"I could not ask for a better experience for my son. The preschool education he has received has far exceeded our expectations. Not only is he prepared to enter Kindergarten next year academically, he has excelled leaps and bounds socially. The nurturing environment is more than any parent could ask for. It is heartwarming to walk through the campus and have upper grade teachers that I do not even know address my preschooler by name. This is the only school that I have researched that has a curriculum that is strictly followed from the preschoolers through middle school. I look forward to many more years at Camelback Desert School." ~parent of a preschooler
"Mrs. Phillips has been my eleven year old son's teacher for two years, I cannot emphasize enough how overly impressed I am in every aspect, she is not only brilliant in her own right but has the ability to teach, challenge and bring out the best qualities in her students. Mrs. Phillips possesses a positive, enthusiastic personality; she has a wonderful rapport with not only her students but parents alike. Having her as my son's teacher has been a pleasure that will, with certainty, always be a bonus in his academic future." ~parent of a fifth grader
"My two older children attended Camelback Desert School fifteen years prior to my youngest son being born. There was no question where I would send him as he entered school. I am pleased to find that the school has continued to thrive as a positive academic and social environment for preschoolers, elementary and middle school aged children. The structured curriculum together with nurturing teachers and staff make this a perfect choice for parents."
"I have high expectations of teachers and one of the reasons we have remained at CDS for six years is because of the caliber of so many of the teachers at the school. Mrs. Haberman has far exceeded our high expectations in every regard.
Not only has she customized the learning process for our son but she is so attuned to his strengths and weaknesses that she has been able to build his confidence and help him excel both academically as well as on a more holistic level. She has challenged him to excel in such a positive way that he enjoys school and has accomplished things he never thought possible. I think a teacher is exceptional when they make learning fun for the child and can customize their style to be effective with each individual student and I have been so impressed with Mrs. Haberman’s ability to do just that with her third grade class.
She is also an incredible communicator and partner with me, both proactive in informing me if there is anything I need to be aware of, as well as responsive to any questions or requests I have ever had. Even late night or weekend emails are responded to almost instantaneously.
She has truly been an amazing teacher and I credit her for the tremendous growth I have seen in our son this year, including his willingness to take on new challenges he would have previously passed over. I hope Mrs. Haberman knows what a positive impact she is making on the students at such a critical time in their life." ~parent of a third grader
"Ms. Bernstein provides an academically stimulating environment while giving the warm attention our children still need at this young age. We feel very lucky to have Ms. Bernstein leading our son into his first year of elementary school. She exceeds our expectations academically and provides a loving and nurturing environment for our five year old." ~ parent of a kindergartner
"I would highly recommend Mrs. Elizabeth McCarter to any parent looking for an outstanding preschool teacher. She is a very patient, organized and caring educator. Her passion for teaching is demonstrated daily by her creativity in the classroom. In six short months, my son has learned all of his letter sounds and can already identify several site words. He is well on his way to reading! He enjoys his interaction in the classroom and comes home daily with many fun stories. The excitement he expresses every school morning and the smile I see when I pick him up says it all! Mrs. McCarter has far exceeded my expectations in her first year at Camelback Desert School!" ~parent of a three year old
"Words cannot express our appreciation for the loving care Ms. Bernstein provided for our son. Choosing a school for your child to go to can be a vast and terrifying decision, and we are so very happy that we obviously made the correct decision. We were so fortunate to have Ms. Bernstein for Kindergarten. There never was a day that we were not confident when we dropped him off in her classroom. We knew it would be nothing but a positive experience. He would receive love, respect, guidance, wisdom and a great education. Ms. Bernstein’s sense, poise, her manner with children, her ability to be flexible and work with emergent issues are all qualities that I expect from an experienced teacher and that is Ms. Bernstein to a T." ~parent of a kindergartner
Ms. Khalil exemplifies the key element that makes Camelback Desert School attractive to our family. She is, in one word, nurturing. She does a wonderful job of mixing instructional and independent learning environments. She develops an insightful bond with each student, which appears reflective of their individual needs. Our daughter celebrates any extracurricular achievement by a quick desire to share with Ms. Khalil, which reflects the encouragement shown her students extending beyond the classroom. The on campus excellence is seen via the achievements of her students: overall her class is soaring in their reading readiness and writing efforts. We are pleased to have a student thriving under her watch, who exudes confidence and independence which grows by the day.” ~parent of a first grader
"We are pleased with our choice to join the CDS family. We have high regard for Mrs. Haberman both professionally and personally. She is kind, committed and has been a very positive influence on our daughter and her academic growth. Our overall experience at Camelback Desert School has been professional and welcoming. The staff is friendly and supportive. The parent teacher organization is positive, and actively involved in providing fun learning experiences for the entire school. CDS also provides increased arts and extra-curricular classes that are comprehensive and taught by organized and experienced teachers. We believe CDS offers high quality teachers, with exceptional academic opportunities, which has strengthened our daughter’s educational experience." ~parent of a third grader
"This was my son's first year in preschool, so we really didn't know what to expect. Since beginning school in the fall, he has enjoyed every day in Mrs. McCarter's classroom. In the evenings, he often asks if the following day is a "school day" and is disappointed when it is not.
Mrs. McCarter is a very warm and welcoming teacher which made the transition from home to school very easy for my son. She seemed to know just how to handle him when he tried to "test" her early on - I assume that may have something to do with her years of parenting twin boys! Mrs. McCarter teaches with enthusiasm and creativity which keeps the children engaged and promotes their learning and development. Her assistant, Krista, is a wonderful addition to the classroom environment. Both are great at providing feedback on how my child is doing and it is very easy to communicate with them if I have questions or concerns.
My husband and I are so pleased that our son's first school experience has been such a positive one. We hope that he continues to love school as much as he does right now." ~parent of a three year old
"Camelback Desert School is the kind of school everyone dreams they went to as a kid. It has a Montessori feel in terms of focusing on individual learning, character development and the overall home-like feel to the campus itself, yet ensures all students are meeting or exceeding National standards. All students have the same basic requirements at each grade level, but teachers inspire and encourage their students to find and use their own interests to further expand their knowledge. The special area teachers are phenomenal and clearly love their fields of interest, which shows in their teaching. The principal has a personal relationship with each student and works very hard to make sure everyone feels comfortable and happy in every aspect of their education. He has an open door policy to both students and parents and has a very welcoming personality."
"My daughter absolutely loves Miss Whitney! She has a great rapport with her students and connects with them very easy. Miss Whitney also is very easy to communicate with and as a parent I always know Whitney will get back to me with any questions or concerns very promptly. She is very organized and reliable and has a great positive attitude with the children!" ~parent of a two year old
All staff members at Camelback Desert School make it a mission to get to know all students throughout the school and are clearly invested in them. It's clear that the staff want their students to live up to their true potential both academically and socially. I would highly recommend this school!" ~parent of a 6th grader
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Mrs. Candrian for PK-4 this year!! She has an incredible talent for blending compassion, structure in learning and a bit of playtime with these 4 and 5 year olds. We are amazed each and every day not only at our son’s progression of learning, but the increasing level of adoration and respect he displays with both fellow peers and adults! He truly LOVES and appreciates school and we attribute much of that to Mrs. Candrian and CDS. She is an extraordinary asset to Camelback Desert School and we are excited for our youngest son to experience her class in a couple years!!!!" ~parent of a preschooler
"Thank you, Ms. Phillips for inspiring my son to love learning again! Before coming to your school and into your class, he hated school and didn't want to learn. Math went from being his most difficult subject at his previous school, to getting A's in your class. Most astounding, he actually now asks for extra Math work at home! Aside from improving academically, his self-confidence has improved dramatically as well. He now loves to go to school again! Switching to Camelback Desert School was the best decision we could have made and having you for his first teacher here was nothing short of amazing! You have such a wonderful ability to keep students engaged and inspired! I loved how structured your classroom is, where students never have time to get off track, yet, every student feels your warmth and caring nature. We are so grateful to have had you as a teacher for our son! Thank you for inspiring him to be the best learner he can be, by seeing the best in him!" ~parent of a fifth grader"
Ms Khalil is honestly the finest, most creative, talented and caring teacher our daughter has known. She makes learning come alive, and ignites the passion within each child. We count ourselves extremely lucky to have had our child benefit from her teaching." ~parent of a fifth grader
"At Camelback Desert School our family has not only had the fortune of terrific core knowledge teachers, but as well in the variety of "specials" subjects they are routinely scheduled. A standout experience has been that of time with Sra. Bertha. It is a treat to have the Spanish program, and honestly, our two children can't get enough. We have been impressed that her teaching style proves such a success across the large age range of students at the school. Our youngest proceeds with confidence in public and is trying to bring her second language skills into environments where she can apply her learning. Our older child, who is much more reserved, shocks us with his abilities used during immersive sessions in class. As with most of the faculty at the school, she is yet another example of a truly nurturing educator who is beloved by the students she serves. A welcomed mainstay for both of our children throughout their years to date on campus."
"Ms. Khalil is so talented in bringing her school lessons to life. Her energy is infectious and the way she engages the children is inspiring. Our children have flourished both socially and academically. It is her true love for teaching that makes her extraordinary!" ~parent of a first grader
"Ms. Morton has perfected the balance of providing a nurturing environment with a good academic program relative to age. We are thrilled with our child's growth as a result of her teaching. In the classroom, I am impressed with her ease in handling this busy age with patience and grace - always making the children feel cared about. All the children love her and I believe it is one of the dominant reasons as to the success of her class. Ms. Mariah, who works with Ms. Morton, is just as nurturing with the children. My daughter has learned to write quite successfully all of the letters of the alphabet, both lower and upper case, write simple words and has begun reading before she is 5. This indicates the level of learning that Ms. Morton's class is accomplishing. I am so grateful to have Susie Morton this year and am appreciative that my daughter and the other students in the class are cared about as much as Ms. Morton does. She has a very unique ability to engage them in such a way as to bring out the best in each child. She has a gift." ~parent of a preschooler
"Our son is in his second year with Ms. Phillips as we looped with her from the fourth grade. We have been quoted many times saying, "we would loop with Ms. Phillips till High School graduation if we could!”. She is a real dynamo. She keeps the kids constantly engaged, and runs a fun but tight ship in her class. She is adored by her students. Our son finds her not only an educator but a trusted confidant, and turns to her with any issue. The curriculum in her class is timely to today's societal issues, as well as reaching well beyond insular concerns. She is well versed in the content level needed to succeed at the next level and excels in her efforts to have her students well prepared to move on. In particular, we have appreciated her fine attention to truly differentiate to meet the differing needs of each student in her class. We feel we are truly receiving an individualized education. We have been blessed to have her in our students’ life." ~parent of a fifth grader
"We recommend Camelback Desert without reservation. Our family has been impressed by the quality of teachers and programs. The art, PE, computer, and Spanish teachers are dedicated to their jobs and provide instruction that is the definition of excellence."
Our son had Ms. Suzie Morton for the pre-K program. She offered creative instruction with enthusiasm. Ms. Morton taught the children how to work with addition and subtraction (at four years old!) Her science programs were genius and kept the kids asking questions. She provided detailed notes and newsletters about each and every week that each child experienced. Ms. Morton has a big heart and truly loves what she does! Camelback Desert is lucky to have a teacher as qualified as Ms. Morton. I would recommend her to any future parent!
Going into the next school year we are excited to have Ms. Kellogg as the next teacher! Your school has done an excellent job at the selection of each of their teachers! We feel blessed to have been referred to your school and are happy to recommend it to all of our friends. ~parent of a preschooler
"Mrs. Elizabeth McCarter is a fantastic teacher. She is that unteachable mixture of intuition, intelligence, patience and passion for her craft. The kids are glued to her from start to finish, no easy feat with three and four year olds. She commands their attention in a well organized environment but inspires them to think and create on their own. They respect her and she truly loves each and every one of her students.
My daughter started this year a little tentative in a group setting. A gifted student she was more comfortable watching and listening rather than participating. But through patience, kindness, and encouragement Mrs. McCarter has been able to bring out the little girl I see at home… always talking, learning, and hungry for more knowledge. My daughter beams when she gets out of class each day, that’s how much she LOVES school. And not only is she learning academically, Mrs. McCarter is reinforcing my core values of good behavior, good listening, and kindness and respect towards others.
Her choice in teachers assistants, also speaks volumes about Mrs. McCarter’s wisdom. Miss Krista’s youthful zest is a wonderful compliment to Mrs. McCarter’s exuberant maturity. The two make a wonderful team: together assessing each child and teaching them according to their individual characteristics, abilities and personalities. The amount of personal attention is extraordinary as is the amount of communication with the parents. They are always passing along information and anecdotes and always available to answer questions.
I could not recommend Mrs. Elizabeth McCarter more strongly. Every day I feel blessed that my child is in her class and that she and Miss Krista are helping my daughter grow into her best self as student and a person." ~parent of a three year old
"Mrs. Bergner is a kind and gentle spirit that has an amazing ability to bring structure and organization to a spirited classroom. Our daughter thoroughly enjoys the second grade, she has become more confident and outgoing with Mrs. Bergner's guidance." ~parent of a second grader
Ms. Khalil is so talented in bringing her school lessons to life. Her energy is infectious and the way she engages the children is inspiring. Our children have flourished both socially and academically. It is her true love for teaching that makes her extraordinary! ~parent of a first grader
"Mrs. Phillips is a firm but fair teacher. Her classes are never dull and energy levels are always high. She takes time to know each of her students so that she can adapt the lessons in such a way that all her students are learning all the time. The children are enthusiastic and keen to learn. She makes learning fun. Most importantly, my son, who has been uprooted from his school friends and family, has never once said that he doesn't want to go to school in the morning. He is so happy at Camelback Desert School." ~parent of a fifth grader
"Miss. Bernstein is an exceptional Kindergarten teacher. Her strongest asset is consistently maintaining a well- balanced classroom environment. Her classroom is safe, nurturing, creative, controlled and academically rigorous. She is well versed in her content area and provides her students with not only innovative and diverse learning experiences but individual learning plans. Her instruction is hands-on, rich in content and leveled to meet the needs of all of her students. She presents academic material in such a way that it crosses the curriculum-integrating multiple subjects at once. In addition, she has a unique ability to connect with both her students and their parents. I without hesitation extend Miss. Bernstein my highest recommendation." ~parent of a kindergartner
"This year we have had the pleasure of having Ms. Sukenic as our 4th grade teacher. During this year our son has had the opportunity to grow and develop his skill level with the assistance from a teacher that makes it possible.
Ms. Sukenic brings so much to the students. She is not only kind, generous and caring but her ability to take the curriculum and teach it in such a way that because she sees each child as an individual, every student learns in their own unique way. When she teaches a subject to the children, her knowledge and enthusiasm is so powerful that every student becomes engaged in the learning process. She not only teaches the curriculum as set out but goes beyond the standard taking the students to a higher level than required. Ms. Sukenic encourages the students to stretch their minds and think of all the possibilities in every subject and in everything they set out to do." ~parent of a fourth grader
"Ms. Khalil is a fabulous teacher. She has given our son the support he needed to build his self-confidence & embrace the love of learning. She is everything & more we could have wished for in a 1st grade teacher." ~parent of a first grader
"Mrs. Phillips restored my sons trust in teachers and confidence in himself. She is one of the most loving, compassionate and dedicated teachers I have ever met." ~parent of a first grader
"My son has been in Ms. Whitney’s class since August and loves her! He asks to go to school to see her on his days off. She is great with all the kids and comes up with new and fun ways of teaching them different things.
The structured curriculum allows for the children to learn a number of different things in a short amount of time. Ms. Whitney has been an excellent teacher that always shows compassion, patience and a safe environment for the children to learn.
I would highly recommend Ms. Whitney! She can definitely offer everything that a family would be looking for in a teacher." ~parent of a two year old
“I had to take this opportunity to express how incredible the teachers at CDS are and how fortunate my children have been to attend this school. My oldest is in first grade this year and has had the incredible opportunity to be in Ms. Khalil's class. She not only has differentiated her teaching so that his math and reading skills are a full grade higher, but she has instilled in him a passion for the arts and has even taught him Arabic! Her passion for teaching is apparent and she is a true treasure for this school!” ~parent of a first grader
"My wife and I struggled with the decision as to whether or not our 3 year old daughter should be entered into a pre-school program. Once we decided the answer was "yes", we needed to decide on a school. Camelback Desert was our choice based on a few recommendations and solidified once we toured the facility.
Our daughter started there in the fall of 2011 with Mrs. McCarter as her first teacher in her first year of school. We could not be any happier or more comfortable with our decision. Mrs. McCarter teaches with patience and a calm, serene personality that constantly engages the children. The environment in the classroom is so inviting and nurturing that it was a very easy transition for our daughter to adjust to.
Mrs. McCarter actively seeks parent involvement in classroom projects and activities from time to time depending on current themes being taught to the children. We thoroughly enjoy assisting and putting ourselves in the same learning environment as our child. It provides a great opportunity to see how your child is learning and to cement the comfort level that he/she has in the learning environment of the classroom.
Developmentally, our daughter has made enormous strides. The first of which was to become more independent in her own right and actually seek more independence in the home. She has learned responsibility for herself and others and for her own space. The children in the classroom all understand the need to play and create but, then clean up after themselves when they are done. The roles of "line leader" and "lunch box helper" are our daughter’s two favorite jobs and she now has chores at home that she has sought out. She has the ability to count items, can tell you who the Mona Lisa is and who created her, full recounting of musical pieces, greater sense of self-worth and self-dependence and is extremely happy to go to school. We hear countless times from her that "I love Mrs. McCarter and Ms. Krista" as we exit the turning circle after school.
We have a two year old daughter who will be entering school in the fall of 2012 and we hope that we can land her in Mrs. McCarter's classroom as we know she will certainly thrive and learn a great deal." ~parent of a three year old
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