Choosing a pre-K school or daycare for your little one is stressful, especially when research has…read moreshown that the years before kindergarten are crucial for learning and development. Parents strive to find the right place where their child can have the best chance of success. Whether or not you adhere to the Montessori principles, Tree Roots Montessori (TRM) is a top-notch environment for any child. Here's why we chose TRM and stayed there for 3 years (ages 2-5): 1. The staff operates under a growth mindset. We experienced a positive relationship with Ms. Hulya and her staff. Ms. Hulya has over 15+ years of experience and demonstrates a desire to stay current and advance her professional development. She attends yearly workshops and maintains a curiosity for learning. When you find an educator with such deep passion for teaching, it makes a night-and-day difference for your child. 2. The setting is ripe for learning. It's obvious that everything at this school is designed to advance and elevate the students' learning experiences. This space is purposefully curated, impeccably organized, and remarkably clean. It continues to pass official health inspections by always adhering to their standards. Think of TRM as a daily retreat or sanctuary for your kids. 3. Intimacy yields social and emotional development. The teacher-child ratio is optimal (including Ms. Hulya, there are 2 additional assistants on-site). The small class size helped our kid develop deeper relationships with other kids and gain a sense of collective responsibility. As younger kids grow and progress, they are encouraged to provide mentorship for incoming kids. It's these relationships that emphasize social and emotional development, making academic achievements possible (i.e. reading, writing, math skills, etc.). 4. Mealtimes cultivate positive experiences with food. We wanted a place that stressed good nutrition and smart eating habits. TRM always has snacks on-hand (from Whole Foods) and follows a strict policy of 'no sugar or junk food' in lunches. Kids participate in setting the table and loading dishwasher, eating their veggies first, and helping with meal prep. These communal eating experiences and regular cooking activities also led to good dining etiquette and meal planning for our family at home. 5. Trust and transparency are key to everyone. Much of TRM successes are attributed to Ms. Hulya and her teaching philosophy. This is why parents must equally invest in developing a transparent working relationship with her. We found Ms. Hulya to be open to our suggestions, honest in addressing our concerns, and willing to provide reasonable solutions for any course correction. Her communication was warm and friendly; mostly done via in-person or phone call (sometimes via text message or email). Overall, we wouldn't trade our experiences at TRM for anything. Our child felt the support of educators who invested in his development within a loving environment. He now has self-confidence and social skills needed to transition to kindergarten. He has an enthusiasm for learning, creating the building blocks for academic success. He also discovered passions (like cooking and painting) that we'll continue to foster. We know it's not always easy to find the right learning environment for your child. Choosing a school can be a trial-and-error process. If TRM is a good fit, you will not be disappointed. Hope this review is helpful --- and good luck!!

My daughter has been with Tree Roots since she was 2 and is now 4. She will be attending until…read moreKindergarten because of how vital Tree Roots is to our lives. Not only has she had one on one education since the day she started, but she has grown so close to her school friends over her time here. Mrs. Hulya and Ms. Patti are two of the most kind, loving, and gentle teachers we could have hoped for. From gardening to swimming to fostering independence... the skills she has learned at her time here are beyond sufficient to build the strongest foundation for her future. I only wish every child had the opportunity to benefit from such an amazing institution.

We couldn't be happier with Camelback Holistic Preschool and wish it continued past preschool! The…read moreschool has been such a blessing to us, as we moved to Phoenix (from Oklahoma City) at the end of December 2017.  We were hoping to find a nurturing school home for our daughter and truly wanted a place that focused both on academics and a holistic, hands-on learning approach.  In addition, my mom has been a preschool director for over 30-years and has set the educational bar high, so we knew the questions to ask when looking for a new school.   Upon our first tour, my daughter and I knew this was the right spot for her Spring semester.  The class sizes are small, and the teachers are extremely nurturing; Emma Fominaya is an excellent director and teacher, and she truly prepares the kids for Kindergarten and beyond.  Both Emma & her husband, Terence, have poured their hearts, time, and hard word into building a school of high integrity.   Their food program is excellent, as they serve fresh, organic breakfasts and lunches to the kids.  They also incorporate the outside garden into the meals and include planting days with the preschool families.  We have had many opportunities to become a part of a supportive school community, and we have enjoyed getting to know the Fominayas and other preschool parents.   The before and after care is also extremely helpful, our daughter always insists on staying until 6:00pm--she absolutely loves her time at school and her teachers.  The schedule also goes year-round and doesn't follow breaks, which is helpful/important for working parents.  We also enjoy the consistency and the flexibility to map out attendance days, as we do a M/W/F schedule.   Overall, this school is worth every penny and an amazing place; we are so thankful we found Camelback Holistic...now if we can just talk them into offering Kindergarten, we never want to leave!

We have 2 children that attend CHP and it is a wonderful preschool! It is family run with teachers…read moreand staff being long time caring employees. It is a holistic education, with strong academics, lots of play, cultural studies, art, science, emotional intelligence, music, soccer, yoga, health, and the list goes on. The food cooked on site is organic and real food that the children enjoy. There are performances by the children, family events, holiday events, field trips, and more. Our oldest child has started K and was very well prepared coming from CHP. We are so happy we found this gem for our children!