My one and only child Lily has been at TLE Waldwick since she was 7 months old, and now she’s in preschool. It’s been heartwarming watching her grow up with teachers and friends she’s known since she was an infant.
First things first: this is a school. Not just a day care The teachers do so much more than keep our children safe and cared for. They’re educating them and laying the groundwork for years of learning. And it’s not only academics It’s manners, friendships, routines, learning to share, problem solving, and figuring out how to be part of a group. Even if I were home full time, there is no shot I could give Lily the same structure and learning she gets here every day.
As a working mom, it means so much to know she’s somewhere she feels comfortable and loved. We’ve had some wonderful teachers over the years, but a special shout-out to the G.O.A.T, Miss Hailey in Toddler B. Somehow, she managed to teach, love, and nurture a whole room of almost 2 year olds, change what felt like 100 diapers a day, AND give every parent a detailed rundown at pickup. Not a generic “she had a good day,” but actual stories about their child’s day, what went well, and what was a struggle. When your baby can’t tell you those things yet, that means everything. A year and a half later, I’m still talking about it.
Her current Preschool 1B teachers, Miss Olivia and Miss Tracy, deserve a shoutout too. At back to school night, they sat with a room full of moms and dads and really listened to our questions and requests for more communication. Then they followed through! They’ve started adding detailed descriptions to the pictures in the Bubbles app, explaining what the kids are doing and what they’re learning through each activity. Getting a cute picture is wonderful, but understanding what’s happening in that picture makes it so much more meaningful. It means a lot to feel heard and actually see changes come from that conversation.
Miss Olivia even buys special classroom supplies with her own hard-earned money so the kids have great materials for their daily activities. That kind of thoughtfulness deserves recognition, and I appreciate how invested she is to making each and every day be the best it can be.
I’d also love to recognize my pickup crew, Miss Jayleen and Miss Sophia. Miss Jayleen leads play/ Homework in the afterschool program during late afternoon pickup. Some children are finishing a day that stretches from 7 am to 6 pm. She builds with blocks, plays Legos, and engages with the kids while also keeping them on their potty schedules. It’s not an easy job, especially after such a long day, but you can tell she takes the time to get to know each child and understand what makes them tick.
Miss Sophia, the assistant director, does a wonderful job serving as a liaison for parents. She does whatever she can to make us feel seen and heard, I really appreciate her.
Overall I’m grateful for the care Lily has received, and I love hearing her talk about her friends and what they did at school. I’ve also made some great parent friends here, which was an unexpected bonus. We all share the same lived experience of putting our tiny humans in the care of others. That bond has created a connection and community that is meaningful and will hopefully continue past these early years.
TLE is a big part of our everyday life, and I’m really happy this is where Lily is growing up. I would absolutely recommend TLE Waldwick.
