Hubbell Elementary School

Again, bear with me because there is a point. They do not wish to make people feel as though they must be structured by race or IQ or EQ so as to stop the students from socially interacting in a natural way. I think the critique of the lack of those educators is that these students are unwanted or hinder performance and testing stats. As a parent, I prefer my child to not be unnaturally socialized so as to believe that learning spaces are only open to those who look like them, share a faith, or are 'competent'/ future skilled workers or professionals. They do not talk about unconscious bias at Cowles, but it seems like this is not the group of teachers that would brutally oppose hiring specialized staff. They call it diverse and unstructured, but have metrics. The waiting list says more about Des Moines proper than this school. As someone learning that the diversity of my children makes me a target, it's a shame that the students and families must fight and push for inclusion. So many people are interested in monetizing diversity and deciding who is allowed to discuss it that they forget these battles about equality aren't for children... it is not academia. There should be more resources like guidance counselors, meditative spaces, and anti-bullying policies if they attempt to tackle diversity in an environment hostile to it since I have lived here. Some want to essentially own and control the narrative, often othering opposite racial groups, certain sides of town, the rural types, and perceived outsiders as unhappy, intimidating, or uneducated cretins to just be rude. I would say that Cowles could always regress, but I can appreciate it or teachers who are knowledgeable. I really just wish people would remember that this is taking your kids to school, not making some grandiose social statement. It's really about the youth. Also, they are all born here, many of these students are American citizens... so it should be said that the adults can dislike outsiders; but, these ARE kids from Des Moines. The reason why it is applicable is that nationality should not matter and had to be explained but some of this community has no interest in parents' opinions. It's funny that parents in other places can ban books and masks but women in this community can't talk about our kids. I think this school should be weirder and more radical but some people are going to snob and blame others when things change or fight the changes.

They wont let parents bring breast milk or formula of their choice once baby hits 12 months. This would worry any parent not knowing the kind of ( unsterilised) bottles they use to feed them and how clean they keep them or if they even care of wash them and what if the baby doesn't like what they feed? NO ANSWERS for such questions from the management

First of all I would like to say sorry for the experiences from the families that adamantly criticize the St Theresa's principle or schools staff as a whole. As a parent of 5 children currently attending here, our family has only have praises for the staff. The main reason why we kept our family at this school is from the compassion that we have recieved from them. We have been here for 10 years, beginning with the 3yr old program.The principle here always greet and assist the kids in upon the beginning and dismissal of school. Even when when it's -20° or more below with windchill she is usually the last staff there to assure the safety of the students to and from the school and their means of transportation. That's every day, that she is at the school, for the past 10 years that we have been here, in frostbite, rain, or muggy 100° plus weather. Many staff are there to assist well. That's dedication and caring.As a parent of 5 pre-highschool students, everyone of my kids are different in their own social and mental abilities, and depending at different stages of their growth. The staff here educate, nurture, and support the students as to the staff's best abilities. They will customize and adapt special teaching activities according to the students individual abilities. I have been called into the principles office and have also met with staff about some disciplinary situations regarding my kids. Never have that made me felt uncomfortable, offended or upset in any means. I felt that they really cared about the kids.Even with all the crimes/shooting going on in the schools of our nation, I know that my kids are at a school where I can feel the less worry about situations like that arising.Sometimes I wish that they have more language classes or more advanced math and science classes, but I understand that it's a private charter school and don't have the extra funding as the public schools do. But that does not outweigh the countless positives programs that the school brings. I could explain dozens of additional positve experiences, I hope you get the idea. We are Blessed to be a part of this St. Theresa School family!

100+ This school has been the best choice for our family. The focus on values, morals and high educational expectations have benefitted each of our children from kindergarten into elementary school.

My husband and I have four children who attend Bergman Academy. Therefore my experience spans the breadth of the school in terms of teaching staff, varied learning styles/needs (of my children) and the social emotional differences between a young child and a preteen. Bergman has been a wonderful choice for our family. I have found the teachers to be one of the most valuable assets of the school. They are responsive and make the extra effort to meet the needs of each child. I have felt that my opinions and perspective of my child's learning needs matter and the partnership between home and school has been extraordinary (especially for my kids that need specific types of support to make school successful). Given the small class size, I truly feel each of my children are well known and uniquely valued not only by their current teacher but by teachers and staff across the school. The curriculum is relevant, cohesive from grade to grade and I am continually impressed by the way the staff collaborates with one another in creative ways to teach with cross-curricular projects and opportunities for learning that extend into the community and beyond the classroom. As my children have gotten older there is a clear effort to build the student's autonomy and accountability for their work. And the way Bergman builds social and emotional learning into the day in organic ways is neat to hear... mentoring between older and younger students, community mindedness through partnerships with a nearby retirement community and the utilization of our natural setting in ways that keep our kids learning in bigger and deeper ways. The sole reason I chose to write this review is because we moved to Des Moines from a large city across the country. Reviews on schools were one way I worked to understand the options my husband and I had for education in a place where we had no network. Bergman Academy has been a key factor in our overall adjustment to moving to Des Moines. The education and the community are both things I feel grateful for often.