We just moved here a week before the 2008 school year
started from the Los Angeles area where we attended
the Waldorf school in Northridge, CA, Highland Hall.
Needless to say we are elated that we are saving about
$1100 a month here at the Desert Star School. However
we are even more excited how welcomed we we're here.
My son loves his teacher Mrs. Pam Bruehl. By the way,
so do I! She is a very caring, sensitive and enthusiastic
teacher. In fact there are so many wonderful teachers
here at the campus. For instance Miss Rhonda Bierman
a former firefighter who teaches science and takes the
kids out on nature walks etc. Mrs. Maribel Gallegos
the Spanish teacher is a very caring and gentle person.
Of course there are many more wonderful teachers that
my son appreciates. All in all we are very happy here
at the Desert Star Community School.
~ Petra and Neil Breakstone, Jonah's parents
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My daughter has had Ms Akerson for three years now
at Desert Star School. Courtney adores her teacher and
I know her teacher cares for her as well. Ms Akerson
is a very talented teacher and my daughter is receiving
an inspiring, well-rounded, first-class education. As
a parent, I don't have to worry about a thing with regards
to my children's education. I know they are learning,
not only about academics but also about becoming wonderful,
caring, human beings. They are learning wholistically
and creatively. Ms Akerson and Desert Star School are
remarkable and I feel blessed to have this Waldorf school
so close to home.
~ Charlotte Howard
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My daughter has had Ms Akerson for 3 years now and
I am so grateful. I was concerned that it would be a
great challenge to keep Alana's enthusiasm and confidence
strong in a school environment. She is very left handed,
quite a visual/spatial learner and excels in areas that
are not included in state testing. Under Ms. Akerson's
guidance, Alana happily volunteers to read in front
of her class, perseveres with her spelling and most
importantly feels her individual skills and gifts are
valued and built upon. Ms. Akerson has a strong comittment
to keeping the whole child in mind when planning her
classes and she incorporates many of the exercises that
help Alana access whole brain processing, besides that
Alana truely loves and trusts her teacher.
~ Paula Green
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My son (2nd grade) and my daughter (4th grade) have
attended Desert Star School since it opened. They can't
wait to go to school in the morning and are beeming
when they get home. The staff at Desert Star is exceptional.
They are warm-hearted and care about my children and
their education. I don't have to worry about a single
thing when my children are at school. The school's board
is also comprised of multi-talented, and gifted people
who are thoughtfully running the school.
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My daughter Isabella has been attending Desert Star
since its very beginning and before that she went to
a Waldorf pre-school for three years. I've done my research
on our public school system, our rank in education as
a nation in the world, and our state's rank in the U.S.
What I have discovered is that children have lost their
love of learning because our 'standards' strip them
of their individuality, their creativity, their social
graces and puts them into a box of how to learn. Desert
Star allows the individual way of learning, exploring
and experiencing education through Waldorf methods and
Multiple Intelligences...this creates a true love of
learning that I have seen in my own daughter. She is
excited about school every day. We have the privilege
of a community of people that have become our dear friends
as well. Her teacher, Ms. Akerson, is amazing with the
children. Isabella adores her and so do I. I could not
dream up a better teacher because Ms. Akerson so far
exceeds any expectations I have. She is present, well
educated, devoted, kind, fair yet strong and centered
and always willing to further her education and constantly
works to fine tune and better her skills as a teacher.
I also admire the faculty, like Ms. Simon our administrator.
She brings a solid foundation to our little school with
diplomacy and warmth as her strengths. I feel safe with
my school because of Ms. Simon. My daugter is thriving
at Desert Star and I encourage every parent who wants
their child to love to learn, to visit our school and
see the uniqueness of it for themselves. It is a special
place that I feel privileged to have my daughter attend.
Thank you Desert Star.
~ Linda Damita
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My son used to make up any excuse not to go to school
before he came to Desert Star. Now he likes school so
much that he even wants to go when he is sick! Ms. A
is kind, gentle, and fair. Baylee loves her and greets
her with a hug everytime he sees her. She is a gem of
a teacher and a magnificent human being!
~ ZM, parent of a 4th grader
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As a founding parent of the school, I am very excited
about the cutting edge vision of Desert Star. All the
wonderful aspects of Waldorf education are combined
with an open-minded flexible approach that integrates
other methods and ideas. We have the best of all worlds
here! Of course it all comes down to the teachers and
this is where Desert Star shines. My daughter's teacher,
Ms. Williams, is a brilliant educator and human being.
She is the epitome of a kind, gentle creative Waldorf
teacher but also brings in her years of training in
Montessori. She provides areas for individualized learning
with the wonderful Montessori materials as well as creating
a beautiful main lesson and circle time each day. The
children love and respect her and there is a sense of
order, peace and reverence in the classroom. The children
are learning in a way that is truly child-centered;
they are challenged and stimulated on their level but
never pressured. Thank you Desert Star for your vision
and the courage to be different from the typical Waldorf
school!!!
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Testimonials from Parents