From former Red Door parent, Teather Royse, letting us know of a recent school assignment her daughter, a Red Door alumna, and now a Saucon Valley Elementary School student, completed:
"Her project was to write down what you would do, if you were mayor, to improve your community. Here's what she wrote:..."
"At first, I was concerned with the four day/week program but I have to say that my daughter (and son) would go to Red Door every day of the week if she could. When she wakes up her first question of the day is "Is there school today?"
"" 'Oh, it's my lucky day' " was always her answer on school days."
"At Red Door, every child that walks into the classroom is treated/greeted as if he/she is the absolute favorite student of the school. Every child is celebrated. When Kristen Buckno announces at the Open House that Red Door is a big family, she is being sincere. The families that attend Red Door do become family to the school. Each student?s individual needs are recognized and the staff really strive to meet those needs. The result is a classroom of confident and secure children. I can see how happy and safe the children feel whenever I?I've been a classroom helper."
"The other great thing about Red Door is that the children think they are just playing, even when there are being taught so much. My son … who is now doing exceptionally well in school… always replied, "Oh we just played" when asked what he did at preschool. But these very fun activities always have an incredible learning component – often several. I am continually blown away by the level of organization at Red Door, the kindness shown by the staff and how much the children learn there. My son has such a positive attitude about learning and I attribute a lot of that to his experience at Red Door."
"One final pat on Red Door?s back: The communication that the school provides the families is top notch. No complaints from this family member. The school is so well organized, I am amazed that they can do all that they do, and so well too!"
- Kristine Moser (Pre-School Alumnae Parent)
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"Early learning is key to a successful school career. As teachers, we know the value that preschool programs have in children?s lives. Red Door and their teachers are incredible in their education of children. The social, educational, and behavioral changes we have seen in our son and daughter are amazing. We would strongly recommend Red Door to anyone looking for a safe, friendly environment for their child to grow and develop."
- Brian & Jennifer Campbell (K-Kids Parents)
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"Red Door is this wonderful institution. They are not afraid to teach kids. My daughter comes home with new songs and dances all the time … and the most imaginative crafts to teach a subject (LOVE the lungs). The pre-schoolers put on a play last year with one of them narrating. The kids did great and they were proud of themselves. Red Door has a wonderful, warm, exciting learning environment. They really get it right."
- Julie Vautrin (Pre-School and K-Kids Parent & RDELC Teacher)
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"When it was time for our son to go to preschool, we were very nervous. At the time, he had several allergies. We were worried about how that would be handled in a school setting. The staff at Red Door went above and beyond to always check with us before they served him anything. They read labels and checked everything. When they were in any way unsure, they served him an alternative and always made him feel just like everyone else. We are so thankful to have found such an accommodating school. Fortunately, he has outgrown almost all of his allergies, but we will always remember how hard the staff at Red Door worked to make his preschool and K-Kids experience an amazing one."
- Jennifer Simms (Pre-School & K-Kids Alumnae Parent)
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"Our family spent 4 years at Red Door Early Learning Center. The things the kids have learned and the friends we have all made along the way cannot be matched. Great kindergarten readiness and great staff."
- Eva Mayer, MD (Pre-School & K-Kids Alumnae Parent)
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"We were introduced to Red Door when my middle daughter was just turning five, but not ready for kindergarten. She was enrolled in the K-Kids program and now is in 1st grade. Now I have a four year old enrolled in the pre-school program as well. What an amazing experience we have had at Red Door. Not only do the children love to come because it is fun and warm and loving. They really learn a lot! The teachers are wonderful and unbelievably qualified and creative. Everything they do is amazing. From the fabulous art show (like nothing I have seen, especially not in preschool) to the comedy night. Yes, a comedy night, where my shy five year old stood up on stage with a smile and told jokes for all the parents. I was told at Saucon Valley Elementary by many teachers that they can tell which children have gone to Red Door because they are fully prepared for kindergarten. I truly believe that because, at three, my youngest daughter is now amazing her grandparents with writing her name and pointing out the letters and sounds. They love going to school and we love being a part of the Red Door family."
- Susan Meier (K-Kids Parent)
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"It's hard to know where to begin when it comes to Red Door. There are so many positive, wonderful things our children have experienced. We became acquainted with Red Door in 2005. At the time, they were the only local preschool who would consider a mid-session placement. We loved that our son would be learning through hands-on activities to help refine gross and fine motor skills as well as foster appropriate social interactions and academic skills. Going to Red Door was never "school" to him, just fun! Once he entered kindergarten it became quite obvious, however, that Red Door was more than just fun and games. He entered public school more than adequately prepared. We also appreciated how Red Door acknowledged his learning style and personality and worked with him based on those factors. It is for all these reasons (and more!) that we chose to send our second child to Red Door without hesitation or reservation. We see her enjoying her school time and even requesting to go to school on days off! The caring staff and extracurricular activities continue to exceed our expectations. We look forward to several more years as part of the Red Door family."
- Susan & Tim Deibert (K-Kids Parents)
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"Initially I was nervous about sending my three year old to preschool for four days a week. However, after talking with the staff and attending the open house my mind was set to ease. This feeling was further confirmed after my son went to school. My son comes home every day singing wonderful songs and telling me about this day. The teachers are wonderful and he speaks of them fondly. He doesn't?t even know he is learning because it is done in such a playful manner. I knew after the first few weeks we had made the right decision to send him to Red Door. He would go to school seven days week if he could!"
– Minh Hubert (K-Kids Parent)
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"Sending my children to Red Door is a choice I have never regretted and feel very good about every day. From the fun activities, to the education, to the caring teachers who go above and beyond, Red Door was everything I wanted in a preschool and more.
My son is in elementary school now and the things he learned at Red Door have helped him immensely. I can tell from his glowing report card that Red Door provided him an amazing educational basis as well as an understanding of how to behave and interact in a classroom.
My daughter is also in elementary school. She is a sensitive girl who often has difficulty separating. All of her teachers treated this issue with kindness and help my daughter feel comfortable and confident.
I think my son summed it up best when asked at his "graduation" what he liked best about Red Door. He stood up in front of a crowd of parents, grandparents, teachers, and peers, pumped his fist in the air and yelled 'EVERYTHING!'."
– Julie Mackey (Pre-School Alumnae Parent)
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"My 2 sons attended Red Door, my youngest is still there, and the school and teachers are wonderful. My oldest was quite shy but he really came into his own at Red Door. He is now much more confident and outgoing. My youngest learns a lot at school. He comes home and sings us songs he learned or tells us bits of information about what he learned that day.
I would highly recommend Red Door. I think the teachers are very skilled and obviously love what they do and this definitely comes through in the way my sons and other students respond to them."
- Mary Banonis (Pre-School Parent)
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"Our son had attended another preschool program and we enrolled him at RDELC for last school year on a friend's recommendation. I now know why there is a waiting list to get into this preschool! From academic performance to behavioral & moral standards – Red Door is tops! I was worried about the big step to kindergarten, but no more. My son has blossomed into this "little student" and Red Door was the place he grew. Organized, professional & excellent … Thank you Red Door."
- Bobbie and Kevin Hicks (Pre-School Alumnae Parent )
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"We love Red Door! Our daughter had a very difficult and long adjustment to being away from us, and the staff had never-ending patience with her. She absolutely loves Red Door and drags me out the door in the morning so she can see her teachers and classmates."
- Amy Nansteel (Pre-School and K-Kids Parent)
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"Choosing a preschool for my daughter was not a decision I took lightly – in fact, I visited more schools than I care to count. After the sixth or seventh school, I was wondering how I would ever choose between them. Then I discovered Red Door – clearly a standout among the many I had seen. Immediately, I could tell that a lot of time, effort and thought were put into ensuring a fun learning experience for the preschool students. Our experience at Red Door was even better than I had imagined. Red Door maintains an excellent balance of teacher-guided lessons, while still allowing the student to develop through independent exploration. I knew that my daughter would be "kindergarten ready" when her time at Red Door came to an end – both socially and "academically". However, perhaps the most significant part of our Red Door experience is the level of personal attention that the director and other teachers give to each child. The staff is extremely friendly, caring and incredibly responsive to the needs of each student, as well as the requests of the parents. I am truly grateful to all of them for making my daughter?s first educational experience such a positive one."
- Janine Vecciarelli (Pre-School Alumnae Parent)