The admissions process is really getting the one star review. I can't comment on the actual…read moreexperience of having a kid in this school because after taking my deposit for two children and then talking at myself and my husband about how superior the school is and how there's a million year waitlist because not only is Waldorf education the best but this particular Waldorf is the only one in the Pacific Northwest to do this and that, and despite myself and my husband having ample experience and knowledge about various alternative pedagogical approaches including Waldorf, we felt the admissions person just didn't really want to know about us or our children. Our family has moved a couple of times for work and we've applied to many different independent schools in the most competitive systems in the country; NY, LA, SF and Seattle. They have gotten into most but not all. Never have I come across a school however that despite having checked in a couple times along the way, stating interest, and being told decisions go out in April and then April came and went and no communication, at all. There were a bunch of other strange lacks in communication along the way as well I just don't need to bother. For a school that seems to think they're community and respect based, for the first time in applying for schools I definitely felt like my deposit was just money they like to collect every year. I feel like it was a dodged bullet though, I have talked to others that had a similar experience. The campus is adorable though!

Bellingham has wonderful public schools staffed with committed teachers. A private school here…read moreneeds to offer something dramatic to make the financial sacrifice worthwhile. For us, it was the appeal of a rounded, rich curriculum that includes the arts as an intrinsic part of daily routines. Waldorf kids spend more time outdoors, have differently paced days with carefully established rhythms, and develop close relationships with teachers who honor and respect individual patterns of thought and learning. One of the high school principals in Bellingham once told me that he always spots the Waldorf kids at his school as they are often the ones that most easily converse with adults and they bring with them a unique kind of engagement and curiosity about the world. He said that they were some of his favorite kids to work with. We have seen a Waldorf education work its magic on both of our kids. Our older son thrived at WHWS and went on become a confident and successful student in public high school and now college (where he has created a classic Waldorf-type of major that combines his love of economics with art history). Our younger son is currently in third grade at WHWS and we hope that he will remain through 8th grade.

My sixth grader is currently attending FMS during a big transition year. This is the first year…read morethat every single student is issued a laptop. It is the first year the bulk of students homework is completed on the computer as well as most of the educational materials. In addition to these changes, there are also big changes in the faculty including the Principal and Vice Principal. To say that it a complicated year would be an understatement. Add to this the problems with social media and devices in the classrooms, the staff faces many hurdles that most of parents do see or hear of on a daily basis. Through these big change for the educators, staff, parents and especially student, I have been impressed that most things are going as well as they seem to be. I am pleased with the challenge and direction they are providing my child and we are doing our best to figure out the new tech issues right besides them. The school seem to be proactive in being inclusive and respectful. I hope this first semester is indicative of how the future of FMS will be.

I really enjoyed my lessons with August. I had taken lessons from other people in the past and he…read morehas a unique and refreshing way of teaching. This was my first time taking virtual lessons and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the setup worked! I especially appreciated the emphasis on playing by ear and not having to rely on sheet music.

I would not recommend this school to anyone who was planning on their 3+year old going there…read more If you want a daycare that masquerades as a Montessori school, this is it. They "follow the child" in a way that also doesn't help to guide, help, educate , or keep the child safe. After 6 months of our eldest being there, she said she was repeatedly being bullied by a child. I contacted the teachers, asked for help, and they said "it's normal childhood development." I said I would like them to keep an eye on it, they didn't. After more bullying, I talked to the bully's parents. They stated, the teachers had never even talked to them about his behaviors (You might be asking how do you fix something if you can't talk about it at home, the answer is you can't). The parents stepped in and it was better for a short time, but then he began to bully my younger child instead. The owner of the school, is too afraid of conflict, so she does not address bullying. She was completely unable to have a constructive conversation around a child's abusive behavior, AND she scares the other teachers away from those conversations as well. She also didn't address a random mom that frequently taught there, yelled at my 2 year old after the abusive 5 year old had lashed out towards my son. There is no reason a caregiver should yell at a two year old to the point of tears. I watched said 5 year old physically shoulder check, push down, and call my son mean names on the playground at various pick ups/drop offs. He also shamed him about being friends with his older sister and her friends that were girls, to the point of which he would not come into a woman's restroom with me (it was later determined the bully repeatedly called him a girl), my son was 2 years old, being bullied about gender is totally inappropriate. Yet, the school would not talk with me about a possible safety plan after all these incidents. The interaction with the mom "helper" (also friends with the bully's parents', below), was the last straw, despite family hardships we made it work without child care, rather than leaving our children in the unsafe environment with these people. I want to reiterate, I asked for a plan to help these kids at least 4 times, over the course of a year. I even offered to help find services to the other child's family. The owner gaslighted everyone involved, including her other staff members who had observed the situations. The other staff members confirmed that not only that the child was bullying, but that he was also stopping lessons for everyone in the class. The owner denied everything, until our exit interview, which she acknowledged the child was abusive and encouraging his younger brother to act in an abusive way as well. She had no plan to curb the behaviors. Do what you have to do for child care, but don't expect the helpful, safe, kind values they state. They can't uphold them.

We love Kelda, Skylar and the Gardenview community. They provide a positive, loving, safe,…read moreintentional and thoughtful environment for our children. The recent negative review/rant from an angry parent is simply not true and can be verified by many folks. Clearly this person is lashing out, possibly due to larger issues in their life, past and/or with their family. Personally attacking folks who invest 110% love and compassion into the community is innapropriate, borderline defamation and plain mean. Our family and friends Highly recommend Gardenview.

A full K-12 grade school. Solid leadership and great Christian teachers. A beautiful location of…read morecourse on the island. So much is offered without sacrificing the positives of having small class sizes.

From my experience, I do not recommend engaging in a professional relationship with the PTA…read moreprograms Director Lisa Nau. As a new clinical instructor, I personally have a great reputation as a PTA at my job, where I graciously accepted this opportunity to have a student! Lisa degraded all my time and dedication to this student, Blaming me as the primary problem for students lacking success in the field. It was a challenging situation for all parties, however my opinion is that Lisa was taking out other frustrations or pressures in life all out on me, as the scapegoat. I feel she manipulated student against me, affecting all parties to unfortunate negative outcomes . I was able to maintain professional conduct and power through. She sent multiple late-night texts, that I found inappropriate and concerning:

I should start by mentioning that I am currently finishing my bachelors degree at WWU, but ONLY…read morebecause Whatcom Community College did not offer the particular type of degree I wanted. Otherwise, I would have stayed at WCC! Sure, there were a couple of professors who were NOT my (or anyone's) favorite and could definitely use a review by the board, but you will get that ANYWHERE. I learned A LOT while obtaining a certificate and my associates degree at Whatcom, and I believe that you get out what you put in. If you put in 60% effort, chances are that you will only learn around 60% of what the professors are teaching, which, AGAIN, you will get anywhere you go. What you will NOT get from just anywhere are professors and advisors who take the time needed to help the INDIVIDUAL student, no matter where they are in life. There is also the fact that a lot of my current classmates are envious of the types of classes that I was provided with at Whatcom because all of MY prereqs contained some kind of useful skill and/or knowledge, whereas THEY are wondering how their "Ancient East Asian Civilizations" class is supposed to help them with their current major track. I'm not trying to say that WWU is awful or anything, but Whatcom Community College felt like home. The professors, advisors, staff, students, and EVERY single person that I came into contact with always went above and beyond and TRULY wanted to see me succeed. I felt like I belonged there, which I cannot say about my current school. Whatcom is honestly a very special place and so much more than "just a community college." It is a WONDERFUL, FRIENDLY place to gain a valuable education, and an even better place to help you believe in yourself. And that is priceless. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, WCC!!