Academy of the Arts

As we prepare for our 3rd year at the Academy (entering 2nd grade), I wanted to share my gratitude for the kind and compassionate teachers and the wonderful community of families and learning.nnI have always been grateful for the small classes, and individualized attention. It was for these reasons, as well as a desire to give my child of solid moral and ethical foundation, that I chose the Academy.nnI love that the kids learn and practice kindness. When I was a child, I was bored and sometimes disruptive to the class because the teaching was below my ability. It was very important that my son could learn reading and math at his own level, rather than be tied to a class level.nnIn kindergarten, when my son was a five-year old who had difficulty sitting and paying attention for extended periods of time, his teachers knew the best way to gently coax him back to focus. I know this behavior would have been frowned upon in public school, but we were fortunate to have teachers with patience and understanding, who could help him in a positive and nurturing way, to help him thrive and grow, academically, and as a person.nnAdministration and teachers go out of their way to make sure that each student is taken care of. This can be seen even more so, as we encountered distance learning this year (due to Covid-19 stay at home orders). We had daily zooms meetings with our teachers (secular and Hebrew/Judaica) starting on day 1. Our primary teacher stopped by our house, and the houses of other students, multiple times. Miss Susanne was there to engage, encourage, and assist in a most helpful & loving way, as a mother herself and as someone who LOVES to teach and be with her students.nnWhen our world was turned upside down, the first week of 1st grade, at the death of my son's father, our community was there to support us. We met face-to-face (on Labor Day) with our teacher and the school Director, to strategize how to help my son deal with this devastating tragedy, provide normalcy/stability/support, & determine how to share this news with the staff, students, and families. On the many days, for many months, when my son broke down crying during class, his teacher, staff, and administration were there for him. Their empathy and caring made it possible for him to go to school in the most trying of times. I don’t think we could have made it through, or I could have gone to work, if not for their support.nnAcademically, I am thrilled with the personalized learning and variety of extra activities that the kids get to do, including Hebrew, Judaica, art, music, stem, robotics, mindfulness/yoga, PE, and Legos (my son's favorite).nnWith gratitude, Jean

We have been fans of the Growing Garden Preschool for many years and were ecstatic that they have created an elementary school as well. Our youngest son was not having the best experience in his Manhattan Beach elementary school. There were just too many children in the class and not enough support for the teacher, he was getting lost in the shuffle. When we learned that the Academy was going to be opening, we immediately pulled our son out of his public school. We have been so happy with the education he has received thus far. He is getting the individual attention he needs in a much more creative and stimulating environment. Not only that but he is also getting a Jewish education as well, which has imparted in him so much compassion and thoughtfulness that he would not otherwise be receiving. We have a joke in our family that if the Growing Garden were to create a University, we would go there too!