2010-2011 Testimonies

The comments below are results from our 2010-2011 annual parent survey.

"The director and staff; especially my child's teachers, are extremely knowledgeable, positive, professional and caring.  Coming from another school last year, our experience has been wonderful."  Anonymous

"It is obvious, through my child's excitement about school, that the right approach was used in educating her!  I also really appreciated the teachers pulling out my child's strengths to help her work on her areas that she struggles with!"  Anonymous

"Good balance of social, academic, creative, physical and spiritual.  I love the focus on the whole child."  Anonymous

"Small and intimate preschool community."  Anonymous

"Love that there are center-based individual activities as well as more teacher-directed group activities."   Anonymous

"The fabulous, enthusiastic, well-prepared, creative teachers."  Anonymous

"I am most pleased about the level of kindness and care my child has received by everyone on staff."  Anonymous

"Organization and clear communication."  Anonymous

"Leadership, flexibility as it pertains to individual children, and the smaller nurturing environment."  Anonymous

"The overall learning atmosphere.  It is very inviting and stimulating.  Individual needs are met in a fun learning environment."  Anonymous

"Quality of teachers, chapel experience, curriculum, nurturing environment."  Anonymous

"Everything!  LOVE IT!"  Anonymous

"My daughter is learning so much and in such a positive, fun environment.  Anonymous

"All staff and teachers are inviting and show love to the children."  Anonymous

Please evaluate our classroom curriculum?

"GREAT!  I feel like my son grew in so many ways.  I can't believe how much he has learned.  Excellent job teachers!  Your classroom curriculum is really good.  Every day my child learns new things."  Anonymous

"Very good.  Both Charlie and David had a great experience.  Curriculum while similar, was not stagnant from year to year which speaks well of teachers/program."  Anonymous

"On point with keeping learning fun."  Anonymous

"Wonderful, seems to be teaching exactly the right things."  Anonymous

"Great.  Very organized and thought-out."  Anonymous

"Seems stimulating, educational and fun."  Anonymous

"Excellent"  Anonymous

"All programs are well done-my daughter is eager to go to school to participate in all aspects.  I am impressed with what she has learned academically as well as spiritually.  Anonymous

Please evaluate our chapel curriculum?

"WONDERFUL!  We are so blessed to have Hillary teaching our children."  Anonymous

"Very good.  David has learned a tremendous amount of Jesus/God from Christ Church."  Anonymous

What suggestions, if any, do you have for Christ Church Episcopal Preschool?

"None.  We've had a wonderful experience over three years.  I highly recommend the school to others.  The school provides a safe, nurturing environment for children; maintains a stable, talented and caring faculty and staff; and recognizes the developmental differences among children of the same age.  It is well run and a great  foundation for the children.  Thank you to the church for this ministry!"  Anonymous

"This is an amazing preschool program.  We have enjoyed every aspect of it."  Anonymous

"I greatly appreciate everything Mrs. Raderer, Mrs. Young and Cheri have done to go out of their way to accommodate my son's special needs.  They are all terrific!"  Anonymous

"I'm so happy with all aspects of CCEP and recommend it to everyone who asks!"  Anonymous

"No suggestions, but I just want to say how much our family loves CCEP and Christ Church.  What a special place!"  Anonymous

"Keep up the great work!  And thank you!"  Anonymous

"Awesome preschool.  I do not have any suggestions, Christ Church Preschool is excellent.  In the past 2 years I have no complaints.  A well run school with excellent and caring teachers.  Cheri is an excellent director.  I feel so fortunate my daughter was able to attend for 2 years."  

Additional comments:

"The teachers are more wonderful than I could have ever imagined and my daughter has enjoyed every minute of her time in the classroom.  The director is so warm and inviting and it sets the tone for the school.  I could not be happier with the entire staff."  Anonymous

"The director is so impressive-knowledgeable, caring and kind.  I have always felt she makes all fell welcome.  CCEP is a wonderful place.  You feel it the second you enter the doors.  Such a joyous place." Anonymous

"Overall staff is exceptional.  Everyone seems to go above and beyond."  Anonymous

"The teachers and director are outstanding!!  We've been in daycare for four years and have been through many teachers and classes with our two children.  I think CCEP runs a truly exception program!"  Anonymous

2009-2010 Testimonies

"Our family has been so pleased to have found Christ Church Episcopal Preschool.  We have been taking our children to CCEP for 4 years now, and we have been immensely pleased with our experience here.  CCEP has provided a warm, nurturing environment, while still preparing our children for the structure of kindergarten.  We have been so happy with every one of the teachers at CCEP, and how they focus on the individual needs of the child. 
The teachers, administrator and pastors at CCEP have shown so much love for our children and have such passion for their emotional and educational growth.  The staff at CCEP has provided a supportive environment for our family and have offered assistance and encouragement throughout the past 4 years.  I can say that we have gotten so much more than we ever had hoped from a preschool.  It’s not just a preschool;  it is a community and a family.  We are always happy to recommend CCEP to anyone interested in finding a preschool.  It has been the best investment we have made for our children’s education and social preparation." - D. Rose



"When our family relocated to the Glen Allen area a year ago we were worried that we wouldn't find a preschool as great as the one we were leaving behind.  After several meetings with various church preschools in the area we were discouraged.  After meeting with the director at CCEP we knew our search was over instantly!!  My daughter has just finished up her first year with CCEP and we couldn't be more pleased.  The director and teachers have offered a very warm & inviting place for my daughter to learn, grow, and make new friends.  The teachers have really catered to the needs of my daughter who is a very independent young lady, loves to learn, and likes to be "in charge."  She comes home every day with new stories, and we can really see a sense of pride in her.  We feel so very fortunate to have found CCEP and look forward to watching our daughter continue to grow & learn there, as well as, her younger sister when she is ready too!"  -  Julie M.


"I feel so blessed to have my daughter at Christ Church Preschool. It is truly a wonderful place. Each day begins with a warm smile and greeting by the director. Every child feels special, welcome, and loved from the minute they enter school. Christ Church provides a fun, safe, and nurturing learning environment. All of the teachers are wonderful. I would not have my daughter anywhere else but Christ Church Preschool. I have and will continue to recommend Christ Church to anyone who is looking for a "top of the line" preschool. There is no better preschool for your child." -  Laura Wright



"It was such a tough decision for our family to change preschools for our last child.  I can honestly say that after her first day of school we never looked back.  Lena loves her school.  She actually checks the calendar each day and reports "today I have chapel" or "today I have music".  She encourages our family to pray at meal time.  I really enjoy hearing her walk around the house singing.  The young 3 year old program has been perfect for her.  She misses school and especially her teachers on the weekends.  Kudos to Mrs. Monica and Mrs. Sasser!!"  Heidi Smith


"Christ Church has been our preschool home for four  years now and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  Our daughter LOVED her 3 years at Christ Church and now our son LOVES it too!  It was such an easy decision to send our son here too because everybody involved in the preschool program is amazing!  They are loving, professional, caring, attentive, age appropriate, and the list goes on!  We always know that our son is in amazing hands while he is there!  He is even already excited about school next year and moving to an older room!  Thank you Christ Church for all that you do!" - Kim Hearn



"When my child entered the Pre-K Class at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool, I was nervous, excited, and sad.  We had just moved to the area leaving behind friends and schools that we were very happy and comfortable with.  After speaking with the director, I was very impressed with the program and thrilled that they were able to take one more child into the class.  I tried to be realistic with my expectations.  I was an elementary teacher and Reading Specialist for 13 years, which can cause the bar to be set very high of what I expect for my child’s learning experience.  I remained positive for my very high spirited daughter.  Hoping for the best, but preparing for anything that came our way.  To say I was nervous was a huge understatement.  My daughter was full of energy, enthusiasm, and emotions.  She questioned everything, had trouble sitting still for even a second, and fell apart when she detected even the slightest bit of disappointment.  She loved to learn and was truly a sponge for every little piece of information you given to her.  When I went into her classroom to meet her teachers I was completely overwhelmed by their pure joy and enthusiasm.  This was exactly the kind of environment I wanted my daughter to be in when she began her journey of learning.  We have been absolutely blessed to have ended up at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool.  They do an outstanding job encouraging and developing a love of learning in their students.  The curriculum is presented in a way that truly offers a balance between all learning modalities.  The children are given opportunities to develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, as well as spiritually.  My daughter has thrived in all areas.  Her teachers have been nurturing, loving, and caring while guiding her through the learning process.  Our experience this year has by far exceeded all of my expectations, eased my fears and concerns, and made our transition to Richmond a true blessing.  We will be sad for my daughter when the end of the year arrives and she begins her next journey into kindergarten.  But, we know she is well prepared academically, emotionally, and spiritually to face all of the future challenges that await her.  We are also thrilled to have an upcoming 3 year old who will be just beginning at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool in the fall.  Absolutely thrilled that her journey will begin at CCEP and so looking forward to another outstanding year." - The Gebhard Family



“As the end of the year is approaching, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Christ Church for the terrific guidance they provided to our son over the past 2 years.  Patrick was blessed with two very enthusiastic and caring teachers during the past two years (Mrs. Carter & Mrs. Gertz last year and Mrs. Templeton & Mrs. Hall this year) at CCEP.  He really enjoyed the science experiments, the arts and crafts projects and the friendships he developed at CCEP.  This was a great place for our son to grow during these formative childhood years.  Cheri, we love what you are doing at CCEP.  Debra and Libby, you were great this year and thank you for really putting your heart into teaching our children.” – The Delaney Family



"We feel very fortunate to have found CCEP!  The warmth and friendship extended to the child and to the parent each day is such a special gift.  Our son, Adam looks forward to attending school.  His class shares such a special bond and they are all so happy to see each other every morning.  A great experience for the parents and the child." -  The Aldinger Family



"My daughter had an amazing year at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool. It is hard to believe that she held my leg and cried the first day I dropped her off.  It was not long after that she was begging me to go to school on the days she had off. I could not have asked for a better first experience with school than she had. She is learning her letters and numbers and great social skills. Toward the end of the year she has formed some wonderful friendships. The teachers and staff are all so warm and friendly; she really blossomed in that environment. She was always greeted with a smile. It is so well run and organized you always know what is going on. The music program is great! They put on two shows and both had me in tears - one at Christmas and one at the end of the year. We feel so fortunate to have found CCEP and we are looking forward to two more wonderful years there!"  Debbie McDonald

"We could not be happier with our decision to have our daughter attend CCEP! The teachers and director make the school such a warm and inviting place to be, for the parents, as well as the children. My daughter is incredibly excited about learning new things, which I believe is a result of being in an environment that is supportive and age-appropriate. The teachers also encourage parent involvement, which keeps us informed of classroom events and promotes a team approach to our child's education.  We believe that CCEP is a great place for our child to begin a life-long love of learning and we look forward to watching her grow emotionally, socially, and academically here!" -  Beth R.


"We feel so fortunate to have started our childrens’ preschool years at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool.  From our initial tour of CCEP 3 years ago, we continue to be greeted warmly by our teachers and the director of the facility daily.  The teachers, pastors, director and music leader are all so kind and courteous to us and our children.  Having been a part of the school since its inception, my husband and I have watched the 2-classroom preschool grow to a 5-classroom school, while the staff continues to amaze us with their focus on a safe, fun learning environment for our kids."  -  Anonymous


"Next year will be our last year attending CCEP, as our son will start Kindergarten in the fall and our daughter will begin in the fall of 2010.  We (the children and parents) will truly miss CCEP immensely.  Thanks to the wonderful staff we feel our son has received excellent preparation for Kindergarten and he is fully prepared.  Our daughter is following closely in his footsteps – just one year later.
I have proudly referred friends to Christ Church Episcopal Preschool and will continue to do so in the future." -  The Jones Family


"We have been so very pleased with all aspects of our preschool experience with Christ Church.  They have exceeded our expectations in all areas.  Our favorite aspect is the overall inviting atmosphere they provide to promote self-confidence along with a positive learning environment for all.  We also love the creative, student generated activities that are displayed daily.  We are so thankful for all the hard work and dedication everyone at Christ Church puts forth.  We have been truly blessed." -  The Coyle Family


"Thanks CCEP for all you do, we have truly enjoyed our experience and are so happy with our decision to send our children to your fine pre-school."  -  Anonymous


"Our daughter started preschool with many fears and a lot of tears. She has blossomed and grown tremendously with the encouragement and nurturing she has received from the teachers and staff at CCEP!"  -  Mimi M


"Our daughter, Sarah has been a student at CCEP for three years.  She is by nature shy but playful.  During her time at CCEP, she has developed into a much more confident little girl.  She also understands the importance of staying focused during lessons and the importance of building friendships with her classmates.  We cannot recall a time when she was not excited about getting dressed up for school - to start another day of learning and interaction with teachers she loved and classmates she considered her best friends. 

The staff at CCEP has been warm and friendly from day one.  They took a genuine interest in getting to know each child and parent.  The lessons and activities were well planned and enjoyable for all involved.  As a result Sarah has matured mentally, physically and emotionally.  This has prepared her for kindergarten next year and beyond.  The preschool experience that CCEP provided has far exceeded my expectations.   These last three years have been a positive and wonderful experience."  -  Elizabeth Gutzmer

"My son has had a wonderful experience at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool! While he is typically slow to adjust to new surroundings, he was eager to return to school after the first day of school. He looks forward to school each day.  His teachers and the director are very caring, nurturing, and ready to meet the individual needs of each child.  The program includes many creative lessons and activities where children learn almost without realizing it.  I love the Letters Alive program.  It is amazing to me how much my son has learned during one year in this safe, welcoming environment.   Thank goodness my neighbor told me about Christ Church Episcopal Preschool!"  -  Susan Trenkle

"What a great experience we have had with Christ Church Episcopal Church Preschool over the past two years.  Not only has my daughter learned quite a bit, but she has grown from a very shy little 3 year old into a 4 year old who happily participates in class activities.  It's the constant nurturing and guidance that she has received here that has helped her come out of her shell.  She skips from the car to her classroom in the morning and from the classroom to the car after school.  What more could I ask for!  Thanks for being such an important part of her life!"  -   Barbara Young

"I can't thank you enough for the positive experience we've had these past two years at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool".

"This past year in particular, I witnessed Eric transition from being hesitant and guarded at school to increasingly becoming engaged and curious about lessons learned at school and learning to become a good friend.  Most of all, I noticed he was having great fun while learning all this good stuff at CCEP.  Lorie Brocklehurst and Jackie Mitchell make a phenomenal teaching team-they're wonderful at building rapport with each child and are gifted at balancing kindness with encouragement of independence.  I am sincerely grateful to them for their enthusiasm, warmth and commitment to their students, which I'm confident made a positive difference in Eric's last year of preschool-for this, he is all the more equipped socially and academically to face the challenges of kindergarten.

I truly appreciate you and your team at CCEP for bringing out the best in Eric and providing an excellent foundation for a lifetime of learning.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend CCEP to anyone who wants to give his/her child a first-rate preschool experience in a caring and nurturing environment." - Cindy Doust



"Christ Church is the most amazing preschool!  The director and teachers are all so personable, intelligent and make you feel so welcome and comfortable all the time.  When my daughter started, I was the parent that had to do the "drop and run" because she would just cling to me around my neck and cry.  Her teacher, Mrs. Monica was so patient, understanding and helpful!  Within a month or so, my daughter loved it and loved it for all 3 years that she went there!  Each year we didn't think her teachers could possibly live up to the prior teachers and each year we were imjpressed!  We watched our daughter grow intellectually as well as in maturity through the brilliant guidance of the Christ Church staff.  Additionally, Christ Church and particulary the PreK program with Mrs. Barney also really helped to prepare her for Kindergarten.  Our son will start at Christ Church in the fall and we are so thrilled that he will go there too!  There is no doubt that he will have the same amazing experience our daughter had.  Thank you Christ Church for all you do!" - Anonymous

My daughter had an amazing year at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool. It is hard to believe that she held my leg and cried the first day I dropped her off, because it was not long after that-that she was begging me to go to school on the days she had off. I could not have asked for a better first experience with school than she had. She is learning her letters and numbers and great social skills. Toward the end of the year she has formed some wonderful friendships. The teachers and staff are all so warm and friendly, she really blossomed in that environment. She was always greeted with a smile. It is so well run and organized you always know what is going on. The music program is great! They put on two shows, both had me in tears, on at Christmas and one at the end of the year. We feel so fortunate to have found CCEP and we are looking forward to two more wonderful years there!  Kim Hearn