Reviews of The Goddard School of Clackamas (Happy Valley) (Kindergarten)

Abby Schulte

The teachers really care about the kids and everything is very organized. I like the variety of activities and the balance between doing things as a group and doing things individually. I appreciate the daily pictures.

Sarah M

Our first son has been going to Goddard for the last three years and our second son just started a couple months ago. They both love it there. The teachers and staff are very friendly and enthusiastic. The classrooms are clean and the program is well organized. We did a lot of research of other daycares before choosing Goddard and we are happy with our decision and would highly recommend it.

Jessica Gibbon

We are very happy with the education our kids are receiving at the Goddard School. The staff is fantastic, a good variety of activities fill the day, and an emphasis seems to be placed on tailoring to a student's particular needs.

Megan Caulkins

I think the daily progress reports are great. My child has learned so much from your teachers. I feel safe and comfortable when they are at your school

Emily Baumgartner

We transitioned our two-year-old son to The Goddard School from another daycare/preschool and have been very pleased with our decision to do so. The staff and teachers are professional, friendly and caring, and our son has thrived in this environment. He has bonded well with his teachers and gets excited to tell them about things he's done at home over the weekend. We've watched his language proficiency increase at a surprising rate, and are constantly getting compliments from others that he speaks so well for his age. We also appreciate the daily reports with details on the activities our son has done throughout the day, including photos. We would highly recommend The Goddard School to anyone looking for childcare for their little ones.

Luke Weinbrecht

The Goddard School has been an outstanding place for both of our children to learn, grow, and explore over the last 3.5 years. The directors and teachers are responsive to our children’s individual needs. They go above and beyond to accommodate each of my children’s needs and effectively communicate about their day to us. When we were looking for a school for our kids, local teachers told us that they could see the positive difference in kids when they started public school and highly recommended Goddard. Recently, they had a celebration centered around The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The effort and dedication that the school put into the event was impressive. My kids came home all week talking about the life cycle of a caterpillar and what role their class had in the celebration. Well done!

Dakalb Wiggins

The Goddard school has been a blessing for our family. After visiting childcare centers around the Portland area this was clearly the best option. The school itself is bright and clean - unlike many others that are unkempt and cluttered by years of over used toys. The teachers are smart, energetic young women - ready to play, dance, sing and actively engage with the children. One thing I’ve become most grateful for is a summary of the day’s activities which allows me to talk with my child about their day - sometimes she even comes home and teaches me the day’s dance, yoga pose or Spanish word. Selecting childcare is hard but it’s comforting to be confident in your decision.

Cami LeWarne

Caring teachers and lots of great activities. Someplace I can feel good about dropping her off when I can't be with her. :)

Sarah York

Our son Tom has attended Goddard for almost 2 years (since he was 10 months old). Unfortunately, due to our rather erratic work schedules, we need to find an alternate form of child care. We're heartbroken, as his experience at Goddard has been excellent. He loves his teachers, and has learned far more than we could have imagined! He speaks some Spanish phrases & learned sign language as well as improving his English vocabulary. Most importantly, it is clear every time we go there how loved & supported he is. The teachers are wonderful, and we will miss them all. If we had the option we would happily stay at Goddard for years to come.

Sylvie T.

Our son has been at the Goddard school since he was about 2.5 year old (he is now almost 4.5 year old) and he loves going to school. The staff (owner, directors, teachers etc...) is so caring and amazing! They always have a smile on their faces, we are greeted everyday when we walk in and walk out. The school is very clean and secure. Also, our son loves his teacher, Mr. James, he is fantastic! We like to get updates via email throughout the day. We highly recommend Goddard school in Happy Valley!

Drew Gohman

My wife and I started our son at the Goddard School in Clackamas, OR last fall when he was 2 ½ years old. From the initial visit we were both impressed with the level of education, care and friendliness of each of the staff members. Our son had never been to a daycare or school, with the exception of the weekly church services. His teachers worked with us and our son to make the transition easy for him. We were amazed at the vast curriculum the teachers plan each day and how they incorporate it into each activity they are doing. The structure of the curriculum and cleanliness of the school and toys was encouraging to us from other schools we looked at. We noticed dramatic improvements within weeks of attending the Goddard School, especially with his speech and social skills. The directors and staff have been so helpful with all of his transitions, potty training and general help to all of us and always encourage questions we have. We are extremely happy with our choice of placing our son in the Goddard School and will gladly recommend them to anyone who is looking for early care for their children.

Sarah R

The Goddard School has provided my daughter with an advanced education, I feel extremely satisfied and I also feel very safe sending her to this school!

Jason Jamieson

We've been going to The Goddard School for almost 2 years now, they have always been very flexible with our crazy schedule and our little one loves it there.

Ashley Mount

Let me preface this review by saying that I think the Goddard program and philosophy are fantastic. I've spent a lot of time studying education, and I believe it truly is high quality. This location, unfortunately, is not. The teachers are truly amazing and do their best with what they are given. It seems that all the owner truly cares about is what will make the most money. She is hardly even there. Children are shuffled around to different classrooms on a DAILY basis, in order to have the minimum staff on hand necessary. This lack of stability is not good for young children at all! The director is one of the most unprofessional people I have ever met. She will openly trash talk other daycare centers/preschools, and is quite the gossip - not only with the staff, but with the parents! She treats her staff very poorly, and as such, there is quite a high turnover rate. Families and staff leave on a regular basis, but neither the owner nor director seem to look internally to figure out what is wrong - always blames it on the person/family leaving. I've heard fantastic things about other Goddard schools in the area, but avoid this one! There's many other great daycare centers in the Happy Valley area.

Alma Siri

The school is clean, staff is friendly but most importantly our kids LOVE going every day. They are not only learning their alphabet, colors and numbers but also learning how to socialize with children their age. Overall, we are very happy with the Goddard School and would recommend it to anyone!

Alie Alinger

This is the most amazing school with the best staff and most caring teachers. My son has been going here since September, he was just turning 5 and missed the deadline to start kindergarten. I am so impressed with their curriculum and variety of learning experiences. My son knows yoga, can speak some spanish, knows how to count in spanish, can write his own name and count to 50 and this is just preschool! They have special "parents night out' events and other spectacular events you just do not see at any other school. This school and staff are worth their weight in gold! Blessed to have found them and cannot say enough about how wonderful they really are! Alie~

Stephen Noble

Provides an excellent service to our kids! Have had both a newborn and a toddler in this program and have thoroughly enjoyed the quality. Really enjoy the daily email updates describing the day's activities. This place is very clean and well organized! I recommend this place to all of my neighbors.

Gina G

“We love all of the teachers and staff- they are so caring and I always feel confident dropping my daughter off and knowing she will be safe and have a great time all day! The facility is kept very clean and organized, which I feel is important when you have a setting with so many small children, both for infection control and for safety.”

Kristina West

I really appreciate all of the art activities, and that there is a balance between structure and flexibility in the curriculum. All three of my kids attend, and are all very happy. At the end of the day, this is what matters most. The teachers and staff are all very positive, happy, and loving!

Aleksi Lepisto

My wife went in for an interview at the school the other day. It's pretty impressive looking. They seem to have a nice facility that is clean, and in a nice area. The staff seem friendly, too. Before we went in, we reviewed the other reviews here that warned about the director. She decided to go in and see for herself. During the interview, the director excused herself and was gone for around 20 minutes, leaving her sitting in the office alone. Beyond that, my wife had to leave the room and go find the director in order to finish the interview. The director apparently left the door open and was chatting with other staff. Kind of ridiculous. I had hoped my wife would have just gotten up and left. The fact that someone would act that unprofessional during a job interview is pretty reflective of the other reviews, if you ask me. I know I wouldn't want to work for someone like that, so I can't blame the others who said they disliked it. At least, you could make the point that it's not an isolated incident. There's a lot of places to spend your money today, so if I were a customer looking into schools for my children, I'd prefer a place that oozed professionalism. Debatable if this place is one of them.

Erin Davis

“The variety of activities like yoga, Spanish, ASL, art and mucis music that are all artfully integrated with basic learning and life skills. We also are very impressed with the amount of love and attention shown to our son on a consistent basis".

Jana Hak

We enrolled our older child in 2016 when they were 3.5 and spoke no English. Prior to that, we spent good six months searching for the right daycare/preschool fit for us. We wanted a safe, friendly, and inclusive place where cultural differences will not be an obstacle but a welcomed addition. With the Goddard School on Sunnyside, that's exactly what we found. Both our kids (enrolled the younger one in 2017) blossomed in the environment, they really enjoyed the curriculum and built their first friendships. They both were leaving the school ready to transition to kindergarten. We appreciate many things about this school: the staff - always friendly, communicative, and caring, daily reports summarizing what the kids learnt that day, enriching curriculum, and so many extracurricular activities. No doubt we would recommend this school to our friends. We are were grateful for the care and attention our children have received here.

Jessica Oien

The Goddard School staff, programs and building facility are all top notch. I love the daily activity reports and the fun projects my kids bring home. The cleanliness of the building and classrooms is always impressive. The genuine care, concern, and responsiveness of the ownership is so refreshing. I would highly recommend the Goddard School as a fun and safe place for little ones to learn!

Dalia Hammami

Amazing school, good education and great environment and facility.It was a wonderful experiance.

Amy Roberts

The first day my daughter started at The Goddard School, I received emails and photos showing how her first day was going. It's that attention to detail that I greatly appreciate. I love that my daughter is learning yoga, gymnastics and tennis- all additional classes that are included in her tuition. The staff is friendly, thoughtful and compassionate. The curriculum is perfect for my daughter- creative, but incorporates a solid structure so that she learns how to be appropriate in a classroom setting.

Missy Ingram

I love the special care and attention my child receives! Plus, her teachers are wonderful and creative - it is a joy to see how Emily learns and grows every day! This is, by far, one of the best daycare/schools out there. I'm so grateful to them for giving Emily an excellent place to grow, but also giving me peace of mind each day she is there.

Brittany Ota

A former Goddard School teacher’s uncensored point of view ... First and foremost , I consider it an absolute privilege to have worked at The Goddard School in Happy Valley .Not only because of the high standards the owner and directors set for the teachers , but because I myself am a mother . Which gives me a whole other level of love and respect for this school as well as a different perspective of this school in particular . You see , as parents , we can’t imagine ANYONE loving our children the way we do . We know their cues , what makes them laugh , what makes them sad , what scares them, what comforts them , specific food allergies , food they absolutely love and absolutely hate . We know every single detail about their precious and unique selves . Let me say , taking my kids to their first day of care outside my home was one of my biggest heartaches . Because , we know them best. I can tell you from a Goddard School teachers perspective , this school cares . Not like in the way each center will tell you they care ...( and I am sure they do!

Jenny Eaton McNabb

I love the caring and nurturing the staff provided to my child. They made her comfortable and became an extension of her family during the work hours! She respected and trusted them and enjoyed going to school every day. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate and learning is made fun. There was plenty of allowance for my child to explore all the amazing parts of her personality and focus on developing her own interests, in addition to the lessons. The structure and guidance provided helps them develop appropriate social skills and foster positive peer relationships. My child gained a lot educationally as well as socially during her time at Goddard. I personally appreciate the staff warmth and responsiveness... as well as the sense of security you feel leaving your child in their care day after day.

beth byrne

We just love the Goddard School! The staff are all very friendly and the teachers genuinely care about the kids. Our son has learned so much since starting here, we couldn't be happier. There is nothing more reassuring than knowing he is in a safe, nurturing environment while we are working. We couldn't ask for a better place to help raise him.

Fred Murschall

Goddard School is clean and well-organized and the staff are all very loving toward the children. I like the diversity of the program, too. It's a good mix of physical and mental exercise, and the indoor portion balances learning and imagination very nicely.

Helane Wahbeh

My 16 month old son loves it there. He is actually happy to go there! We love the play based education. 3/18/15 Update... My son has been here over a year now. We have nothing but good things to say about the school. The director Jennie is very easy to work with and committed to creating a healthy and fun place for the children to learn and good communication with the parents. The staff is trained to support parents and children in their individual needs. I love the reports we get everyday about what our son learned that day and often includes a picture. I am always amazed when I pick my son up for his half day and see how the teachers have gotten 10-12 toddlers asleep for their naptime. Truly amazing. I can't even do it with one at home. I highly recommend this school.

Alex Halpern

We've been at The Goddard School for almost six months now, and couldn't be happier with our experience. The staff is all friendly and professional, and most importantly we feel that our son is learning, as opposed just being babysat. I would highly recommend The Goddard School, and have.

Lisa Martin

“My grandson attends The Godard School; I love to watch his progression through a curriculum that is focused on developing young ones with a consistent theme. There are lots of hands on activities; I can definitely see academic growth.”

Angie K

All staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I always feel confident that my son is getting the best after school care. Communication is great and reliable. Highly recommended!

Melanie Spaulding

I have been bringing my daughter to these amazing teachers since december and I could not be more impressed. Before when i took her to daycare she cried so horribly when I left her. This time she was prepared very well by the staff and came into her class with a picture of her posted on her cubby. She has been made to feel very comfortable and very VERY loved. She is learning more then I could imagine and is gaining so much knowledge. I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a new learning environment for their child. The teachers and staff are always very friendly and absolutely amazing. Thank you for loving my monkey like you would all love your own.

Ashley Preston

I love that all of the staff remember my daughter's name and truly seem to care about her and our family. She recently moved from one class to another and the teacher from the first class checks on her frequently. Our new teacher is just as fabulous and I feel she is in great hands when I leave. I appreciate the daily updates with pictures, it gives me an idea of what to ask my daughter about her school day and she loves to tell me what she is doing in the pictures. The school is very family oriented and does extra activities all the time to get the parents involved. Preschool is my daughter's first experience with childcare of any sort but she LOVES school and my husband and I are 100% satisfied with our choice to send her to The Goddard School.

Heidi Andre

This is the best possible experience I could imagine for my children. We have been going there since my kids were 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 and every age classroom has been wonderful. I am an elementary school teacher, and I am SO impressed with the quality of teachers and teaching at this school. Not only do they learn academically and do creative and fun art and P.E. activities, but they learn so much socially and about how to make friends and behave in a classroom setting. My oldest is starting kindergarten next year and he will be more than ready. One of the most impressive and important things to me is that every classroom is calm, as is every teacher. They are relaxed and happy while still holding the students accountable for their behavior in order to make sure the students are all following the rules and treating others with respect. I LOVE this school and recommend it to anyone with younger children.

Ira Lu

Our child enjoys a comprehensive and varied program that is great for his development. The staff is wonderful and treat us like family. I actively recommend The Goddard School to anybody who is looking for daycare or preschool for their children.

Stacy Fabian

Great experience over all! I took my kids there two different times. There are so many positives I can say but the bottom line is my two kids were SO excited to go to school each day when they attended at different times between 8 months and 3 years old. The only downside, for me, was location since we live in Sellwood and work in NW Portland. But I suspect it's a perfect location for Happy Valley and Clackamas families. The only concerns I ever had were removed when management upgraded about a year ago. And even when I had concerns, I was able to go directly to the Owner (who is still there) and she took care of my issues immediately and efficiently. The best part of the whole experience was how open and accommodating the office staff and teachers were to my high strung personality. They never acted like I was an inconvenience and I was, as times, the typical first time mom. So kudos to those ladies and gents for handling that gracefully and professionally. Bottom line...they are great and you should consider taking your children there. I never worried if my kids were happy, healthy, safe, or well cared for. I knew they were in great hands!

alison bostrom

“Our daughter has been at the Goddard School for 3 years and throughout those years she has learned and played with a balance that we appreciate and she has benefitted from. This is school an she does have fun “

Jaime Espenel

My daughter, before she started at Goddard, kept seeing her cousins go to school and really wanted to go to school as well. So we looked around for a preschool for her and came upon the Goddard school. The availability worked with our schedule and when going on the tour with Miss Jenny, I could see her love for what she does, and how happy and nice the teachers are. Goddard is very clean and secure, a very positive learning environment. It definitely made me comfortable to send my child there. On her first day, she was definitely nervous, which is not like her, but Miss Jacky and Miss Rachel really took her in and gave her the love and knowledge to succeed! Now she has moved up to a new class, with new teachers that have taken her in just the same with open arms. Every day, she wakes up so excited to go to the Goddard school, and when picking her up, mom is so excited to hear about everything they did that day. Since I already know with the tadpoles app, I can go over what she learned, how much lunch she ate, and show her a picture of herself of a special moment of that day. Thank you to everyone at the Goddard school for giving my daughter such a positive experience for the beginning of her school years. ❤️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️