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POOR SCHOOL FOR COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Parents should know there are a lot of better options available. The Bellevue school district has both a preschool and kindergarten program for Mandarin, Sponge school has kids classes on Saturdays, and Panda school teaches Mandarin via art or play based learning. Also for the same amount, private tutoring can be secured given the large population of educated Mandarin speakers on the Eastside. The classrooms are relatively small. The rooms are at a basement level of church and half the classes on the right do not have windows � the classes on the left have windows but usually the curtains are drawn to not distract the kids when other classes have playtime with signs saying don�t touch on the windows � they don�t want kids near them. The classes with a window have a view of a large cement parking lot. The outside play area is divided into 2 sections a gate separating them. Each have a climbing structure and playhouse. There are some tricycles. The playlot has woodchips and cement. There is no greenery, grass, or trees. Upstairs there is a foodbank as part of the Foursquare Church�s Renewal Foodbank. Occasionally, homeless wait or sleep on the steps a few feet away from the school entrance.Tuition is very cheap but simple market economics tells you that is means they are not attracting nor retaining the best teaching talent.The teachers and directors have a lot of political issues. In March 2013 � 3 teachers quit all at once without even a full two weeks notice. That is not typical but definitely a red flag.When there are fights amongst kids � both kids get punished. It is not the schools policy to take any time to root cause any incidents. When kids continually do not get along they are separated as the school does not want to take the effort to teach the kids how to get along. Discipline not consistently enforced � cutting in line for the bathroom someone gets lectured in their face while others who do it minutes later get no discipline.The school is really disorganized. Curriculum sometimes or sometimes not published for the week. The parent handbook is not updated. The school�s calendar came out at least one month after school year started. Parents get the lyrics for songs the children are to sign for performances on a Wed for an event happing that same week on Saturday (to practice last minute). The Director�s office is piled with boxes and papers � disorganized office � disorganzied school.