Life After Smart Love
Discover how our Preschool alumni are thriving!
Ava A.
Smart Love Preschool: 2019-2022
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Ava had such a positive first experience with school that it made her have a positive association with school in general. She still talks about memories of preschool and we look at all of her projects often. On her report card one thing Ava had all positive checks on was that she has no problem going to a teacher when she needs something/help. Even with a few other areas being tougher this was one area she was so used to from SL. I think back to her last year at SL she really blossomed and had no problem letting the teachers know what she wanted or needed. I love that she can do that at school now and she knows that her teacher is there to support her (and her teacher now is really awesome!).
Caroline B.
Smart Love Preschool: 2011-2014
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From the start of her preschool years to the present, Caroline has embraced school and learning. During a preschool classroom visit at Smart Love to observe Caroline, her school's admissions director noted that Caroline was confident, helpful, and a leader. Now, many years later, this is how her teachers and we would describe her. Caroline's years at Smart Love gave her a solid foundation of being comfortable at school, curious about the world, and nurtured her kind heart. All of which have helped her succeed in school and become a much-loved friend to many.
Felix C.
Smart Love Preschool: 2016-2017
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We feel Smart Love's gentle approach to a child's first preschool/learning/separation experience really set them up for success. While they understand it's normal to be a little anxious about new things (new activities outside of school, the start to a school year, summer camps), their fundamental love of learning and sense of welcome that began at Smart Love has carried them through. They have confidence that new activities should be explored, and they know that everything is better when you're facing it with a trusted group of friends.
Lucia C.
Smart Love Preschool: 2014-2016
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The confidence and advocacy Lucia learned at Smart Love has really shown through for her - she loves school, she feels confident in her ability to learn, and she welcomes challenges. As parents, we want to expose them to everything, but ultimately let them choose the path that "fills their bucket" for the right reasons. As we always say, it's their world and we're just living in it!
Harlan C.
Smart Love Preschool: 2016-2020
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Harlan really loved the Kindergarten projects at Smart Love, especially the apple experiments they did in the Fall. He also still occasionally brings up loving the pot-lucks they had pre-pandemic.
Harlan's confidence and ability to regulate tough emotions 100% began at Smart Love with the help of the teachers and staff. Also, his love of learning and exploring new things has only grown. It's amazing how happy and excited he is every day to go to school. Harlan is amazing at group collaboration, working with others, and wanting to keep learning. All things we believe that started at Smart Love.
Nova C.
Smart Love Preschool: 2018-2021
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The play element to Smart Love is so unique, and really plants the seeds for a deep love of school and learning. It encourages kids to explore things they are curious about, and this is still something they are able to pursue at school now. I’m not even sure we would have explored the idea of Progressive Education had we not had such an amazing experience at Smart Love! Smart Love changed their lives for the better. Her love of learning is always growing and she pursues things she is interested in, but we believe her love of working with others and caring for her classmates has grown most of all. Nova really loved crafting at Smart Love. Drawings, paintings, costume accessories, any and all crafts. She also so much enjoyed the gardening aspect. We loved that there were teachers there to harvest that love, because I do not have a green thumb at all!
Emily G.
Smart Love Preschool: 2014-2016
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Emily's love for school and for her teachers began at Smart Love. She especially loved sorting toys during clean-up and putting all the toys in the right bins. She has fond memories of the bench in the garden where children sat to wait at pick-up time (at the old location on Buena in Uptown). We are grateful for Smart Love's approach to meeting children where they are and fostering a love of learning. It was the perfect beginning to Emily's formal education.
Alan G.
Smart Love Preschool: 2017-2020
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Smart Love was Alan’s first play-school where he learned to walk, speak and much more along with growing up. When Alan finished kindergarten, I knew he can easily make friends, play cooperatively, follow simple rules, show empathy and manage strong feelings like frustration and disappointment without becoming angry. Alan’s transition to first grade was excellent. He was happy and excited to meet new friends. I believe, Smart Love helped Alan to be more open-minded. He’s friendly and helpful boy.
Aria H.
Smart Love Preschool: 2016-2017
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We trusted the Smart Love philosophies and knew that with Kelly as the director, there was no situation where our child would feel unloved because Aria went through her time making incredible friends whose time together outlived their time at Smart Love. Right off the bat, when we came in for a trial to see if the environment was a good fit for us and for Aria, everything clicked. Aria seamlessly participated in her trial with the other wonderful children and Kelly gave us detailed feedback afterwards regarding Aria's demeanor, her likes, her emotional state - feedback on a level that we have not had from any teacher to date despite having great teachers.
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Smart Love has unquestionably contributed to Aria's success in school. I think almost everyone has seen research highlighting the importance of early childhood education, but less about the type of education. Aria's desire to go to school is the greatest factor contributing to her success in school. To me, that stems from wanting to go to Smart Love each and every day.
Samir S.
Smart Love Preschool: 2014-2015​
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I believe Smart Love helped my children learn early on the value of being listened to and seen for who they are. They are aware of the people and environments that make them feel comfortable and uncomfortable.
Nova H.
Smart Love Preschool: 2018-2021
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Nova is absurdly creative, especially in the way that he connects ideas in his brain that make no logical sense at first. I believe that the Smart Love teachers listening to him and helping him figure out those connections and then letting him know how incredible it is to have unique thoughts is a big reason that he continues to be proudly weird to this day.
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Much like our older child, Nova enjoys going to school. He gets along with almost everyone but typically only has one or two kids he really plays with. At other times, he plays alone by choice. Smart Love (and hopefully some incredible award winning exceptional awe-inspiring parenting) gave him the confidence to be himself. Nova also typically finds outside-the-box answers to questions which are usually correct, but outside of the usual school worksheet answer that asks you to regurgitate B when given A. That desire to be creative and trust a train of your own thought comes from his time at Smart Love.
Neela S.
Smart Love Preschool: 2011-2015
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I truly believe that Smart Love makes a difference for both children and parents. I felt like my questions and concerns about behaviors and development were met with a kind ear and practical guidance that resonated with me. I truly believe that both of our children were given the opportunity to grow and explore on their own terms at their own pace without judgment, empowering them to be curious.
Mona W.
Smart Love Preschool: 2012-2015
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At Smart Love Mona made a lot of friends and came to understand that "school doesn't have to be boring!" She loved the playhouse with the kitchen sets and pretend clothes.
The transition to kindergarten was easy and fun, Smart Love created a perfect path of transition. Mona makes friends quickly, has always been close with her teachers, and makes a positive contribution in the classroom. Mona is a peacemaker and often tries to find common ground. She is a leader by nature, but Smart Love helped her to gain confidence in that role.
Asher O.
Smart Love Preschool: 2021-2022
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I will tell anyone who will listen that Smart Love was, without a doubt, the most outstanding first school experience for Asher. I couldn't have asked for a more nurturing, supportive, creative, uplifting environment for Asher's experience. I plan to do the same with my daughter.
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I think a lot of his play time language came from Smart Love. How he interacts with the other children, how he observes and cares about others came from Smart Love.
The 'I wonder' statements, all Smart Love!
Michael W.
Smart Love Preschool: 2012-2015
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The children always came home in a happy mood after Smart Love because their needs were met! The preschool years can feel overwhelming and having the parent community was so valuable.
Michael is caring, loving, kind, and resilient. He made himself a ruler to not forget his numbers when moving on to Kindergarten and he still cares for himself when approaching transitions and challenges. He sticks up for others when they are being treated wrongfully, is developing his self-confidence as he matures, and continues to have joy for learning! ​
Sadie W.
Smart Love Preschool: 2016-2017
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Sadie remembers her time at Smart Love as "kind" and recalls the teachers playing with the children. She learned how to make friends there and to accept everyone as they are - this continues today. She enjoyed the garden program which taught her to love "greens because they had a little garden and they let me try some of the greens and that made me love them."
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Sadie missed Smart Love, but had a nice transition into kindergarten. Sadie is a peacemaker and often helps friends find a compromise or helps settle disagreements even when she doesn't have a stake in the game. But it's Sadie's love of learning that is Smart Love's biggest contribution.
Korra N.
Smart Love Preschool: 2018-2020
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Korra began her Smart Love journey with Playschool and stayed for her first Preschool experience. After seeing how happy she was to go to school every day, we knew it was one of the best decisions we had made. As parents who want to see their child thrive and gain confidence, we feel that Smart Love’s approach was unique and genuine. Aside from piquing her curiosity with fun, meaningful, and engaging activities, they provided lots of opportunities to explore her own interests and enjoy the company of others through satisfying peer interactions.
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Overall, Smart Love has had a positive impact that extends beyond her enrollment years. Although she may not recall all the details of her years there, I see characteristics of the school’s philosophy in how Korra makes choices that bring her joy.
Sebastian W.
Smart Love Preschool: 2010-2013
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We were introduced to Smart Love with our two younger children. Sebastian and I could enjoy quality time at Toddler Exploration classes. Sebastian enjoyed building with the gigantic blocks, creating their own recipe book even though it has German translation hick-ups, music and dancing, cotton "snowball" fight, and friends!
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Sebastian entered Kindergarten with enthusiasm and confidence, even though he encountered a different teaching pedagogy at their school.