The founder of Bay Language Academy, Essia Bouzamondo-Bernstein, is an incredible woman in my book!…read moreShe started this business as a way to help others since language is one of the most important ways we connect with one another. My youngest son has been taking Mandarin for about a year now and he just loves it, which amazes me since he's usually so particular, but he adores his teacher (even the new one) and the curriculum is both engaging and interactive, which has helped him retain what he has learned. Now my oldest is also taking the same class, and his review of his first day was "awesome!" This is a high quality program at a very reasonable rate. Your child will benefit so greatly from learning any of the many languages they offer (I know they offer French, Russian, Korean, Spanish, etc.), and even you and other adults would also greatly benefit to learn a new language or refresh an old one. Lastly, their location is just breath-taking as they're situated within the Harbor Bay Business Park that oversees the tranquil ocean and beautiful San Francisco skyline, which is just icing on the cake.

My daughter loves taking French classes there!read more

Our family has been part of this school community for 5 years, and we feel so lucky to have found…read moreit. Our COVID baby started here at just 4 months old and had the same favorite daycare teachers for 3 years before moving on to a year at their preschool. That kind of continuity is so rare and made such a huge difference. She became deeply attached to her teachers and was truly loved by them. She never had the stress of constantly changing rooms and adjusting to new teachers every year like kids often do at larger childcare centers. Now our youngest daughter is lucky enough to have the same amazing teachers who helped raise our oldest, which means so much to our family. In all the years we've been here, there has been zero teacher turnover, which is honestly incredible in childcare. You can feel that loving stability and warmth every day. Happy teachers = happy kids. The daycare also has a newly built infant room, which is beautiful, safe, and perfect for babies to nap and play. I love that the children can also join in for circle time and fun outings to the backyard playground, local parks, and even the beach. It means a lot to me that the kids are regularly walking or riding in strollers to explore the world around them and feels like a wonderful extension of home life while I'm at work. The food is another major reason we love this daycare. Breakfast, hot homemade lunch and dinner plus snacks and cow's milk are all included. As a parent, it's amazing to drop your child off in the morning without packing anything extra and know they'll be fed healthy, delicious food all day. Since both of our girls started there as infants, the daycare helped teach them to eat solids and developed their love of Asian food. When our oldest was just beginning solids, they made healthy baby food like porridge and tomato egg dishes for her. They continued introducing more healthy foods and different flavors, including rice, tofu, vegetables, noodles, pasta, and fresh fruit. I'm so grateful they were never stuck on a bland or processed "kids food" diet and instead learned to enjoy Chinese food and a variety of other cuisines from a young age. Pam, the owner/director, is caring, responsive, and clearly dedicated to the children and families. The daycare is also very clean, with a no-shoes-indoors policy, and the communication through the Brightwheel app is excellent -- we get lots of great photos and videos during the day. Academically and developmentally, this daycare also gave our oldest a strong start. She was well prepared for TK, already knew how to write the alphabet, numbers, and her name, and it was so meaningful to see her understand and interact with people in Mandarin during our family trip to Taiwan. For the Bay Area, the tuition is also a very good value considering the quality of care, homemade food, low teacher turnover, and the loving environment. We recommend Alameda Mandarin Daycare & Preschool wholeheartedly

Cannot recommend this daycare enough. Our 1st kid attended from 18 months to 5 years old, and our…read more2nd kid has been there since he was 6 months old. The teachers are truly amazing and care deeply for the children. Our Kinder still goes back to greet them during Lunar New Year and brings flowers for Valentine's Day. They welcome him with open arms and are always so happy to see him. The provided meals and daily outdoor activities are what I cherish most! They take daily walks to the park and beach, and even took the kids on a field trip to Safeway once to learn about nutrition facts on food items! I always enjoy hearing about their days. They also upload pictures on an app for parents to view. As both full-time working parents, we are so so thankful to Pam and the teachers for their love & care for our kids. A big plus is the wonderful parent community within the daycare. Lots of play dates, birthdays, and happy hours to be had.

Alameda Montessori Children's House (AMCH) is truly a special place, and I cannot recommend it…read morehighly enough. When our family was deciding where to enroll our son, we visited many preschools. While we appreciated something about each one, none felt quite like the right fit. Some classrooms were too large, some environments felt chaotic, some teachers seemed less engaged, and others felt more like daycare than a preschool with a thoughtful curriculum. Then we found AMCH, and it felt like a dream. From the moment we walked in, we noticed the difference. The classrooms were beautifully organized, warm, and child-friendly. There was a wonderful sense of calm throughout the school, and the teachers were welcoming, kind, engaged, and genuinely happy to be there. We immediately knew this was the environment we wanted for our son. Needless to say, we chose AMCH, and I could not be more grateful for the experience. Watching our son grow and thrive there was incredibly rewarding. The staff provided him with structure, encouragement, and, most importantly, so much love and care. What makes AMCH especially remarkable is its staff, in particular Xina Laoshi and Ms. King. This dynamic duo is truly exceptional. They provide a wonderful bilingual Montessori-style curriculum while creating a classroom environment that is calm, engaging, nurturing, and joyful. They have an incredible ability to connect with children and meet each child exactly where they are. They put so much thought and effort into getting to know each child as an individual. They truly learn who your child is--what motivates them, where they may need support, and how they can help them grow. You can see this firsthand during parent conferences. It is clear that they genuinely know your child, and their developmental assessments are incredibly comprehensive and thoughtful. They provide detailed insight into each area of development, which made us feel that our son was truly seen and understood. We saw the impact of that care even after our son graduated from AMCH and started elementary school. We were so proud to see how well prepared he was. He was thriving academically and transitioned successfully. The hardest part for him was leaving behind his beloved teachers and friends. Xina Laoshi was incredibly thoughtful during this transition. She welcomed him back in the afternoons with open arms so he could spend time with his old friends and even told us that he is always welcome to visit. That gesture meant so much to our family. She truly made us feel that we would always be part of the AMCH family. The communication from the school is also outstanding. We received weekly updates recapping what the children had been learning and what was planned for the following week, along with weekly photos that gave us a glimpse into our son's days--learning, exploring, playing, and having so much fun with his classmates. The amount of thought, time, and effort that goes into keeping families so informed is no small feat, and it truly does not go unnoticed. It is clear that these updates are created with genuine care and intention, and they gave us such a wonderful connection to our son's experience at school. As parents, it meant so much to feel included in his learning and to see all the little moments that made his days special. Another unexpected highlight was the food. The meals provided are fresh, healthy, and delicious. They gave our son opportunities to try foods he otherwise might not have been willing to eat, and we loved seeing him become more adventurous with what he ate. More than anything, what stands out about AMCH is the genuine care and love they give to every child. From the lead teachers and classroom helpers to the cook, Vincent, and everyone else who contributes to the school community, every person plays a part in creating such a warm and nurturing environment. They care not only about the children, but also about their siblings and families. You can feel that this is a community built around supporting the whole family. AMCH is so much more than a preschool. It is a place where children are nurtured, encouraged, respected, and genuinely loved. We feel incredibly fortunate that our son had the opportunity to spend his early years there. I cannot recommend Alameda Montessori Children's House enough. I sincerely hope other families have the opportunity to experience the warmth, care, and magic of this school. AMCH will always hold a very special place in our hearts--it is truly a gem.

ACMH is an exceptional school led by Xi Laoshi, a dedicated and talented Montessori educator…read more Xi Laoshi has created a positive and loving environment where children learn how to respect themselves, one another, and their surroundings. All of the staff are extremely patient and skilled at helping children process their emotions. Guest teachers come regularly to teach mindfulness, art, and martial arts. The classroom is bright, inviting, and filled with a rotation of interesting activities, and the outdoor space is large and filled with vegetables and fruit trees that the children help plant, care for, and enjoy. Lisa NaiNai prepares the most delicious and nutritious lunch for the children with a menu sent out at the start of each week that would make any fan of Chinese/Taiwanese food want to partake. My daughter came home everyday excited to tell us about all of the interesting things she did that day and excited to show off her math and Mandarin reading and writing skills. We feel so lucky to have been a part of this community for the last 1.5 years and could not recommend it more highly for parents seeking a school where their children can thrive!

Great after school Chinese program. My son loves it here. They even offer after school pick up.read more

good and the reason why it's 4 stars it's because some of the teachers are strict especially the…read moreWednesday 104 teacher 1 to 3pm she yells at us to be quiet

Huong Viet has been a great opportunity for our kids to learn Vietnamese language and culture in a…read morelow pressure environment. The school is welcoming of all kids and parents no matter how much language ability they might have! As a bonus the school emphasizes community and shares cultural events with families, which has exposed me to festivals, traditions, and foods to celebrate with our family. Highly recommend!

My oldest daughter has been going to this kumon center since she was in 1st grade and my other 2…read morestarted even before they went to elementary school. Kumon has definitely built a solid foundation in both math and reading comprehension that is shown clearly with their academic results in school. My oldest struggled with reading comprehension and really benefited from the additional work from kumon. The kids don't like kumon but Ms. Jackie has been amazing, working with us to find a happy medium that will works both for the kids and I. Thank you!

I contacted Kumon because I wanted my kids to continue learning over their summer break - I didn't…read morerealize it was a long term program until I met with Ms. Jackie to discuss their assessment results. Initially I was weary of signing them up since I wasn't looking for something long term, but it really was the best decision for my kids! Since enrolling, my children have gained confidence in both English and Math, have far exceeded their grade levels and both qualified for nationally ranked gifted programs. Not only is the curriculum helpful but I really appreciate Ms. Jackie. The more I interact with her, the more I see her passion in helping her students succeed. One time I was waiting for my kids when a former student (now attending Stanford) came to visit Ms. Jackie and thanked her for helping him succeed - she told him not to thank her but to be proud of himself for working so hard and that HE did it, not her. I notice that she speaks similarly to her other students. Another thing I appreciate about Ms. Jackie is that she looks at each of my kids individually and really works with my family to ensure my kids have the right amount of work. Thank you Ms. Jackie and Kumon!

I'm happy to share a much more positive update about Yu Ming Charter School's after school program…read more This week, my son was accepted into the program, and I couldn't be more relieved and grateful. I especially want to thank Principal Amy. She is truly sweet, caring, and attentive. She saw me today and made sure to ask if I received the acceptance email, which meant a lot to me. That level of thoughtfulness and follow-through is exactly what parents hope for from school leadership. While I was initially disappointed and frustrated with the process, I appreciate that things worked out and that my son can continue in a familiar environment with people he knows. This stability means the world to both of us, and I'm grateful to Yu Ming for making it happen.

It saddens me to say that this school definitely has a negative vibe to those of us who are not of…read moreAsian descent. It seems as if it's always the same Asian women leading the same school activities year after year, AND they seem to take their roles a bit too seriously. These women need to relax. You are JUST a volunteer. Based on experience, little things here and there, they add up to definitely giving one a feeling that they take care of their own (if you know what I mean). Academics are strong, but socially this school fails miserably. By diversity, they mean white mixed with Asian. Hardly any brown or black. But they sure do focus on taking pictures of our kids to put on their headline pictures. For parents who are choosing a Mandarin immersion school, think of the social aspect as well. I think based on my experience at this school, YM has an insane amount of rules that kill the ability to build a real community. First is academics, second is academics, third is academics. Would it kill them to give at least the middle schoolers a social dance? Or more than one or two field-trips per year per grade? In addition, be ready for fork out money to hire a tutor if you are a non-Mandarin speaking family just so your child doesn't fall behind. This will get expensive real quick. Hope this helps.

My son went here and I was very impressed. All the teachers and staff were wonderful and…read morecommunicative. I saw great improvement in my son and he always came home happy. The only reason we left is we moved away and it was no longer feasible to take him to school here each day. Highly recommend!

Teachers: Cammy rules, and all the teachers are warm and…read morefriendly towards each other and with the children (which says a lot about the work environment). They are always in control (but not in a heavy-handed way) and as a result the children seem to thrive and really enjoy their experience. Instruction: Every so often my child will tell me that he knows some fact or another because Chatham taught it to him. One day he told me what the albumen was (white part of the egg). Another time he explained to me the difference between deciduous and evergreen. The singing: A big part of the school community are the semi-annual performances that they put together (luau, graduation, etc). As a consequence, they'll be learning a ton of songs (and singing them to you in the car). I picked up my son a few hours early one day and they were working on fuse beads. One of them would start singing and a bunch of them would join in. It felt very much like Santa's workshop. The backyard: There is a giant tree in the backyard that provides shade all year round, so you don't feel like your child is getting scorched while he's playing outdoors. My children used to be wimpy before enrolling into Chatham, but after a year they were monkey bar athletes. Be prepared for the sand that accumulates in their shoes, however. :) Art Projects: Every few days you will get different art projects in your child's folder. I didn't know so many different art projects existed. Critters: There are (non-allergenic) pets for the kids to interact with, like lizards, ant farms, and silkworms. Lunches: Lunch is provided, as they have a cook on staff, which is a great boon. Redwood Heights Elementary: If your child happens to transition to RHS, Chatham will provide before school and afterschool care for your kindergartener, which includes dropping them off before school and picking them up afterwards. Overall, we have loved our 2 year Chatham experience. Our children liked it from the beginning, which was a change from the Montessori that they weren't very happy to be in (for a few months).