Love this school! We've been here for 7 school years now. My kids are thriving. They are in the…read moreElementary and Middle School at the moment. It feels like a family. They do a huge event for grandparents day each year. The teachers really love the students. We'll be there through graduation for sure.

I'm a student here, and this school is so good! The teachers incorporate Christ into everything,…read moreand are sooo nice! They try not to give tons of homework, but it is still a very rigorous education. They have tons of sports and extracurricular activities. LOVE MY SCHOOL

Could not recommend this school more!!! My son has been here for about a year, for reference…read more First, they are by far the cleanest daycare I've ever toured and we toured a lot! Second the staff genuinely cares, my son has moved throughout multiple classrooms and every teacher has been nothing short of fantastic in the infant and toddler program thus far. In regards to the infant room they are GREAT about following the oz's per bottle you set, but also gently making recommendations when needed. because let's face it babies act different depending on who they're around sometimes. You get these cute little notes about things they enjoy and developmental milestones they achieve. They send home soooo much art work for you to hang on the fridge and cherish. The toddler program is also wonderful. Classroom 6,1,2, and 3 teachers were all super great. One day there was an issue, my son slept too long and he slept through a bottle and as a ftm it made me super nervous, this staff handled it like CHAMPS they were super understanding and supportive of my position and assured me it wouldn't happen again and it did not. Goes to show how great they are at not only dealing with babies but also parents. The food they receive is also amazing in my opinion their menu never fails! Overall the value of care, education, and experience you get for your child is unmatched by any other daycare I've seen. If you can get a spot here I highly recommend it!

This review is for the owner and director of the school- I…read morehave never had so much disrespect from another person. I had an issue with a teacher. I tried to discuss it with the teacher, that did not work so I went to the director. She not only did not hear any of my concerns, she was belittling and dismissive throughout every conversation. When I went to the OWNER of the school to discuss how the whole situation was being handled and how rude her staff was, I received the response that is attached below: "Staff members, including our management team, are not up for a discussion with parents." The facility is nice, the actual teachers really do seem to care about the kids, anyone else behind a desk was never a good experience and always made things difficult.

I am disappointed with how this daycare/school handled my child's potty accident…read more I fully understand that we have responsibility as parents to provide extra clothes, and I can acknowledge that we should have had backup clothes available. That part is on us. However, young children have accidents, especially when they are adjusting to a new environment, and I was shocked by how the situation was handled. I received a call telling me that my child had an accident and that I needed to bring shorts or pants because they were currently only in their shirt. I was also told that if I could not bring clothes, my child would remain without pants. That is the part I cannot accept. A childcare facility should still have a basic contingency plan for situations like this. No child should be left exposed, embarrassed, or without proper clothing because there are no backup options available. Even when a parent forgets something, the child's dignity and comfort should remain the priority. What makes this even more concerning is that since starting at this school, my child's confidence and self-esteem seem to have changed. They have started saying things like, "I don't use my listening ears. I never do," and "I'm a bad kid." As a parent, that is heartbreaking to hear. Children should be corrected and redirected with patience and care, not in a way that makes them internalize shame or feel like they are bad. A potty accident should be handled privately, calmly, and respectfully. It should never become something that adds to a child's embarrassment or affects how they see themselves. As a parent, it was incredibly stressful to receive that call and feel like my child's dignity was not being protected. I hope the school reviews its policy on potty accidents, backup clothing, and how children are spoken to when they are struggling or adjusting.

Parent pick up is always a breeze. Love the organization and the attention to detail from the staff…read more Education at this school is top notch... they even have their own farm with animals to teach the littles. Love it

I sent my child here for preschool, so when it came time to choose where I would send him for…read morekindergarten, it was a no brainer. His teachers were incredible and the director, Marysue, makes sure she checks in with each student and parent regularly. I tell all of my friends, send your child to MDO for kindergarten!

My son attended in December of 2024 and he's recently been telling me things that had gone on in…read morehis time there. He has MRELD and is suspected of having ARFID. He said when everyone else had gotten a cupcake that he was excluded because he didn't eat the meat and cheese in his lunchbox. He told me about another instance where all of his classmates went to recess and he was told he was in timeout and had to sit in the corner on a mattress in the dark classroom without supervision. Mary Sue, the director, had called a coworker a "heavyset girl" the day I went in to tour. Super inappropriate. Do not let your children go here.

We love it here! our daughter is absolutely thriving in the toddler program. This was her first…read moretime being away from home and she is learning so much. Its so cool to see her using some of the skills she learns in school! she comes home singing songs, counting, and is now starting to sing her ABCs (she's 2!). She has gained so much independence and is excited to go to school every day!

Wonderful school. My daughter is in their toddler program and she loves it. The teachers and…read moreadministration are great to work with, always ready to answer one of my million questions with a smile. I appreciate this school so much and am so grateful!!

In the Spring of 2016 Old Donation School, formerly known as Kemps Landing and renamed Old Donation…read moreSchool Home of Brickell Academy moved into its new building on Independence Blvd in the Bayside area of Virginia Beach. It came in under time and under budget. My son attended three years under ODS middle. The school, staff and students are like no other at the beach. Rigorous testing is required for admittance and they take only 200 per grade level which is a recent increase. The school houses gifted elementary and middle 2nd grade to 8th grade. The building is spectacular in every way and specifically devoted to gifted learning. Every educator has an endorsement in gifted teaching. The administration led by Kelly Hedrick principal is one of VBS finest leaders. The building offers a big feature that no other elementary, or middle school does. The auditorium seats hundreds and is state of the art in every way. It is is true gem and the VBS system can thank Kelly Hedrick for fighting to have it in the budget. The auditorium is used throughout the district. Virginia Beach is lucky to have a strong gifted program. Many of the students graduate from 8th and move onto the academy system at the beach and are prepared for success in high school.

this school makes me genuinely upset so many kids are disrespectful to classmates and teachers and…read morethen get no repercussions. kids are threatening to do stuff every day like shoot up the school like.. what? and even if they get reported nothing happens. the teachers also VERY CLEARLY care about some students more than others and treat them VERY differently. the food is actually disgusting sometimes and just looking at it makes me want to throw up sometimes. the principals are usually around young girls and it doesnt seem right to me, more just creepy because its ALWAYS the girls. and that one sub/past stingray teacher is really weird. i had to tell him to stop touching my head (repeatedly) and had to hit his hand away to get him to stop. he also used to let kids look at scabs under a microscope, which, ew. but he had to keep the scab after (also gross). this kid tried to stab me and my friends with pencils, no repercussion. people told me to kms, and guess what? no repercussion. the teachers are usually hard on kids for no reason too. the amount of kids with a morale this school are probably very small. i know a whole bunch of kids who have been so stressed out to the point theyre sobbing or physically ill. please focus more on these kids mental health and how people are treating each other. its actually angering how much the staff/the students dont care about each other.

As a student here, it's a good school. Teachers are really nice, and good education…read more I'm about to go to 5th grade, and I am honestly excited. I never see bullies. Spacious. Great teachers! Would recommend.

My concerns with this school begin at the front office, specifically with the level of customer…read moreservice, professionalism, and basic courtesy demonstrated by the Registrar. Unfortunately, my experiences have left me with the impression that parents are not consistently treated with the level of respect and professionalism they should reasonably expect when dealing with an elementary school. During my 2nd visit at the school on 20AUG26, I was in the office completing my child's registration. My child was playing with another child in the designated play area within the office. The Registrar loudly stated, almost to the point of yelling, that this was a "place of business" and that the children were not supposed to be playing there. I understand that the front office is an administrative workspace and that staff have responsibilities that require an orderly environment. However, the manner in which this was communicated was unnecessarily harsh and, in my opinion, inappropriate for an elementary-school setting--particularly when the children were in an area apparently intended for them. There is a significant difference between appropriately redirecting children and speaking to them in a manner that makes them feel unwelcome in their own school. A simple, respectful request would have accomplished the same objective without creating an uncomfortable interaction. My experience today 11SEP26 was even more concerning. I approached the Registrar and asked to speak with a guidance counselor. I was told, "They're all in meetings." I then asked whether she could help me get on a counselor's schedule. After I asked the question, there was no response. I waited approximately two minutes, expecting either an answer or some direction about what I needed to do next. Nothing was said. At that point, another staff member came out, and I asked her for assistance. She was immediately helpful and willing to assist me. I thanked her and apologized for bothering her, explaining that I had initially asked the Registrar for help and had either not been heard or had not received a response. I cannot know what the Registrar's intention was, so I will not state as fact that I was deliberately ignored. However, I can speak to what actually happened: I asked a direct question, waited for a response, received none, and ultimately had to seek assistance from another employee. Regardless of the reason, that is not the level of communication I expect from the person serving as a primary point of contact for parents. What is particularly frustrating is that this was not a situation where I expected the Registrar to stop everything and immediately solve my problem. If she was busy, a simple statement such as, "I'm unable to help with that right now, but you can speak with ___," or "Please wait a moment and I'll tell you how to schedule an appointment," would have been completely appropriate. Basic acknowledgment and courtesy are not unreasonable expectations. Parents should not have to wonder whether their questions are being ignored, whether they are inconveniencing staff simply by asking for assistance, or whether they will receive a respectful response when they walk into the school office. I also want to distinguish between the school being busy and staff being discourteous. I completely understand that school offices are busy, counselors have meetings, and employees have numerous responsibilities. None of that excuses a failure to communicate with a parent who is standing in front of you and asking for assistance. Being busy is understandable. Failing to acknowledge someone is a customer-service issue. The front office sets the tone for the school. For many parents, it is the first--and sometimes the only--interaction they have with school administration. Because of that, I believe the people working in that environment should demonstrate patience, professionalism, and basic respect, particularly when interacting with families and young children. There are clearly staff members at this school who understand this. My interaction with the other staff member today demonstrated that assistance can be provided courteously and professionally even when the office is busy. That interaction made the contrast with my experience with the Registrar even more noticeable. I am leaving this review because I believe this is an area that needs meaningful improvement. I am not expecting special treatment. I am expecting basic professionalism, and respect.

Our son was born just before the Covid pandemic started in 2020, this left us with a lack of…read moreoptions for childcare and also a big sense of unease about sending our baby to daycare/preschool. It took me almost a year to build up the courage to send him and in the summer of 2021 he started at Goddard. Now it's the summer of 2022 and both of our children attend Goddard. Our son is a little timid in large groups and likes to play independently, in each class his "style" has been respected. We get regular updates on his days and when a little extra attention is needed from us, his teachers have been gracious enough to help us reinforce positive behaviors at home. He loves his school and his teachers, every day he has a "great day" (his words). Navigating school and childcare in the post-pandemic has not been easy but we are always thankful and appreciative of the communication and cautiousness that Goddard places on the safety of the students and teachers. I would encourage any family looking for daycare/preschool to explore Goddard!

Very sketchy place. They don't have a lot of staff who are actually experts in Early Childhood…read moreEducation. Mrs. Valentina has a bachelors in linguistics and is the Lead Teacher? I find that odd and weird. All this money this daycare wants you to pay yet it is troubling that someone in such a critical early education role does not hold a degree in Early Childhood Education. The Goddard School is not simply a time for play--it is a foundational academic daycare that supports essential cognitive, social, and emotional development. Educators in this space should have specialized training in early childhood development, instructional strategies for young learners, and knowledge of age-appropriate curriculum standards. A degree in Linguistics, while valuable, does not provide the pedagogical framework or developmental understanding required to teach effectively at this level. This situation raises concerns about the standards being upheld in early learning environments. Recognizing someone as "Teacher of the Year" who lacks a degree in Early Childhood Education not only undermines the value of that credential but also sends the message that passion alone qualifies one to lead a classroom. Passion is important--but it must be paired with relevant, formal education to ensure children receive the quality instruction they deserve.