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Nicholas LinzenmeyerLocal Guide
SO my daughter has been going to Aldea Verde for a few months now and I must say she absolutely LOVES it! Not only does she love it, though, my wife and I both love the way the school is run. Luisi and her team of fantastic teachers are so loving to all the kids. They greet them at the door each day with a huge hug and are always so incredibly positive with them. They keep the kids engaged. One of our favorite things about the school is that they are not afraid to let the kids get dirty! I grew up in a very old fashioned household where my mom would make my brother and I go outside to play, we weren't allowed to be on video games that much and we got dirty. I love that Luisi takes the kids outside and they definitely get dirty...especially my daughter! If you are looking for a fantastic, loving, engaging, warm, and caring environment for you kids to learn and grow, Aldea Verde is your place!
Words cannot express how special Aldea Verde is to me and my family. We have been attending since April 2021, and the preschool has become a home away from home to my kids. Luisi, Mariani, and all of the teachers work so hard every day to love and care for each student. They go above and beyond to meet students' individual needs. I cannot recommend them enough.
My kids have learned to speak Spanish, of course, but also how to make friends, get messy, think creatively, paint, sing, dance, garden, perform publicly (thanks to the many shows they put on each year for the parents!), and enjoy being outside no matter the weather. They have learned about other countries' traditions and foods by participating in school-wide celebrations for Holi, Chinese New Year, Peruvian Independence Day, and the list goes on.
When we were looking for daycare options, I couldn't believe the flexibility that Aldea Verde offers! We started at 2 half days per week, worked our way up to full time, and never looked back.
We are so thankful for the gift of being an AV family.
Aldea Verde is the best thing that has happened to our family. The teachers and directors are amazing and so involved. My daughter, who had difficulties with anxiety prior to beginning at AV, has excelled and become so confident. Our 20-month old son has adjusted within a few weeks and is also thriving. I trust AV with my kids and know that they are loved, taken care of, and respected when we leave them in their hands. The community is great AND they're learning Spanish. Highly recommend this school!
Aldea Verde is a vibrant, special place. The teachers are loving and wonderful. They work so hard so make a magical environment for the kids full of creativity, dancing, singing, and learning. My boys were loved, celebrated, and well cared for.
So much more than just a school. Luisi has created a beautiful community that our family is so happy and grateful to be a part of. Our son attended AV for 5 years, came out happy, confident, loved, and completely fluent in Spanish.
Luisi and her dream team are just about the best teachers I've experienced. My two sons who are 2yrs and 3.5 yrs both attend Aldea Verde. One on a full time basis and the other part time. My husband and I went through an enormous list of schools for our boys. We ended up with 12 school and made contact. From there we were able to eliminate most and visited 5 of them between South Austin, Central Austin, and North Austin. Aldea Verde was the furthest North for us but it was absolutely our first pick. Aldea Verde is a brightly decorated house-turned-school with a generous back yard.
At first I thought the back yard could use some grass but quickly realized the grass had, long ago, been murdered by the trampling feet of young, elated, Spanish-speaking children as well as two bunnies and a very funny pig. There is a sand-pit area with a shade covering over it, a small garden that is constantly being tended to by some little boy or girl, plenty of room to run around with garden carts, and various other fun things for children to be creative with.
I often walk into the school at pickup time to Gigi sitting on the ground doing science experiments with baking soda and vinegar. Usually 7 or more toddlers and young children are quietly huddled around her taking turns pouring their concoction and various colors into dishes and watching the magic take place. All quiet, all studying the experiment, all deeply interested in the task they are doing. And they are usually a toddler dominated group, my 2 year old included. I've never seen anything like it.
While this is going on there are several other children running around playing tag, a group in the sand-pit with Delia, and Maria watering the garden with another group. There is so much for the kids to do - both independently and as a group. Luisi is usually running between answering the door for parents and caregivers and herding groups of children around. All with a smile on her face, usually singing a song in Spanish, and never stopping. She is a high energy woman with considerable knowledge about what children need to thrive in our busy world. She is endlessly caring and happy. She also has one of the best senses of humor. I truly adore this woman. I think she is luminous and I'm glad she's running a school where my children are lucky enough to attend.
I receive school emails weekly with photos and a run down of what went on with each class that week. It's great to know what they've been learning about - both of the world and with Spanish language - so that we can talk about the same things in our home.
My 2 year old son doesn't talk much. When he does it is in English and Spanish. He talks about "La Luna" in the sky when we get out of school at night. We give each other "besos" on boo-boos and before bed. Long ago, he stopped crying when I left and started running to his favorite teachers for hugs in the morning or finding his two best school friends. I've seen him hysterically chasing other kids and sitting quietly studying rocks. I believe he has flourished under the care and teachings of Luisi and her tribe. At times when he's upset, he is immediately scooped up and hugged or redirected by an educator. I have only seen the group of teachers treat him with respect and love since enrolling a year ago. It's obvious in every aspect of Aldea Verde School that Luisi pours her heart and soul into it. This doesn't seem to be a career for this woman. It seems to be a passion. I may so bold as to call it a calling.
I have never been more impressed with a pre-school. I have no knowledge of something I think they could be doing better with. This school marches to the beat of their own drum and it's fantastic.
At Aldea Verde I am absolutely sure of these things: I know my child is learning. I know my child has found a community. I know my child is happy. I know my child is loved.
Definitely add Aldea Verde to your list of school to look into when searching for childcare.
