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| Notes and Emails from our Parents _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2009-2010 Family I am thrilled with the supportive, nurturing, challenging, and encouraging environment that Bellevue Discovery Preschool provides. The dedication, enthusiasm, and energy of the teachers is remarkable. BDP has helped my son grow socially, intellectually, and emotionally. The teachers have helped him build self-confidence with his peers, have encouraged him to take intellectual and social risks and to think creatively, and have celebrated his every milestone – which have been many since he started at BDP. _________________________________________________________________________________
Bellevue Discovery’s program is truly amazing. [The teachers] are loving and enthusiastic. They have a thematic-based curriculum that always holds our daughter’s interest. The teachers are astonishingly energetic, the rooms are filled with imagination, and there is a rich curriculum in music and Spanish in addition to reading, writing, and hands-on projects. Our daughter loves her preschool and looks forward to going every day. Academically, her biggest advancement is the depth of her exploration into whatever topics she is studying. ________________________________________________________________________________
Our oldest child attended BDP the first year they opened, and her sister impatiently waited to attend. This year, our younger child got her chance. We knew it was a great program with amazing teachers. Still, we were not quite prepared for the quick changes we saw in our daughter. Last year at her old preschool, she would talk about who she played with and who sat next to her. This year, while she continues to report on the social aspects, she excitedly shares what she is learning, the books they are reading, interesting conversations, and the projects they are embarking on. We are seeing more of the spark we saw in her early on, and her sheer love in learning.
The way the school day is structured has worked really well for our daughter. She is thriving in the predictable routine, and her need for newness is also satisfied. She is a divergent thinker and I love that there are some parts of the day where she can look at things in a different way, while there are other times when she has to adapt to specific instructions and expectations. ________________________________________________________________________________
We have been impressed by how well each of the teachers knows our daughter. The teamwork and communication is evident. Our daughter is benefiting greatly from having a team of teachers working with her. _________________________________________________________________________________ We have been so delighted to see all the amazing changes in our daughter’s love of learning. She has always been highly capable, but what we have seen her transform into is amazing. Her level of understanding and her thinking skills have taken off further than anything we could have found for her in another program. There are many excellent programs out there, but if your child is highly capable and needs more challenge, this preschool is the place to look. _________________________________________________________________________________
At Bellevue Discovery Preschool, the teachers sincerely care about each child, and allow the children to be children while helping them learn and grow. We are grateful that BDP is such an excellent environment for highly capable children. The program is exceptional, and all of the teachers are amazing people. _________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Ren, Sinclair, Kristen, Kerry, Gwen, and lovely Grandma Jan, The best thing about Bellevue Discovery is that all the teachers are truly passionate about providing a wonderful environment for the kids at school. The teachers are very attentive and caring, they respect the children’s ideas, and they really challenge their imagination. Every day our daughter looks forward to going to school. We are amazed at how she has matured in the past few months of attending BDP. _________________________________________________________________________________
We really appreciate the pictures you upload each week. Thank you for letting the parents get involved during Project Time and Sing-Along. When we see that all of you are so affectionate towards the kids, it is really reassuring for us. The projects and field trips at BDP are so unique. There can be a complicated science project or a fun-loving experience of having pancakes for breakfast at a restaurant. Keep up the great work, and we hope you have many, many more years to come. _________________________________________________________________________________
Ren, Sinclair, and Grandma Jan, I just want to say you are all amazing people and my family feels so fortunate to attend such an excellent school. Thank you for caring so much. I am sure I speak for all the families when I say your hard work and your love for the children will better their lives forever, as what you are giving them is immeasurable. It is a real fortune that you give them, with your time and energy, and for this I thank you from the bottom of my heart. _________________________________________________________________________________
Ren, the Egg-Stravaganza was wonderful! We were so impressed with what our son has been doing, and the program you all put together. We are thrilled with all of our son’s teachers and with BDP! _________________________________________________________________________________
Our daughter said this weekend that she feels like she is at her “best” at school. She is really proud about what she is learning, and comes home and teaches us things. We want to express our gratitude to you for being her teachers. _________________________________________________________________________________
"Any parent with a bright child wondering how best to nurture his or her potential would benefit from learning more about Bellevue Discovery Preschool. The skill and experience of the teachers in working with highly capable children is exceptional, and is exceeded only by their kindness, attentiveness and enthusiasm. Our son's imaginative play has grown with the quality, depth, and breadth of the curriculum. I am confident he is building a solid foundation for his education while fully enjoying playing and exploring with his classmates. The information from the teachers about what's happening in the classroom each week, as well as the feedback in conferences, is excellent. You can be very confident your child will be known and embraced and encouraged - what more could a parent want?" _________________________________________________________________________________
"We feel so fortunate to have found a preschool and teachers who value our daughter's individuality as we do." _________________________________________________________________________________ "Ren and Sinclair, Just a final note to let you know how thankful we are for what you've created in Bellevue Discovery, and how you cared for and taught our son over the last two years. What a great start for him! We'll always think back fondly. Many years of success to you and Bellevue Discovery!" _________________________________________________________________________________ "Often times it is hard to keep a bright child challenged, and as parents you try really hard to find the right school for your child - a place where your child will not only learn but most of all be happy and look forward to going to school every day. We couldn't be happier with Bellevue Discovery Preschool. We are really fortunate to have found such a wonderful preschool. Our son just loves it. He has grown so much, and is so happy to be here. He is willing to try so many things now, and most of all he is no longer quiet - he loves to talk now. He really loves his teachers and all his friends at school. For him it is like a home away from home. We will be really sad leaving here, and we wish they would expand the school. If they did, we would keep our son here for kindergarten in a heartbeat. Thank you so much for making our son feel comfortable and happy. We couldn't ask for anything more." _________________________________________________________________________________ "Bellevue Discovery is a wonderful place where gifted children feel comfortable, safe, happy, and stimulated. The teachers are truly remarkable and are highly qualified to teach. They love, respect, and care for the children as though they are family." _________________________________________________________________________________ "My son loves to learn, explore, experiment, and play. Bellevue Discovery lets the children do all of those things and more. As a result, my son has become a lot more confident." _________________________________________________________________________________ "The teachers at Bellevue Discovery are highly engaged and committed to a progressive teaching program. It has been a truly remarkable experience for our daughter." _________________________________________________________________________________ "The best I can say about Bellevue Discovery is what my son says every day when I ask him, "How was school today?" He replies quickly, loudly, and proudly, "GRRRRRRRRRREAT!" What more could a parent ask for? _________________________________________________________________________________ "We thoroughly enjoyed City Day today. It was evident from the students and all of their hard work creating Discovery City and their respective businesses and services that they were thriving. We couldn't be more supportive of all that you do for them and with them. I'm only hoping that by the time [my child] is ready, you will have decided to expand your program to include kindergarten and beyond!" _________________________________________________________________________________ "The truly nurturing, kind, and supportive atmosphere you provide, as well as the connection you create with each child, is a rarity. It is a hard act to follow when looking for schools for next year!" _________________________________________________________________________________ From our 2007-2008 Parent Survey "Our son has seemed settled and very happy from day one: a combination of the caring, welcoming teachers, the fun activities, and the home-like surroundings. The children have learned to work and eat and play together as friends. Academically, our son has learned so much in a fun, explorative way: he still won't eat pancakes, but he loved playing with water and machines. You've introduced him to exciting new words and Spanish. He loves to help with cooking now. We love the weekly newsletter and photos. You've indulged his passions yet expanded his interests." "What makes you stand out from 'the crowd'? 1) the level of parent-teacher communication, 2) the depth of project work, 3) the intensely caring/nurturing relationship between adults and each child, 4) the way you encourage/facilitate relationships between the children. Having such a small group is a prvilege. This facilitates all the wondrous things you do, but you certainly have a wonderful way with the children plus a deep understanding of just how to nurture and challenge all at the same time. I feel lucky and appreciative on our daughter's behalf for such an opportunity to enjoy learning in your school. You truly have a clear view of the needs of the young and bright learner. Everything about the environment and your thoughtful words to the children reflects this. I am very impressed both from a professional and personal standpoint." "We love it all! Particularly the affectionate understanding and appreciation of our child. Adore the newsletters, pictures, and conferences. Essentially we think it's heaven on "kid" earth and so does our son. His experience exceeded our wildest expectations." "Seriously, I cannot think of a way to make things better. You guys really stand out from the many other programs I have investigated. Keep up the good work! P.S. I love the way you regularly invite parents in to be involved in the classroom. And I love the emphasis on all core curriculum: reading, math, and science." _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family December 7, 2007 Dear Ren, As you know, we struggled over the decision to send our daughter to Bellevue Discovery Preschool. After all, she was having a very good time at her developmentally appropriate school. However, it was clear to us that our daughter needed something more. Sometimes it was extra time to work on a project which other kids finished in 5 minutes. She was also beginning to read, and we knew we'd be on our own for that if she continued in that preschool. There was nothing wrong with that, but Bellevue Discovery would offer very welcomed support. From the beginning it was clear that we made the right decision. Our daughter has absolutely loved her new preschool. She is so excited about learning new things, and in the past months she's become interested in much more. She loves choice time inside and free time outside as much as she does her teacher directed activities. More than once she has suggested we do things as a family the way they do at preschool. She loves all three teachers. We have found it very easy to communicate with them. A quick chat at drop off or an email ensures that we are on the same page with our daughter. We like that the teachers don't talk down to the children, simplifying their language. Have that smaller adult to child ratio at some points in the day adds a lot to the program. Ms. Sinclair has been a great lead teacher. She has many fun and amazing ideas; and she is constantly adapting her curriculum to the students' needs, assessing their interest levels, personalities, etc. Our daughter is enjoying her reading time with Grandma Jan. We still can't believe that we have someone working with reading in both the languages our daughter speaks. She is progressing nicely, and most of all continues to enjoy learning to read. We also have to add that your help in finding schools for her the next year is invaluable. Having someone to discuss the different schooling options, private versus public, specialized in gifted or traditional, is something we appreciate very much. It has been an added bonus to have someone along the way to guide us through our process. What impresses us the most is how much you seem to "get" our daughter after having worked with her for only a few months. We all have loved being part of the school's first year. Thank you again for dreaming and creating such a wonderful preschool. _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family I would be happy to share my thoughts on Bellevue Discovery with other parents. In my decision-making process I researched and toured over a dozen schools. There are many options, but I found few that met my son's needs. For us, the size and structure of the class were most important. Since this would be my son's first experience away from home without a parent or grandparent, I really wanted a small nurturing environment. At the same time I was looking for a creative environment where he could learn and have fun. Intellectually he was eager for preschool, but emotionally he needed support. To my happy surprise, we had absolutely no issues with separation anxiety (despite prior problems). I attribute the ease of transition largely to the feel of the school and the teachers' tremendous sensitivity. Ren, Jan, and Sinclair have provided exactly what I was looking for and what my son needed. Their approach and environment are perfectly suited to children like my son. I feel so fortunate that we found Bellevue Discovery, and am looking forward to being part of it again next year. _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family Finding the right preschool for our child was a stressful and time-consuming process. We could not, however, be any happier with our decision for her to attend Bellevue Discovery Preschool. Our child's enthusiastic love of learning and creating has only increased with the nurturing support found there. It is clear that the Bellevue Discovery teachers are not only highly experienced and skilled, but that they truly love what they do. This high level of teaching quality combined with passion is what makes Bellevue Discovery more than just a typical preschool but an experience we know our child will benefit from long after she completes the program. _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family Bellevue Discovery Preschool is fantastic. Our son has been challenged intellectually, nurtured emotionally, and guided appropriately in his social development - all by teachers who understand and appreciate his unique strengths and challenges. The BDP teachers bring an energy and creativity to their program that is priceless. Our child absolutely delights in attending Bellevue Discovery Preschool, and as a parent, nothing makes me happier. _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family Our son has been virtually transformed since he started attending Bellevue Discovery Preschool this fall. Now, he can't wait for each "Discovery School" day, and he gets himself ready on those mornings just so we can leave the house sooner. Sinclair, Ren, and Grandma Jan have exposed him to so many new and exciting things in such a nurturing and accepting way, it is as if someone has flipped the switch in his brain to overdrive. His confidence is growing, his skills are increasing by leaps and bounds, and his curiosity is off the charts. This year of preschool has far exceeded all of our expectations - and it's only half over! _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family Bellevue Discovery Preschool is providing a wonderful first experience of school for our child. The teachers are very enthusiastic, kind, and caring: the children always look so at home when they're snuggled up in the big white chair with Miss Ren or Grandma Jan. The teachers are also very knowledgeable and professional, making learning fun with games, songs, rhymes, and other activities within a well-planned curriculum. The children's passions are indulged, but they're also encouraged to try new things and do activities that stretch and challenge them. Not only are the children's advanced academic skills developed, but social skills, responsibility, and appropriate behavior are also strongly emphasized. _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family Dear Ren,I am writing to let you know what a wonderful place we feel Bellevue Discovery is. Having a highly capable child is not always easy, because most schools are not prepared for or do not want to deal with the challenges that are the flip side of a bright, inquisitive mind. We truly feel that your school is like an oasis in the desert. Our child was deemed "too active" and even "too gifted" by one of the more prestigious schools in the area. At Bellevue Discovery, however, he is valued and loved and supported in ways I never imagined possible. Becoming a part of your school for us has been like finding close friends that really care about our child succeeding both emotionally and intellectually. You, Sinclair, and Grandma Jan go above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis, and we can't thank you enough. You support our children's growth and you support us as parents dealing with the unique issues surrounding parenting gifted children. Our son is eager to go to school, and asks every morning if it is a "Bellevue Discovery Day." He started the year unwilling to read books to us, although he could, and now he has gained so much confidence he even reads to his baby brother. Thank you, thank you, thank you! _________________________________________________________________________________ From a 2007-2008 Family Dear Miss Ren and Grandma Jan, I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful day you all shared with me. It was a privilege to spend the day at your preschool and share with my grandson the happiness and joy he feels when he is with all of you. | |
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