Newcastle Preschool Parent Reviews 2002-2007
“Newcastle Preschool was the right choice for my children”
Newcastle Preschool was the right choice for my children. Each child thrived in the structured environment which provided the right mix between academics and socialization. Each one of the teachers is well qualified and trained in early childhood education. Kathleen Jensen is a wonderful director and gave us wonderful parenting advice. All four of our kids experienced some separation anxiety. Kathleen took the time to call us on the phone to suggest a plan on how to help the children adjust well to preschool. The teachers and staff at the school each were aware of the plan and worked together to help the children adjust to the new environment.
My kids loved all the art projects, playground, singing time, computer classes and especially Daddy Day. The teachers each made a big impact on each one of our children. We loved the pictures that the school sends home periodically of our kids participating in the activities at school. I love when they ask me to come and volunteer to help the children read, because the teachers and staff make me feel welcome and part of the school system.
I am really sad that I have no more children who will be able to attend Newcastle and that my experience with the school is coming to a close.
Sincerely,
Corey Fairholm
Mother of Emily, Connor, Blake and Don
South Jordan, Utah
Triplets benefited from the style & structure of Newcastle Preschool
07/20/2002
Thank you for all that you have done for my family. We have enjoyed all of the wonderful experiences that we have shared at the Newcastle School. Our triplets have greatly benefited from the style and structure that the Newcastle preschool models. It was the perfect choice for our family.
Preschool was a wonderful exposure to basic concepts and ideas that they will build upon for the rest of their lives. They began to develop social skills, such as cooperation, sharing, time management, etc.
Newcastle has introduced them into the world of reading and mathematics. Most of all our children have enjoyed their exposure to music, computers, and arts/crafts. Many of these specialty areas of focus have been lost in the public school. Your program is very well rounded, and provides a wonderful learning environment for all learning types.
Abby, Zach, and Seth will enter the public school system next year. We feel that they will be better prepared for this experience because of the exposure they had at the Newcastle school. Thank you for your generosity in making it possible for us to send our children to your fine school.
Nancy and Jeremy Coccimiglio
Draper, Utah
Happy 20th Birthday to the Newcastle School
06/10/2003
Happy Birthday to Kathleen and Happy “20th” birthday to The Newcastle School! We have many great feelings about the Newcastle preschool, and we are so grateful to Ms. Kathleen for creating this great learning environment for our children. Our children are our most priceless possessions and we want only the best for them. The Newcastle School provided a happy environment for Sara and Thomas, and they always looked forward to going every day. It was also so fun for us as parents to see the cute, creative art projects they brought home, and we know it was fun for them to make them.
I also like the Newcastle School philosophy that preschool should be a creative learning environment for children. Both Sara and Thomas had an easy transition from pre-school to Kindergarten, and we feel that The Newcastle School was structured enough so they could learn good classroom behavior, and it also showed them that school can also be “fun”. We were also impressed of the understanding knowledge that Kathleen has about preschool age children behavior. It especially helped towards Thomas, who was a little bit apprehensive about going to school at first (being the “Mommy’s boy” that he is), but that behavior changed after the first month of school.
So we owe many thanks to Kathleen for the creative learning, and most of all the “happy” Newcastle School. And we hope she and the Newcastle School have a great birthday. Thank you for allowing us to express our feelings.
Sincerely,
Connie and Brian Ranck
Draper, Utah
Newcastle Preschool in Salt Lake taught and LOVED my children
My first experience with Kathleen Jensen, and The Newcastle School, was in August of 2001. We had just signed up our son, Alexander, at a competing preschool and we really weren’t sure if we felt comfortable with the atmosphere and the teachers. So I continued to look on. I found Newcastle Preschool and gave them a call. As it happened to be it was their orientation day and they had one open spot left for the school year. I went down and sat through about 10 minutes of the orientation before I raced to the office and begged Larry and Kathleen to sign us up.
Everything about the school eased mine and my son’s worries. From the loving teachers to the child sized restroom facilities to the well set up classrooms and playrooms to the playground with preschool sized equipment to the homey decor of the preschool. And of course this was all put together by Kathleen.
Later in that same school year we had the opportunity to take a parenting class offered at the school and taught by Kathleen. We learned many useful parenting skills and tools to helps us along in raising our children. And all these same techniques were employed on a regular basis at the school. Of course after completing one year at Newcastle with Kathleen, we went back for a second year.
Half way through the second year we had a family crisis. My husband and the father of my children was deployed suddenly for the Iraqi war. This sent my then 4 year old son into an emotional tail spin. He became withdrawn and sullen. And he didn’t seem to be having fun at school anymore. When I approached Kathleen about our situation at home, she was more than willing to discuss and help in anyway she could to make my son get through this difficult time. Kathleen and my son’s teacher made sure he still felt safe and secure at school and they gave him the little bit of extra love he needed at that time. After our son completed 2 years our daughter began at the Newcastle School. With my husband still deployed with the war, Kathleen was ready and willing to deal and help with any separation anxieties my daughter had and help her through them.
Half way through this school year, we had another crisis. We were involved in a major car accident. Even though my daughter was completely physically untouched, she was quite shaken up over losing ‘her car’ and fear of the accident. Kathleen again stepped up and called me at home to discuss anything she and the preschool teachers could do to help our family and daughter through this. After the car accident, Kathleen offered to accept our daughter for the rest of the school year free of charge for the service that my husband had given through his deployment. I became so choked up. I have felt so lucky to have a place near by where I can confidently send my children to be taught and loved by so many. Kathleen has a true love of children and teaching them and that comes through in everything she does and says. From teaching her after hours parenting classes so parents can be better at parenting to guiding an upset child into a loving teachers aims. The Newcastle School and Kathleen have been a big part of our lives for three years now and we can only hope that our younger children will have the opportunity to attend Newcastle and experience being taught by Kathleen.
Kelly Sperber
Sandy, Utah
I absolutely couldn’t be happier with any other preschool
02/27/2004
We moved to Draper, Utah in the Summer of 1997 when I was pregnant with our oldest son. I remember I would always go to get my car washed, and each time I noticed there was some type of school behind the car wash. It was definitely a preschool I told myself, as I one day watched the kids getting picked up after school. It was amazing to me that this little school had such an awesome system for having the children picked up after school. “One day,” I thought to myself, I want my son to go to that preschool.
Well, almost seven years have come and gone, and I’m about ready to send my third child to the Newcastle preschool. I absolutely can’t imagine being happier with any other preschool than this one.
I have never once worried about my children while they were at school. I always know in my heart that they are being taken care of each and every day and that Kathleen and the other teachers have my child’s best interest at hand…no matter what the situation may be.
I have been to the school, helped out a few times, and am constantly amazed at the effort that goes into teaching and learning. Singing time, art, recess, the rice box, games, field trips, ant hills…you name it, I’m pretty sure Kathleen has tried it. My kids always come home with a smile on their face, and I know that every child that attends The Newcastle School gets an even start with their still young, but nonetheless important academic career.
I truly can’t thank you enough. My children’s excitement for learning would not have developed without your school, and I know I couldn’t have done it at home all by myself. Kathleen, you truly are a teaching legacy!!!
Susan Madsen
Newcastle directed the preschool education of six of our eight children.
12/15/2005
Dear Kathleen,
Our family wishes you a very happy birthday. You have been an important person in our family as you have directed the preschool education of six of our eight children. We feel blessed that we discovered Newcastle Preschool with you as the director.
When I first visited Newcastle Preschool I was struck with the genuine love and concern you held for each student. I could tell you were not concerned with pushing each child to read before entering school, but that you cared that each child develop a love of learning and a desire to go to school. This is all done in nurturing environment of love, respect and fun.
Our first child that attended Newcastle Preschool, Joy, talks fondly of how much fun she had at preschool. Our child that currently attends Newcastle, Ian, asks every day if it is a school day because he is so excited to be in the Newcastle School environment. With each of our six children that have attended Newcastle Preschool, we saw the direct benefit of your learning approach. Our children interact well with other children and adults and each does very well in their current school setting. You helped to set those early, important learning blocks into place which has launched a successful school experience for our children. We are eager for our last child, Brenton, to also join the ranks of a Newcastle Student when he turns three next year.
As a pediatric nurse married to a pediatrician and a mother of eight children, my life revolves around children. I appreciate all of your efforts throughout the years to better the lives of so many children and families. In doing this, you also directly benefit our community. l would like to share one of my favorite quotes with you:
“A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting, and when you are gone, attend to those things which you think are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your cities, states, and nations. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities, and corporations. . .the fate of humanity is in his hands.”
Abraham Lincoln
Thank you for helping to nurture our children and the many, many other children you have loved through Newcastle Preschool. Our future is our children.
With love,
Julie
I visited many, many other schools and chose Newcastle Preschool in Draper
05/05/2005
Dear Kathleen,
Kathleen, this particular anniversary represents a milestone for many people; a sort of ‘tallying-up’, or taking stock of one’s life up to this point. With this in mind, you have given many, many hearts much cause for celebration.
We had so many wonderful memories of Ryan Paul’s time at the Newcastle School in Draper. I knew the moment I walked into the school that it was a special place, markedly different from all the rest with its homey, friendly atmosphere. However, after visiting many, many preschools in the Salt Lake Valley, the thing that struck me the most was the fact that the teachers at the Newcastle School didn’t have that pinched, angry, harried expression on their faces that I had seen at so many other schools! I later learned why. Newcastle School isn’t only a place for children to learn; it is also a place for FAMILIES to learn. Kathleen, you taught me some of the most important lessons of my life in your “Love and Logic” classes. This was the profound difference I noted initially in your teaching staff. You have helped many, many families raise happy, responsible, respectful children, not only during the hours you spend at school with the children, but also the hours you spend teaching parents in the evening. One can only guess at the positive rippling effect you have had on the world by teaching both children and their parents to be their best.
The impact of Newcastle School was never more poignant and obvious to me than when I began helping in Ryan Paul’s first grade class in a public school. Ryan was very, very well prepared for the first grade. I could see all the work he had done at Newcastle just shining through. The solid academic foundation you gave Ryan Paul created a confident, eager, well-mannered and ready learner. I was so proud and so thankful to you and your wonderful school!
Words cannot adequately describe our gratitude. I can only imagine that after seeing so many precious little faces for so many years that memories of them fade, but please know, Kathleen, that you have left an indelible and eternal footprint on our hearts and in our lives. You are someone very special to Ryan Paul and his Mommy and Daddy. We, as parents, have a ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to help set our children off on a favorable life path. How profoundly blessed and grateful we are to have found you, Kathleen, and your extraordinary school. Yours, dear Kathleen, is truly a life most worthy of celebration.
With deepest gratitude and our heartfelt wishes for the very best birthday ever,
Rick, Alison and Ryan Paul Dye
Sandy, Utah
Newcastle preschool is an excellent early education environment
05/15/2005
We’d like to take the opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Kathleen for the excellent early education environment she provides at Newcastle School. Both of our children attend the school and have taken so many wonderful, positive learning and social skills from the program. We had previously been at another school and our oldest son was not thriving in that environment. Once at Newcastle, the care and interest of everyone at your school helped him to advance greatly. He was even tested for the ALPS program at the Jordan School District for first grade. We appreciate the sincere interest and dedication Kathleen and your staff have shown to our children and love the fact that they ‘love’ school, what more can a parent hope for!
We’d recommend your program to anyone looking for the best for their children.
Thank you for your wonderful school, it has made a big difference in our children’s early education.
Shannon Walter
Draper, Utah
The Newcastle Preschool Staff are Loving and Competent
07/12/2005
Dear Kathleen,
What a very special-lady you are! I am so grateful to know you and your family. When I first met you, I knew you were something special-and-you made me feel -so comfortable and I knew Kylie would be in great hands. It is so comforting to a parent leaving their child for the first time at preschool to know the director and staff are so loving and competent. You and Larry are great people and should be so proud of all that you have done for the children you have taught. You have touched many lives. I can’t wait to start seeing you on a regular basis again now that Karerra is about to start school. You are such a joy and we love you!
Love,
Kelly Passey
Draper, Utah
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At Newcastle preschooI, I felt like I was coming home
02/04/2006
Dear Miss Kathleen,
What a special time to be able to tell you how much you and Newcastle School preschool in Draper mean to my family. I remember walking into Newcastle for the first time. It truly felt like I was coming home. My two sons Parker and Palmer attended for two years each.
I more than appreciate the extra mile you and your staff have taken to help my boys succeed in life. Parker struggled with speech and just seemed to have a tough time learning in many ways. You always made sure I was fully informed with the things you were working with him on and you always gave me ideas on how I could give extra support and help him at home. Newcastle is more than just a Salt Lake Valley preschool, its a resource to parents.
My second son Palmer is still attending Newcastle and I truly need to thank you for helping him get past his panic attacks. When he first joined your school, he would not leave my sight without throwing up. You let me send a “throw up bucket” and helped him so lovingly realize that life goes on without Mom.
My boys have so enjoyed your computer classes they attended as well at Newcastle. My husband and I loved your Love and Logic courses. We truly believe it has helped us as parents and a family. Newcastle holds so many fond memories for my boys and our family. You have truly touched us for a lifetime.
Thank you Kathleen for the endless hours, for always making yourself available for a concerned parent, or to answer silly questions. Most of all, thank you for setting such a terrific example for my children and for future generations.
With sincere gratitude and love,
Happy 50th Birthday!!
Jennifer and Terry Word
I Love The Newcastle School
02/11/2006
I would just like to tell you what the Newcastle School has done for my boys and for us as parents. My son Hunter went to the school for 3 years. He learned to be respectful, to pay attention and he learned to love school. Hunter was very shy and they worked with him to make him feel comfortable and happy every day. They were always great to keep the parents involved with what was going on at school. We also loved Kathleen’s Love & Logic classes and we feel that they really helped us to become better parents.
We have another son that is just starting at Newcastle next year. Newcastle is the top of the line! Larry and Kathleen have done a wonderful job and they should be proud of the great work they do and the memories they have made for our children.
Sincerely,
Vickie L. Page
Draper, Utah
I recommend Newcastle Preschool in Draper to everyone
Dearest Kathleen,
Congratulations on 50 years of love, success, and the generous giving of your gifts to so many children (and their parents!). I miss you and the Newcastle gang. Katy Scarlett is doing so well in the first grade, and despite being the youngest in her class, is one of five finalists in the Spelling Bee, the leader in Sunshine Math, and a fantastic reader. I’m so grateful we had the option of private kindergarten at Newcastle.
Her three years at Newcastle gave Katy Scarlett a wonderful introduction into the scholastic world, not only because of the academics, but more importantly the respect and kindness that was shown to every individual. I wish all educational atmospheres were as safe, giving each child the courage to be their best and be proud of who they are. Thank you for your direction in creating this safe place for our kids to grow and learn. I’ll never forget the first time I visited Newcastle Preschool. The classrooms and the playground were so unique and exciting I wanted to go back in time and go to pre-school there myself! Every time I walked into the building I was amazed that a pre-school could be so beautiful, clean, peaceful, and smelled good too!
Your direction created this wonderful place, and so many children have benefited from it. I recommend Newcastle preschool to everyone with little ones. Hands down, you are the best preschool in Utah.
On the personal side, I value your friendship and openness. I always felt I could call you for advice or discuss any situation, and really enjoyed the few stolen moments we had to chat during pick-up. I miss that most of all. I wish you the best of birthdays, and another fabulous fifty years. Isn’t it amazing how young 50 is? It’s getting younger and better everyday, and so are you, Kathleen!
Happy Birthday!
Polly Seale
Sandy, Utah
We Love The Newcastle Preschool in Draper, Utah
06/01/2007
Kathleen,
I can’t tell you how much we love the Newcastle Preschool in the Salt Lake Valley. The playground, the covered sandbox, your music classes and all the little extras. Thank you so much for a wonderful year. Bentley has enjoyed school so much. We look forward to next year.
With Love,
Kathleen Hansen
Draper, Utah
Thanks for the great parenting advice
06/10/2007
Kathleen,
Thank you so much for your patience with Xia (and me) this year at preschool. You are truely talented and sweet with how to handle every situation. I really appreciate you taking extra time with Xia on some of her hard days and giving me some great parenting advice! We look forward to next year!
Love,
Julie Hawk
Draper, Utah
Newcastle Preschool in Salt Lake County provided six wonderful preschool years
06/15/2007
Dear Kathleen, Larry, Dawn and everyone at Newcastle,
Thank you so much for six wonderful preschool years! I can’t believe my baby will be going to kindergarten next fall. All three of my kids have absolutely LOVED Newcastle, and especially Miss Dawn. We will miss all of you.
As a parent, we often question the choices we make for our children, never quite sure if we are making the best choice. Choosing Newcastle was one of the few choices I have made as a parent that I know without a doubt, was the right choice. Jessica and Shawn are great students at Sprucewood, and Haley loves learning and going to school. I know she will be a great student as well.
Newcastle preschool has been such a big part of our lives over the past six years, its hard to say goodbye. We will miss all of you. I will even miss seeing those little seeds from the playground in the laundry every week.
Thank you so much!
The Crook Family
Steve, Jeannie, Jessica, Shawn, & Haley
Draper, Utah
At Newcastle Preschool, our boys had a great start on their education…
08/01/2007
We just wanted to Thank You for the great experience that we had at Newcastle over the last four years. It is nice to know there is a place like Newcastle preschool that goes above and beyond our expectations. Our boys had a great start on their education at your school. We will miss you all very much. Thanks for everything!!
Love,
The Edman Family
Kim, Todd, Brayden & Brock
We attended 10 years at Newcastle Preschool
09/15/2007
Kathleen & Larry,
I can’t even tell you how much all of these wonderful years at Newcastle have meant to me. With all my girls, we have attended 10 years at Newcastle Preschool. I feel so fortunate that my girls got this wonderful opportunity to experience the unique academic education Newcastle offers. Every day I dropped off my girls I felt completely comfortable and content knowing the loving environment they were in.
I appreciate you and Larry so much for being such a positive and memorable part of my girls growing up years!
We love and appreciate you both and admire the educational opportunities you provide for the children in our community. We will remember the our time at Newcastle forever.
Love,
Angie and the girls
My Children Became Confident Learners at Newcastle Preschool
12/28/2007
I am always so happy to tell anyone and everyone in Salt Lake just how much I love Newcastle preschool. Both of my daughters have attended and I have been so pleased with all they have learned. The teachers love my kids as if they were their own. When my daughter Nicole started Kindergarten, she was so prepared, she had a wonderful transition into that learning environment.
I don’t know how to say thank you enough for all that my children have gained and learned. They became confident learners and look forward to all that school has to offer them. Thank you!
Amber Sorensen
Riverton, Utah
Reviewed many Salt Lake County preschools…. Newcastle is the best in the Valley
01/03/2008
I was introduced to Newcastle Preschool when I made the decision to start a Home Day Care. Two of my day care children attended Newcastle and my son just happened to be the same age. I immediately enrolled my own child in the 4-5 year old class and have not regretted it for a moment. My son is learning at a pace that is impressive even for a biased parent!
Prior to being a mommy I worked for the Utah State Child and Adult Care Food Program. I personally got to visit and review many of our local Salt Lake County preschools and day care centers, and in my opinion, Newcastle is the best the Salt Lake Valley has to offer.
Kristin Stocking
Homemaker and Child Care Provider
Sandy, Utah
We searched and searched…. and chose Newcastle preschool
02/13/2008
Picking a preschool for our first child was a very scary thing for us. It was hard…especially for Mommy…to let him go into the hands of a “stranger,” and wonder what kind of education he would be receiving. We didn’t want him to be in the hands of a drill sergeant by any means, but we also wanted him to have structure while learning and of course having a great time. So we searched, and searched, AND SEARCHED every kind of preschool in the south end of Salt Lake County. From home-based preschools, to Montessori’s, to Challenger, & even Waterford and we just didn’t feel right or at home with any of them. Then we remembered hearing about The Newcastle School and heard that they won Best In State Utah the year before so we thought we’d try it out. WOW! I had to fight back the tears when I walked into this school. I immediately felt at home and knew that this was the place we could send our little boy knowing that he would be safe, have fun, and learn all at the same time. So I had no problem traveling from Herriman to Draper to get him to school.
Brackon, our oldest, immediately loved it, and loved his teacher Miss Heidi. She was very warm and taught him well. He had her for two years so it was a little nerve racking for him when he learned she didn’t get to teach him every year of his life. J We especially loved being able to come and help any time we wanted. That was so much fun…and comforting of course.
When it was time to put Jaxon into preschool, there was no question where we would send him. But…he just wasn’t quite ready when it was time to start…and Kathleen was SO sweet while helping us work through this transition. We took the Love and Logic parenting classes while we waited, and can I just tell you how much those classes have helped our family? I could go on and on, but the one thing I will tell you is it helped us realize that we can change the tone in our home, and our children WILL listen to us if given the option. These parenting classes have seriously changed the way we parent our children and all of us are much happier because of them.
When he was finally ready, we anxiously waited on the waiting list and were SO grateful we were able to grab a spot. We couldn’t be more pleased with his progress! Miss Celeste and everyone else in the school has been so wonderful with him and he is always so happy to go. We love the pictures that get sent home! His favorite thing to do at school is paint, and play on the playground of course.
It has been such a joy watching our children start their education in such a positive way. It is so important to us that they are in the hands of loving people who truly care about their well-being. Now having a child in Kindergarten, I truly believe that The Newcastle Preschool is well above any status that I could possibly place them in. It is a blessing and a privilege to send my children there. I will definitely be sending my baby there too once he’s old enough. (Oh dear…I can’t think about that just yet.)
Cameron Webb
Owner
Red Rover Land Rover Specialists
&
Carlye Webb
Realtor & Mommy
Newcastle Preschool Enriched my Daughter’s Life
All of the teachers and administration at Newcastle School are extremely nice and helpful. My daughter has grown tremendously through their Love & Logic theory of teaching. My daughter has also learned a plethora of scholastic themes that has been well researched and created in lesson plans specifically geared for the students. I am very pleased that they teach both Art, Music and have recess time. Children at the Preschool age thrive on schedules and Newcastle is superb on keeping the kids going from one center to the next. I have loved receiving my daughters classwork every day she has school. Overall, I could not be happier with the way Newcastle School is run; both in the classroom and administratively. Thank you Newcastle for enriching my daughter’s life!
Charlotte Mitchell (Mia’s mom)