Kids Connection Elementary School

Thank you KC for another fabulous year! Hats off to our wonderful pricipal, Mrs. Marcum for putting together such an exceptional group of teachers and staff. Our 4th grade experience was simply amazing! I can't wait to see what 5th grade has in store for us. #weloveourschool
--Submitted by a parent

I have posted my experiences about this school in the past and I am back again to post as I do not agree with a recent parent's comments which I find are unfair to this wonderful school where everyone tries to do their best all the time. Anyone who has taken the time to volunteer in their child's class at Kids Connection (any grade) and spend a little time in school will know what a great school it is. 1) Favoritism - I have actively volunteered at various grades and I am yet to see any favoritism. The teachers have never favored one child over the other. 2) Too academic - KC is a private school and is expected to be academic. Thats the reason parents are paying thousands of dollars. The problem with America today is that the parents dont want their kids to work hard or do something they think is "difficult". Give the child a chance - atleast being in an academic environment will motivate them to learn. That said, if the child finds it too difficult, I have seen the teachers let them work and learn at their own pace. And I have never seen rote learning till now. It is a great school and I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone.
--Submitted by a parent

Kids connection is a great school. The teachers are very experienced and understand individual need of each kid. We have been KC family for the past seven years and extremely satisfied with the kind of education my kids are getting. They are academically challenged and I have seldom heard my children saying no to school. I really admire Mrs.Marcum leadership and the way she manages the school with ease. She is extremely patient and addresses the concerns the parents have. The kids are thought to be respectful to friends, family at an early stage. I think the initial years of a childs life is extremely important not just to be academically challenged but also how to behave in a society and I am happy KC has been working hard to make this happen.
--Submitted by a parent

Part 1 (of 2) This compliant is full of generalities, pettiness and conjecture. The writer doesn t define what s/he means by stronger teachers. S/he doesn t disclose what standards s/he uses in determining teacher quality, nor does s/he explain how s/he qualifies as an expert on the subject. S/he painted her/himself as a moralist, yet s/he chose to showcase her/his character through innuendo, and under the cowardly cover of internet anonymity. The administration and faculty at Kids Connection are what makes the school so exceptional. The teachers differ in teaching style, yes; as do the children, in learning styles. I have volunteered for most of the teachers at KC and have personally witnessed them create curriculum and special projects. There is nothing rote about it. The school offers creative educators who bring their individual skills and gifts to teaching. Our principal, Mrs. Marcum, is one of a kind and we are so fortunate to have her. She is a genteel, positive woman with decades of educational experience and lifetimes of personal wisdom.
--Submitted by a parent

Part 2 (of 2) Character values are the highest-held and most heartily-practiced ideals at KC. Mrs. Marcum s door is open to all parents and her heart is open to every student. I find it curious that the KC parent who wrote the compliant is so unfamiliar with the day to day operations of the school. For instance, French has been introduced to my 3rd grader and she has been exposed to Spanish since 1st grade. These languages are part of her school routine and not after school lessons . She may not be fluent, but Kids Connection is not an immersion school. Lastly, I do not find it harmful to have drawings for tuition discounts, it is business. Companies offer me monetary enticements and freebies all the time if I participate in online, satisfaction surveys. I receive reward points for using my credit card and I ve used frequent flyer miles for upgrades etc. If you have taken the time to search out Kids Connection, please consider a visit. I think the integrity of the school and its merits will shine through. -K.M., an actual KC parent
--Submitted by a parent

I was first drawn to Kids Connection because of their reputation for academic excellence. But, I chose Kids Connection for my daughter because of the warm, loving and nurturing environment. So, My daughter has the best of both worlds! You will never find a finer group of teachers and staff all perfectly assembled by the most incredible principal in all the land.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very disappointed over the quality of education that my child has received. The emphasis is on rote learning, heavy homework and test loads. I chose this school because of small class sizes , so my child could greater individual attention and build on his abilities but this has proven far from true. There is lack of diversity and many activities and programs that are a typical part of the school education elsewhere is considered after-school enrichment at this school and offered at additional cost.
--Submitted by a parent

This forum is for parents to openly share their opinions & views, whether position or negative. If the schools wants all the glory, then they must take the Bad & the Ugly. I thought it was odd that the school enticed us with a raffle for a 10% tuition discount in Apr if we wrote a testimonial and submitted it to the school. Satisfaction largely comes from getting the right teacher. There is inconsistency in teacher quality & curriculum across each grade. If you get the stronger teacher (as we had in the past), then your child will benefit & learn more & participate in activities outside of the standard curriculum. If you get a less experienced teacher (which we also got), then it's rote & worksheet driven with little creativity & originality. The school overemphasizes academics at the cost of all else. Contrary to what is posted, foreign language is not part of the curriculum, you need to pay for this as an afterschool lesson. Leadership needs to be improved, favoritism is rampant, and the principal talks about character development but does not model it. Administration needs to treat parents as partners, not outsiders, in the academic & social well-being of their child.
--Submitted by a parent

In the ten years that I have been with this school I have to say that it has been an absolute pleasure. I have had so many of my students return to the school to say that the foundation that Kids Connection gave them was critical to their success in Middle School, High School, and beyond. Our continued attention to academic excellence and good character development helps us produce quality individuals that we are proud to call our alumni.
--Submitted by a teacher

Our daughter has been going to Kids Connection since she was 3 years old. We initially chose Kids Connection over local schools for the convenience the school is just a mile from where we live and is reputed to have a good afterschool program. After what we thought was a great start at their preschool, she started in Kids Connection Elementary thereafter. She was fortunate to get some really great teachers who all really knew how to make learning fun for kids. We find the teaching staff extraordinarily committed and the support staff really friendly and nice. Our second daughter, who is a real handful, is starting Kids Connection this fall and we are confident Kids Connection will be able to help her become a confident and diligent student like big sis! Overall we really appreciate the training that Kids Connection provides for kids to become thinkers, readers, writers and artists in a very nurturing, supportive and fun environment.
--Submitted by a parent