I've been reflecting on my experiences at Nancy Ryles and wanted to share some serious concerns…read morethat I think are important to discuss, especially considering what I've heard from my brother and friends who also attended. First and foremost, let's talk about bullying. Both my brother and I experienced bullying from staff members, which is absolutely unacceptable. Adults should not make children feel unsafe. When I tried to bring this issue up with Arbow. Her response indicated a lack of awareness or acknowledgment of the problem. This is really concerning to me, especially for parents who are considering Arbow for their children. Another incident that stands out to me is when I broke my arm. It astonished me that neither her or the office staff contacted my parents after checking on me. They had no idea what had happened, and that's simply unacceptable. There's a reason school policies exist, and not following them can lead to much worse outcomes. It raises questions about how seriously the administration takes students' safety and well-being. Additionally, I've observed that some staff members are not as kind to students with disabilities. This creates an environment where these children may feel excluded and unsafe. It seems that complaints are often overlooked in favor of maintaining a certain image, which is frustrating. It makes me doubt whether anyone is being held accountable for their actions. The overall atmosphere at Nancy Ryles feels off to me. Upon entering, it seems students are not the primary focus. The cheerful tone presented by the staff sometimes comes off as insincere; especially with Arbow. Making it feel like students are viewed more as subjects to be managed rather than individuals with genuine emotions. I worry about the potential negative impact of such an environment on children's learning. While the administration might claim students are excelling academically, I recall a time in third grade when my struggles were downplayed. If parents are kept in the dark about their child's actual progress and rights, then it becomes too easy for the administration to manipulate the truth. Parents should be empowered to advocate for their kids' safety and well-being. Let's also mention the issue of diversity and racism. When I was at Nancy Ryles I n oticed a lack of diversity among students. Discussions regarding racism were often handled superficially, failing to address its historical context or present-day implications. This lack of understanding can severely limit students' awareness and empathy. It feels as if Monica Arbow cares more about the school's image over honesty and the well-being of its students. There needs to be a greater awareness of what's happening within the school environment, alongside a commitment to listening to students' experiences. Every child deserves a supportive, nurturing place to learn. My dad makes regular visits to Arbow, and both of us expect higher standards than what we've observed, especially compared to when a more compassionate leadership was in place. I've lost respect for Monica Arbow's title and just her as a person because she thinks being a principal is a power. Maia LaLonde · Former Student at Nancy Ryles and going into High School.

Had a blast here, loved the field days! bonus points because it gave me amazing wall ball skillsread more

My three kids have been attending LCS for the past seven years and have loved it. Every teacher…read moregenuinely cares about their students, and the admin is kind and communicative. Kinder through 6th grade has a cohesive curriculum for ELA, history, and math, and high school offers dual college/high school credit for science, math, and foreign language. The campus is huge with a full-size gym, a soccer field, track, and sanctuary. The elementary wing has its own library as well. I'm thankful that my kids have had a Christ-centered education and have made friends that are as close as family.

As an fyi, this school does not have a standard set of curriculum for use across grade levels, nor…read moreis it run by anyone with significant experience in education. This leads to tremendous gaps in achievement among students, across grade levels, despite hiding behind the veil of "accreditation". This also leads to a noticeable under-valuation of teachers, as they are the ones to jump through hoops in an attempt to meet every child where they are at. The administration remains blissfully ignorant in how they can make improvements to the quality of education at this school, but makes a good show of it in interactions with parents. Don't fall for the banter, and put your money towards a real, superior education elsewhere.

When I went to this school for all of elementary the principal and teachers said that if a kid…read moredidn't tell a certain situation (such as a mean comment) to the closest adult right away that would be on the child and the other kid wouldn't be punished, I was always scared of bullying and those things happened wayyyy more in this school then any other school I went to in my life.

Great staff and students. :-) Wonderful community with a great blend of cultural backgrounds…read more Awesome after school and district activities like swimming, softball, soccer and dance. Long term principal and teachers who are sensitive to individual needs of students while considering the whole class. My daughter goes to Kindergarten at Durham Elementary. I was probably more nervous than her about starting school and getting into the groove. The teacher has been great. The staff was welcoming and had a BBQ to introduce us to the school. The event could have been more entertaining but it served its purpose. Her father and I also attended a back-to-school night shortly after school began. I was able to learn a lot that night and sign up to volunteer. The school district cannot fund a permanent librarian at Durham so parents take turns filling in. I signed up for that and "monthly binder" duty. Durham has fantastic play equipment and a nice covered area. It is set back behind an old school house, converted to a district building in 1986. It has one of the largest Elementary School libraries in the district and every student has an IPad, even Kinders. I have really enjoyed the time we have spent in this Durham Elementary so far and I'm sure it will continue to be an exceptionally positive experience.

My son goes to High School here and loves this school. Quality teachers, classmates, coaches and…read morestaff.

constant noise still yelling in a residential. The funny remark on my review must have been this…read moresports school. Shows zero respect to the neighborhood. No one investigates this. Furthermore I think they make huge profits off of parents and children Even did sports during unsafe conditions with smoke air polution. This needs stopped Government needs to take this serious

I went to Sexton Mountain before, (now I'm in middle school,) and you either get a good or a bad…read moreteacher. My 5th grade teacher was bias and showed favorites and so did my 4th grade teacher. Parents think this school is so great... and the lunches SUCK! They gave me a moldy sandwich and I didn't notice it until my last few bites and I got food poisoning. I am so happy to be out of this school after so many teachers would tell their students to shut up. Not a great experience. If you are a student that goes to Sexton Mountain and you are reading this, I am deeply sorry and I am praying for you.

Fantastic school. I believe it to be the best school in the state. In particular, they have…read moreexcellent understanding of children's development, particularly for kids on the Autism spectrum.

My three sons went to Visitation years ago and now my granddaughters attend Visitation Catholic…read moreSchool. Visitation is a great community with amazing parents, teachers and support from the parish. The small class sizes and faith-based education are amazing.

I went to this school and they are so rude to the students. They claim to be a good "Christ like"…read moreschool but they don't care if you get bullied or beat up. They always loose my assignments and I have to redo them. The events are bad also.

Our oldest daughter started pre-K GIS this September. She is a rather shy child, so we are so happy…read moreto see how within a couple of weeks the teachers worked their way into her heart. She actually felt comfortable enough to sit in a circle in her class and sing a song on her own- something she has never done before. I love the things she gets taught and tells us about at home. Highly recommend!

I go to Mini's Playgroup on Wednesdays and Fridays with my son. We started going when he was 6…read moreweeks old and will continue until he is ready for preschool. Mini's is amazing and I whole heartedly recommend parents/grandparents/etc. to bring their newborn to 3 year olds for this weekly playgroup even if you don't plan on having your children attend the school. It's very relaxed and you can come to as many or as few playgroups as you want. We sing songs in German, read books, have playtime that includes fun activities and gym time, and more. It's a wonderful way for new moms to get out of the house in a controlled and clean environment. And I'm sure once the kids get a bit older, a great place to get some fun activities in without the mess at home. I've found it so helpful to get myself speaking more German at home to my little one and he LOVES going every week.

We sent our kiddo here and could not recommend it more. The loving community and play centered…read morelearning were exactly what we were looking for as a first school experience. Our kid has a love of learning because of her time here.

Literally the best 3s,4s, and kindergarten experience we could have ever asked for. Beyond grateful…read morefor the amazing, hardworking teachers and families who make the school what it is. A true community where all of our kids can learn and thrive.