Interview with Crestwood Preparatory College PARENT, Luanne Pearlman

Crestwood is the most unbelievable environment—It's a proper family. You are well looked after. They make you as comfortable as they can, as quickly as they can. And my children took to the school immediately. They absolutely loved the fact that Crestwood was a family feel.

The teachers and the children had very, very special relationships. The school is small enough that basically everybody knows everybody. The teachers are in touch with the children, the children are in touch with the teachers, the parents are involved.

Very open communication, open door policy. Even higher up from the Vice Principals to the Principals, always checking in, always making sure that the kids are doing well. And if they're not following through, they ask why they are not.

My daughter started at Crestwood with learning differences, and that was one of the reasons why we chose Crestwood. They have different programs for different types of children. They challenge kids if children need to be challenged, as well as they help children if they struggle. My daughter came in with a learning difference. The way they worked around and supported this learning difference, if I honestly tell you, was absolutely incredible! They got her not just through the system, but through the system with Honours' role. She succeeded so well, just because they worked with her and accommodated her style. I am so proud to say that today she's in third year at Western University, studying to be a nurse.

They really try to implement a high academic standard, but are willing to do whatever they can to help when someone is struggling. The guidance department is unbelievable. They're just very helpful and really get back to you. Basically trying to work out the needs of the child. If you are unhappy about anything that's taking place there, they're really willing to listen and try and do their absolute best to try and fix the situation as best as they can.

There's always someone there to help you or even a peer student in a higher grade is there to take care of you. If you need help, the teachers are always available to help you. You arrange a time, either before school starts or after school finishes. There's so much there that they offer that my children absolutely loved about the school, from the sports, to the arts, to the homework club.

They were absolutely amazing with my son, who became a professional soccer player last year. I was very anxious about it, at first, because he needs to manage his school and his soccer at the same time. And, honestly, they made such an effort to keep him at Crestwood and make it work. Even during their holidays, he played a game and a whole lot of the staff came during the holidays, or their vacation period, to watch him play.

What stands out is the friendliness of the staff, including their open-door policy and communication. For me, that was really surprising, to see how friendly and nice everybody was. Everybody works together to try and help everybody out.

I didn't expect such a variety of activities and things to get involved in. It just really, really creates a holistic environment and makes the child very holistic. Also learning to be with different types of people from different backgrounds, different areas.

For both my children, it has been the most wonderful place! And I would never, ever have changed my decision. We came 11 years ago from South Africa, and I was looking to put my children into the right schools. I heard about Crestwood, so I decided to go and have a look at it, and end up enrolling my children there. I was very satisfied, and my children have been succeeding so nicely, so I followed through to the upper school. And I recommend the school to absolutely anyone that's looking for a good education, and a good private school.