Vanderhoof Elementary School

We've had the privilege of experiencing the Peak Expeditionary School community for nearly four years now. As a parent who is highly involved, I regularly observe firsthand how deeply the staff care for our kids and families and engage in meaningful ways unique to each student. I continue to be amazed that so many staff know every single student as well as most caregivers. For us, it feels like an extension of our family. Our child LOVES going to school!!! The staff and teachers are flexible, conscientious, caring, creative, dedicated, and insightful, and they deeply value working together. I so appreciate that this community welcomes dialogue and feedback and will make adjustments when positive outcomes can be gained. We've faced some behavior challenges over the years which were all met with honest and supportive conversations with teachers and the principal. Peak truly strives to be a safe place where kids can learn and grow and be challenged holistically. I resoundingly believe being part of this Peak CREW has fundamentally changed my expectations for what is possible within the school setting. We feel so fortunate that we discovered the ideal learning environment for our child (who is thriving) while also unexpectedly gaining access to such a remarkable community of humans.

I engage with the staff and administration at this school regularly and feel I have a good sense of Stott. The Principal The principal weighs the family perspective as a top priority when making decisions. If a decision doesn't sit well, she always has excellent reasoning for why decisions are made a certain way, and makes sure everyone wondering understands the reasoning. She has always made time to sit down and talk with families who have questions and concerns. The TeachersThe teachers care firstly about student well-being, growth, and engagement. They seem happy at Stott and to be in their positions, and this positively affects my child's overall experience. Happy teachers have happy classrooms. The teachers I know are cheerful, know about their students beyond just test scores, and there's little turn-over. Many teachers have been at Stott long enough to see entire families start in kindergarten and move on to middle school, high school, and beyond. They always look for ways to support and challenge students' abilities. EngagementStott has come a long way with student and family engagement over the years by hosting implementing weekly STEM classes during the school day, fundraising activities like the Fun Run and Read-a-Thon, after-school extracurricular options like Robotics, Art Club, Dance, and more that I'm probably forgetting. The teachers communicate frequently in a number of ways -- in person at school events or at the door during arrival and dismissal, e-mail, phone calls, apps like Class Dojo, newsletters in Friday Folders, and even postcards when students really go above and beyond in behavior or academics. There is a small but mighty cadre of consistently involved families who support through the PTSA or other means as they're able, and this is a HUGE part of Stott's improvement over recent years. StudentsThe students at Stott are generally hardworking, kind to others, and respectful. All schools see conflicts between students, but Stott seems to have the kind of kids who treat each other with kindness without much in the way of bullying. The mental health awareness and support at Stott is fantastic with responding to concerns and communicating with families about issues students might be experiencing. Stott recently adopted an Autism Spectrum Disorder center from a school that closed, and its presence has certainly raised my child's awareness and acceptance of differences among her friends, and her empathetic skills.

Absolutely horrible school. As a current student I wish I didn’t go here and the principal doesn’t care about the students nor do the teachers

The school is only interested in supporting students who are in the middle. The administration is not interested in any perspective other than one that makes them look good- they regularly dismiss concerns from families, children and even district officials. Unfortunately communication seems to vary completely by teacher, the school does not proactively communicate or try to problem solve to support students' needs. It may be helpful to understand that Compass' entire model relies upon regular attrition at each class level, therefore it is easy to see how any family that asks questions, seeks support or has a different opinion is pushed out. In one of my daughters' class 50% of her grade level left at the end of the year. The quality is completely on a teacher by teacher basis and they are not interested in family engagement. The administration and multiple teachers regularly said they will not differentiate and they will not be able to scaffold to meet the needs of students in their classrooms.

My children attended Mountain Phoenix from ECE all the way through 8th grade, and it was truly a gift to our family. The teachers nurtured not just their academics, but their curiosity and sense of self. Today, both of my kids are in high school and still carry a genuine love of learning that was sparked at MPCS. The community and the Waldorf-inspired education gave them a foundation that continues to serve them.