I have been an educator for the past ten years. I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with…read moreBricks 4 Kids-Elgin. The program has a way to teach STEM skills in an appealing and productive manner. During the summer of 2015, our church (Second Baptist Church of Elgin) was looking for individuals to assist with our Vacation Bible School. In addition to the religious instruction, we have various workshops that deal with other aspects of young people's lives (i.e. Arts & Crafts, Improv, Music, and Cardio Fitness). Bricks 4 Kidz - Elgin presented workshops with 5-6 year olds, 1-3 graders, and 4-6 graders. I observed the session with the 4-6 graders. The young people were excited and engaged throughout the activity. After a short orientation by Ms. Palmer, the youth were divided into pairs. The youth were given a kit and written instructions to follow. It was amazing to see young people utilizing cognitive and non-cognitive skills in a thoughtful and interesting way. As the deacon assigned to the Youth Ministry, I am familiar with the students' academic abilities. The group varied in academic ability and socioeconomic status. We are grateful that Brick 4 Kidz-Elgin brought this invaluable resource to our children. I would strongly endorsed any school or community organization to utilize Brick 4 Kidz-Elgin. The young people continue to express their excitement about the workshop days and weeks later.

From the owner: Bricks 4 Kidz provides an extraordinary atmosphere for children, where we learn, build, and play…read morewith LEGO® bricks. Programs are built around our proprietary model plans designed by engineers and architects, all with exciting themes such as space, construction, and amusement parks. Our specially-designed project kits and theme-based models provide the building blocks for our approach to educational play. We offer activities for children ages 3-13+, including after-school enrichment classes, summer camps, holiday camps, birthday parties, preschool classes, and Kidz Nights Out. Contact us for more information or visit our website today! Email us to start receiving special offers!

Myra with Bricks 4 Kidz is so wonderful to work with. We found out about B4K at a Chick-fil-A B4K…read morenight. My children & my friends' children had a blast. I decided to incorporate B4K for our church fall event. About 150 kids got to rotate through several fun B4K activities. Thanks Myra for making our event so memorable for the families that attended our festivities.

We had a Bricks 4 Kidz activity at our after school program this year - it was my first encounter…read morewith the program and not only did the kids love it, I did, too! The activity was both fun and challenging and the result was a great lego cart that actually moved on its own with a small motor. Totally fun & engaging with great support from the team. I actually have already recommended them for my nephew's birthday party!

I went to watch Les Miserables by Schaumburg On Stage as I'd recently missed the national tour in…read moredowntown Chicago. Realizing that Drury Lane and Paramount had done their version a few years back and Marriott Theatre had done it a bit before that, I wanted to watch a live version in case I can't make the next big stop in Milwaukee. I watch quite a bit of theatre, both professional and amateur. Not sure why, but until this show -- I wasn't aware of Schaumburg on Stage which has been around since 2016. To my surprise, the quality of the production was similar in quality to other highly acclaimed groups like the District 214 all-district group (which recently did The Wedding Singer). Here were my thoughts on various aspects of the show: Staging: It really surprised me how many sets were used in the show and how they were fully functional. They were designed and painted well and items were hardly reused. They also did a very good job of quickly changing sets to make sure the showtime was kept to a reasonable length. Vocals: Two things I like about this. One is how they kept the complex harmonies -- which worked great in group songs. The overall balance lacked baritone and bass voices, but that's expected with younger actors. I also liked how they did not shy away from the challenge of the very high notes for male or female leads. They could have easily changed the key, but it's great to see them embrace the challenge. Orchestra: A bit smaller, not sure if it's due to space limitations or that's the way the school version is written. A bit more reliant on piano and common woodwind/string instruments than the full version. I did like how they played at a level not to overpower the vocals. Lighting and fog: I liked all the varieties of lights used. Not just in general stage lighting from the top, but also from lights on the side and spotlights. There were quite a bit of variations on lighting, which helped to tell the story. I did not like the excessive use of stage fog though, which tended to linger for more than a single scene. Overall, a great group to watch a show from. It's much better than the typical amateur group and prices are very reasonable. It's also great how they incorporate actors and actresses from all different ages and help them to build interest in theatre. Based on the quality of this performance, I can't wait to watch another show when they get a new digital microphone system.

The experienced people at SOS really see the value and potential in each kid. They are like family…read morein that they really connect and care, but they also hold the kids to a high standard and help them achieve it. This is definitely a step up from park district community theater in both production quality and experience.

I have my girls attend here and they love it. They especially love Ms. Shannon the new director…read more When she took the role she made lots of changes for the better and so many improvements to the center. She is a great leader and easy to talk to. She puts parents and families needs first and is welcoming to new ideas and concerns. She does a fantastic job as new director!

Shannon is a great addition as the new director of our daycare, and her many years of expertise in…read morethe early childhood education industry is noticed and appreciated. In the few months she has been with Kiddie Academy, she has made strides in bettering the center that include changes to the menu, and ensuring we have quality teachers for the kids attending. What sets her apart is her hardworking nature and genuine willingness to listen. From our own experience, parents can bring any concern, big or small, directly to her, and she gives you her full and undivided attention. She does her best to work with you and your family on whatever the matter may be. Above all, you can truly tell that she cares about every child. I only hope as time goes by that she continues to be supported and that she can continue to use her experience to progress the center as a whole

The staff and program are fantastic, but it's the directors who truly make the academy special! The…read morefun events and activities they organize for the children are amazing.

I sent my one year old son here for about a month before withdrawing him because I did not feel he…read morewas being cared for appropriately. First off, there is no communication here. If I wanted any information from the director or the teachers I needed to ask for it, and I often got different responses depending on who I asked. It felt like the teachers relied on the "Tadpoles" app as a crutch so that they did not have to talk to us. Moreover, I was upset at the number of injuries and incidents my son experienced here compared to his placement at another center. His very first day after attending, he came home with horrible diaper rash with open sores. The teachers tried to make excuses for this by saying it may have been because they were serving him fruit. This is ridiculous to me because we had been serving him fruit at home for almost a year at that point. He was constantly sick and had so many bruises, scrapes and bite marks from "incidents" that I was afraid his pediatrician would think he was being abused. It culminated in an incident where he had a febrile seizure in the classroom and the teachers claimed that they had no idea what caused the seizure or if it could have been prevented. They sent him to the ER where his temperature was found to be 102.7. They claimed someone had been holding him when it happened, so how could they not have known that he had a fever? We had also previously told them that he has a history of febrile seizures. As childcare professionals they should have known the signs of a fever and been able to contact us or administer Tylenol to him before the seizure happened. All in all I did not feel safe sending my son here, and I think the teachers and director did not do a good job either communicating or making sure my child was appropriately cared for. I am writing this not to hurt their business but to make sure other parents are able to make an informed choice when it comes to who they trust with their child's care.

We have had such an incredible experience at Kripa Montessori, and we feel so grateful to have…read morefound this school for our family. Both of our boys have been there since they were infants, and they absolutely adore their teachers and look forward to going each day. Ms. Ahmed in the infant room is truly exceptional--warm, attentive, and deeply experienced. It's clear how much she loves and cares for the children, and the consistency she brings has meant so much to us over the years. Our school administrator, Ms. Dharti, is equally wonderful. She is highly involved, frequently present in the classrooms, and goes above and beyond to ensure that both teachers and students have everything they need to thrive. Every teacher we have had has been incredible with our boys! What stands out most is the nurturing, supportive environment combined with a strong commitment to Montessori principles. The classrooms are thoughtfully prepared, and there is a genuine emphasis on each child's individual growth--academically, socially, and emotionally. We have seen our boys grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity in ways that have exceeded our expectations. We truly cannot say enough positive things about this school and would wholeheartedly recommend Kripa to any family looking for a caring, high-quality Montessori environment.

I think this school has potential. The owner seemed overwhelmed during my tour. It was also…read moreslightly unorganized but it still has potential. The students were diverse. I ultimately decided to choose another school.

Manager don't know how to communicate always Fake commitments. I won't recommend this location…read morebecause of director/manager Reply to comment: Thanks for quick respond on yelp hope you have responded this quick when we called Cadence Academy@carol stream around 20+ times (always ignored us felt like discriminating), emailed on carolstream@cadence-academy.com (no respond) and visited 2 times personally.

We absolutely love Cadence Academy! Our son started pre-school in winter 2020 and has loved every…read moreminute. The teachers and staff are extremely kind, welcoming and supportive. The Director along with the teachers, go above and beyond for all of the children. The love and dedication they demonstrate definitely does not go unnoticed. The design and structure of the space is filled with fun touches, from the little village in the hallway, to the movie theater and the adorable little kitchen area. Everything is always extremely clean and well managed. The Kidsreports app is very comforting. We receive daily updates which include photos, activities and a meal/snack log. This application also allows us to communicate with the teachers and director. Cadence Academy has not only provided a great space for my son to learn and develop new friendships, but has also become such an important addition to our family. We truly love all of the staff, but wanted to personally thank Ms. Jamie, Ms. Kristen, Ms Leonora and Ms. Julie for always taking such good care of our son...you guys hold such a special place in our hearts. I definitely recommend Cadence Academy for those with littles ones.

My kids came to this school from a home daycare. I found the Owners to be very helpful and…read morefriendly. In particular, Paul -- always gave my kids high 5s. Director Amanda is excellent and responsive. My son was in the Pre-K room there and my daughter in the 2s and then Preschool Rooms. Megan is/was the Pre-K teacher and I adored her. She was open and up front with the parents. Which is always appreciated. Paulina was my daughter's teacher for the majority of the time she was there and I miss her. She was sunshine. A couple of things I didn't care for: When we'd pick up the kids (at 4:15) my daughter's preschool class was often mixed in with the Pre-K class. And the same when we'd drop them off in the morning. At those times, I kind of felt like they were never doing anything....always running around playing but not doing anything organized. And by running around playing I mean that it came across as complete chaos sometimes. In the end the school did not offer Kindergarten so that is why we pulled my kids out. The school is pretty new, considering the ages of many of the places around here...so I think in time and when there are more kids there, that the kink I mentioned above may work themselves out.

My daughter attended from 3 months until age 2. We moved out of state. As I'm looking for a new…read moredaycare I realize how important reviews are. This school is amazing! I was so scared to put her in child care but I didn't have a choice and this school made it so much easier. The teachers are great you can tell that they really care about the kids. I cried on her last day. She learned as well as had fun.

We have thoroughly enjoyed becoming part of the Tutor Time family. As a first time mom and having…read moreto go back to work, I was anxious. The teachers and staff have put my mind at ease and they answer any questions I have quickly and thoroughly. They have been patient with me as I navigate being a first time mom and just figuring it out. You can tell that everyone that works there has a passion for child care and treats each child as their own. I highly recommend Tutor Time!

Our experience with this place was good up until my baby girl was moved to toddler class. The only…read moregood thing was that they have cameras so you see how do they traumatize your child. Toddler class is horrible. They care about nothing. My 18 months would keep licking her runny nose all day no one would care. She had a 102 fever one day they didn't notice until I picked her up at the end of the day. When I mentioned that to the school manager, her response was they can't go and check every kid in the class!. They would let her cry all day or give her a pacifier to shut her up. They don't have any knowledge or techniques on how to calm a baby down. One Teacher from toddler class should probably be moved to old kids class because she's very aggressive and doesn't know how to deal with Babies.

We are so grateful we found Greenbrook Montessori - I honestly feel like it's a hidden gem in the…read morecommunity. The most wonderful staff, great environment, and incredible value. Our child has grown leaps and bounds since enrolling!

Great school! Great teachers! My kids love to be there. They never want to leave when i pick them…read moreup. Glad that i found such a great school!