OPENair Academy

I had my 4 year old daughter, and 2 year old son here for about 8 months before we moved to SE Aurora. I transferred them to a private academy that was 20% more expensive. They were there about 4 months, and never relented about returning here. The staff here is friendly and very outgoing. I feel like my kids are nurtured more, and given more attention. I also get daily updates from the teachers on how my kids are doing, and how their day was. Even the other kids seem friendlier here. My kids are back, and we make the sacrifice for extra driving just to have them somewhere we know they’re happy and safe. I have to give credit to Ms. Carrie and Ms. Tabatha that teach the 4 year olds, and Ms. Jessica with the 2 year olds, and Ms. Vanessa with the 3 year olds. Also the director, Ms. Kate is fantastic! I love this place, but more importantly, my kids love this place.

It pains me to write this review since I have such mixed feelings about this place.
I got an opportunity to go back to work when my daughter was only 6 months old and was so nervous putting her in day care. I searched a lot of places… A LOT and this was the first place that treated me with any respect. When I came in for the first time they dropped everything to show me around and talked about the programs and all the classes and most importantly the infant room where my daughter would be full time. I was nervous but came back and actually stayed almost a whole week in the building watching the way they cared for my daughter and decided to go for it. They treated me like family…
I immediately loved it but didn’t like a few small things here and there. Mostly attention issues and cleanliness. I loved the first infant teacher but she moved rooms after the first 3 weeks. Then they had a vacancy in the room which they filled with whomever was available in the center to cover. I didnt care for that. Then when they finally got a full time supervisor a month later things were back to normal. As weeks went on I noticed that vacuuming was not done every night and toys were very sticky and the room would be filthy when I came in a night. My daughter was always so sick (not their fault) Babies were on the floor with pacifiers even though in the rules they were not allowed to have them to start their weening process early. Small attention to detail that would make the place worth the grand you spend a month just wasn’t done!
They fielded all concerns but with no real solutions and more excuses. I was also told I was being too intense by the directors when I asked why they didn’t vacumn and why the carpet was not shampooed. Alot of the things they promised were never delivered. I know that they have issues keeping their refrigerator running properly in the main kitchen and that always worried me (heard this from a staff member.) Employees were strongly discouraged from forming personal relationships with the parents which I always found so odd since they staff is with our children constantly. The standards we were promised on education of the teachers was not adhered too and that was frustrating as well.
The good… they always did crafts and painting and other really wonderful. The staff really does love their kids and it shows! The building is gorgeous and set up perfectly by age and each classroom is big enough to let the children play and learn. The playground is spacious and has great equipment.
This place could be so much more.