Freedom Shores Elementary School

the principal may have been saying hi to the kids more recently, she did not when school first opened...but this is because parents complained that she did not. but now she is not at school anymore...it's crunch time now and the principal is gone! The other week I saw her shaking kids hands just a few feet from the crossing.... Not a safe place for her to be shaking hands there.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school. Teachers are great and very caring. The school has a very safe and nurturing atmosphere. The new Principal is very nice and attentive. She has an open door policy and is always willing to sit down and listen to any concerns. My son loves going to school and likes that the principal says hello to him and takes the time to see how he is doing. The teachers always seem to go above and beyond for the kids. I just couln't say enought good things about this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, prinicipal and staff! Great parent volunteers, close knit community...I have 2 kids there now and I couldn't be happier with the education they are getting.
—Submitted by a parent

AWESOME AWESOME SCHOOL....AND THE AFTERCARE PROGRAM IS UNBELIEVABLE MY SON LOVES IT....GREAT TEACHERS AND COMMUNICATION
—Submitted by a parent

Freedom Shores teachers, support staff and Administration have been wonderful in every way to our grandchildren for the past 4 years. The Aftercare Program...I can't say enough about how good it is. The counselors and Director put 150% into the daily program but also into having the Talent Show, Mommy & Me, etc. Summer Camp, the same. We are very fortunate to have them all. I also love the way the different teaching styles of the Fourth grade compliment each other. A terrific balance that all children can adapt to for the first year of changing classes. Kudos to all at Freedom Shores.
—Submitted by a parent

dedicated teachers,great principal ,excellent out put in every way
—Submitted by a parent

Great Aftercare program! My children have been in it for years. Both of my children are in the gifted program and they love it. Summer Camp is the high light for my children at Freedom Shores! A+
—Submitted by a parent

since the old principal left the school has gone down hill.
—Submitted by a parent

I think my review from April 17 was deleted. Anyway, GREAT SACC Program (offers Tai Kwon Do, Hip-Hop Dance for a fee) and many other included activities, pretty challenging curriculum for gifted. Great teachers (so far) have one entering 4th grade and one entering 2nd. Safe school (thorough checking of ID's upon entry, pickup.....) A lot of parent involvement (volunteering) for those teachers that want help. Clean facilities, well-maintained grounds, kids like cafeteria food, friendly school nurse, Library good, fully operational Reading Counts! program with plenty of opportunity to participate, Chess Club one of the best (place high at state tournaments), parking for volunteers up front so they can pick their kids up first, appropriate discipline, bullying not tolerated ( I know because my son so much as changed name to make it sound funny, and he was immediatley disciplined-apparently creating nicknames is considered 'bullying'). TVnews network run by kids-very good.
—Submitted by a parent

The school definately has gone down in quality since the departure of the old principal and her staff. It is better to send your kids to a regular school then the gifted program here.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a son in the gifted program and I am very disappointed with the school. I think the the curriculum is in a disarray. The irony is the regular classes performed better than the gifted classes.
—Submitted by a parent

I absolutely love Freedom Shores Elementary. My children are in the Gifted Program and have been blessed with the best teachers! I really hope that the reviewer of April 15th gets a teacher next year that works better for her and her child. The teachers that have taught my children reply to any comments I send to them in the communication folder or email. I do, however, tend to be hands-off as far as letting the teachers do their jobs, but I am very involved in my children's educations. I am blessed with a job that allows me to volunteer. The April 17th reviewer is correct. The school has 'Concretables'. The only disadvantage is that they don't have water fountains in them. But the children go to the main school building for specials and lunch and are also encouraged to bring water to school with them.
—Submitted by Beth, a parent

My daughter is also in the gifted program and we couldn't be happier with her education this year. My daughter's teacher, Ms. Klisiak, is the best. She teaches gifted the way it is meant to be taught with a balance of enrichment, compacting and acceleration. They are given the basics, challenged to exceed the standard curriculum and have done some great projects this year. In addition to that, she actually cares about the kids and communicates everything to the parents.
—Submitted by a parent

I completely disagree with the parent who posted on 2/15/08. My child is in the very same program with the very same teachers and I am extremely disappointed in the 'hands off' approach to parent communication. It has been a struggle to get the teachers to communicate in a meaningful way, with the exception of Mrs. Whitehead who seems to have gone out of her way to deal with my child as an individual. In general, the school has not met my expectations in the way of providing a safe environment for the students especially against bullies.
—Submitted by a parent

Freedom Shores is an excellent school. My daughter is in the gifted program and her teachers, Mrs. Feldbaum, Mrs. Whitehead and Mrs. Kleintop have been exceptional. They believe in forming partnerships with parents in order to meet the needs of the students. Palm Beach County needs more schools like this; schools that pride their students over anything else.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children in the gifted program and I am very dissapointed. The best interests of the students are secondary. Even more dissapointing is the lack of basics they teach in the gifted program. They move through the curriculum at an accelerated rate (that's how they teach the gifted class) and don't cover the basics. Great individual teachers but the administration and curriculum is horrible.
—Submitted by a parent

this school is excellent. I really like the parent pick up. They are extremely safe and make sure our kids go where they are supposed to
—Submitted by sheryll borgia, a parent

My child just started kindergarten 11 days ago and we just found out that a bunch of kindergarteners (who don't know the school yet) have to be moved out to wooden portables outside due to overcrowding in the school. There was only a day in advance to warn parents and children that our children would be moving to a different classroom, an outside one that is ill equipped for kindergarteners with a non working PA system and facilities. Had I known this to be an issue when I registered my child in May I would have kept my child in private school.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school! This is our first year at Freedom Shores. We came from a private Christain School to the public school environment. FS is a big school and still has the personal touch and active parent group. Such a sense of community when you're in the building. Great staff and teachers!! We love it!
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. They have a strong academic program, great extracurricular activities and they also teach Life Skills. My daughter has been here for two years and what I love is that they teach children to excel in academics and in life. Children are encouraged to be positive members of their community by helping other students, using positive words, sharing, being safe, giving to others etc. It is a very community-friendly school. Dr. Lucas is wonderful and so are the personnel staff who work there. I wish more schools would follow their example.
—Submitted by Wendy Otero, a parent