Calabasas Klubhouse Preschool

"My daughter attended Calabasas Klubhouse Preschool two years One of the most significant concerns during my daughter's time at CK was the issue of bullying. I noticed a change in my daughter's behavior within the first few months of being at the school, and she often spoke about feeling excluded by a specific student who in turn encouraged the other girls not to play with her. When I asked one of the directors about it, she acknowledged that my daughter was often playing alone and said it was because the girls in the class all knew each other since they were very young and were "cliquey". The director also said that this student's parents were aware of her behavior and they were "working on it." I asked why I wasn't informed about these issues (and had to hear it from my 4-year-old) and didn't get a response. Because of COVID restrictions, my daughter wasn't able to play with kids from other classes and the boys in her class played too rough for her, so she was very isolated. I was told that this student would be leaving in 3 months, at which time things would get better for my daughter. That wasn't really a solution so we emailed the admin and teachers. We asked for support and made suggestions about books they could read in the classroom about bullying. We also make it clear that we didn't expect every child to be friends with every other child in the classroom and also asked for feedback on how we could coach our daughter on being a better playmate. We did not get very much communication regarding the matter. I was disappointed by the lack of a structured process to address bullying and felt unsupported by the staff. Even after raising concerns and seeking feedback, little changed in terms of my daughter's exclusion. She was even called "fat" by this student and when she told the teacher what the other girl said, the teacher said "You need to work it out yourselves". Asking a preschooler to do that is not developmentally appropriate. It's crucial for educators to address such behavior promptly and effectively. The fact that my daughter endured hurtful comments without adequate intervention is concerning and worth noting. In cases when my daughter said she was done with her lunch, a teacher or aide would make her eat X number (usually as many bites as her age) more bites than she wanted, employing a method of coercion that I fundamentally disagree with. Academically, the preschool relied heavily on worksheets. Art projects were infrequent and usually were a printout, and my daughter seemed modestly prepared for Kindergarten. During the summer months, the school introduced watching movies which significantly increased screen time. Unfortunately, this was not communicated to parents (I only learned about it through my daughter), leaving me unaware and unable to manage my daughter's screen time at home accordingly. Since being in elementary school, she recalls the teachers at Calabasas Klubhouse as stern. I guess she had nothing to compare to. She does not have fond memories of her year there and the tough experiences she had still come up for her often. We were recommended this school by two of our neighbors who have older children, so I think there was a time when it was different/ under different management. It is my sincere hope that sharing these specific aspects of our experience will provide valuable insight to parents seeking the right preschool environment for their children, and maybe encourage the school to take a look at their policies and principles."

"My 3 year old has been attending Klubhouse since the moment he turned 2. This school is an absolute gem. The teachers and administration are wonderful and caring. We ADORE the families who attend, as well. The location is gorgeous!! I couldn't imagine sending my little one anywhere else. We love Klubhouse. My only regret is that my 7 year old didn't go to Klubhouse. I wish I had looked into this school for her!"

"Our family has been in the Klubhouse for many years and cannot say enough wonderful things about this school! The campus is clean and beautiful. The teachers are all qualified, experienced and loving!! As a parent it's an amazing feeling knowing your kid is in great hands!! Love love love the Klubhouse!!!"

"The best preschool in our neighborhood hands down! Our daughter has been attending the school for the last 3 years. 3 different classes, different teachers and they all have been great to her and us! She loves going there every morning and we feel like she has learned a lot and above the average for her age. Thank you Calabasas Klubhouse!!!"

"The Calabasas Klubhouse is such a beloved and highly regarded pre-school in our neighborhood. My daughter attended when from ages 2-5 (she's now 9), and my son currently age 3 attends the school. What makes this school exceptional is the loving, caring staff who become like family. Everyday my child is greeted with big smiles and hugs - when he walks through the classroom door in the morning he just smiles! It's a fun loving school that reminds me of the comforting feel I had when I went to pre-school as a child. The school has fun everts for the kids like animal shows, bubble and puppet shows and special visits from the mayor, local dentist, fire department, etc. The school turns into a "Camp" theme over the summer so it's a lot of fun for the kids to enjoy water play and other outdoor activities on the spacious land the school is on. I love that they also celebrate and embrace all holidays and events. My older daughter was very well prepared for Kindergarten. And attending the Klubhouse enabled her to make many friends who then moved on to the local Kindergarden classes together within Calabasas/LVUSD. I highly recommend this school and can't say enough wonderful things about it."