Our children attended LPE in 2020-21, the first school year following the start of the COVID…read morepandemic; our 5-year-old son was enrolled as a Kindergarten student, our 2-year-old daughter as a preschooler. There was a high likelihood of Columbia's (very good) public schools relying on virtual or hybrid learning that fall, and we worried about our son's ability to thrive under those conditions. My spouse had the opportunity to return to the workplace that fall after being a stay-at-home mom for five years, and LPE's proximity to our home and its commitment to maintaining a safe, healthy, in-person learning environment gave her the confidence she needed to move forward with that job. While we were excited about our children attending a school where they would learn a second language, I will readily confess that the dual-language nature of the school was less important to us than the prospect of the kids attending school in-person. We never hid the fact that we would likely send our kids to public schools in future years, once the pandemic had subsided. The school's administration tolerated this, but we could always tell that it irked them a bit; that said, we weren't the only family who were using LPE that year as an emergency measure. Both of our children really thrived in their dual-language learning. My wife and I do not speak or read French and have no familial, social, or professional connections to French-speaking regions, so it wasn't a language the kids were hearing us use at home. The fact that they absorbed so much is a testament to the efficacy of language immersion. We no longer live in Columbia, and while we like our current home, we always find ourselves wishing that more language-immersion programs existed around here. Columbia is lucky to have at least two of these schools. (Maybe more?) I must commend LPE for its COVID protocols that year. Teachers and staff used PPE and worked hard to ensure that the school's various pods of students did not mingle and mix in ways that would spread illness. If I remember correctly, the school only closed once during the entire 2020-21 school year out of an abundance of caution--the ill staff ended up testing negative for COVID. Our son completed Kindergarten at LPE. Sadly, our 2-year-old daughter was asked to leave midway through the school year. We've learned in the four-plus years since that she has autism. This disability was already manifesting itself in its toddler years, often in the form of sensory sensitivities, difficulty with transitions, and delayed skill development. Unfortunately for us, LPE's administration and staff were wholly unprepared for her needs. We understand that it can be difficult to work with a toddler who is not behaving like her peers; that said, the degree of obstinance and cold-heartedness exhibited by some key individuals was shocking at times. One administrator in particular took pride in what she characterized as a traditional disciplinary approach to childcare. She may believe it is appropriate, and I've certainly read favorable comments from families who share her philosophy. But in our opinion, she spent far too much time engaging in power struggles with our small child, interpreting any of our daughter's inabilities to meet expectations as willful disrespect of authority. More than once, this person told us, "Your daughter knows what to do but is choosing not to," or, "She's making bad decisions, and I must let her know that we will not tolerate that." She routinely punished our daughter for not completing worksheets, not engaging in activities, or even not drinking out of a cup properly, by making her sit on a pillow in the hallway or in an otherwise empty room for hours at a time. She responded with exasperation when we noted that we were not disciplining our daughter at home for her shortcomings at school. It was clear from her comments to us that she felt we were failing the school by not taking an equally hard line with a child who was trying her best in the moment. Whether it's France or Belgium or the US, this is 19th-century behavior. Families are welcome to pay for it; I certainly wouldn't have had we been aware of other options and had a better understanding of our child's disability. Thankfully, we found a far more welcoming, patient, and acccommodating dual-language school on the other side of town. That school was founded by families who liked LPE's immersion approach, but not the more peculiar and dictatorial aspects of its pedagogy. I don't blame them. Yelp has suppressed a 2014 review from Crystal B. that expresses a lot of these concerns. Reviews by parents and former staff published on other websites mention this same authoritarian mindset. That's a sign that this wasn't a temporary problem brought on by the very real stresses of the COVID pandemic. It was real. Let's hope it has changed.

Loving the adult French classs with Maxime as instructor I look forward to next sessionread more

City Garden School is a 501c 3 non-profit Waldorf-inspired school for grades 1-5, located in…read moredowntown Columbia, Missouri. My child has attended 1st-3rd grades there and will enter 4th in the fall. I have heard the popular catchphrase recently: "Educate the *Whole Child*" but I have never seen it so fully, thoughtfully, carefully accomplished as in this school. Education here is about finding the intersections of multiple aspects of being a person, such as: learning mathematics through art, rhythm, grouping physical objects after hearing a story, and team exercises; circle time for body awareness, recitation, and singing; learning basic music-reading and recorder-playing for breath, pitch, and control. By third grade, interesting elements are included in the curriculum--measurement, fibers, farming, and house-building. In each of these, the children learn the historical application, the evolving facets and techniques, and the fundamentals of how they themselves could create useful shelters, food, and clothing. Assessments at City Garden are not grades, but rather the child's place along a spectrum of skill: Emerging Skill, Developing Skill, Achieved Skill, or Strength. This way, parents and children both can observe what the teacher's focus is and will be with each student, in each topic. Creative play is well-valued at City Garden, and going outdoors to run and play is considered a needful release of tension, as well as an "out-breath" in the natural rhythm of human habits. This structure creates a balance of focused, detail-oriented Main Lesson time of study, with raucous childhood's energetic free-play. Each Friday is Outdoor Friday, where children spend the day hiking Columbia's local parks and natural areas, creating a mental map of great play-areas, native creature-sightings, and seasonal joys. Both German and Spanish language classes are taught, each twice a week, so the children receive cultural awareness and early exposure to other languages. Instead of Physical Education, City Garden offers a Cooperative Games class, which does work to foster many of the skills p.e. would attend: balance, rhythm, spatial orientation, etc, but with a greater focus on teamwork and less structure that supports individual "winners and losers." There is also the element of Handwork in the classrooms--a time twice a week were students practice creating an item with a skill, beginning with knitting, progressing on to crochet, then embroidery, wet-felting wool, wax-molding, etc. This supports a great deal of mind-hand-eye- coordination, requiring the child to follow instructions, incorporate a repetitive action and unique design elements, and exercise a critical eye towards successful and unsuccessful production. Finally, the teachers of City Garden School have fostered meaningful working relationships with local institutions such as the Columbia Art League, for their children's classes, and the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, where children go on Outdoor Fridays once a month to learn about and support CCUA's mission of education and providing fresh, sustainable, local food. Through all these wonderful experiences, I have witnessed my child truly bloom into his own abilities, awareness, joys, and critical thought in manners that I did not even realize I wanted for him before this school's influence. City Garden School supports childhood in a way that makes me wish I could go back to being a six-year-old and live through grade school all over again, with this approach. At least I can give this to my children, and participate in the community, the festivals, the friendships, skill-building, and explorations with them!!

From the owner: Welcome to City Garden School, where education is a transformative journey! Our holistic approach…read morenurtures mind, body, and spirit, fostering well-rounded individuals. Nature-Centric: The forest is a living classroom, connecting children with nature and instilling a sense of environmental responsibility. Artistic Expression: Music, art, and drama are woven into learning, nurturing creativity, confidence, and innovation. Caring Community: Join a close-knit community that values each child's uniqueness, creating a supportive and inclusive environment. Global Citizens: Our diverse curriculum promotes open-mindedness and empathy, preparing students to thrive in an interconnected world. Individual Focus: Small class sizes enable personalized attention, allowing every student to shine and succeed. Life Skills: Practical lessons like handwork and gardening empower students with hands-on, valuable skills. ...an education that cultivates curiosity, values, and a lifelong love of learning.

Lisa provided private driving instruction for our 16yr old. Drivers Ed was not offered at my son's…read moreschool. So, I had a hard time finding a drivers ed course after moving to Columbia. I found CoMo driving school via the web. I believe Lisa's background includes 20+ years at the DMV which included administering drivers test. She is professional, responsive, and punctual. At the end of each lesson, she gave us feedback on what they worked on and what he needed to work on while driving with us. I'm anxious about driving with my teen. So, it was nice for him to have time with someone that would remain calm and give him technical tips on merging, lane switches, parking, etc.. I would definitely recommend

We reached out requesting more info and to schedule a lesson, but were sadly informed Lisa passed…read moreaway in December 2020 after battling COVID. Business is no longer taking customers.

Great selection and will go there again. Friendly, helpful people to make sure your visit is…read moreenjoyable.

Passing through Columbia we found this wonderful quilting/sewing store. They have a wonderful…read moreselection and friendly and helpful staff. Highly recommended!

I have two children at this school. Before we had our first child I was very tempted to go the…read morenanny route purely out of convenience but now my husband and I are truly glad we decided to send our kids to this school instead. Every day presents a new learning and socialization opportunity. The teachers have a curriculum that they follow yet they are flexible enough to suit your child's needs; kids get plenty of variety with their meals/snacks; they get outside when the weather is nice enough and there isn't a doubt in my mind that my kids will be more than ready for kindergarten when that time comes. The amount of things that they have already learned is pretty incredible. Sure there is some turn over occasionally with the teachers but I don't know a large daycare provider that doesn't have this same issue. Some of the staff that have left have even come back. Overall the teachers and staff are fantastic and I would recommend End of The Rainbow to anyone that is interested in sending their kids to an environment where the teachers and staff truly care about the children.

From the owner: For more than 30 years, End of the Rainbow Child Care Center in South Columbia, MO, has been…read morededicated to providing children a safe, caring environment to grow and learn. This early childhood development center offers child care centered around educational programs designed to encourage them socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. Owner and Director Nikki Reynolds has been leading the team at End of the Rainbow Child Care Center since 2000. In that time, she's shared her belief that children deserve a place where they feel safe and encouraged, and parents need peace of mind in knowing their children are in the best hands. Reynolds has employed a staff of experienced, certified teachers and tutors to care for infants as young as six weeks and children as old as 12. They maintain an explorative classroom environment with curriculums intended to encourage children to reach their full potential. To help children with their educational paths, End of the Rainbow Child Care Center offers day care services, after school tutoring, kindergarten readiness and early childhood development programs. Their staff is large enough to cater to each age group's specific developmental needs while providing children individualized attention and care. Nursery school children learn to understand the world around them, and school-aged children benefit from out-of-the-classroom learning experiences...