2017 Darrow Ave
Evanston, IL 60201

My child started kindergarten here and we withdrew him after 3 days. The school communication was terrible, and onsite behavior of staff was the most unwelcoming I've experienced anywhere - worse than a gas station. Day one, my child had trouble separating, and I was not allowed to enter the school to help him get settled; teacher held him kicking and screaming while a security guard blocked the door and said "you cannot pass.". On the next day, security was not present and I did enter for an easier drop off and ended up helping another family I knew find their way, only to be reprimanded by the asst principal. She gave no welcome, no "how can i help you," but "you need to leave, we've got this." No, you don't got this. You've got parents and kids wandering around trying to find their way and young kids losing their minds with anxiety and offering no support. Each day I picked up my child he looked like he had just been through something awful. He didn't eat all day or use the bathroom; he said the gym was too loud to eat and that he didn't know any of the adults in the gym and that they would not let him leave to take a break from the noise. He said he got lost going from recess to gym because there was not teacher with them. On the third day we were late to school because my son was refusing to go- he spent the entire weekend begging me not to make him go. When we arrived, we had to go to security who spoke in two-word sentences like grunts to check in with the nurse, who didn't answer her door for at least 10 minutes. She then proceeded to ask my child a series of questions off a clip board that had nothing to do with him, and them sent us back to security to let me bring him to his classroom- security wasn't there. I brought him to his class where the teacher had to hold him kicking and sobbing while I walked away. And guess what they were doing for the third day in a row? Watching a video. And oh surprise! The first piece of printed information from the school in his locker is from the SEEL/ drama teacher letting families know they will soon do a course and act out on the topic inappropriate touch. Seriously? I have questions. This is bizarro world. We need community, support and welcoming. This school felt like a jail. Staff are inattentive, going through the motions, and treat parents like dirt. I'm beyond disappointed that I moved for the school district and pay so many taxes for this.