Happy Sunshine Kids Preschool

My son is in Room 2 at Happy Sunshine Kids. We have been nothing but impressed by the school. I know it's difficult to look past some negative reviews written by others but rest assured that they hold little truth. There are absolutely NO mice running around during naptime, and the director is not swigging booze in her office. Those are just ridiculous comments written by people who have other interests in mind.\r \r The focus should be on the children. I can tell you first hand that my son is in the best care he can possibly be in. We've tried 2 other schools and they don't even come close to the caliber of care & education that Happy Sunshine Kids provides. He absolutely loves all his teachers and feels safe & comfortable.\r \r The school is super CLEAN, which is very important to me considering my son gets sick easily. Since he's been attending HSK, he rarely, if ever, is ill. \r \r I'm not a very easy person to impress, especially when it comes to daycares. I've been in some pits, so every little imperfection alarms me. I can tell you from experience that HSK is a great school. You will not be disappointed if you choose this school for your child. In fact, you will be very impressed. Pros: Loving atmosphere, Safe, Extra-curricular activities more

Happy Sunshine Kids is like a hidden gem.No-one knows it's there, but it is the absolute best in town.\r *It's a luxury pre-school.\r * Most hygenically clean in the area.\r *Safest around. Buzzed to get in through the front door.\r *Beautiful, purpose built building.\r *Owner built it for her kids, so not a penny was saved. *Approx 2 million spent. Top of the line of everything.\r *Specialized rooms for Dance,Musica, Art, Drama and Outside Sports Courts> as well as the regular pre-school rooms.\r *Excellent teaching staff, mostly director qualified. No training teachers to make mistakes on our kids.\r *Friendly, welcoming, homey atmosphere>\r *Terrific lesson plans, curriculum and schedules.\r *100% success rate of getting kids into parents 1st choice of private elementary schools.\r *Hot lunch program from Whole Foods.\r You should take a tour with Ms. Sarah and decide for yourself. You will be really pleased you did.\r \r Pros: Best pre-school and infant center in town more

I AM A PARENT WITH A CHILD IN THE INFANT ROOM AND 3 YR OLD. ALL TEACHERS HERE ARE LOVING AND CARING. I WAS VERY HESITANT TO LEAVE MY BABY BEING SO SMALL. THE DIRECTOR AND TEACHER IN THAT ROOM ARE AWESOME. I COULD NOT ASK FOR ANY BETTER. PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS GREAT ALSO. I PICKED THE BEST SCHOOL IN TOWN FOR SURE. OTHER PEOPLE NEED 2 QUIT CAPPING ON THE OWNER SHE IS NOT IN A CLASSROOM!!!!!!!!! Pros: teachers clean facility Cons: bad past reviews more

I cannot say enough great things about Happy Sunshine Kids.\r \r We had a tough time finding a good daycare for my son. We checked out Happy Sunshine Kids when I was pregnant and I absolutely loved it, but it was pricey. There were cheaper options and I just couldn't wrap my head around spending so much on daycare. So - we went with an in-home daycare that was less expensive. My son did ok there but we eventually moved him to another larger ""chain"" preschool. It was not right for us. Actually, it was pretty awful. My son was constantly sick and I got a call to pick him up every single day for various reasons that did not warrant a phone call. \r \r After freaking out for a few days not knowing what to do, I went with my gut and called ""this amazing place I visited while I was pregnant"" - Happy Sunshine Kids. We decided to bite the bullet and pay the extra money and boy are we GLAD we did! My son is currently in the infant room but will move to room 2 next month. He was been at HSK 7 months and he is SO happy there. His teachers, Ms Susie & Ms Jennifer are absolutely wonderful. For the first time, I feel like his teachers appreciate my son's vibrant personality and they respect the little person that he is. They have taught him so much (he always has new words or new songs!) and I always have felt like they communicate very well with me. I know that if I have a question or concern, I can go to them and they will be honest with me. The school is very organized and well managed. My son has many food allergies and they have been very careful with him to make sure he stays safe. Actually, his teacher is very familiar with allergies, and has given us some great pointers to boot.\r \r I was a bit concerned at one point because kids were leaving and teachers were being let go. I expressed my concerns and I feel like they were addressed and taken care of. The school is very much alive & kicking. I am 100% confident in the abilities of the teachers at HSK. My family is SO grateful to have found them. \r Pros: caring teachers, safe & clean environment Cons: Price more

Currently, our son is in the Infant / Toddler Room and we love it. He has two fabulous teachers, Miss Jennifer and Miss Susie. \r \r He has been enrolled in the school for 5 months and MIss Susie has always been his director.Some of the other teachers step in periodically to cover breaks and I appreciate that they recognize that teachers need to be able to step out of the room every once in a while. Susie is caring, knowledable, and effective. She is open and honest and I appreciate that in a teacher. I actually try to pick up my son early so I can spend the additional time talking with her. We are lucky to have her as our teacher.\r \r Miss Jennifer is a ray of sunshine. She knows exactly what to do from the moment my son walks in the door. Sometimes it can be stressful leaving your child at daycare, especially if your child is crying while you are trying to leave. Jennifer is a pro at diverting my son's attention as I am leaving or she provides the right amount of comfort if he is having a rough start. I can't express how much we appreciate Susie and Jennifer's talents. \r \r At the end of the day, it's all about the teachers and the kids and we think HSK is fabulous.\r \r Pros: Clean, Safe, Nuturing, Individualized Attention Cons: I wish he could stay with his teachers until he graduates more

We have had 3 children at HSK for several years and we are very happy with the care and curriculum our children receive. We have had two children get into a Top Pasadena Private school and that would not have been possible without great teachers. We also have our baby there and HSK has one of the best infant rooms in the city, we know because we looked around like any good parent. We feel 100% secure leaving our children there, not to mention the facility is great; a newer building with secure perimeters keep the kids safe inside. As an HR professional I can tell you there is always going to be turn over when the best needs of the clients are not met, in this case where the children’s needs are not in synch with those of the facility. It's unfortunate but it happens and should not be reason to skip considering HSK when looking for a F/T academic preschool. Safe, Clean & Academic. Pros: Clean, Secure, Good Curriculum Cons: High Cost, Bad Reviews from Angry Teachers more

We withdrew our child from HSK due to the lack of ability of the owner to run a school, fairly, safely and professionally. While the owner is very sweet & charming there is more to the story if you just do a bit more due diligence. when a withdrawal of 80% of families leave at once, there is a reason none of which is based on anything other than how the school was being run & how the teachers were being treated by the owner. Compare schools and notes & really do your due diligence & then make your decision, you will be happy that you did. Pros: nothing Cons: everything more

We have known the owner, Sarah Wiles for 7 years and our family loves her. Out of 6 kids, when our first was 3 1/2, we have followed her since the beginning, teaching classes at her home.My girls are positively giddy to be in her ballet class, not just because of the class itself, but because Ms. Sarah provides them with such individual love, attention, and fun. She also imparts her beautiful British mannerisms, congenialities, and accents, all of which form a wonderful package as a ballet instructor. As recently as last year, we have started to be a part of her Royal Theater Company - which enables our children to be involved in first rate theatrical productions. Next for is this year will be the production of Wizard of Oz. Also, she has been a wonderful influence on our children for which we are forever grateful. Sarah - you are beautiful, you are the best, and we will continue to follow you wherever you go. Thank You. Pros: Safe atmosphere, wonderful caring staff, lots of activities. more

After searching high and low, my husband and I found Happy Sunshine Kids. We could not have asked for a nicer, clean facility, friendlier staff or more nurturing daycare environment for our child. This school is amazing and provides the children with great, enriching activities every day (dance, music, sports, etc.). Our daughter always has wonderful things to say about her teachers and what she did during the day. One thoughtful touch I love is that I get a handwritten note every day from her teacher telling me what my daughter did, how long she slept, what she ate and any other details that help me understand her day. That alone makes this place stand out. But the thoughtful touches don't stop there. The school provides a ""Parent's Night Out"" babysitting service once a month or so for a minimal fee. Our daughter is cared for by people she knows and we trust and she has a fabulous time! I have nothing bad to say about Happy Sunshine Kids - really. This is an outstanding daycare facility and I recommend it without hesitation. Pros: Clean facility; friendly, qualified staff; thoughtful touches for children and parents Cons: Parking lot can get full; no cons when it comes to the service or quality of daycare more

Like anyplace worth looking at it has it's policies and procedures but that's what makes it such unique place.\r I've read the reviews and you can simply see the positives remarks are from parents who send their children to HSK and negative comments are from parents who don't attend (but would like too, interestingly enough).\r All places take waiting lists; money puts you on the list and shows interest after all it is a business. It's pricey but that is because they attract some great teachers who don't just watch the kids play but help them learn and grow. The school can customize its learning curriculum also. I have a child entering Kindergarten and I wanted her prepared for testing and for when she starts in the fall. HSK not only helped with academic readiness but they assisted with getting her comfortable with the tests the private schools administer.\r My wife and I pulled our daughter out of another overly jovial preschool and moved her to HSK because she wasn't getting the academic segment she needed, and wow what a difference she was recently accepted to one of the top private schools in Pasadena and it would not have been possible if she wasn't given the academic preparation she received at HSK. Check out the list of students who were accepted and are attending private school out of HSK; and keep in mind the short time the school has been open.\r However HSK is not all academic, they play plenty and have lots of activities each and everyday. Like music and art and sports; and they switch classes all throughout the day so they are not in the same place for 8 hours. It is a great blend of learning and fun IMO. And I feel completely comfortable with the safety of the school. They have a great entry system so that nobody can walk in off the street without someone knowing.\r After having two children with three nannies, three home day cares and two preschools over the last 5 years, I highly recommend considering HSK.\r Pros: Small classes, teachers who teach, new & clean Cons: no grass area more

Before enrolling my kids in this school, we visited a number of Pasadena area preschools. We found this facility to be the MOST professionally run. My kids have been there over a year now and have only had 2 teachers during that period and both of the teachers are currently employed. My kids have been developing nicely over the past year and I would highly recommend this school. Sarah Wiles appears genuinely interested in the quality of the program she operates and the quality of the teachers (her own kids attend the school). I do not have experience with the wait list requirements, but am not surprised to hear that they may have a non-refundable policy given the lack of alternatives in the area and the fact that this program is probably near the top of most folks' list. Pros: New, Clean, Well Maintained Facilities; Trained, Friendly Staff; Cons: tight parking lot at peak times more

This place is really nice, but realistically your child will be on the waiting list for one year or more b/c of their policies. The way they get you is that they have a non-refundable deposit that you have to give in order to go on the waiting list, so if you find another daycare sooner, you lose your deposit at this place and they get their money. Also, if you are on the waiting list but someone else comes along and already has one child in their school and wants to put a second or third one in their school, they get priority over you on the waiting list. Really unfair...do your research before you sign up at this place. You could be on the waiting list indefinitely, especially if you don't have another child there already. I signed up in October 2006 and had 11 people ahead of me. In January 2007 it went down to 7 people ahead of me, but because of their sibling preference policy, it's now March 2007 and there are now 10 people ahead of me on the waiting list. Pros: Clean, qualified staff Cons: Non-refundable waiting list deposit; unfair waiting list policy more