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March 2023 by Neha Nambiar
Hogg's hollow was the best decision I made for my kids' younger years. They have a unique outdoor program catered specially for hands on learning with the aim for kids to become more independant and confident about their abilities. Field trips, science experiments, organized cultural events, outdoor classrooms, art rooms are just a few of their curriculum activities that keeps it exciting for the kids. In addition to this, year round access to the adjacent track field where the kids have daily biking lessons and enjoy track and field days are an excellent source of daily exercise. Lastly, the teachers at Hogg's hollow have been the same since my oldest started with them ..which was several years ago..this is an indication of a healthy school environment for teachers and kids. To parents of young kids, gives this school a chance before you exploring anything else.
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March 2023 by Dana Griffis
Hogg's Hollow holds such a special place in my heart. Both of my boys attended HH pre-pandemic, and I can't describe what a beautiful experience it was for all of us. The frequent field trips, constant outdoor classroom time, daily bike rides around the track, and such amazing teachers, made it a magical place for my kids to spend their days. They loved it, and my husband and I loved it. We all felt like family.To this day when I see Hogg's Hollow kids on a field trip, I get teary eyed and filled with gratitude for our experience there. If you are a family who values outdoor play, adventure, health, and kindness, then I highly recommend checking out Hogg's Hollow. It was the best decision we could have made and I will forever remember how it impacted out family in such a beautiful way.
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March 2023 by Alicia Magana
This preschool is a gem. The kids do real tasks. They work hard with all the sport activities. They ride their bikes around the track every morning! They go on field trips using the local public transport. My son was so lucky to go here!
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February 2023 by Jinbo W.
My two daughters went to this school between 2016-2020. This preschool is a great choice for parents who value outdoor and active experiences for their children. With a director (Rose) who loves camping and regular camping trips to beautiful locations like Joshua Tree and Anza-Borrego Desert, kids have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. The use of bikes each morning is a unique and fun way to get exercise and develop balance and coordination. The frequent field trips to nearby parks provide even more opportunities for kids to explore and play. The preschool's reading program is also highly regarded, making it a well-rounded choice for children's development. This preschool also has a strong sense of community, thanks in part to the involvement of families in school activities. Whether it's volunteering on field trips or participating in parent-teacher meetings, families are an integral part of the preschool community. This helps create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and connected. Overall, the combination of a focus on outdoor activities, well-rounded academics, and a strong community make this preschool a great choice for families who are looking for a high-quality early education for their children. I highly recommend this preschool to parents who are looking for a balanced approach to their child's education and growth.
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October 2022 by Joan B.
Hogg's Hollow is a treasure and an amazing place for children to grow. The flexible and balanced schedule, the diverse program with exposure to the outdoors and real-world experiences, the weekly field trips, the loving and nurturing teachers and the facilities (on and off campus) is all part of what makes Hogg's Hollow such a special place! My two kids attended HH when they were 3-5yrs old for preschool and TK and they had an amazing and impactful experience. We were looking for a safe and nurturing environment that was play-based and developmental. We wanted our kids to be prepared for Kindergarten socially, emotionally and behaviorally more than academically but what we found was that the learning happened even if that was not our priority. When kids are happy, safe and having fun they are more ready and eager to learn. The teachers are amazing and really get to know your children. They are so patient, kind and caring. They know your children's food preferences, their favorite toy and their special interests making your children truly feel seen. We still talk about their teachers today and that's because of the love and trust they built with our children. They know kids and understand that all kids are special and different learners and use that knowledge to cultivate our children's interest and passions which positively impacts our children's growth and development. The program is wonderful and intentional and prioritizes early childhood development. They have a great balance of play, academics, movement, arts, music, culture and social and emotional development and they do this through a variety of activities, indoor and outdoors, that makes learning fun. They are outside and biking everyday getting all the wiggles out in the morning so the kiddos can then go into the classroom for the 'academics' - it's genius! Children learn through play, discovery and by exploring and doing. My son continues to be a builder and maker which was cultivated in simple activities like building forts with the crates in the playground or stacking rocks and sticks along Hahamonga River. My daughter's motor skills were so developed compared to her peers at her new Kindergarten because of the outdoor play, biking, track and field, and hiking. She felt so proud amongst her peers on the playground and I know that confidence was instilled at Hogg's Hollow. Their field trip experiences are the BEST part of this program. From the simple trips to Sprouts grocery store to the bike hikes in Hahamonga - these are the experiences my children remember fondly. They still ask why their current school doesn't do field trips every Friday! Every trip has intention and exposes them to so many different things. The field trips included small trips like the post office, butcher shop and neighborhood walks - to bigger trips like Fire and Sheriff Stations, Descanso Gardens, Hahamonga, Eaton Canyon Trail, Griffith Park, Walt Disney Concert Hall for children's classical performances, JPL and even Joshua Tree camping! I was always amazed by the patience and bravery of the teachers managing the kiddos on these trips. But today, my kids are so comfortable with new places and have gained independence and confidence. In addition to the trips, their annual events are great, not just for the kids but the entire family. The Derby Car building and Race, Track & Field Day, Halloween neighborhood trick-or-treating, Thanksgiving feast, Holiday Music Program, Graduation and so much more! Thes opportunities really make HH feel like a community!
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October 2022 by Nicole L.
I'm going to begin this review by saying that I never felt like my child would be harmed at this school... I just wouldn't call it a school. I don't know how this "school" has five stars... It's really more of a glorified daycare. The owner, Rose, requires that children use these ridiculous giant igloo coolers as lunch boxes (which are too large for them to manage themselves), mandates 100% volunteer parent participation in their parent league (which the teachers hound you about daily until you comply- or you can just give them money- we did neither- we already paid a premium and if I'm being 100% honest if you tell me voluntary participation is mandatory when I'm paying you I ain't gonna do it). The teachers are not nurturing at all and there is no cohesiveness between the children. In the 8 months we were there, my VERY outgoing daughter did not make one friend. We are not new to preschools as I have other children and my child was somewhere else in the valley before we moved where she had an array of friends that she spoke of all the time. We were sort of pigeon-holed into this one as we moved in the middle of the year and all the good schools were already full with waiting lists. My child never spoke of her day or her friends or her teachers. When I asked she was kind of cagey, which I chalked up to the sudden move and adjustment issues. Honestly, now that I have moved my daughter to a new school I feel horrible that I kept her at HH as long as I did. She is THRIVING in her new school. To top it all off, when we left in August, they were still requiring weekly nasal swabs and would not allow the child into the school Monday morning without it. Look, I am a healthcare provider and know that masks work blah blah blah. A year ago, I would have appreciated this policy but LAUSD, GUSD not a single district in Los Angeles is still doing this. For parents to have to traumatize a toddler like this on a weekly basis shows just zero consideration for the mental health of the children. To top it off, parents (as of the time we left in August 2022) STILL were not allowed on campus. Not even outside. Heck, the children were barely allowed inside! One day I picked up my daughter, it was 104 degrees outside- her face was bright red and the kids and teachers were all outside. When I questioned them about it the teacher said, "COVID." I was livid. It's not like this was March 2020. Again, a year ago, sure. But this was just beyond kooky. The only reason I can imagine that they were doing all this is that the teachers were not vaccinated. But that is pure speculation. Combining this with the teacher's unwillingness to update you on your child's day unless you specifically asked was just very unsettling. Avoid.
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July 2021 by Mary T.
Hogg's Hollow is an amazing program for kids. My son Leo has been enrolled there since he was 19 months old. Ms. Rose has such a keen understanding of child development. She helped our son transition into a more playful mood. The teachers Ms. Leselie and Ms. Yoselin are so tender and nurturing. They feed the kids very well and tell you all about the day during pick up. It's a very individualized program and you feel that they truly know your child. I've also enrolled in the Mommy & Me Class every Friday with Ms. Patti which is equally wonderful and helped our son acclimate to the school environment. I've tried several other preschools in the La Canada district for my other kids and this has been the BEST one.
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October 2019 by Dana G.
We love this school! My 4 year old started Hogg's Hollow in January 2019 after he didn't seem happy at his previous school. What a change we have seen! He is absolutely thriving. He loves going to school everyday and his confidence is growing daily. My 2 year old started a few months ago and he is loving it also. I have done a lot of research on schools because I am super picky, and this school far exceeded anything else I could find in the area. The kids get to play outside all the time, ride bikes daily, go on field trips weekly, and the staff is the absolute best! I know my children are well taken care of and loved, and the relationships I have been able to build with other parents in such a short amount of time has been priceless. What a fantastic community. I can't recommend this school enough.
