There is a phrase that gets overused these days but is no less true in this instance: Game Changer…read more This school has been an absolute game changer for our family. We started with the preschool (which I encourage any family to try) and fell in love with the educational philosophy, the classmates and their families, the campus, and what our own family has become. If you are looking for a preschool stop your search now, it's absolutely wonderful. Continuing into grade school might be something to evaluate, but the preschool is a no-brainer.

I brought my children to Live Oak 20 years ago, moving to the foothills from Davis where my oldest…read morehad attended Davis Waldorf. She entered 3rd grade, my son started Kindergarten, and my littles were still... little. Since then, all four of my children graduated from Live Oak and have moved on to become heart-centered, insightful, intelligent adults. Through family ups and downs (including the loss of my husband), the Live Oak community has been the solid rock under our feet. In fact, my children often remark when they think of "home" or their "home town," they think of Live Oak Waldorf School.

My daughter has been enrolled here for over a year now and we absolutely love Emily!!…read more She had such a great connection with the kids in her care. My daughter loves her and looks forward to going here. This is a preschool only program, 3 hours a day. I can't express how lucky we are to have been able to attend this school.

Miss Emily gives Caring and Loving attention to each individual child. She provides educational…read moreactivities, celebrates birthday (in a Big Way) Her thoughtfulness to details is remarkable! My 2 grandchildren had pre-school and day care with Miss Emily and They were very happy to go to Miss Emily's every time. Outdoor activities in a safe, fun, learning atmosphere was outstanding. Plenty of things to play "with" and " on", plus, a little garden where the kids can plant seeds and watch them grow! Also provides healthy snacks and beverages. If You want a place that leaves You Happy and Content to Leave Your Child, Please Check Out Miss Emily's Apple Blossom Pre-School and Day Care

A wonderful enrichment education program for homeschooler. The director cares deeply for the…read morechildren. 3 of my children took classes there for 3 years. We would have stayed longer if we had not moved. The community of people becomes more like a family and the atmosphere is kind. Everything is project based and inspires a love for learning. I wish Juniper moved with us!

I strongly recommend Juniper Tree Enrichment Program for anyone seeking holistic learning and…read moreemotional regulation in a nurturing environment for your child. My daughter was in Juniper Tree from 2017 to 2021. She started Juniper as a replacement of a Waldorf school she had been attending. Looking back, the school director and teacher Yishan's combined approach of Montessori and Waldorf proved more effective for my kid's learning and overall development. The teachers' and staff's personalized attention to each child in a small group setting, a clean, relaxing and cozy atmosphere that comforts children to stay calm and focused, emphasis on children's emotional growth by teaching how to communicate are not what I could get in any other school including the Waldorf school she attended before. I feel privileged to have met Teacher Yishan since she changed the way my child communicates herself. She turns learning into fun each day where children truly learns and internalizes the subject and empowers each child to cultivate their self-esteem and communication skills. When I spot my kid in an emotionally charged situation, I remind her of what she learned at Juniper Tree and she articulates her feelings and reasoning even now after we departed from Juniper Tree. I am happy to see Juniper Tree growing each year. It will have to be since their educational philosophy and practices are genuinely beneficial for children.

The community at AM Winn is kind, welcoming, and open-minded. Every teacher is dedicated and…read morefantastic. This is the underdog of the area Waldorf schools - we are scrappy, diverse, and creative. We have been growing every year. I moved my children here from another Waldorf school, first feeling like it was a risk, but my children and I are so happy we made the move. The low reviews seem to be from people who don't understand what waldorf education is, and are upset their children aren't getting drilled and rigorously tested. Your children will get a good education here, not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. And the work may sometimes be disguised in song or helping the earth. Raising kind humans takes all those things.

This is a great school and a real community. It gets back to the heart of teaching and not just…read moretesting, and truly allows kids to be kids while reaching them where they are. Before switching my daughter from a college prep to AM WINN I scheduled a visit, did my research on the curriculum, and checked with some coworkers who grew up in a Waldorf education and found that there were so many beneficial aspects. The curriculum is based on what's appropriate for the age and fully submerges them in a subject. The kids learn actual life skills (think in the sense that most middle/high schools lost home economics, cooking, gardening, sewing, cursive, etc - these kids are learning it from K-8). All of the kids play an instrument each year. They transition through various handwork - finger knitting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. And after meeting several kids in the neighborhood I noticed they have such amazing temperaments and spirits and are so welcoming and joyful. I am truly glad that we found AM Winn as my daughter is blossoming in the Waldorf community and education approach. At first glance I believed Waldorf was something only "white, hippie people put their kids in" as I read some reviews on Waldorf education, but I was so wrong for going along with that belief, even if only for a moment. Consider that as adults we all learn differently and receive information differently - so why do we expect our kids to learn one way in school? AM Winn and the Waldorf approach reaches kids by incorporating every learning style. It's a holistic approach with a concern for the mind body and spirit of the child. They will not only learn about a culture/era, but they will build shelters, take a field trip to an exhibit, sing about it, write about it, draw it out, etc. Math is taught in a way for the kids to think through it in various methods, not just regurgitate information. It's age appropriate not where the district says they should be for their funding purposes. And I love that the school is VERY culturally diverse. Had I gone based on some of the school rating websites or testing sites I might have steered from the school, But I toured the school and fell in love. Some of the reports show that it's not diverse, the kids are far behind in subject matter, and it received some negative reviews - that I will say from my experience here that info is false. My daughter is multiracial, and she has a diverse group of friends that don't see color, she is just as knowledgeable in subjects as my step kids who attend another public school, thinks on a deeper level than they do, has developed a strong sense of empathy and justice for others, and we love it here. I've watched my daughter recover from some of the damage that her previous school did to her She previously attended a college prep school that I won't name but literally broke her spirit, and I've known many people who reported the same thing. The kids were expected to "slant" and sit perfectly still while others finished their work, she would get in trouble for READING in class or drawing because she wasn't slanting, and wasn't actually taught to work through a math problem only to memorize answers for timed lessons. There wasn't much play involved with only a tiny jungle gym in the parking lot - she didn't even have the coordination to do the monkey bars. Math was drilled in and time tested, without the proper attention for those that didn't understand. I had to make a change because my daughter who once loved school cried every evening and had anxiety with math. The college prep/common core was not actually taught in a way to solve the problem but merely to memorize and test well for funding. After making the change to AM Winn it was a drastic change in her. It took a moment for her to adjust but she loved it. She gets to be creative. She gets to be free. And most importantly she gets to be a kid- something that many children are missing out on in today's society as we push them to grow up quickly and test well. My daughter has become quite the artist, loves playing the guitar and singing, she's a great story teller and writer, an avid reader and reads 3 grades above her level. I say all of that to say this - just as everyone has their own taste in food, so too our children will have their own taste in learning. As a parent you have to allow them to satisfy that taste and not just force the norm on them. AM Winn might not be the best school for everyone, but for many of these kids a traditional public school that drills in information but doesn't address the heart of the child isn't the best for them. AM Winn reaches for their heart when material is presented and these kids WANT to learn because of it. So if you've made it through reading all of this it's because you're interested in the school and wanted a real opinion on it. I would say your next step is to visit and see if it's right for you and your child.

The high school is exceptional. The classes are small with faculty who are both incredibly well…read morequalified (many have PhDs or other terminal degrees in their fields) and are incredibly kind and caring. No one is a number here. Faculty and staff know students well and are very invested in students' intellectual and emotional growth. The school has a wonderful theater program and everyone who wishes to participate may. This is also the case for all other extracurricular offerings -- Speech and Debate, Athletics, etc. I don't think enough people are aware this wonderful school is here, and that needs to change. This is the kind of school that changes and enriches your life.

It'a an amazing school with great teachers and a beautiful campus! I go to school there and it's…read moresafe to say it's one of my favorite places. Any chance I get to stay after school I try and take.Love this school so much!

My family has been a part of the Camellia community for nine years. We have two children who…read morestarted in preschool and are working their way through their prospective grades now. The community is unmatched- loving, thoughtful, supportive. A lot of family members don't understand the Waldorf method of teaching and make jokes, but my kids are both strong readers with curious minds about every subject. They offer Spanish, choir, strings, and band as part of their regular curriculum along with gardening, movement, etc. The students are taught in a way that offers a depth of understanding that other schools simply don't have the time to teach. Rather than doing a written project about catapults, for example, they actually build one. We love this school and community and are confident our kids will be very well prepared for what comes next.

We really enjoyed the parent-toddler program here but it ended abruptly in the middle of the…read moresession because the teacher had to move to another grade. It has not restarted yet as far as I am aware. We looked into the preschool but they don't teach letters and numbers as traditional preschools do. They also have strict requirements such as no TV watching for the children except on weekends.

We recently had my daughter's 2nd birthday here. Naomi was a fantastic, attentive and sweet host…read more She made hand made clay Minnie Mouse's for our daughter's sensory bin. This space is truly magical. & your kids will love it! Support this local mom! There are stay and plays that you can attend on Friday!

If I could leave 6 stars, I absolutely would! We celebrated my daughter's third birthday here, and…read moreit was pure magic from start to finish. Naomi is truly an artisan when it comes to creating beautiful, imaginative spaces for young children. I was completely blown away by the setup, the activities, and the thoughtfulness that went into every detail--and all at such a reasonable price! I had asked for a Frozen theme without the overly commercial feel, and wow, did she deliver. The space was enchanting and perfectly tied into our theme in the most tasteful way. The mud kitchen, sensory station, painting area, customized scented play dough, potion making station, fairy garden, child-sized table with custom mushroom stools, teepee house... there was something special for every single child. Even my ten-year-old had a blast exploring the sensory play stations! What I loved most was how intimate and personal everything felt. Our guests couldn't stop talking about what a wonderful venue it was. Absolutely perfect for a three year old's birthday party. This day is something I will cherish in my heart forever. Thank you for making my girl's birthday so incredibly special and helping us create memories we'll never forget.

With right children and right parents, no other school is like Waldorf. Absolutely the best…read moreinvestment if parents seek children's happiness.

We have been a member of this wonderful community for almost 3 years now. I've been asked many…read moretimes "why did we leave our public school (which is an amazing school) to come here"? There are many reasons why we made the change. The art and music programs, the fact that the children are free to be just that, children (tree climbing here is a must!) and this wonderful and giving community but if I had to give you the most important reason why we love Cedar Springs it's our amazing class teacher along with the other adults that teach my daughter. Not only can I say without hesitation that her teacher loves and cares for her but so do all of the other teachers that instruct her during her school day. Now it's not because my daughter is their favorite student but it's because that's how they feel about all of their students here. That's pretty special to be able to honestly claim that. So if you want more for your child than what you are receiving now I suggest scheduling a tour so that you can see for yourself the magic of Cedar Springs.

There have been many days and times our children were being bullied at this school and the school…read morewas notified and did nothing over a 2 month time frame .then as a parent to our children if you spoke up about it they would prevent you from being on the campus and events Also our children at an age of 8 could not even read a simple sentence This has drastically effected our children to be able to attend a regular school they are so behind they will not need a special tutor and school to get them up to today's standards for school Please do not send your children there do not even think about it It will be detrimental to your children and hurt there learning for the rest of there life

Do not send your child here…read more While Waldorf education in principle, should embrace the whole child, and should include the child's academic learning and guidance thereof, this school fails. Our current experience at this public Waldorf school has been lackluster (with both children, one who has already graduated and was there for 5+ years). Upon graduating from this school, our oldest could not write a simple essay as an 8th grader, because it was a skill that was not practiced or emphasized. This caused lack of preparation for high school. Our current child's 6th grade teacher is a nice human being, but a lackluster teacher: besides often making grammatical typos in her online parent posts, and misusing the posessive apostrophe, she also seems to not understand that she is the guide and leader of the classroom: not the children. She is new to Waldorf as an educational style, so there is a learning curve, but she seems unable to control and moderate the noise levels in her classroom, for example, which causes children to not be able to focus on their work and causes them to fall behind. She allows students to choose to draw and do other NONclass tasks during class (instead of expecting and guiding students to focus and complete their classwork IN class). This then results in children falling behind grossly and having to cram their work in at home, unnecessarily causing stress. The teacher does not grade or "assess" in a manner that educators typically do- it is questionable if she actually looks at their in class work to determine if the class is following her lessons. This means she does not see whether the students are comprehending the math lessons, for example (so without an assessment metric, students easily fall behind without anyone noticing, since the assigned homework sent home is very cursory and remedial, and the end-of-unit assessment can easily be failed by a student and then she moves on). Why a student and class is allowed to fumble through a unit and it is only noted at the end of the unit, is a mystery. The academic portion of learning at this public Waldorf school is disappointing at best and underemphasized grossly (in our experience), and to us this feels like a disservice to the brightness and potential of the students. Our child used to love math and now hates math- because she is lost in it. We have had our children in both public and private Waldorf, for comparison- and have friends at Waldorf schools elsewhere. When we describe the lack of academic focus and lack of expectations and lack of assessment by our child's teacher at this Waldorf school- it is very much NOT in line with Waldorf philosophy elsewhere, and seems to not serve the students well. Our eldest child had a similar experience here- and as a warning, due to "looping", the same teacher stays or loops with the students from, say, grade 3-8. Do not send your child here.

We called at the end of last year to put our kids on the waitlist. We thought we were good. When we…read morecame in to tour the school towards the end of the day at the beginning of this year, we came in towards end of the day and waited for awhile until other parents were done picking their kids up. Then, we were told that we need to come back another time because they didn't have enough staff as some of them were sick. (That's fine but I wished they either gave us a call, as a courtesy, or told us right away to come back another time). We called them another time and were told we have to submit the paperwork to put on the waitlist (I wish they told us earlier) and decided to give them another chance and came back another time to give them our application for 1 of our kid. We knew the waitlist was long and came back another time to give them another application for our 2nd kid. As of now, we haven't heard back from them. Of course, we were lucky enough to find spots at other daycares who accepted 2 of our kids. However, we felt like we were profiled and ignored. That's quite unprofessional. I talked to another parent who had good experience with this daycare but we did not.

My daughter has attended there for almost 3 years, I love the "homey" feel. They are great at…read morecommunication, and it feels like family. They are accommodating to my daughters food allergies and other medical issues. I couldn't ask for a better preschool.