A Heartfelt Thank You to Rock and Roll Daycare Northpoint - Especially Toddler B!…read more My son began his daycare journey at about 2 years and 2 months old at Rock and Roll Daycare Northpoint, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the very start, I loved the music-based curriculum. Music has always been a key part of how my son learns, so I wanted to ensure that continued in the classroom. As a mom who was fortunate enough to stay home with him and have a nanny for his first two years, the decision to enroll him in daycare wasn't an easy one. But, in a way, my son made that decision for me. He would watch the daycare kids playing and walking around, looking so eager to join them. That's when I knew he was ready. When I visited the facility, it was nice enough, but what truly made all the difference were the incredible teachers--especially Ms. Mae in the Toddler B classroom. From day one, she made me feel like I was leaving my child with a family member. She took the time to explain his day in detail, planned activities that helped him adjust smoothly, and showed such warmth and care that he quickly adapted to school life. Because of Ms. Mae's love and dedication, my son had a wonderful first school experience, and I am forever grateful for that. Our daycare journey was excellent because of her, and I wholeheartedly recommend Rock and Roll Daycare Northpoint--especially the Toddler B classroom!

Both of my girls spent more than one year at the Inman square location. And they loved their…read moredaycare so much!!! We love it for the following reasons: 1. The caring staff! Kids are well-loved at their school. My kids are very close to their teachers and it has been an unforgettable experience. 2. Kids learned a lot. They learned so many songs at school and they enjoy singing and dancing very much. And my older one learned to read books and do some challenging math problems. We didn't teach her much at home and it is amazing for us to what much she learned at school. 3. The center is well organized. All inclusive programs, no need to bring lunch and diaper. That makes our life so much easier. Every month there are kids' performance show and other events. 4. The musical theme is great for kids. The musical director Phil is awesome! The downside: the center is relatively small. But it didn't bother me at all. I am just happy to see two little happy faces everyday. My older one will start kindergarten this September and we are also planing to transfer my younger one to a nearby center. I am sure that they will miss their old daycare a lot! There will be lots of tears at the moments of saying goodbye.

Our experience with Rock and Roll North Point infant room…read more TL;DR- A place for kids to have their basic needs met and for parents to get updates. Not a place for kids to learn and grow developmentally, or feel cared for by their teachers. Impossible to build trust with them. - Teachers don't have a genuine interest in the kids. They don't like kids. Felt transactional (will feed, will shake crib to help fall asleep, will change diaper, but not much more). - They let kids CIO (they will claim they don't, but they actively withhold soothing and attention until our kid is calmed. I get that they have other kids to tend to so it's not always possible to meet every kid's needs right away, but both teachers watched on as they let our kid cry continuously on the floor for 45 minutes. I took screenshots with timestamps to escalate to the executive team). - Not surprising to us, they had a DCF allegation (not from us) and closed down the classroom for 3 weeks. Same teachers returned to the classroom, nothing from the director what they'll do differently or any reassurance to rebuild trust. - If the teachers don't care about the kids, there needs to be more daily structured activities besides 15 mins of music, otherwise the teachers are on their phones, chatting with each other, skipping walks when they don't feel like going outside. - Both teachers had been there less than a year. Had more years of experience as a cashier, customer representative, or security guard than as early childhood educators (a career change must start somewhere, but see above comments on a lack of genuine interest, not a good combo). - Both admin and teachers lied to us (they'd tell us one thing, what we saw on camera was another. Had to take screenshots again to avoid they say vs. we say when we talked to them) - No windows at the kids' eye level in the classroom. Blinds are drawn even not during nap time (depressing atmosphere, especially given how much time they spend there). - Subjective, but I felt the teachers were kind of rough when picking up and putting a kid down, seems to think the kids are a nuisance. - Director has their kid hanging around at the daycare before and after the kid's school, which coincided with drop off and pick up at the daycare. The kid can be helpful, handing out toys to the infants (a liability in my opinion), but was disruptive when you're trying to have a conversation with the director and they repeatedly want attention from their parent. This review was based on 10 weeks of experience in the infant class. I understand there are short-term and temporary challenges with any daycare transition, but what we saw and what I noted here are long-term concerns that didn't going away even after our kid got well-adjusted. Many of these issues being fundamental to the approach of childcare (how do you teach someone to care and like kids?) On top of poor teacher quality, the admin failed to manage and train them.

Plumfield Academy is everything we hoped for in a school - small classes that can meet our children…read moreexactly where they are academically, interaction with children of varying ages, and the kind of emotional support only a small school can provide. The staff at Plumfield truly sees the children and encourages and supports each one of its students' strengths and interests. They make learning fun while allowing ample time for socialization and outdoor play. Plumfield is a special place - whether your child is quiet or loud, sensitive or bold, artistic or sporty, there is a spot for everyone. The teachers are invested and I drop my children off every day knowing they are well cared for, safe, and supported. Plumfield allows its children to be who they truly are, supporting them wholly. My sensitive son's confidence is soaring and I owe every bit of his progress to this wonderful school.

We cannot say enough good things about Plumfield Academy. When my son was not excelling at the…read morepublic middle school we started searching for a school we could transfer him to that offered him a safe space to learn and be himself. I literally saw a sign, a lawn sign, and as soon as I pulled up the website I knew this was the answer. We went in for a day to check it out and participated in a class that asked us to write down emotions that were putting holes in our buckets. We then went outside and burned them in a fire pit. This was exactly the type of place I wanted my son to be. My son was stressed out about the grades and tests and homework at his public school. We loved that Plumfield doesn't "test" their knowledge but rather has them do narration for what they are learning, really thinking about and writing down or speaking what they've learned. Our son works through his math book at his own pace. Beyond the general academics Plumfield teaches scripture while allowing the children to share and have their own beliefs. I love that they do nature study, logic, and the arts (drama, music, acting, etc). And my son is currently working through 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens which he has very much enjoyed. We love the "nontraditional" approach offering our child broader, life oriented lessons. The teachers have all been wonderful and supportive. The director John is an honest, wonderful man who has developed a loving relationship with my son helping him through struggles in his life. Our son says Plumfield feels like a family. We feel incredibly grateful that we were able to find this gem of a school for our son to finish out his middle school years. He is working with Plumfield to apply to St John's Prep for high school and we truly believe Plumfield has offered him the best preparation for his high school career.

I attended this school from 2015-2017 as a middle schooler and wanted to acknowledge that after all…read moreof my schooling experience, this school is the one I appreciated the most. The impact Boston Trinity Academy had on my life was very unique, it cultivated an environment of faith and respect for others while still challenging me to dive deeper and find my own path. At 21, I can still recognize the importance of having these incredible teachers as a part of my life.

Don't be fooled by the building this amazing school uses for its rigorous curriculum. Our children…read moreare challenged daily, while also feeling loved and cared for by the staff. If you want your child to truly experience a diverse range of opinions and backgrounds, look no further. Other private schools of the same caliber feel much more stuffy and pretentious.

I just got back from one of the final events our son will attend at HSCS as a preschooler, and I…read morefelt compelled to share the great experience with others. Our son attended for 2 years, 1/2 days four to five days per week. We greatly appreciated the schools' approach to introducing the children to school and learning. As our son is an only child, we were especially interested in socialization aspects of school, and they do a really nice job helping children learn to socialize, follow rules, etc. without being too rigid. B. leaves school well-prepared for kindergarten and very much looking forward to it. Our son has several serious food allergies, and we also greatly appreciated the schools' approach to safety on this matter (it is a nut free school and they are very good about managing allergy issues). I especially recommend the school for parents of kids with food allergies. Business info at http://www.yelp.com/biz/hammond-square-childrens-school-woburn#hrid:oU2YXB3x3-2xehAI3O4JqQ

HSCS is a great preschool. My daughter attended this school for 3 full days a week for 3 years…read more My son attended for 1 full day and 2 half days for 2 years. I needed a preschool with extended hours to accommodate my work schedule. The best things about this school are the staff, their developmental, child-centered approach and the flexibility in scheduling. Both of my children have very different personalities and both flourished at this preschool.

My son attended Old South Preschool for his first school experience as a preschooler. The school…read morecame highly recommended by a trusted friend and it was immediately apparent that Old South stood out from many of the other preschools we considered. The classrooms are bright, open, and calming with quality materials used for play and lessons. The many "stations" curated and rotated by the teachers ensure children can feel comfortable choosing between their favorite activities or trying new ones. The kids are exposed to many themes and subjects. The focus on education is on building blocks for kindergarten. Kids are exposed to math and reading in a way that cultivated their curiosity. Weather, calendars, arts, nature, you name it! It's amazing how much is picked into the year. Our sons pride in his handwriting and creative creations was clear each day as we were welcomed into the classroom to review his work at pickup time. The school's emphasis on safe exploration of the city was another draw. We wanted our son to become a citizen of the city. A safe street crosser who observes and learns from his surroundings. Hearing from our son about the classes prep for their walks and then their adventures and lessons around the city was great. Finally, the staff and teachers were fantastic. The care and attentiveness they brought to the school daily was always top notch. They were always available to chat about a rough morning departure for school or other issue. Their ability to handle occasional hijinks was also impressive with the children quickly learning proper etiquette and behavior. Director of Old South, Carolyn, was very helpful coaching us young parents through some behavior challenges and through the kindergarten admissions process. All and all we would send another child to Old South and would not hesitate to recommend this school.

My son attended Old South Preschool during the 2020-21 school year. The year before, he attended a…read moredifferent, more local preschool (we live in Somerville), but that school chose to close due to COVID. Given the pandemic, we were scared to send our son to school at all, and it was even more nerve-wracking thinking about sending him somewhere new. Old South Preschool was recommended to us by friends, and being members of the church (the school is non-religious), our son was already familiar with the building. We decided it was worth the longer commute to have him in school somewhere we were all familiar with. We had no idea what an incredible year he would have. The staff took COVID precautions very seriously, and the school was open all year. Even with all of the extra safety measures, our son felt safe, cared for, and looked forward to school each day. The teachers--many who have taught there for over a decade--are masters at what they do (I am also an early childhood educator and was continuously amazed by their ability to relate to and motivate each child). Our son left Old South more confident, independent, and definitely ready for kindergarten. Old South Preschool was such a bright spot in this very bleak year. We are so grateful to Old South and could not recommend it enough.

I cannot say enough good about this program! The children learn through play in a variety of ways,…read morehave circle time where they sing and have a bilingual component, and they get outside for fresh air every day. Maribel has a loving approach to children and learning. She embraces creativity and nurtures the children in her program to play well together and care about each other. I wish I could give the program 6 stars!

Atrium School is one of those life-enhancing places. We've had our girls at the school for 6.5…read moreyears - since my oldest was in Kindergarten - and I couldn't ask for more. It's a truly progressive school with strong leadership, small class sizes, warm and wise teachers, and a school culture heavily rooted in kindness and true appreciation for a variety of learning styles. My daughter wouldn't have let us go somewhere else for middle school even if we had wanted to (which we didn't!) Worth a visit if you've ever even had a passing thought of enrolling at an independent school in the Boston area.

My child started at this school in Sept. (2012) and we can't say enough good things about our…read moreexperience. This is a progressive school with thematic studies. It's a very hands on approach with the appropriate support to the child's needs to succeed. The teachers are very aware of the emotional and educational needs of each individual student. They guide the student to think to come up with the answer of whatever challenge is placed in front of the child. I happened to run into an educator who is now in an administrative position of a well known Boston private high school. I asked him about his impressions of Atrium and he said the education these students receive is excellent and his school is always happy to see an applicant from Atrium because they have the tools needed to succeed. This response was in keeping with the high school placement of the Atrium graduates. From a practicle standpoint: In the morning it takes 12 minutes from Beacon Hill to get to the school. Excellent education, good student placement and convenient to those in the city and surrounding neigborhoods. This is a win,win, win for my child and family.