Our 2 year old son was kicked out of school with only one week left because the staff suspected that he was autistic and that he had anger management issues. The requirements given by the school in order for him to return was to have a full assessment done and have a confirmation that he is not autistic or have a shadow provided by the state attend with him. My sons teacher barely spoke English so she literally couldn't tell us what was going on in class. When she did have something to say it was about how bad he was. She would do this in front of him, his classmates and in front of other parents. My son told us that the teachers assistant pinched him on one occasion and when we tried to talk to the teacher about it she didn't understand what it was that we were saying due to a language barrier. The Director of the school (Monica Duran) cannot complete a grammatically correct email on her own and was not at all the leader that a school needs. It is embarrassing that we were paying so much money for school only for it to be run by a group of people that cannot communicate in person or through email. Director of Operations (Barbara Fields) is very aggressive in how she speaks to parents. It's her way or the highway and anyone else's opinion is wrong. She told me on more than one occasion that my son was having a hard time, I had never seen her in my sons class and I had never seen her interact with my son and she was never in the room for parent/teacher meetings. To my knowledge this woman scheduled tours and collected tuition. When I tried to defend my child and his behavior (that had been backed by our pediatrician as normal and age appropriate) she told me that I was being combative. On my sons last day at this school he was sent to the office because he had accidentally hurt another student with a toy that the school provided. This toy clearly wasn't appropriate for them to have and should have only been used under direct supervision by a teacher or aid. He wasn't sent to Monica Durans office even though she was in her office, he was sent to Barbara's office. No one called me to come get him sooner or to tell me that he had been moved to another area of the school. When I went to the office to find my child Barbara let my son color all over his clothes and all over his body with a red marker that he still had in hand when I walked into the office. She also made my son wear the toy that he had hurt another student with as some cruel form of punishment. She told me that we weren't welcomed back to finish out the last week of school unless he was accompanied by a shadow (she then reminded me that it would cost me money to find a shadow and it would not be provided by the school) and we weren't welcomed back for the summer program until my son had a full assessment. This requirement was given on a Friday afternoon, so there was no way that this request could have been completed in time for my son to finish out his last week. He wasn't able to say goodbye to his friends or to his teachers. He missed out on end of the year celebrations and was completely cast out because of the opinions of these unqualified office employees. I immediately called Regional Center and they informed me that there was an 18 month waiting period and a waiting list of over 80 children. I did follow through with getting my son on the waiting list and we did follow through with the assessment. I contacted schools from all around PUSD to inquire about getting my son started on an IEP. When I told them about my experience with Sunrise they informed me that what they were doing was borderline illegal and was definitely a form of discrimination. They informed me that no child can be assessed by anyone that's not qualified to do so and also to be kicking a child out of their school under the suspicion that he or she has a disability goes against everything that a preschool should be offering (not to mention a Christian school!). This past Fall we were able to get a full assessment done for our son. The clinical psychiatrist told us immediately after the tests were complete that our son doesn't have autism or anger management issues and that he's a very bright and happy boy. I reached out to all the women in a Pasadena Mommies Facebook page and asked if anyone had any bad experiences with Sunrise. A former employee told me that she would never send her own children there. When I asked for more information as to why, she said because "the staff there says horrible things to the children" The screen shots are from an email sent by the Director of the school. This email was sent without any privacy clauses so I'm sharing it with you here to illustrate how incapable and incompetent the staff is at this school. read more

Sunrise Preschool - Preschools Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Sunrise Preschool is such a special place. The teachers and administrators are warm, loving, and so caring. Everyone says hi to one another and helps set up a welcoming environment for all the kids. My daughter started going about 3.5 months ago and has learned so many new skills and concepts, knows her teachers and classmates' names, and thrived immensely. Her teachers, Ms. Geselle and Ms. Mona, are wonderful. They give me feedback on she does each day and when she's mischievous, let's us know and shares how they have redirected her from this. It's a huge piece of mind knowing my daughter is in good hands at Sunrise and I would recommend this experience for other families. read more

I can NOT say enough about this school. My daughter has been going to school since she was three and she has learned and grown so much from here. I pick her up and she's singing the classroom songs she just learned that day. She even pretends to play preschool at home! My wife fell in love with this school. They have given my daughter a strong Christian foundation for faith to grow and they implement Christianity in their curriculum. If the school could only extend their grade levels, I would keep my daughter at this school as long as possible. read more

I have my Daughter in Sunrise Preschool. I have no complaints.I commend the Director for running such a wonderful program. The Lady's at the front office are very attentive and always grateful to help you. The school is very well organized & kids are watched constantly, that was a concern with other schools i visited. the teachers are very nice and the program is excellent. My daughter loves her teachers. My daughter has learned and grown a lot. I like that the teachers do not baby my daughter, it is not a babysitting service, its a program to get her ready for school. I do wish they offered K-12 !!! My son will go to Sunrise Preschool without a doubt !! if you are thinking about taking your kids to a great place, go to an Open house at Sunrise Preschool,......I Did ! read more

Sunrise Preschool - Preschools Near Me - Pasadena, California

I used to recommend Sunrise Preschool, and my son's first two years here were great. Both of the former directors, Janine and Margo, were caring leaders, and they did a great job establishing a welcoming school environment. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. This September, I withdrew my two children from Sunrise after less than a month of the school year due to horrible experiences with its new director, my dislike of their newly adopted workbook-focused curriculum, and the overly-rigid structure of the TK class. After observing my son's TK class a handful of times to try to better understand his anxiety, his struggle to maintain focus and to control his big emotions, and his newly developed dislike of school, I was saddened by the overly-rigid and controlling TK classroom environment. For example, during snack time, talking was strictly prohibited. The two snack tables even had assigned "table captains" whose job it was to shush people when they forgot the no-talking rule. The teacher explained this practice by saying she wanted to make sure everyone had enough time to eat snack, but I think children should be allowed to converse during this part of the day. Allowing children to interact and engage in authentic conversation is beneficial to the socio-emotional development of preschool children! Especially since a large portion of their 3-hour TK day consists of teacher-centered instruction and worksheet completion. Another example of the overly-controlling environment in the TK class, were the rigid rules and constant redirections of students during free play. For example, two girls who were creatively (and safely) pretending cooking utensils were magical wands were told that they had to pretend to cook in the kitchen center. What a way to stifle creative thinking! In addition to my dislike of the overly-controlling environment of Sunrise's TK, I was also disillusioned by my interactions with the new director. Unlike the previous directors and my son's previous teachers, the new director was unable to redirect my child when he was making poor choices. He did not respond well to her authoritarian approach and demands, and he started to either act out or shut down when she was around. He dreaded going to school. The change of his perspective of school began after the first day of school when he refused to throw his snack away. He didn't like the school provided Cheez-it snack and wanted a different snack. His consequence for refusing to dispose of his snack was being sent to the director's office for 45 minutes. He missed recess (his favorite part of the day) and other classroom activities. I was eventually called to the school to make my child throw away his snack, which I did. While I agree that my son should have followed his teacher's orders to dispose of his snack, I believe that the consequence for his poor choice was extreme and clearly failed to redirect the undesired behavior. I am a kindergarten teacher and can think of a myriad of better ways to handle this situation, especially on the first day of school! The director made her negative view of my son evident with snide comments such as the time she expressed her utter shock that my son had a good report card in his 3 year-old class. She also hyperbolized situations or blatantly lied about them at the expense of me or my son. For example, she documented an incident of my son "kicking" another student, but the same incident was described by my son and his teacher as tapping a child's shoe with his foot while he was standing in line. Obviously, I understand that touching other students is unacceptable, but I also value accurate accounts of my son's behavior. One example of an untruth the director told me is when she said my son's previous teacher told her that there was an aide who spent the school day shadowing and monitoring my son the previous year. The director told me that a lack of a shadow must be the reason that he was acting out in TK. Since this was news to me, I later talked with my son's former teacher about it. She told me that my son did not have a shadow. She did mention, however, that when there were three teachers in her classroom in previous years, there were less behavior issues. One of the many changes the new director made to the school was increasing the student-teacher ratio. There used to be 3 teachers in the 2 and 3 year-old classrooms. Now there are only 2. After switching to Bethany Christian Preschool, both of my children's attitudes towards school dramatically changed for the good. The school is truly play-based and has staff members who clearly know how to redirect undesired behavior in a loving and successful way. My children are now excited to attend school. My son no longer has school anxiety, which is reflected in his happy disposition and positive teacher reports. I'm grateful that we decided to leave Sunrise, and my only regret is staying as long as we did. read more

We loved Sunrise Preschool! It was the perfect place for our family to start at. Very welcoming & loving staff and teachers. Everyday when I would pick up our kids they always wanted to stay longer. They would come home everyday with artwork, projects and educational and religious papers. As a busy working mom...the flexibility on the hours was key for me. If I had clients that needed to see property last minute I would call Sunrise and they would let them stay as long as needed. We loved sunrise! read more

My husband called and made sure that they will take our daughter when she turns 2. (She is now 1 year old). He then scheduled a tour for me to visit. When I arrived, the director told me that they cannot accept my daughter by the time she turns 2 because her birthdate missed the cut off date, and that I will need to come back next year to tour the school with her. I asked if I can take the tour now because it was not easy to find time with my busy work schedule and long commute. Even after I expressed that I need to leave soon because of other appointments, she made me wait for the other family that came later. While she's sitting in her office doing nothing. When she finally came out to take me and the other family to see the classrooms, she told me that she will only show the 4 year old classroom to the other family, and that she will not show me the 2 year old classroom because I did not bring my daughter with me. First of all, they lied about taking my daughter in when she turns 2. If we had known, we wouldn't even schedule the tour. Not only they wasted my time taking time off from work to visit the school, and then made me waited there when she wouldn't even show me the classroom. She could've tell me when I asked! I walked away and will never consider stepping back into this ridiculous organization. read more

My son attended Attended Sunrise and Oneonta coop nursery school for the month of September ( I missed the deadline for the tuition reimbursement when I decided to switch preschools). By the second week, my son clearly preferred Oneonta Preschool. His exact words were "I don't like to go to Sunrise because it's hard to find friends and the teachers only talk to you a little bit, at Oneonta I have lots of friends and the teacher talks to me a lot." He would cry every time I told him it was a Sunrise preschool day. His crying concerned me because he's such a social butterfly and makes friends where ever he goes. I really feel like his emotional needs were not met here. When I brought it up to the teacher, she was kind of dismissive which irked me. I have a degree in child development so I almost felt like she didn't understand the emotional needs of a child feeling insecure about his environment. I don't think they had the means to give the children more individualized attention because the teacher child ratio is way too high. I believe it's 18 students and 1 teacher and 1 teacher's assistant. On a positive note, this facility was very clean, safe, and organized. This is a very "commercial" type of preschool. They have childrens music playing outdoors and indoors (which seems to more " background noise" than purposeful music), they color dittos, and do crafts... I just want more for my child... I want a school that nurtures the creativity in my child. If you are a parent who thinks socio-emotional development is just as important as cognitive development, this may not be the school for you. read more

My 3 year old loves it here in Mrs Stephanie's class. He is always excited to go to class rather than stay home. They really seem to keep the kids' minds stimulated. When I pick him up he typically has artwork he wants to show me and he will tell me about what they learned about today with topics ranging from alphabet letters to dinosaurs. I also think the classes have been good in teaching him about cooperating and sharing. read more

This Christian based preschool is the best! The playground area is amazing and huge. The classrooms are very organized and the bathrooms are squeaky clean. They have quality teachers that deeply care for the children. The Director, Mrs. Heidi Morgan, is very attentive and loving to both of our children. She recognized our 4 year old son's advanced academic skills (both reading and mathematics) from day one. She pays attention to each and every child. That's what we call a quality educator. It takes a lot of hard work and energy to run a preschool, but when you love what you do, it shows. Thank you, Mrs. Morgan for being who you are. Shout outs to Ms. Salisian, Ms, Jiji, Ms. Barbara, and Ms. Rebecca for being so wonderful and kind. Their beautiful smiles make our day. Our children always looked forward to go to school in the morning and they seemed content and happy when I picked them up in the afternoon. We truly appreciate everything they have done for our precious children. God bless Sunrise Preschool! read more

I am so happy that my daughter goes to this school. Such wonderful caring staff, great facilities and the perfect mix of lessons and play.

Caring, Compassionate, Community, and Clean! My wife passed away from cancer last year and the love and care that all of the teachers/ staff have given my girls (ages 2 & 4) has been truly amazing and an incredible blessing to my family. During a time of extreme sadness for my kids and myself as well as lot of stress for me, the Director and teachers have showered us with kindness and helped us with our transition. I've learned a lot from the teachers on how to become a better parent and frequently adopt the techniques they use at school. I was having trouble with my 2 year old listening and her teacher went to the public library over the weekend to check out books about listening for me that I could read to her. My 4 year old's teacher is an integral part of the "good job" jar that we have at home to promote "good decision" making. Sunrise is also very well organized and clean/ hygienic (the kids wash their hands before class begins). I don't consider "well organized" to mean strict with a lot of rules- Sunrise is very accommodating, understanding, and it is a place that has rules and guidelines to ensure ALL kids can learn, play and have fun in a safe environment. There is a very strong sense of community with the families. Sunrise is affiliated with the Church and they teach Christianity in the classrooms but much more importantly, they teach Christianity through their ACTIONS and by example for the kids each and every day. I've found everyone to be very welcoming, respectful, and accepting of all faiths and backgrounds. My wife was raised Buddhist and during her last months of life, the Director did such an amazing job comforting her with open arms. Since attending Sunrise Preschool, both of my girls have excelled socially, playing, sharing, and interacting with other kids; as well as academically, learning the alphabet and numbers, drawing, coloring, telling stories, singing, etc. Everyone at the school takes an enormous amount of pride in what they do and always look for ways to improve the school. Since it's just me now, I am very vigilant to make sure that my girls are well taken care of and I am very impressed with the teachers/ staff who are always responsive and very accessible. Most importantly, my girls are happy and look forward to going to school every day to see their teachers and play with their friends and I feel confident that they are learning and given lots of love in a safe and caring environment! read more

I'm writing this review because my family has had a great experience at Sunrise Preschool for the last 3 years. Sunrise has wonderful teachers and a very nurturing environment for kids. They have accommodated all my son's needs starting when he joined at age 2 years and have gone above and beyond to make sure he is well- settled and enjoys being at school. The school itself is well-maintained, clean and has a spacious and lovely outdoor play area. The school's previous directors, Jeanine and Margo, and the current interim director Jiji have been kind and extremely accommodating of our family's needs. We have had nothing but great experiences with all the teachers who have taught our son, and are truly grateful and appreciative of their support. A special shout out to Mrs. Stephanie, Mrs. Carmen, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Snyder, Mrs. Elby & Mrs. Enecken - these special teachers have nurtured our son for the last 3 years and made sure that he had a great learning and play environment and enjoyed his time during school. We have enrolled our second child to join Sunrise this summer. We love Sunrise Preschool. read more

This place does not believe LGBTQ families can be christian. Today I called this preschool to see if they have space this fall for my 3 year old twins. I followed up by asking if they are opening and affirming as I would want my children to attend a school were their family is celebrated. The woman who answered the phone said they do not discriminate against any families. I then followed and asked if they read books that support all different sorts of families and teach from a place of inclusion. She said, "we are Christian and teach from a Christian perceptive." I then asked, "do you believe LGBT parents can be christian?". She said, "we as christian believe that a family is for a father and a mother." I politely said that i was surprised and consider myself a christian, please cancel my tour. I'm not writing this review demand a different perspective but I am writing to inform the families that are considering the school to be aware of their views on families and inclusion. read more

I spread the word about this wonderful school/haven/home as much as I can. I am so happy that my two children have grown up in this environment. This review is really about the nurturing staff and teachers, but here is a quick summary of the rest. Facilities: Spacious, clean, clean, clean, and fresh. Shaded play area! Materials: Lots of resources, books, toys, crafts. Great academics, my kids knew their letters and numbers very early on. For my children, I can notice the difference made by really focusing on communication and social skills. Faith based: My kids come home singing praise songs and knowing Bible characters and stories. I am most impressed by how the staff and teachers are unfailingly kind, polite, warm, and patient. After having compared and contrasted with other schools and programs, those whom I have met at Sunrise have made a lasting impact on me. As a newer parent, I have learned so much from what they have modeled. Children can thrive here. My kids are smiling! Their classmates are smiling! I have always trusted that my children were in the hands of very capable and loving people. We have met and maintained many wonderful friendships with teachers/staff/parents through this school. The close knit community is one that I have missed since the kids are growing up and moving on. God bless. Keep up the good work, Sunrise! read more

Both of my kids attended Sunrise Preschool and we could not have been happier with our experience at the school. For each kid, this was their first experience outside of home care as my husband had cared for them all day previously. My daughter started at 2 1/2 in the older 2s/young 3s class with Mrs. Snyder and stayed through TK. My son started at 2 with Miss Galán and went through PK with Miss Diane. My daughter loved her classes so much, she'd cry when it was time to pick her up. She loved being at school. Both kids truly enjoyed their Sunrise experiences and made some wonderful friends in the process. We were thrilled with not only the subjects our children learned, but also with their enthusiasm for school and outdoor activities. When my daughter started kindergarten and our son was still at Sunrise, she would come back from time to time and was always lovingly greeted by her former teachers, even those who had her when she was 2-3 years old. This is our first year without a child at Sunrise. My husband and I were very sad when this time came because of the loving care that they always received. Our family will always love Miss Galán, Miss Stephanie, Mrs. Snyder, Mrs. G, Miss Wu, Mrs. Elby, Mrs. Doctorian, Miss Diane, and Mrs. Leticia. read more

We LOVE Sunrise Preschool. This is the school that shows and teaches my kids love, care, and respect. Sunrise balances play and academic. So kids get to have fun and enjoy being kids while growing in both mentally and academically. My two kids started from 2 year old class with Mrs Galan, Mrs Stephanie and Mrs Hanna. They are so loving, caring and detailed. They helped my both kids potty trained, they worked with us to have a plan at home to follow through the training. They are also kind and loving that helped my kids ease their transition from home to school. For 3 year old class, we have Mrs Snyder, Mrs Gurguis, Mrs Elby and Mrs Damaris. Mrs Snyder always has fun ideas for kids to start in the morning. My kids learned to use scissors, hold pens, experience different drawing method and materials. Everyday, they brought home their creation/art proudly. They also learn and practice good manners and healthy lifestyles. They know when to say Thank you, Welcome and Excuse Me. They know where to put their coat, backpack and they know to go to restroom and wash their hand before and after eating. For 4 year old class, my son has Ms Diane, Mrs Doctorian and Mrs McCoy. My son is a very shy and sensitive boy. He prefer to stand in the back and always nervous about everything, and Ms Diane was able to guide him through his shyness and helped him come out off his shell. He still shy but now he became a happy boy and able to express his feeling through words. He can looks into people's eyes and greet them with proper manner. Moreover, academically, through Ms Diane's creative method, he recognized all the alphabet and some words too. My daughter has Miss Wu, Mrs Eniken and Mrs Mallon for her 4 year old class. Miss Wu's class is FUN!!! One day, my daughter learned about how you breath air through your nose and air goes into your lung. Miss Wu have each kid built a respiratory system with straws, paper pipe, clear bag their own. Everyday, they have something fun and educational in their class. Beside class teachers, afternoon care also filled with amazing and loving teachers. Mrs Rawda, Miss Sidney, Miss Carissa, Mrs Cathleen.....I hope I didnt miss anyone.They have different fun activities everyday, indoor and outdoor. At Sunrise, they even have mist system at their playground. Moreover, office staffs are kind and professional. Ms Jiji, Ms Rebecca, Ms Barbara, and Mrs Margo. They are so kind, friendly and loving. To sum up, I am truly grateful for all the teachers and staffs, my kids love to go to school, everyday and they have so much fun in the past three years. They know they are loved by their teachers and they grown from babies to happy, confident and healthy toddlers. I wish Sunrise has elementary school that my kids can stay and continue their education. It is very hard for us to leave but it's time and we will definitely go back and visit everyone! read more

This school has wonderful facilities- it is clean, the rooms are spacious. But don't be fooled by the appearance. The staff is not caring. They do not nurture the children. They expect the children to be 100% independent with their personal and hygienic needs, and refuse to even help clean a runny nose!!! When I leave my daughter at a preschool, I like to think she is being cared for and not left to fend for herself. Even though this is a preschool, the staff expects these children to behave like mini adults... it is appalling as a parent and disturbing... read more

What a joy it has been to be a part of the Sunrise Preschool family! Our daughter joined the young 2-year-old class midyear and has attended year round, 5 days per week since. She is now 4 and still thrilled to go to school each morning. The core program is age-appropriate yet challenging and I anticipate that she will be well prepared for Kindergarten when the time comes. The campus is safe and the staff provide a loving, Godly environment for the children. As a family with 2 working parents, we are blessed to know that our daughter is well taken care of and treated with care and respect. The extended care is convenient for those who need it regularly or on an as-needed basis. Also, on days that there is no official school, childcare is provided (at additional cost), yet another plus for working parents. All in all, we are happy with our decision to come here!! You will be too. read more

Sunrise Preschool is a gem of a school where children are nurtured and lovingly cared for in a Christian environment. I have had the pleasure of sending three of my children to Sunrise. My children's teachers have been knowledgeable, experienced, caring, and fun. Beyond learning Bible verses and Sunday School songs, they teach God's word and they radiate His love. The director, Mrs. Sagherian, does a wonderful job of running the school in an organized way, and has always had an open door for me to chat with specific questions or issues that I have. She is warm and welcoming, and despite holding what must be a stressful and busy position, she always seems to exude a sense of peace and calm. The facility itself is clean, safe, and orderly, with a variety of toys and activities (both inside and out) that are well-kept. Their structure and routines are well-established throughout the school. Academics are taught in a balanced, developmentally appropriate way. In my experience, the teachers work to provide extra support or accommodations for those children that need it. One of my children has a severe, life-threatening food allergy, and his teachers went above and beyond to make sure that he was safe. I always felt comfortable leaving him in their competent hands. Beyond their normal daily activities, my children have enjoyed some special activities like visits from a mobile petting zoo, firefighters and fire engine, and participation in the annual Spring concert/show, which is a special evening event held in the large sanctuary of Paz Naz church. A "perk" of this preschool is the fact that beyond the standard 9-12 hours, you can have your child come early or stay late on an as-needed flexible basis (for an extra charge). As a parent with multiple children, it has been so convenient to be able to have my preschooler stay late occasionally, so that I can attend to the needs of my other children. You can also have your child stay for extended hours on a regular schedule if need be. This is my youngest child's last year at Sunrise. It will be difficult to say good-bye to this lovely, sweet place that has been the source of many happy memories for our family! read more

My son went to preschool here 9 yrs ago and my daughter 2 yrs ago. Both spent two years here. My initial observation was that teachers were so strict and the children seemed like they little lemmings. Boy was I ever wrong! They do strictly enforce a routine in the classroom but these teachers are all very loving. Both my kids were very shy and it's very easy for them to disappear into the background. However, the teachers have always worked on having a connection with the children. These teachers aren't paid welt to do what they do. They are there because of their love for children. The school is clean and very organized. No fundraisers at this school!! They make the tuition fit everything they need. In my opinion, tuition and registration fees are steep but how could we put a price on quality care/preschool? My kids graduated from sunrise with a good foundation in Christ and in their skills/talents. I highly recommend you check this school out. The director has been there over 20 yrs. she is always very patient and kind. She is also a wealth of knowledge when it came to me deciding to start K or hold off a yr. to them it wasn't about the money, it's what your child is ready for. read more

All 3 of my children attended Sunrise Preschool. They were more than adequately prepared to enter Kindergarten after their time at Sunrise. Academically and socially they grew exponentially. They also received a strong foundation for their faith in Jesus as well. The staff is amazing. They love their jobs and it shows. It's a very uplifting place to be. Even though we are no longer at Sunrise, I still feel part of the family. I can't count the number of moms I've run into at soccer, dance class, or even the grocery store that I met as a result of attending Sunrise. Everyone I reconnect with shares fond memories of our time there. If you want a preschool, and am amazing community of friends, Sunrise preschool is the place for your precious children. read more

My son has been attending Sunrise for 2 years, he loves it, runs in everyday! the teachers are very caring, when my son when home sick his teacher called later that day to check in and see how he was feeling. The school material is age appropriate and he's learning a lot. read more

Both my daughters attend this school currently and one is moving onto Kindergarten. I can write a book about all the amazing things about the school. The most important thing as a parent is for your child to love their teacher, environment, and education. Both my kids LOVE to come to school every day and even ask to stay. After interacting with the teachers and the rest of staff, I realize that they genuinely care about the kids and provide a healthy curriculum. As my first daughter is moving on to Kindergarten the genuine, I am going to miss your daughter comes true their hard work and dedication. As I said before, I can go into the details, but I came here based on reference, and I would be glad to refer anyone to this preschool. Definitely 5 stars! read more

I am so happy that the original director of Sunrise has returned. After the debacle of the last direction, I know the staff and parents are excited about attending Sunrise again. read more

NAPPING IN SHOES is practiced in this school. 2,5 hour extended daycare naps are taken with kids put to sleep WEARING SHOES under the excuse of unlikely event of emergency alarm being set off during nap time (in the words of their current manager in charge Jeanine, this has never happened in the actual school, but the church next door had some kind of mishap with microwave last year and they had to evacuate the kids during nap time too). I would have really appreciated this school lets parents know they have implemented this pretty unusual, unethical (and disgusting) practice before I put my child in this school. They have been sneakily practicing this for the past 10 years clearly not looking for any viable alternatives (like wearing sleep socks or comfortable slippers while napping) to avoid this archaic practice. What else is being done because they have large classrooms and deal with large number of kids..? Where is common sense gone? They should at least make parents who use their extended day care program with napping - aware of this. Not cool and opt out. read more

My daughter loves Sunrise Preschool! The teachers are attentive and caring with the kids and responsive with the parents. The two year old class teachers have definitely helped my daughter make the transition from unstructured daycare to a school setting. I am continually impressed by the words, songs, numbers, and concepts she is learning. read more

Clean, organized and safe. On the rare occasion that I had a concern I felt my concerns were heard and addressed. I couldn't have been happier. I would have sent my second little one when the time came had we not moved out of state. Sunrise will always have a special place in our hearts. read more

There are excellent and caring individual teachers, our child benefitted from one last year. However, the headmaster very much controls this school down to the details, and has effectively driven many students and their parents out of this school with her authoritative manner. If you and your child need or desire a tightly controlled environment, this is the school for you. If you or your child have an independent streak, go elsewhere in the Pasadena area for preschool. read more

Searching for the right school for your children is a difficult choice. My experiences over the years have been superb. The teachers have all been there for many years with low turnover rates. The classes sizes are about 12-20, it increases with grade level, and teacher/student ratio is low. I love that the kids bring home projects and artwork daily. They sing, read books, and play outside on a covered playground daily. They truly care about the kids, both emotional and academic performance. My child is very prepared for kindergarten and has met some great friends at the school. The teachers will also help potty train your kids which was so helpful for me. Finally the director is amazing and greets you with a smile everyday, it is so refreshing. All of the staff are fantastic, schedule a tour with Sunrise to see if it's a right fit for your family. read more

This is our second preschool. Our daughter (now in 1st) went to Pasadena Christian. This is our son's second year here at Sunrise. Though I agree i too have witnessed some of the teachers lacking an amount of empathy for the children who are having a rough time adjusting to leaving mom (mine had horrid separation anxiety), after speaking with Ms. Margo (director) things immediately improved. I also agree with a previous review that the director is an iron fist BUT what wasn't mentioned is that she puts the children first! If a parent has any issue, be it with another student, another parent, a teacher, etc. Ms. Margo is totally open to hear your thoughts AND totally open to finding a solution that works for everyone. All but one of the teachers my son has had so far have been so very warm, loving, happy! Of all the preschools I toured, this is the ONLY one where the teachers were actually SMILING and laughing with the kids! ONLY one! And I am not sure what happened with the one reviewer, but yes the teachers DO help the students with runny noses, potty, hand washing, etc. until the child can do it themselves. Though they do expect the children to be fully FULLY potty trained. But then, by 3 there is no excuse for diapers anyway.. I am excited to see how his transition into kindergarten will be next year. Our daughter, had a horrible transition. Pasadena Christian did NOT prepare her at all for kindergarten (even though her last year was a pre-k prep class) I do feel my son is already surpassing my daughter in certain abilities needed for kinder and there is still 6 months left of preschool! I fully trust these teachers and the facility. That is really all it comes down to, what YOUR feeling is when you walk through the school and meet the teachers. Everyone is looking for something different. I do know that the discipline here is a firm but caring approach which works best with most children. I am a performer. I performed for the preschool and the children were in awe. Quiet, amazed and waited till the end to ask questions. I the went to my daughters 1 st grade class in a Catholic private school and was ridiculed. The teachers were in NO WAY effective at getting the students to calm down and be respectful. Could be age, could be lots of things but I was amazed at what I saw at Sunrise! read more

Our son has been attending Sunrise Preschool since he was 2 and a 1/2 years old. He is now 5 and in his transitional Kindergarten year at Sunrise. We are going to be very sad to leave as he begins kindergarten next year. From the very beginning of our experience Sunrise preschool exceeded our expectations. The director, administrators and staff are all very kind and caring. Our son has enjoyed each teacher and aid he has been in the care of. They pay attention to details and their program has a lot of variety and depth and especially now in Transitional Kindergarten, we feel confident that our son is more than prepared to face Kindergarten. The teachers really take the children under their wing and love them. They communicate often with parents and are accommodating to individual needs. On top of everything else we are impressed with, one of our family members has been facing a debilitating chronic illness the last 5 years and the staff have always been genuinely concerned about this situation and have helped to support our child through a difficult season. We are blessed that we had the opportunity to attend this preschool and I highly recommend it. read more

Sunrise has been an absolutely wonderful place for my two boys. We came to Sunrise after hearing about it from a family friend and I feel so fortunate that we were lead here. To begin, the facility is impeccable. Large and clean classrooms and bathrooms, plus a wonderful playground that is safe and well maintained. Next, the staff is hands down the best around. The majority of the teachers and classroom aids have been there for over a decade and it is so apparent that they love what they do. A few things that I think really sets this school apart is that they take the health of our kids very seriously. Food allergies are not brushed off or ignored but each classroom has strong established rules to make sure everyone is safe. If a child comes down with a contagious virus beyond the normal cold, families are informed! It is a reality with preschoolers that they get sick and instead of allowing it to spread like wildfire, we are notified so we can be on the lookout if our child comes down with symptoms. There is also no "fundraising" so what you see is what you get with tuition and they also have great options for extended hours. For our family, we love and appreciate that they are also providing our kids with a solid Christian foundation. All of the teachers my boys have had always stressed the importance of making good choices and having a big heart that is filled with God's Love. Lastly, our oldest son, who is now in 1st grade, was so well prepared for kindergarten. The Advanced Pre-K program is exceptional and truly prepares your child for the higher demands that kindergarten requires. If your goal for a preschool is to mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually prepare your child for kindergarten...then this is definitely the place. read more

My son had a wonderful experience at Sunrise and we are excited for our daughter (still only 14 months old) to eventually have the same experience in the future. His teachers were very nurturing, greeted everyone by name and with a genuine smile, cared for the children and prepared them for the next step in their education. He learned so many wonderful things there and always asks to go back and visit with his old teachers. A tour of the school really helped us make our decision when we were considering a few different options. And, I think the new director is a truly wonderful addition! read more

Best pre-school in the area. Wish they had 1st grade available.

My son attended Sunrise Preschool for one year. We are switching to Pasadena Christian Preschool for his second year of preschool based on four weeks of summer school @ PCS. I pre-warned the director & teachers at Sunrise Preschool that my son is very active. They didn't seem concerned-then school started. My son has a sensory processing disorder so he is VERY active-the teachers did their best and were open to suggestions, however, it is probably not the best place for children that are highly active and have trouble sitting for long periods of time-consider yourself warned. Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Tsai and Mrs Leticia were very caring and loving despite my little sweeties energy and activity level. It is great for kids that are very compliant and quiet. The school is very structured and systematic. Find the school that fits your child. Don't try to squeeze a triangle into a circle! It's painful for everyone. read more

As my daughter heads off to college, I've been thinking about the great start she received at Sunrise Preschool! She began her academic journey in Mrs. Annie's class and has loved school and learning ever since. Mrs. Annie and other teachers who were there 14 years ago are still at the school! That speaks volumes to me about how dedicated the staff are and how much they enjoy what they do. Sunrise gave my daughter the foundations she needed academically, socially, and spiritually. It still provides a loving Christian atmosphere to each child and family. I appreciate that learning is not just academic but also all the social development that happens during play time is encouraged. I appreciate that the Bible is taught every day as showing the best way to live. If you are looking for a wonderful preschool that holds traditional Christian views as the standard, values guided play and exploration, and provides amazing after school programs, this is the place for you! read more