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Testimonials from current 2024-2025 parents of Kindergartners

I believe the most important factor contributing to my son’s kindergarten experience, and the foundation of his educational journey, is his teacher. Duniway is incredibly fortunate to have truly dedicated kindergarten teachers with years of experience, putting in the time and effort to ensure the best outcomes for their students. Despite the larger class sizes that are a reality for nearly all schools, our son is making great progress in the core learning areas that are so important at this age. I feel strongly that this is due in large part to having a teacher who genuinely cares and is adept at navigating a classroom full of children with so many different needs. For an example of going above and beyond, I eagerly anticipate the daily Ask Me Abouts email with prompts I can use to ask my son about what he is learning and doing in school. Another stand out is the highly effective writing curriculum; my son is so engaged and motivated to improve with every sentence he writes. Overall, the communication we get from the teachers and Duniway staff is excellent. My son enjoys several of the many after-school activities that are available to students. The Duniway community supports and advocates for the school through the efforts of many parent volunteers, an active PTA, and a strong Foundation. We also really appreciate that the surrounding neighborhood is so quiet and safe. If you have a choice between Duniway and another school for kindergarten, I wholeheartedly encourage you to choose Duniway.

 - Graham Crawford

When my son hit Kindergarten age, we had a tough decision about whether to stick with Montessori, attend a “better rated” school with lower class sizes, or attend Duniway. 

The thing that really solidified our decision to attend Duniway was the community support. Beyond finding new friends in the neighborhood, I felt a larger support system that has been invaluable to our daily lives. My son loves riding the bus, which picks him up a block from our house, and it takes him directly to amazing after-school programming at Sellwood Community House each day.

I believe that teachers are the most important factor in a quality education. When looking into our options, I spoke with several Duniway parents in various grades, and heard nothing but praise for every teacher. I can now firsthand attest to this because my child's kindergarten teacher is AMAZING. They are so caring, thoughtful, fun, and know how to make the kids enjoy learning. The list of “talking points” we receive after each school day is so helpful to connect with my son, hear about his day, and continue his learning process.

-Kari Kohrmann

Our son’s experience at Duniway has been amazing! From day one, our son was welcomed with warmth and support, making his transition to kindergarten smooth and exciting. The teachers are nurturing and truly invested in each child’s growth, creating a positive and engaging learning environment. Our son has thrived both academically and socially. The sense of community at Duniway is unmatched; if you are considering kindergarten options, we wholeheartedly recommend Duniway! 

-Emma

We've had two children go through kindergarten at Duniway and we could not be happier with their introductions to elementary school. This is a huge step for these kids, many of whom did not attend preschool because of the pandemic. Our children have been met with kindness, compassion, understanding and teachers that value education, creativity and community. Both of our children went through kindergarten at Duniway and both excelled in their first year, in large part because of the patience, support and encouragement that they received. We could not recommend Duniway more. We are incredibly grateful to the teachers, admin and staff who have shaped our first few years here. 

- Zach Hull