Great Bridge Presbyterian Preschool

Posted: August 7, 2023

I pulled my daughter out by early November last year. There were issues with exclusion towards my daughter by 3 of the other girls. We also had another outside activity with these girls plus the teacher of the preschool and the cruel treatment was not hard to see. Noticed even by the outside instructor who had all the girls together and admitted how awful the girls behaved towards her. Spoke with the other parent plus the preschool teacher of my daughter. The teacher said multiple times that there were no issues but clearly there were. Seen by myself and the outside instructor to the activity the girls were also in. Also spoke to the other parent who admitted she wouldn’t have her child apologize because she didn’t think her daughter would mean it and she shouldn’t have her do it that way. Great parenting, no wonder. It was a complete fail for the teacher to not address the mean girl behavior. However, the teacher and her kids plus the other mom with her kid were friends so that explains a lot. When I met with the person in charge she had little sympathy and simply explained it as, “it’s the age” & that it’s a part of growing up for the kids. Unbelievable. No wonder there are so many issues with kids as they grow up in schools. So unhealthy. She didn’t even suggest the idea of placing my daughter in a different class. Just that it was normal to happen. Again, wow! It took a few months after pulling my daughter out to rebuild her confidence by involving her around better more inclusive people and kids. Wish I hadn’t even enrolled her there. Maybe other classes are better but the management was awful. Big regret. On a more positive note the other teachers seemed nice and the school was clean. They did a good job making it appear wonderful at the open house. Can’t say it seemed incredibly safe with other side door access and didn’t love the drop of/ pick up chaos.

Posted: August 7, 2023

Posted: August 7, 2023

Posted: August 7, 2023

Posted: August 7, 2023

Posted: August 7, 2023

Posted: August 7, 2023

Posted: August 7, 2023

Posted: October 31, 2018

Posted: October 31, 2018

Posted: October 31, 2018

Posted: October 31, 2018

Posted: October 31, 2018

Posted: October 31, 2018

One of the first things a parent recognizes about GBPP is the effort to establish a sense of community within the school. The staff are warm and welcoming, encouraging parent involvement through classroom parties, career days, and extracurricular events such as Trunk or Treat and Preschool Sunday. Most classrooms use parent newsletters and the remind app to keep families informed and send out reminders. After a few months, other staff know and recognize your child even though they have not had them in class.
Our recent experience was in the PreK-5 class taught by Mrs. Fentress and Mrs. Gehres. This class is specifically designed for those students who turn five years old in the summer and fall months. Some students miss the official cut off for public school. Many could have attended kindergarten per local guidelines, however, would benefit from an extra year focused on setting them up for success in kindergarten. Other states, such as California, have implemented this schedule as a mandatory course of action for this age group called “transitional kindergarten”. In the GBPP PreK-5 class, my child learned routine, letter and number recognition, phonics, and writing. He was introduced to advanced science and math elements such as predication, reaction, graphing, and charting. Ms. Fentress is the perfect mix of structure and caring, setting appropriate high expectations for behavior and work. Most importantly, Ms. Fentress and Ms. Gehres grow the whole child; guiding social interactions and appropriate responses to social stimuli, encouraging students to stick up for themselves while being kind to work things out, and instituting a culture of good citizens. Coming out of the PreK-5 class, my son could write sentences, use descriptors, recognize letters and some diagraphs phonetically, and he was beginning to read. He truly loves these teachers and continues to talk about them this year. He would not be where he is in kindergarten had we chosen another course of action. He is confident, kind, social, and has learned to stick up for himself. I am so glad that he had this class to establish a love of learning and set the foundation for school years to come.

Posted: October 31, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

My son has had Mrs Noel & Mrs Michael and Mrs Vaughan - and he has loved them all!

Posted: January 15, 2018

All the staff are genuinely concerned about each student and it shows! They all get to know the kids and it makes the kids feel comfortable!

Posted: January 15, 2018

Becky is always available and open to supporting the preschool community however she can!

Posted: January 15, 2018

We have had an amazing experience at GBPP! We recommended it to all friends moving to the area. My son asks every day if he can go to school! My second son will go next year and he’s so excited too!

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

I cannot say enough good things about this preschool. My daughter is in her second year at this school and will be attending again next year. She has blossomed so much in the past year and a half and I attribute a lot of that to her teachers and the rest of the staff at GBPP. We have attended summer programs at another preschool in the area and have been incredibly dissatisfied with the staff and environment, so we feel truly blessed to have found such an amazing home with GBPP!

Posted: June 16, 2016

Posted: June 16, 2016

I was so excited when I found this school and totally wanted to love it. It has all the qualities of a small neighborhood school where everyone knows each other. But the director is very aloof and doesn’t really communicate well with the parents or students. She never interacts with the students and seems very ill at ease with little children. Every time I saw her, she was in her office with the door closed. The school also seems unsafe. Students are allowed to walk unsupervised from the playground to the bathrooms inside the school. No doors are locked- anyone from the community can walk in at any time (not to mention the city jail is right across the street). Also they don't require background checks for substitute teachers. There are better preschools in the area- save your money and protect your child by passing on Great Bridge Presbyterian Preschool.

Posted: March 13, 2015

Excellent staff! Can't rave enough about this preschool. Especially, after having such a horrific experience at Oak Grove Preschool. Mrs. Slivinski is amazing and the director Linda is very personnable and makes an effort to get to know you & your child. My 4 year-old was enrolled in pre-k & is excelling in kindergarten this year! His teacher has commented many times on how much he came in knowing. And, I credit that all to GBPP. I would not look anywhere else after finding such a great place for my children! Thank you!

Posted: February 15, 2015

Both of my kids went to this preschool and had great experiences. The teachers are loving and nurturing and very knowledgeable. We liked the play-based format which helped to develop social skills in addition to academic skills. We attended public kindergarten following preschool here and both kids were very well prepared.

Posted: February 14, 2015

Both of my children attended this school & we could not be happier with the experience. Wonderful staff & exceptional curriculum.

Posted: June 3, 2014

We first heard about GBPP while taking a tour of a local public school in the area. The principal highly recommended GBPP and said the children who came through her doors were very well prepared after attending preschool here. After taking a tour of the facility and sitting in on multiple classrooms, our son attended this school for the first time this year. We could not be happier! We plan to send our daughter as well. The teachers stay in their positions for 20+ years because they enjoy their job. The environment is very loving and nurturing and exactly the kind of place I'd want my child to be if he's not going to be at home with me. I highly recommend this preschool!

Posted: May 21, 2014

This school has been outstanding. My son started here in the 3 year old program and has absolutely excelled! The teachers and staff are very patient, kind, and educational. I definitely recommend GBBP to anyone I know looking for a trustworthy preschool.

Posted: April 22, 2014

My daughter attends GBPP pre-K and I could not be happier with her class. This school is amazing! I have so much to brag about...the staff is wonderful, kind, caring, nurturing and fun! The halls are bight and cheerful. The classrooms are spacious and divided into sections for reading, dramatic play, building, puzzles, and hands on activities. Each classroom is warm and inviting. I LOVE the open door policy and the chances to volunteer and be a part of my daughters school day. With the excitement I found upon entering the doors on her first day, my heart skipped a beat and my longing to get back to teaching was strong. I signed up to be a substitute teacher and have enjoyed covering most classes in one capacity or another. I love this preschool! I highly recommend GBPP to anyone looking for small teacher/student ratios, fun in learning while including Spanish, music and computers as a part of the weekly curriculum. Amazing things are happening at GBPP! Stop by and take a look, you will hear the echoes of laughter from the children and feel the love of the teachers as you come through the doors. Come stop by and bring a friend!

Posted: April 8, 2014

I cannot say about this preschool. We heard about GBPP from our pediatrician who sent all 4 of his kids here. This is our 4th year at GBPP and our second child. The teachers are so caring, the classrooms are large and bright and the class size is wonderful. My children have both started school with a love for learning and I am so thankful for the dedicated staff at GBPP. Most of the teachers have been there for years which says a lot about the preschool. The director is hands on and friendly and the tuition is very affordable (especially for the 1/2 day kindergarten). Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed!

Posted: April 8, 2014

When we gave our notice to move from VB to Chesapeake I referred to GBPP by our previous preschool staff in Virginia Beach. I met the director and staff a month prior to our son entering the 2nd half of the 3 ' s class. Our son continued to attend through PreK and we were ecstatic they offered a 2 ' s class the following year so our daughter could attend as well. We love knowing that our kids are safe, well cared for, and loved in a fun and clean learning environment. We also love that GBPP offers a variety of toddler age groups and affordable monthly tuition.

Posted: February 14, 2013

We live in Virginia Beach but make the drive to this school! It is my 3 year olds first time attending school and he LOVES it! I can not say enough great things about GBPP!! The teachers are amazing! They have an open door policy so it lets you stay active in your children's lives! And my son has learned so much! I feel completely comfortable leaving my child in the care of these wonderful teachers! I'm so sad that we are moving and won't be here next year. If I could I would let my child stay until Kindergarten, that is how much I love this school! They truly are amazing.

Posted: February 12, 2013

This is my kids first year at this preschool. I looked at many before I came to this one. The second I walked in I knew this was the place for my kids. I have a 4 year old and a 3 year old who both attend this preschool and both teachers are amazing. These ladies genuinely care about your children and want what is best for them. I could not ask for a better experience. No doubt the best preschool and kindergarten around. Thank you GBPP!!!'

Posted: May 26, 2012

Being in the military we've moved around a bit and have experienced 3 different preschools. Great Bridge Presbyterian was my favorite by far. The teachers truly love the children and want to be there. I was impressed with the number of age-appropriate crafts they had- something my kids could do by themselves and were proud of rather than an aid basically doing it for them. My kids have always been great at following verbal directions and socializing in elementary and I really believe it's because of their experience at GBPP. The size of the rooms and toys is wonderful. Plenty of room to move around and play. There is also a computer class, music time, and intro to spanish class. The class size is also optimum. I loved the Kindergarten teacher; the kids were at all different reading levels when they came in so I was even more impressed when they all left at atleast a first grade reading level. Outside of being a wonderful Kindergarten experience it was awesome having my preschooler and kindergartner at the same school with the same class arrival and departure times. Can't wait to enroll my little one in a couple of years!

Posted: May 4, 2012

I have sent both of my children to GBPP. After my first child went, I knew there was no other place to I would send them. The teachers are outstanding and so loving to all the kids, One of the most important things they learn at the school, is how to interact with the peers and get over some of the issues of not sharing or nedding to wait their turn. The aides are fabulous and so is the Music Teacher and Spanish Teacher. A plus for many parents that have small children is when you drop of your child, you do not need to get everyone out of the car. The teachers are there to assist them out and the teachers load them for you in to your car at the end of the day. The tuition rates are very affordable for the many things that your child will do at the school. You can not go wrong sending your child to this school. When it is time for your child to move on to the next school, trust me as a parent, you will realize just what a special experience it was that your child was able to attend Great Bridge Presbyterian Preschool!!

Posted: April 25, 2012

Great Bridge Presbyterian Preschool will always be a special place for our family. All 3 of my kids attended and I am so happy they had a such a wonderful "first school" experience! They loved going to school and their teachers felt like family.

Posted: April 24, 2012

GBPP HAS A GREAT STAFF WHO IS WONDERFUL WITH THE CHILDREN. THE PRESCHOOLERS LOVE GOING TO SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN LOVE THE COMPUTER LAB AS WELL AS THE SPANISH CLASS THAT GBPP OFFERS. THE SCHOOL TAKES THE CHILDREN ON LEARNING FIELD TRIPS TO THE LIBRARY AND ZOO. TO ME THIS IS AN OVERALL GREAT PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE. SAFETY IS THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WITH YOUR PRECIOUS CARGO.

Posted: April 12, 2011

This school is great. This is my daughter's second year at this school. The teachers go above and beyond when it comes to helping your child. My child has loved going to school for the last two years. Teachers and staff are always giving hugs. You can see how much they care. I am amazed of how much my child has learned since the beginning of the school year. I am sending my sone this fall.