Community School of West Seattle

I heard so many great things about this preschool, but unfortunately I had a very bad experience during the admissions process. We live down the street from the Community School of West Seattle and I was impressed by the school’s rich environment and play based learning. The positive disciple approach really resonates with me. And during my observation of the school, I was impressed by the flow and structure. And all the children seemed to be well behaved and there was little conflict among them. So, to those interested in this preschool, there is a lot to like. And maybe you will luck out and they will approve of you and your child and not lash out at you, as they did to me. Unfortunately I spent my Saturday in tears over the rejection letter they mailed us. Not because we weren’t accepted into the school. I actually felt that the class sizes were too big for my son, he was clearly overwhelmed, but my husband really wanted us to apply anyway because a lot can change in 6 months time (when you’re talking about the maturation of a three year old) and he wanted to keep our options open.
What was shocking, frankly, was the tone of the rejection letter. A simple letter stating that they didn’t feel the community school of west seattle was the right fit for my son would have been just fine. Rather, Sarah Airhart, the director wrote that, in addition to my son’s ‘intense reaction to being in their space’, they were ‘concerned with some of the comments I made to him about the school having ‘stupid rules’, and that we clearly have very different ideas about the goals of preschool. I don’t know if they confused me with another parent, but I would never say something like that, it’s not even in my, or my son’s vocabulary. Why would I desire to enroll him in a preschool with rules I didn’t agree with? Why would I make such rude comments during an interview process? I wouldn’t and I didn’t. It is kind of hard to believe they have me confused with someone else because my son definitely did have a strong reaction to being in their space. What is especially frustrating, is that I called the day before the observation and spoke with one of the teachers there about my son’s tendency to meltdown at these preschool tours. They reassured me that it is common for that to happen and that I should still apply. In fact, in the west seattle Harold, they claim that they ‘accept all families, regardless of developmental progress of the child’. I guess that doesn’t include emotional development. Anyhow, after our observation at the school, the director encouraged me to apply, saying she thought my son would be happy there. Did they just want to pocket our application fee? If I was so offensive a person, and so clearly my son and I weren’t a good fit for they’re school, why did they push me to apply? I just don’t understand. I just feel that a school that lashes out at parents they don’t approve of isn’t the kind of teachers I want my child learning from. Do you? Acceptance is part of their slogan, but we definitely didn’t find it there.

I have observed Community School as a Nanny of a former student. I watched a little girl grow and blossom here as a result of their intuition and wonderful techniques.
I saw a girl go in to her class a little bit shy (even on her last day). I would arrive on time and take 20 minutes to convince her that we needed to go. She had the best time with her friends. The school… I can’t even describe it. It was a peaceful experience. Everyone here is so loving, so in tune with themselves and with the children. I felt that they always truly connected with the little ones and gave them a safe place to be themselves.
As a caregiver, I feel like it’s my job to let them find out who they are, but they take so much of us into themselves.. . Here, they are independent, they are never micro managed, they are loved and nestled and allowed to be exactly who they are. This is a safe place for everyone, and I love that.