Oasis School

I took a guided tour of Dogwood Elementary recently. The principal is so welcoming and is obviously beloved by many students. She took the time to answer my questions. All of the students seemed well cared for by the staff. The children were all engaged in their activities. Classrooms are clean and well organized and the hallways are covered in the student's art. Overall, I had a really positive impression of the school and the work they are doing there!

I have 2 children that have attended the past 6 years and are in the Spanish immersion program. They love going to school everyday. The teachers communicate well with us weekly. They have walk-and-roll monthly, a community garden, after school programs, safety patrols, reading buddies, movies outside on a big screen, book fairs, band and chorus. The principle truely cares about the kids. Great community feel. My kids are learning a lot!

We have found the school to not be welcoming to new children. We recently moved from overseas and my child was bullied for being the new kid by a known bully (who is even known to the parents as the school bully). The school did not do anything for new students, and though my child has been ok, this has been a stark difference from our previous school where new children were made to feel welcome. My child has repeatedly said that American children are so mean. Academically, it seems like the teachers often phone it in and rely on iPads to do their teaching for them. We are working with our child separately to ensure academic progress because there don’t seem to be accountability nor standards in the classroom.

Our family is so happy and grateful to be part of the SHMS community. Our child attended both Pre-Primary and Primary programs and the after school "Sunset Club" extended day child care and Summer Camp programs. All the staff are kind, loving and devoted to the children's safety, development and well-being. They embrace Maria Montessori's principles while staying current with developments in the field (thank science!). They nurture and guide to help children become confident and independent. Freedom within boundaries. Everyone remarks about how well our child is behaved and how smart they are. While I'd love to take all the credit, I know it is due in large part to our partnership with SHMS in our child's development.