Little School of Keystone

"My little one went here during the pandemic ('20-'21), and honestly it was a mixed bag. So here's the honest rundown: The Good Because of all the guidelines and restrictions of Covid, having her go during this time was honestly the best choice because: * They were well-equipped to social distance (and got multiple air purifiers early on). * While all students had to wear masks that year, all the kids got to eat at the covered patio area * Every child got their own set of school supplies (included in tuition) and used separate sensory bins to limit germ- sharing. Also great was that the playground is almost completely covered by tarps, and the little one's love the 'pirate ship' to play on. Extra curriculars were good too, as every week the kids got to do Art, Yoga, Spanish class, Music and "Helping Hands," where they learn ways to help in the community. And the school lunches are amazing... seriously restaurant quality! The Not-so-great: The actual Education As an educator, I have worked in many schools, both public and private. As such, I have seen Many kindergarten classrooms... and the ones here look *Exactly* like their public school counterparts. In fact, the credentials and experience of most of the teachers (again, in 2021), were in public schools! Having taught in a school district very close by, I recognized the layout, even down to the color-coded "Red-Yellow-Green Light" way of discipline, where children move their clothes pin to the level of good/ bad behavior they did that day. At the end of the school year, my then 4-year-old could not yet even write her name. (However, after I enrolled her in a Montessori school the next Fall, she was not only writing her name, but writing short sentences in just 3 months!) Also, I found much later, that there is a *Heavy* reliance on Smart Boards; apparently they put on videos every day, usually from YouTube, and when the kids ate lunch inside during the winter, movies would be playing the entire time! It was so bad, that when I put her back in a Montessori school, she threw a tantrum every morning for months... because there is no TV or videos at Montessori. I expect this in public schools, but Not when paying over $1,100+/ month for preschool. On top of this, their "test" of having the kids do a practice class to see if they are a good fit to be admitted? I think it is a bit much for a public school kindergarten education (some kids left crying; mine only knew how to sit still and follow directions because she was previously at another preschool). Overall, great perks and "extras" but I'm not sure of enrollment in a non-pandemic year."