His Growing Grove Child Care Center

BEFORE HGG we had our daughter at a highly regarded Peninsula preschool with a minimum 1 yr waiting list to get in. We were so excited to have her in the program and to have her close to us while at work. But as soon as she started, we wanted out. At first I thought I was expecting too much but after getting to know some other parents they felt the same. After they lost their accreditation (but still were in business) we pulled our daughter out.
We had a friend recommend HGG to us and scheduled a tour. It was like night and day compared to the old school. Not only do they have a great program but a strong sense of community that fosters confidence and builds soft skills other schools may advertise but not deliver.
Thank you to Ms Kandi, Ms Eneida, & Ms Patty for getting our little girl ready for kindergarten! She is super excited to start in the fall! We love HGG!

In May, my 9 month old daughter was FINALLY enrolled after several (4 – 6) months on the waitlist. We were sooo excited. By September I had pulled her out and October she started at a new daycare. The teachers were nice enough. My major complaint was the schools policy and practice on communicating when communicable diseases are going around. They have no problem letting me know when there is a bake sale, t-​shirt sale, day off, etc. But when the room has been exposed to the stomach flu (highly contagious), or hand, foot and mouth (highly contagious) is going around, I find out because I’ve already taken her to the doctor because somthing isn’t right with her. And when I called to speak to the director at no point did she tell me when the exposure took place, how many other kids called in sick, etc. It was like I was the one that brought it to the school and she was quietly blaming me.
So needless to say after 4 months, and she wasn’t there full time either because of my travel schedule, I just didn’t take her back while I waited out my 30 days of paying them but not sending her. I’ve since found a smaller, more personal place to send my daughter and she hasn’t been sick once!!!
This place clearly works well for some; but my advice is to ask directly about their communication policies. As this is my first child, I didn’t even think to ask about how they will let me know when there are contagious diseases going around. I guess I assumed that they would have the common courtesy to tell me and not post it on the door days after the exposure occured. So be certain that you are happy with how they respond to this question and hold them to this communication method.

We absolutely love His Growing Grove! My child is currently enrolled here, and started in the baby room. I was shocked to see the one star review for the Little Lamb program because that room was my child’s favorite! During the transition from the baby room to the Little Lamb room, the teachers were successfully creative in engaging my child in other activities so I could leave. My child has developed and advanced leaps and bounds compared to other children we know that are the same age as our child, all thanks to the staff at HGG! And my child loves all the teachers so much, even asks if we can bring them on vacation! The staff and teachers are very attentive to our concerns and we couldn’t be any happier with our decision to enroll our child here!

My daughter started at HGG when she was 2 ½ yrs old and recently left to attend Kindergarten. Prior to starting at HGG, we took a lot of time trying to find the right place for our daughter. Our primary concern was the SAFETY of our child, the cleanliness of the facility and the daily programs for the class.
After visiting many preschools (Peter Pan, Montessori @ Five Canyon, Happiness Hill, etc to name a few), we decided on HGG despite it being more expensive than the others. On our first visit, we had a great experience meeting with teachers and staffs who were all very friendly. Again, being that SAFETY is our main concern, I found HGG to be VERY SAFE for our child. All parents are required to have a special key to enter the facility which is ENCLOSED except for the play area. Those without keys or visitors MUST BE buzzed in by the front desk receptionist (Kerry) who seems to be there ALL THE TIME. This gives me comfort knowing that strangers cannot come in readily. Other schools that we have visited «claim» to have someone there to monitor who comes in and out but there were instances when we visited and it wasn’t so.
The facility itself is VERY CLEAN … especially after we’ve seen other facilities. Upon entering the facility, you can feel the warmth and the setting of a «school» rather than a day care center. Children were mostly well behaved. Another plus for this facility is that the children were provided meals (breakfast, lunch and snacks) using fresh ingredients from Traders’ Joe nearby. I can truly say it’s fresh because there’s kitchen on site. For some this may not be a plus because their children may not eat the food provided. However, for us, this was a great idea because as working parents, we don’t really have time to pack food for our kids every day. And even if we could, the food would not be the «hot» kind but rather something that can be packaged. Having this «hot» food was great for our kid so that they can learn to eat whatever is given to them which would come handy when they start kindergarten.
The programs for the children were also great … it is a balance of «play» and education. During the time at HGG, my daughter learned sooo much … not just educational but also social (sharing, communicating, playing together, etc) which are vital to their growth. After all, we can’t expect our children at this age to be Einstein.
Well, to be honest, I did not know what to expect from our daughter from HGG since I’m not sure how much do we expect our daughter to learn and know UNTIL my daughter started her kindergarten yesterday. Having other children to compare with, I see now how well mannered my daughter was, how she can read more than others, how she can write «neatly», articulate what she is trying to say, how easily she can cope with new surroundings, AND MUCH MORE. I am not a parent that expects soooo much from a school to «teach» our children (after all, the parents are the primary teacher of our children) but I am impressed and satisfy of how our daughter have progressed. THIS IS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO WRITE THIS REVIEW for HGG.
Special thanks to the our daughter’s teachers: Ms Kandi, Ms Eineida, Ms Gloria, Ms. Betty and Ms. Maria … THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR DAUGHTER’S LIFE !!!

The ONE star for this place says all: Eek! Me thinks not.
Well I finally got a chance to sit down and write a review for this school. We put our daughter in their Little Lamb program and it didn’t last long that we felt it was best to pull her away.
We’ve never expected a toddler at 2 years old would learn much from any place but at least should be able to learn something even in a play based environment.
To our disappointment, when they say play, it is simply PLAY All day play in a very disorganized environment.
They don’t have any circle time or put it this way, the only ‘CIRCLE’ time is watching TV. They played songs on their antique TV. Kids and teachers gathered around the TV in a very short distance. Shouldn’t the teachers be the one singing the songs? Why do they rely on the TV?
We noticed that teachers weren’t too responsible. Everyday when I picked up my daughter she must be playing in the yard. I tried to pick her up at different schedules and she was always outside. Teachers were always chatting with each others or between fences. As a parent, I would believe they were hire to be watchful, keeping their eyes on kids, especially kids are still TODDLERS… but no, they weren’t even aware that I was there.
There were times that when I tried to drop her off in the morning, the assistant teacher would not even bother to come over and help during that ‘morning bye bye moment’ — my daughter was crying because she didn’t want me /​my husband to leave. The assistant teacher wasn’t working on anything but cutting papers… Little kids are like that, they might continue to cry/​whine for a little while after their parents left, but ultimately they will stop! The teachers won’t offer to take the kids away and to them, it was the parents job to calm down the kids before leaving the classroom door.
Teacher is supposed to be the role model for the students at school. So, I would assume they should be nice and friendly. I didn’t know how they treat the kids but at least no greeting to me as a parent. You just have a very COLD feeling from them.
The front desk girl is the only staff that is nice. (I don’t remember her name, I think is Kari or Kelly, something like that).
We are so glad that we found another school that is more suitable for our daughter and I believe this is the voice that many parents need to hear and these are the facts that people need to know about this place.

Went to Kindergarden here. Loved it and visited after I graduated. It was always clean and I made some life long friends here. The teachers were so nice and the playground was awesome. As a child, I only have good memories of this place. As an adult, I’ve never heard anything bad about it. It’s amazing just how many people gave gone to school here.

Let me start by stressing how seriously I take this review. This review isn’t for a restaurant, a hotel, or some other service that could rate 1 star or 5, it is for a service that has immeasurable impact in/​on your child’s life. My wife and I did NOT take this search lightly.
Our first daughter attended HGG from ages 2 – 5. When it came time to enroll our second daughter, we looked for a place closer to our house (we live in Pleasanton — driving to Castro Valley daily is not only a pain, but out of our way). We just could NOT find anyplace that was as warm, caring, and genuinely interested in the health, well-​being, and education in our child than HGG!!!
With recent events at child care facilities making the news (for the worse), I felt compelled to recommend HGG. Our oldest daughter is now in grade school and is not only doing well academically, but socially. Our youngest, who will graduate from HGG this summer is also very bright and outgoing. HGG has played an enormously important role in their developing into wonderful people.
That daily drive out of our way to Castro Valley? Could NOT be easier knowing why we are driving there!!!

Both of our children have been there since they were around 6 months old, my oldest is now 3. They both love going there:-) The staff there is fantastic. The staff turn over rate is very low. The teachers are very knowledgeable, caring, patient and loving towards the children. My oldest has excelled socially and academically here. She is continuously learning new things and coming home with projects that she has done. Individual attention is paid to each child. All the teachers and admin staff know our children by their names! The food program is great too. They have different play areas for the kids and a gymn. This is undoubtedly the best daycare/​preschool in Castro Valley.

My son has been here since he was 2 months old and I’ve been very happy with the services provided. When I was pregnant and checking out day care centers, this was the only place I felt comfortable with. It didn’t seem like this was just a «job» to the teachers. They genuinely care about the kids and love kids in general. HGG is a very safe environment. And as the kids get older, they can play outside on the playground! The tuition is a bit pricey, especially when the kids get older and they could go somewhere else for much less. But the premium you pay at HGG is for the quality. Money well spent if you love your child, value their safety and want them to be nurtured not just when they’re home, but when they’re at daycare as well.

I have never felt so comfortable with a place to leave my children. My daughter has been there for a year now and I am so upset that I wasted 3 years somewhere else. I then enrolled my newborn son and as soon as I went back to work, he started in the infant room. The Staff, Administration and the Teachers are the best I’ve ever encountered and worked with. My daughter and son absolutely LOVE all of their teachers and are eagered to go to school daily. I love the Christian foundation and my daughter enjoys memorizing her monthly bible verses. She has daily homework and is learning to read and speak spanish. The Teachers genuinely care for my children and they get to know each child and parent personally.
If you are thinking about enrolling your baby or child into any Child Care facility, do not think twice about His Growing Grove. It is the best hands down!

Undoubtedly the best pre-​school in castro valley. There is low turnover of staff. Some have been there for 20 years. They are caring, patient and knowledegable. The directors are down to earth and not at all decadant and arogant. Non Christians are also very welcome and respected. There is no confusion for kids from people who are part of a family with a different faith. Kids enjoy the religious songs and the emphasis is on learning through pllay and respect for ourselves, others and the environment. We tried other expensive schools in CV but this school is head and shoulders above the rest.

I can’t say enough about how much not only my wife and I love this school, but also how much our children love this school. I mean what can you say about a school that my son, who graduated, still loves to visit.
We aren’t religious, and this was initially a concern for us, but that concern was very quickly erased. I believe it is partly because of the religious foundation of the school, but I can tell you that it is amazing how much ALL of the teachers, administration, and staff truly LOVE and care about the children. It’s common to find at least one good teacher, but to universally have high opinions of the teachers is pretty amazing (and between both of my kids, I have had experience with 5 of the 6 classes). The fact that so many teachers have been there for so long is a testament to how much they enjoy working there (some over 20 years!).
If you notice, I call it a school and not a daycare. There is a huge difference. We have tried other day cares and «schools» in the area in the past and I can honestly say that this is the one my children have learned the most from. It’s amazing to me how much fun they turn the learning experience into for the children. Our son is finishing up Kindergarten currently, and I can say that he was so well prepared and had such a great foundation from HGG (His Growing Grove) that it definitely made the year smooth and easy for him.
As others have mentioned, the fact that they make food for the children (breakfast, lunch, and snack) is huge! They have great play structures and a gym to play in. Nothing but praise for this wonderful school! If you are looking for a great pre-​school, do yourself a favor and check them out. And do your homework, ask parents around you and/​or current parents.

Both my daughter and son went to His Growing Grove and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The environment is caring and comforting to children and parents alike. The staff is EXCELLENT!!! They really do care about your child’s best interest and work hard to deliver the best possible care. I have recommended HGG to many of my friends who have little ones and they are glad they took my advice by having their children enrolled. If you’re looking for QUALITY childcare and the BEST environment for your child to thrive, HGG is it!

My youngest son went here and he loved it. He loved doing «homework» like his older brother so the staff would give him lots of homework to do while he was there. I was amazed at all the things he learned on a daily basis. He started going there when he was 3 and as he got older they would let him «help out» with the toddlers because he liked helping out and was gentle with the little ones. They were so great at meeting the needs of each individual child. I was so sad when my son had to move on to public school.

My 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter are currently enrolled at His Growing Grove (HGG). I love everything about this school: the kindness of the staff, the various activities my children do throughout the day (and the art work they come home with to prove it), the healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks provided (loves this — saves me time, planning and money!)…
We are not Christian, but just love the loving environment of the school.
The school is clean and they have access to a gym, which is particularly great in the winter. The tuition is from 6 am-​6 pm and even though my children do not go there that long, the flexibility it provides is amazing for working parents.

We visited a dozen day cares before choosing His Growing Grove. The staff is extremely professional and caring. Our daughter reached developmental milestones sooner than we anticipated and much of it due to the environment at His Growing Grove.

My daughter has attended His Growing Grove for three years. She is excited to go to preschool in the morning because the teachers are very caring and loving. I feel that those teachers create an excellent academic environment for the children. My 4-​year-​old is kindergarten ready already. The school provides nutritious meals and snacks for the children too. I highly recommend His Growing Grove!!!

Finally — we found a preschool that is clearly focused on the needs of the children as well as the parents! I had interviewed more than 5 other facilities before I found His Growing Grove. After my initial walk through and talk with Lauri (the Admissions Director) you could hear me scream Hallelujah!!! That should say a lot because I’m NOT religious. After interviewing other daycare/​preschools in San Ramon, Dublin and Castro Valley, it was immediately obvious to me that this place was different. Kids weren’t screaming, they were smiling and well mannered. The teachers weren’t scowling at the kids, they actually looked as if they enjoyed their jobs!
Honestly, sending my child to His Growing Grove was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. I highly recommend you check them out if you’re considering a Christian preschool.
Oh, and best of all — their competitive tuition includes all meals/​snacks! IMHO they deserve all 5 Unilocal stars and then some!