their 2e kids, but I truly believe this is a great option. We were fortunate enough to be with his amazing 2/3 teachers for 2 years, and have a new set of teachers we love this year, too. Speaking with parents across grades, they also think highly of their teaching teams. My son continues to thrive academically (measured by his overall engagement, as well as MAP testing), and we are very happy with the math differentiation he receives. Each year, I have been pleased with the attention and care the staff takes to make sure he's challenged at the right level. They take great care to plan engaging lessons across ELA, science, social studies and SEL, and incorporate hands on projects regularly to extend their learning. My son regularly shares interesting facts he learned in class! Math is a subject he continues to be passionate about, so I reach out to the school annually for math acceleration. He is given math assessments at the start of each year to determine the appropriate placement, and is given the option of joining a higher level class, or doing independent study in his classroom. We opted this year to have him join the higher level math class on a modified schedule, and we are grateful for the ability to choose the right option for him. The daily SEL teaching is also very well done. Many schools don't have the ability to go in-depth with SEL, but our BT has devised fun games and exercises for the kids to put their SEL knowledge into practice. It was so sweet to hear that my son's 4th grade class taught new recess games to the K/1 class! The BT's keep a close watch throughout the day, so the students are able to learn and play in a physically and emotionally safe environment. When conflicts arise, the staff is there to help the students resolve the issue in an appropriate way. We get daily reports, and twice monthly newsletters sharing what he's learning, so I know he's receiving a high quality education. If your child is at a school that is not meeting their needs, I encourage you to tour the Burkard School. It is truly a gem of a school!

We found TBS about three years ago and it is quite surprising that there aren't more schools for…read morebright kids who have significant social & emotional challenges, including mood disorders. We unfortunately found very little real understanding and expertise along the way, moving from program to program, from school to school, in every case deeply involved with the IEP process. Then we decided to try TBS. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Our student's self-esteem and emotional intelligence started to grow from the start and has continued to grow ever since. No more calls asking us to come quickly, the benefits to our entire household have been pretty incredible, across parents, siblings, and friends alike. When your student talks to you about how the kids at school are 'just like me', when they express a sense of belonging and common purpose to thrive in the face of big emotions, you can only smile and reflect on the journey. ...and imagine what it's like for other parents to understand you, understand your child, and understand so much of the details of the journey. The TBS community, made up of students, teachers, and parents is one that sees your child as deserving, powerful, and good.

Brightworks is a truly magical school! It has been a place of complete transformation for my child…read more As a seasoned educator who has taught in public and private schools in both the U.S. and internationally, I can confidently say that the Brightworks ethos and pedagogy embody what children need to thrive and succeed in our ever-changing world. We came to Brightworks when my older daughter was in 4th grade (also known as the Quartz band). She had previously attended another wonderful school--where my younger daughter continues to thrive--but it simply wasn't the right fit for her. By 3rd grade, she was taking three half-hour "bathroom breaks" each day, essentially the equivalent of cutting elementary school. She was being bullied by peers, had grown to hate the process of learning, and was beginning to believe that she was "dumb." She was also nearly two grade levels behind in reading. After exploring many schools, we discovered Brightworks. It wasn't flashy, but it immediately felt like the right place for her. Our first day was challenging. Although she had struggled at her previous school, she also found change difficult and was resistant to starting somewhere new. She refused to enter the classroom and instead ran up a tree in tears. The teacher (collaborator), Shirvan, responded with remarkable patience and warmth, reassuring me that my daughter could join the group whenever she felt ready. The administrators were equally phenomenal, offering compassion and support when they could see how embarrassed and overwhelmed I felt with my "spirited" child. About four hours later, she finally joined the class. Within just a few days, she loved school so much that she was sad when the day ended and disappointed when holidays approached. After each winter, spring, and summer break, she was thrilled to return. Within a year, she progressed from reading at a 2nd-grade level (e.g., Dog Man) to devouring upper elementary and middle school novels such as the Wings of Fire and Warriors series. She came to love school, the process of learning, her teachers, and her peers. She transformed from a wilted flower into a blossoming tree. The ethos of Brightworks is to meet children where they are and to approach learning through real-world contexts that spark their interests. Science and math are taught through hands-on exploration and authentic problem-solving, while reading and writing are developed through both personal interests and guided learning around social justice topics. Students gain genuine critical thinking skills alongside practical experience using shop tools. The multi-age, schoolhouse model allows older students to care for younger ones, fostering responsibility, empathy, and meaningful mentorship. Every collaborator is dedicated to guiding each child to become the best version of themselves. I only wish that all teaching and learning could be approached in the way Brightworks does.

Our son is 8 and in the middle of his 3rd year at Brightworks…read more We couldn't be happier about how the school has supported his learning, both socio-emotional (he is high energy and we were worried he'd be seen as a 'bad' kid at a traditional school) and academic (particularly reading, where he's been a bit slow, but now is right on track and loving reading). Brightworks' approach is project based. Not just doing projects *in* classes--like the science class doing a science project about earthquakes--but doing interdisciplinary projects *instead of* classes, with a greater degree of fluidity and flexibility in time and approach. The school has a strong maker and tinkering culture. We also don't have things that more traditional schools have, such as tests or grades, though we do have parent conferences and documentation of progress in several key areas (like a swim school report card). The kids do NOT sit at individual desks. A lot more time is spent outdoors, and we're in the Presidio, so there's tons of nature to explore. The kids aren't organized into typical grade levels, like K, 1, 2, 3. Instead they're in "bands" of up to a dozen kids each, giving the school more flexibility in placing kids in the group that they'd most benefit from being in each year, with less stigma if a child is "skips" a grade or is held back. The school's approach is naturally well-suited for kids with different needs. E.g. the focus on meeting every kid where they're at, individual learning trajectories, and being able to take the time that the kids need rather than being tied to a fixed daily or weekly schedule with lists of specific learning objectives. We've gotten great and entirely non-judgemental support for our son. That said, as a small school and as a private school, not every need or circumstance can be accommodated and we have seen a couple classmates over the years with, e.g. dyslexia or autism, move on to more specialized schools. (If your kid has special needs, I would ask about it; we do have many neurodiverse and other kids with particular needs that are doing great and seem well supported.) One thing that exemplifies the school is our annual Maker Marketplace where anyone in the community can sell things-like crafts, food items, gifts, or even carnival games or other experiences. It's entrepreneurial and community-forward, and there's a fair amount of open-endedness in what is possible. Maker Marketplace is a bit chaotic and a lot of fun and learning, and to me that really is the Brightworks way.

One of the most differse school communities in the Bay Area for both staff and students. Quiet…read morehalls and student work everywhere you turn. Amazing teaching in each grade and it is clear that the children are expected to achieve and they do!

The students follow the Sheridan Code of Conduct, wear uniforms, participate in Gardening,…read morePlayworks, Music and Balanced Literacy. Math is top notch with Common Core and the teachers are constantly updating their professional practices. There is a Literacy Coach and an Instructional Coach. The school nurse and social worker are at the campus two days per week. Breakfast and lunch are served to all and there is an on-site YMCA after school program. You'll be highly surprised at this hidden gem with a growing PTC, many resources, and a hard working staff that is consistent without turnover (average experience is about 12 years). It is conveniently located off the M streetcar and Alemany Blvd. in the most SW corner of SF. Please come take a tour!

If you need your'e vacuum cleaner fixed in SF, this is the place. Brad is the BEST! He literally…read morerepaired my clients Miele vacuum cleaner same day. He is pleasantly transparent about repairs, service and has straightforward recommendations. An expert with great customer service. Highly recommended Thank you (Personal Assistant)

Very knowledgeable owners. You can order a beginner to very advanced machine - a good selection of…read morereal sewing machines- not toys! They may now be the only independent sewing machine service and sales in town now. I hope to order a serger from them one day. BTW, you can trust their used sewing machines, Brad gives them a thorough servicing before selling and he will patiently explain everything.

Late post: I recently moved out of the area but when I was looking for a school for my school age…read morekiddos, this place was perfect. I really like how they have the small classroom sizes. The staff are all really nice, caring and supportive of the kids needs and accommodations. I like that they are in a school site and have close proximity classrooms and a playground. The best part was that each kid has specialized curriculum. It is so important for my ASD kiddos to have the variety a typical school setting. If you are looking for a school that goes above and beyond, check this place out. I hope I can find a school like this in my new city.

My daughter attended this school for a year when she was 13. The teachers are amazing. They…read morereally get your kid. The environment is uplifting and bright. Kathy and Heidi brought my daughter out of a deep hole and created an environment where she could shine. Their program is behavioral based. Although they do provide strong academics, their emphasis is on social and emotional therapeutics.

Horrible!! The head teacher was unkind, rude, and abusive to my child and my family. After…read moreseveral complaints nothing was done. The director is aloof, easily led and frankly too immature for the role. Lots of lies and secrecy here!! This place is going nowhere fast. Parents need to get involved to make things better. Do yourselves a favor and go elsewhere.

I had to do observation at the children's campus and never did I know that they did not have a…read morewater fountain here. I kindly asked the receptionist if I could go get water from the kitchen sink than and she rudely told me "no" then proceeded to tell me to go to the bathroom sink to get water. I am not going to drink bathroom sink water. Next time I know to bring my own water but it makes you wonder.... are they feeding your children tap water as well? This is my 5th time doing observation at this place and I really enjoyed it but now... I don't know, I might rethink about doing my observation somewhere else.

My daughter spent 3 years at Stanbridge Academy, the education is definitely a little behind, but…read moremy biggest concern with this school is safety. My daughter was assaulted by male student on campus repeatedly and my daughter informed the principal and several staff members and zero of them reported this to us as her parents or police. In fact when I brought it up to the school they blamed my daughter for the assault, this floored me given this is no where near the truth. If you have a daughter especially please be very careful, no child should have to experience what mine went through and is still going to therapy for 9 months later. The head of the school Julie is the one who blamed my daughter for being assaulted and claimed her word was less credible due to her being autistic, these people are supposed to be keeping our children safe and us as parents informed. Please be careful sending your children here

This school was very helpful for my disabilities. As I first came here in 2012, it was a difficult…read moretime getting to know everyone there at first, but as the years passed by, it got better.