Islands Elementary School

Gilbert Elementary is such a fabulous A+ school. Offering Dual Language it provides the students with an exceptional learning experience. The campus is homey and comfortable and the staff is extremely friendly, but also extremely dedicated to the students and their education. Gilbert Elementary is a real treasure and offers opportunities to children that can't be found anywhere else!

My son was at Playa 3-6 grade. My daughter is in 4th and has been there since kindergarten. Since the beginning of our time at Playa we have seen the school grow tremendously. The current school principal has been there for about three or four years now (as of 2025) and has brought such wonderful, positive change. The pool of teachers are caring, thoughtful, well educated, and bring innovative ways to teaching in the classroom. The school has amazing PE, music, and art teachers. These three really bring a wealth of knowledge with them. The art teacher has come up with really fun and challenging projects for the kids to learn and create. Their music/choir club teachers has really opened the doors for kids to want to try new things: play instruments, sing, etc. The PE teacher also provides a fun curriculum for the kids. Between the principal, support staff, teachers, and the PTSO, Playa does such a wonderful job at building a strong community. Plenty of fundraising efforts to provide updated equipment on the play ground and classrooms, and great opportunities for both in house and out of the classroom field trips. The school has been recently updated with safety Technology and measures. There hasn’t been safety concerns in the past, but with how the world is these days, they decided it be best to ensure student and teacher safety and take the precautionary measures. They make great efforts to ensure kids are promoting excellent behavior and positive characteristics: Pride, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, Empathy. We loved our time at Playa and can’t to see what the next several years bring!

My son transferred to Sirrine Montessori Center as a former Montessori pre-K student, but he had also been at one of the top-rated Kyrene elementary schools for years prior. His kinder and first-grade teachers were amazing, but in the second grade he became very down, lost all his self-belief, and frequently told me he was the slowest and dumbest in his classes at the former Kyrene school. I asked him why he felt this way, or who had said any of that to him, and he would say it was just obvious. We spoke to his teachers and sent him to a counselor there, but no one seemed to know what we were describing. From a teaching friend I have, I learned I could ask to have him evaluated in case he had any learning disabilities or needs. I asked at least three times, and was told it would be arranged, but never was. Meanwhile, every single day when we picked him up he was unsmiling, worn out, defeated. I'd had him on waitlists at public Montessori elementary schools all during his second grade, and when we learned he was accepted at Sirrine I was beyond happy and relieved, not just for the Montessori elements, but also due to the smaller school and classroom sizes overall.He loves this school! (Well, as much as he will ever love going to school.) When I say he literally looked like his old self with the reduced stress, and no more of that completely defeated demeanor that first week, I'm not exaggerating. It was like he was a kid again, smiling, lighthearted, and at ease. As the year progressed, his teachers were both incredibly kind and encouraging to him, and they never waivered in giving support. His lead teacher stayed in regular contact with us (without us reaching out first) and I realized this is what it feels like to actually be partners with his education. He had some rough quarters grades wise, and she gave me tools and suggestions that made all the difference.And then, in the winter when he had the worst repeated/ongoing illness he's experienced by far, not only were his teachers there for him, but his school's office and health staff were incredibly supportive. I was so concerned about him, but not once were they anything but genuinely caring and calm while I was seriously worried.I am eternally grateful for SMC's staff and environment; it is truly an amazing group of people that make it so great.Caleb J's mom