Child space is a wonderful and nurturing environment for a child to grow. It feels like a second…read morehome with its warm and friendly open rooms - so different from the hospital like enclosures of many daycares. Children get to have fun and be themselves while learning important values and habits. There is plenty of love and affection from experienced hands. Over 30 years old with wonderful ladies running the space for decades. This is a hidden jewel in state college. Mixed age groups are a plus as well.

From the owner: With a huge natural outdoor play space, small classes, mixed age groups, flexible part time…read moreoptions, and low ratios, we provide a small program where kids are loved and nurtured and encouraged to explore and learn based on their individual developmental needs and interests.

We started at Abba's House in January 2015 when my oldest was 3 months old. My youngest then…read morestarted in October 2018. We left the daycare in March 2019. Over our 4 years at Abba's I've seen 4 directors, each one fired or forced out by either the church or the business director. The teachers are all phenomenal and my oldest has learned so much over the 4 years. I give them all the credit! I think there is a huge disconnect between the director (every director) and the teachers. Communication between management and the teachers and the parents is awful. There used to be a Parent's Group that would fundraise for supplies for the teachers that the daycare was unable to provide, and they would also hold events for the children and families. The previous director, Lisa, wanted funds from the Parent's Group to purchase a curriculum for the daycare, something that the Parent's Group felt was a vital part to the daycare and should be purchased with tuition dollars, not fundraising dollars. Because she did not get the funds she wanted, she closed the Parent's Group's bank account and gave the funds to the president. Those funds were then used to purchase over $2,000 of classroom supplies for the daycare and the Parent's Group then disbanded. The latest director, Heather Roberts, has totally flipped the daycare upside down. I feel she's on a war path. Countless teachers have been fired, or have quit since she has taken over in September 2018, and dozens of families have left the daycare now. The number of children is dwindling that in classrooms that used to be full, they can now combine two or more rooms together and leave some classrooms totally empty all day. They are also needing to combine classrooms because they don't have enough teachers to cover each of the rooms. The director and assistant director are in classrooms all day, every day in order to stay under ratio. In December, we received notice that the tuition was increasing drastically. Tuition for my two children was increasing more than $120/month, a 7% increase. The handbook that we have states that the tuition increase will be based on the cost of living increase set by the government, which this year is 2.8%. 7% is a far cry from 2.8%. Over the past 6-7 months that Heather has been at the daycare she has broken/violated a number of policies set by the daycare and laid out in the handbook. When approached about it, they change the policy and send out a notice that it changed and the handbook is being updated. She feels she can do whatever she wants, whenever she wants. I wholeheartedly believe that they are using the huge tuition increase to help pay for the new indoor gym/dome. The tuition increase, unfortunately, does not go to the teachers and they deserve it! I have never agreed with the lack of separation between the daycare, C3 sports, and Christ Community Church. The tuition for the daycare should be remaining in the daycare to pay for things that the children and teachers need. Teachers are constantly purchasing their own supplies for their classroom. The director states that teachers are not expected to purchase their own supplies, but if teachers request things and they are denied due to lack of funds, their options are to either 1) go without, or 2) purchase it themselves. So, while they may not be expected to purchase their own, if you are going to deny them constantly then they will end up buying it themselves. It is very unfortunate that the administration at the daycare can't get it together. I feel their greed, unprofessionalism, and arrogance will push even more families to other daycares and they will not be able to stay in business. I would have loved to have my youngest at the daycare as well, and have my oldest continue there until she started kindergarten, but as much as I absolutely love the teachers, I cannot get on board with Heather and her mindless war path and her terrible treatment of the teachers. I cannot trust that policies will not change on a whim and I've grown tired of the greed from the church.

We had a terrible experience in another daycare in town and had to pull out our baby on the first…read moreday. Since we did not have our son on another waiting list and our town is notorious for a long wait for childcare we had to turn our lives upside down to arrange care while another spot opened. In this process other daycare places that seemed good also fell through and were inconsistent.with their enrollment availability. Finally a friend pointed us to Abba's House. We are absolutely in love with the place. The care, accountability and access is above and beyond. We are extremely impressed with the teachers in the infant room and how much love they have for every single child in their care. Their option of cameras throughout the day let's you check in on your little one and every single time you log on you see those teachers treating their kiddos with love, care and playfulness. We are very happy to remain with Abba's House for the long haul of our son's care. Special shout out to Carolyn, Brittany and Paula. They simply love what they do and it shows.

At first I thought it was ok then they give me a note saying the police will be at the daycare…read moreinvestigating car seats I thought really Then a week later driving home I get a call from CYS they said A report about locking my child in his room but when interviewed he said what happened he shut the door and it locked and he couldnt get it opened right away just pathetic Dont use these people unless you want trouble they told my child not to tell me he was talking to them! If you use them you will be sorry Their ignorant cop happy idiot who will bring you problems thier the people you despise !!!

I drove by today on my way to see a client and witnessed one of the daycare staff very roughly…read morepicking up a child on the playground and putting him under her arms like a piece of wood, I called and spoke with the assistant director who was very nice but I was shocked by what I observed

Hair services and eyebrow waxing services are affordable and well done. Nails are lacking due to…read moreminimal supplies. I recently went for a mani/pedi since I had gotten my hair cut there a few times and was satisfied with that. I paid $34 for the mani/pedi combo and they didn't even have a pedicure station...I had to put my feet on the girl's lap as she did them. Would definitely go for hair/waxing again, but not nails!

I am a recent graduate from Empire Beauty Schools and I wouldn't have chosen a different school, no…read morematter what state I live in. I'm from Georgia, and would have went to the same school there, but life circumstances led me here, and I am glad I went. Even with carpooling from Lewistown, once I got there, I found girls that I could ride home with, that lived in my area and we are still friends today. The staff is wonderful. Mrs. Natali is a great classroom instructor and if she doesn't know the answer, which isn't very likely, she will always make sure she finds it for you. Ms. Stacie is very knowledgable in the business aspect of the industry and can definately further your knowledge in the advanced methods that she teaches. She's very verbal with her explanations and in-depth as well. Mrs. Leah, coming through the school's education system, is now the salon floor instructor, which fits her bill. She stays up in all the latest and newest hair trends and will explore all those possibilities with her hands-on approach to learning. Mrs. Lorri, as the Executive Director, has all the knowledge of her staff, wrapped into one. She's been in the business for at least two decades and has worked in both Lewistown and State College, giving her the best idea in ways to continue not just your career but your education. Also, Mr. Schoeneman has a dedication to his students and staff by providing different workshops and Expo's, including the one that brings together all 103 offiliated schools together for competition and school spirit. Overall, I feel like I came for an education and left with a career and a life-long extended family. I LOVE what we do at Empire Beauty School!!