My son just completed his ninth year at Holy Cross (K - 8) and if I had to go back, I would…read moreABSOLUTELY choose Holy Cross again. School: There were realistic ups and downs which you will find at any school (and in LIFE!) I loved my kid's classmates and teachers. The other parents are supportive. The school (and the parish) has a working-class vibe to it (more working-class, less country club), which I am VERY comfortable with, because I come from a family of teachers, police officers, & firefighters. The student body is diverse (the outgoing 8th grade class was ~30% children of color). Scouting and band are our two favorite extracurriculars! Academics are the focus of this school. I am a public school teacher in Champaign, and I feel like a lot my time and energy is focused on behavior issues (which, unfortunately, leaves less time for teaching and learning). The kids at Holy Cross are still "squirrels" but they are not running the show. The Parish too... The biggest plus is that the whole family is now a part of a greater, Christ-centered community. We are a mixed-family: one protestant, 2 Catholics. We are known and loved, through our child, and through fun volunteer work for the school and the parish. It's actually changed my life for the better. When my kid was in Kindergarten I was a Catholic by name-only, and pretty-much living my life as an atheist. Without anybody hounding or harassing me, just by attending Mass and learning how to pray I've willingly come back into full communion with the church... and it's better than ANYTHING. (If you're on the fence, church is not about rules... it's about love and worship). Come on in! And make sure you volunteer for all the stuff... working together makes it feel like you're part of the family. : )

Bullying, racism, and even online harassment were often ignored, and it felt like little was done…read moreto protect students. While some teachers were great, others came across as unfair or disrespectful. The school clearly prioritizes the preschool and elementary grades over the middle school. Middle schoolers spend almost the entire day on Chromebooks but get old hand-me-down devices from the elementary students, who barely use them. There were also very few activities or privileges for middle schoolers, making us feel overlooked. The cafeteria was another issue. Finding hair in the food happened more than once, which was concerning. Overall, I hope the school starts taking student concerns, bullying, and fairness more seriously.

We truly can't say enough good things about this school. The education is exceptional, the…read morecurriculum is thoughtful and well-rounded--including generous time for lunch and recess--and the hallways are filled with stunning student artwork created over the years. Private school wasn't originally in our plans, and it's been a financial stretch, but watching our child grow and flourish here--thanks to the school's expert, compassionate leadership--has made every bit of it worthwhile.

The school did not treat my kid as I wanted it to. They don't know how to help kids in a…read moresituation. Every day my kid comes back crying.

Stale limited curriculum that teaches to the middle. Uninspired teachers who are minions to the…read morezero-personality principal.The place operates more like a minimum security prison rather than an environment to foster creativity, talent development and academic achievement. Oh, and the parents! Lots of snotty little soccer mom cliques here. Many don't even make eye contact if you are not in the "group." For being a Catholic school, you would think the environment would be welcoming and supportive. Quite the contrary. It is isolating and lacks all signs of inclusivness and hospitality. Because the office staff are kind and caring with the students, two stars are warranted.

From the owner: St. Matthew Catholic Church in Champaign, Illinois is here to help all of Christ's children know,…read morelove and serve God and the community. We offer masses, devotions, ministries, programs and organizations for you to enjoy and share with others. Our ministries and programs include:Religious education Continuing Catholic Development (CCD) Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Liturgy and pastoral care Social programs for youths and adults Kindergarten through eighth grade parochial school Please be sure to see our schedule tab for information about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and our Masses. Guests and visitors are always welcome to join us. Our goal is to educate and inform our children and all members of our congregation about how to know, love, and serve God.Please call us today to learn more about all our wonderful services.

This administration who run this school is horrible. There is little to no communication from…read morethem. I toured the facility. It is a VERY short tour there is not much to the building. I then and asked the "teacher" what the daily routine looks like. She didn't really have an answer. The first 3 hours the student gets to choose a subject, then lunch, and then the next 3 hours the student gets to choose another subject. Oh yeah, and they offer before and after school care. The playground (empty open field) is pretty good size. But there is nothing to do outside. My child attended this school against my wishes (mother made unilateral decision for our child's' education). I tried to get some info from the school regarding my sons' education. They literally provided nothing. The teacher actually told me, "we don't do that." I would like to believe that there are good Montessori schools out there. Montessori Habitat in Champaign, IL, however, is not one of them. Please treat your children right and keep them away from this horrible facility. Sincerely, Disappointed Dad

From the owner: The teachers at Montessori Habitat will guide and nurture your child's love of learning through…read morepurposeful, joyful, and often collaborative activities. Our school is located on two peaceful acres with butterfly gardens, vegetable gardens, and a berry patch. We serve children from age three through 8th grade.

I was a newly divorced mom when my 3 month old started at Little Hearts and Hands. My daughter…read morewould not take a bottle and I had tried everything I could think of. So I asked Terri and Macey and the wonderful girls in the Giraffe room for ideas and help. They all were so helpful everyday, Terri order every bottle she could think of to help my daughter. Macey helped with every feeding and Terri kept me updated daily letting me know how my daughter was doing. Finally, with all their help she took a bottle. I don't know how to thank them for all their loving and support.

I am writing to formally address a series of deeply troubling incidents that occurred at Little…read moreHearts and Hands, which have left me profoundly concerned about the safety of the children in your care and the professionalism of your staff, particularly the owner, Terri.I have generally had a positive experience with your facility, but recent events have been alarming. My daughter sustained a significant injury when a large, wooden fridge fell on her face in the gym, resulting in severe facial bruising and a likely concussion, as her head was forcefully slammed into the wooden floor. As a concerned parent, I sought to address this matter to ensure the safety of my child and others. However, when I raised these concerns with the manager, they were dismissed without adequate attention. I then contacted Terri, requesting access to video footage of the incident, only to be informed that the footage was "no longer available." Furthermore, the hazardous toy remained in the gym until I insisted it posed a risk to other children.Following this incident, the relationship with your staff felt strained, seemingly because I was assertive in prioritizing my child's safety. More recently, my other child was bitten twice by another child, with the second bite being significantly more severe. When I addressed this with the manager, expressing concerns about the potential for lifelong scarring, transmission of bloodborne pathogens, and psychological trauma, I was met with a dismissive response: "Well, it happens." The manager became defensive, failing to address the gravity of the situation.When I requested to speak with the director, Terri, I was told she would contact me. Instead, she confronted me in a public hallway at the daycare, in the presence of other parents, children, and my own children. During this encounter, Terri raised her voice, made baseless accusations about my character and personal life, including references to my divorce, and attempted to publicly humiliate me. Her aggressive behavior, including shouting defamatory remarks, was not only unprofessional but deeply distressing, especially as it occurred in front of my children. When attempting to disengage from the situation she followed me down the hall continuing to harass me in front of my children. I told her to stop speaking about the matter in front of my children and she yelled down the hall baseless & defaming accusations. Little Hearts and Hands claims to operate as a Christian-based organization, which makes this experience all the more shocking. As a parent and paying customer, I am appalled by this treatment and gravely concerned about the safety and well-being of the children in your care. If this is how a director addresses a concerned parent, I am left to question what may be happening behind closed doors. Consequently, I have withdrawn my children from your facility and will not be utilizing your services in the future.I strongly urge a thorough investigation into these matters, including the safety protocols at your facility, the handling of incident reports, and the conduct of your staff, particularly the owner. The dismissive attitude toward serious injuries, the lack of transparency regarding video footage, and the unprofessional behavior exhibited by leadership raise significant concerns about the integrity of your operations.

If only I could give *more* stars. This is a great center. If you're expecting a baby, get on the…read morewaiting list now! I feel sorry for other parents in other towns when I hear about the lack of good child care because we have it here in CU. Highlights include: *The teachers are all great, but the shining stars are Nina and Michelle in the Infant I room, Julie in Toddler I, Laura in Toddler II and Yildiz in Preschool I. They really love kids and the kids love them. Nina and Michelle are especially great in dealing with new parents who need advice. *There's a parent's committee for people who like to be involved in decision-making. It meets once a month. * The rooms are clean, friendly, full of toys. * While housed in a church, the center is not religious. My family is agnostic, there are Jewish families, Muslim families, your random assortment of Christian denominations... * The rates are fair and include two meals, a snack and diapers for the babies. As your kid moves up, the prices drop slightly. * Field trips for the older kids. * Each class has some kind of event two times a year where the parents are invited in to see some kind of production... ice cream social in Preschool I, a "circus" in Toddler II. Just a great center. You can't go wrong here. A+. They are open M-F 7:30-5:30. They are closed for holidays. The center is closed the week between Christmas and New Year's (you don't pay for that week). The center also closes for 2 weeks in late July/early August for deep cleaning and to give the teachers a vacation (you don't pay for those 2 weeks). Many of the teachers will babysit kids during the 2 weeks, however.

We have been at FUMCCC for almost 4 years now and have nothing but positive things to say about it…read more One of the first things that impressed me when we toured back in 2014 was when we were walking through the hallway, the Director said hi and knew the names of all the kids passing her in the hallway. From then on - we have always felt that the teachers and office staff care SO much about the kids that go there. They also have very high marks on ensuring the kids have a clean and safe facility for daycare. Another perk - the kids have lots of large motor space. In the winter, there is a gym for the bigger kids and a large motor room with lots of toys for the smaller kids. When it's good weather, the big kids go to West Side Park and the smaller kids have a nice outdoor playground to play in. I could go on and on...go check it out! :)

My daughter started at MSCU in their toddler program when she was 20 months old. She's now six…read moreyears old and completing her first year of elementary school there. We have loved this school at every stage--toddler program, primary, kindergarten, and now elementary. It's amazing to see how the environment and Montessori curriculum is helping her become both a strong, independent thinker and community-minded at the same time. The teachers are all amazing, and really care about your child and their needs and development. My daughter loves going to school here. When she comes home, she's excited to talk about the new things she's learning. I wouldn't send her anywhere else. Take a tour--you won't be disappointed!

We chose MSCU after checking out several other places in town. We loved the following qualities…read moreabout MSCU: 1) Teachers there were so friendly and upbeat. Many of the teachers have been there for many years and yet still have that "spark". 2) We loved the way kids learned in a very natural way. Montessori materials helped our DD learn how to read by age 4. Even today DD loves to read. 3) Community - we've met so many parents there who are like minded. I've found parents who are very committed to music, bilingual education and supporting local businesses. It's a very international and diverse community with wonderful food during the picnic! 4) Our kids can't wait to go to school. They actually look forward to weekdays when they get to be at school. 5) School is great at taking care of kids with allergies. 6) Beautiful rooms! 7) Mixed aged classrooms - our kids have grown so much as a result of interacting with other kids. 8) How neat and organized the kids are in class. Kids there learn to focus and learn how to take care of their environment. 9) Our kindergartener learned more space, planets, US History than most other 3rd graders I know. 10) Ms. Peat - she is the most amazing teacher in all of Champaign Urbana. She's been at the school for 20 years (very hard to believe) and still loves all of her little friends. I recommend checking out a couple of other preschools and then coming over to the MSCU and prepare to be wowed by the teachers.