This is BY FAR not the Christian atmosphere the owner Lisa would like for you to think it is. I have a Master's Degree in education and teaching experience under my belt. I will be the first to admit that working with children can be a CHALLENGE! I respect each and every person that does it. I will also be the first to admit that my children aren't perfect, they are children! That being said my sons attended Lakeside for 10 months. It started out ok, but slowly went downhill. When I had a meeting with Lisa, the owner, and the "teachers" it was IMMEDIATELY clear why my son was having a hard time. Here are just a FEW highlights:
1). I was emailed one day to pick my son up because the school could not engage him or get him to "behave." Upon picking my son up Anne Marie said we needed to have a meeting- which I absolutely wanted to have ASAP. The meeting took 2 weeks to schedule and it had to fit Lisa's schedule which meant she picked the time and date and WE had to work around it. Only Lisa's schedule matters apparently! We had to miss half a day of work to accommodate Lisa. In the meantime I was told if they had further problems I would be expected to pick my son up. How they think that is ok when I am PAYING for my son to attend and wanted to meet with Lisa immediately is beyond me. Naturally they don't refund you any money for days missed. Lisa is ALL ABOUT MONEY!
2) When the meeting began Lisa said they had been having "ongoing" issues with my son which was NEWS to me! Yes in the new class he was having issues, but in his previous class he had very few. Seems that had been forgotten and my son had been labeled a "problem." How Christian of her!
3) She then proceeded to say if they didn't see an improvement my child would no longer be "allowed" in their facility. PARDON ME? How Christian like to kick a 4 year old out of your establishment that I PAY you for my child to attend! I have had many challenging students in my class and guess what you have to WORK to find a solution!!! Lisa made it clear they had 1 go to method to try and if that didn't work then he was gone. To say I was DISGUSTED is an understatement.
4) Lisa mentioned that circle time is a real issue and that my son couldn't sit for 15 minutes. Guess what? Most children can't sit for that length of time and it is developmentally not appropriate for their age. She didn't want to hear it!
5) Lisa made many assumptions about our home, my son, his attire, among many other things that were completely out of the subject matter at hand and were also dead wrong. Judging is VERY Christian like.
6) After the meeting we put Lisa's "behavior plan" in place but I KNEW at this point my sons deserved a better environment and that she had already decided to kick my son out. She was just setting it up.
I wanted to pull my sons immediately but knew it would be best to transition them after the holidays as the start of a new year would be a more understandable transition for them. Lisa KNEW I wasn't falling for her lies and finger pointing. Instead of owning up to the flaws in her facility, she wanted to blame my son.
Once I mentioned to Anne Marie- who is also a liar- that I was looking for a new school for the boys that actually knew how to teach children things escalated quickly as I am sure she reported this back to Lisa and Lisa took offense to the fact that someone who KNOWS education and children was onto her. The same day I mentioned this to Anne Marie I got an email that evening stating my sons were no longer allowed at the school and that we would be given a week to get out. Mind you this was right before Thanksgiving, and their Christmas performance that the entire family was set to attend and that the boys knew all about. Again how Christian of you to kick 4 year olds out of your school because you are underqualified! I feel sorry for any parent or child that enters this ill equipped establishment. Lisa- the Christian- is all about making money the easiest way possible. If your child is not a robot she doesn't know what to do! Furthermore, she can't even tell you to your face that your child is being kicked out of preschool. She has Anne Marie send an email. Nothing about this school is professional or Christian!
Although I wanted to transition my boys at a time that would be best for them. Lisa went ahead and made the call. Leaving me to explain to the boys why they don't get to do their Christmas performance or see their friends. The funny thing is my son that was a challenge actually said he LOVED school all the time. My son that is not the challenge HATED going to Lakeside. I am so happy to be done with this AWFUL establishment and I would really encourage anyone considering this school to think LONG AND HARD! What goes on inside these walls in not what is advertised!
Lakeside Academy Reviews
This is BY FAR not the Christian atmosphere the owner Lisa would like for you to think it is. I have a Master's Degree in education and teaching experience under my belt. I will be the first to admit that working with children can be a CHALLENGE! I respect each and every person that does it. I will also be the first to admit that my children aren't perfect, they are children! That being said my sons attended Lakeside for 10 months. It started out ok, but slowly went downhill. When I had a meeting with Lisa, the owner, and the "teachers" it was IMMEDIATELY clear why my son was having a hard time. Here are just a FEW highlights:
1). I was emailed one day to pick my son up because the school could not engage him or get him to "behave." Upon picking my son up Anne Marie said we needed to have a meeting- which I absolutely wanted to have ASAP. The meeting took 2 weeks to schedule and it had to fit Lisa's schedule which meant she picked the time and date and WE had to work around it. Only Lisa's schedule matters apparently! We had to miss half a day of work to accommodate Lisa. In the meantime I was told if they had further problems I would be expected to pick my son up. How they think that is ok when I am PAYING for my son to attend and wanted to meet with Lisa immediately is beyond me. Naturally they don't refund you any money for days missed. Lisa is ALL ABOUT MONEY!
2) When the meeting began Lisa said they had been having "ongoing" issues with my son which was NEWS to me! Yes in the new class he was having issues, but in his previous class he had very few. Seems that had been forgotten and my son had been labeled a "problem." How Christian of her!
3) She then proceeded to say if they didn't see an improvement my child would no longer be "allowed" in their facility. PARDON ME? How Christian like to kick a 4 year old out of your establishment that I PAY you for my child to attend! I have had many challenging students in my class and guess what you have to WORK to find a solution!!! Lisa made it clear they had 1 go to method to try and if that didn't work then he was gone. To say I was DISGUSTED is an understatement.
4) Lisa mentioned that circle time is a real issue and that my son couldn't sit for 15 minutes. Guess what? Most children can't sit for that length of time and it is developmentally not appropriate for their age. She didn't want to hear it!
5) Lisa made many assumptions about our home, my son, his attire, among many other things that were completely out of the subject matter at hand and were also dead wrong. Judging is VERY Christian like.
6) After the meeting we put Lisa's "behavior plan" in place but I KNEW at this point my sons deserved a better environment and that she had already decided to kick my son out. She was just setting it up.
I wanted to pull my sons immediately but knew it would be best to transition them after the holidays as the start of a new year would be a more understandable transition for them. Lisa KNEW I wasn't falling for her lies and finger pointing. Instead of owning up to the flaws in her facility, she wanted to blame my son.
Once I mentioned to Anne Marie- who is also a liar- that I was looking for a new school for the boys that actually knew how to teach children things escalated quickly as I am sure she reported this back to Lisa and Lisa took offense to the fact that someone who KNOWS education and children was onto her. The same day I mentioned this to Anne Marie I got an email that evening stating my sons were no longer allowed at the school and that we would be given a week to get out. Mind you this was right before Thanksgiving, and their Christmas performance that the entire family was set to attend and that the boys knew all about. Again how Christian of you to kick 4 year olds out of your school because you are underqualified! I feel sorry for any parent or child that enters this ill equipped establishment. Lisa- the Christian- is all about making money the easiest way possible. If your child is not a robot she doesn't know what to do! Furthermore, she can't even tell you to your face that your child is being kicked out of preschool. She has Anne Marie send an email. Nothing about this school is professional or Christian!
Although I wanted to transition my boys at a time that would be best for them. Lisa went ahead and made the call. Leaving me to explain to the boys why they don't get to do their Christmas performance or see their friends. The funny thing is my son that was a challenge actually said he LOVED school all the time. My son that is not the challenge HATED going to Lakeside. I am so happy to be done with this AWFUL establishment and I would really encourage anyone considering this school to think LONG AND HARD! What goes on inside these walls in not what is advertised!