Sunrise Early Learning Center

No other preschool teacher will care about your kid as much as Ms. Melissa does. Our little boy has been at Sunrise for almost two years, since he was two and a half. We visited 17 schools in Boulder and Denver before applying to Sunrise, it was our first preference school. And that decision is reinforced each day. The first thing I noticed when I was searching for a school was that when I asked if we could come visit, Melissa said, "sure, come any time." All the other schools would ask to make appointments at special times a couple weeks in advance. I loved the idea that she was comfortable with us coming by at any time because any time is a good time to observe all the cool things going on there. Sunrise is impressive on a variety of fronts. #1 is the compassionate attentiveness. If something is bothering your child they will know. If your child is showing signs they may be getting sick they will know. If they got their feelings hurt, are having a growth spurt, if it's time for potty training, they will know, they will care, and they will communicate. It feels like you are adding to your team, or more accurately, your family, when you join Sunrise. One time my child became ill at school and I was an hour away. When I arrived Ms. Melissa, who had been holding him in her lap for an hour, carried him out to my car and placed him in his car seat, clearly concerned about him as if he were her own. It is so reassuring to know that when you can't be with your child, she is there to care for them in the way that you would. And this is just one example. The teachers facilitate polite and empathic listening and communication, which builds emotional intelligence. They are very good at talking about how to be a good friend, how to support one another, how to speak nicely, how to accept each other for who they are and how to feel good being whoever they want to be. They also take no baloney. When a kid acts up or misbehaves, the teachers address it immediately and consistently, with sensitivity but with firmness. If you have a gentle child you will love this because your child will be comfortable knowing they are always in a safe supportive space.

Our child loves his school and his teachers! Sunrise provides a great structure with an excellent balance mix of learning, education, craft activities and indoor/outdoor play time with a nice outdoor play area and access to a large indoor gym. Great experience and we are happy our child is continuing at Sunrise!

We have been so thrilled with Sunrise! Learning is approached with a world view, encompassing diverse cultures and perspectives. Science, art and physical play are daily highlights. The environment is clean, creative and warm. The teachers are all fantastic - loving but direct, enthusiastic and kind. The owner, Melissa, is fabulous; she is immediately responsive, approachable and always open to comments, questions, suggestions or concerns. At Sunrise, we feel our daughter's wellbeing is a real priority. We are so pleased with our choice to place our daughter at Sunrise! She leaves for Kindergarten next year and certainly will miss this wonderful place of learning....

To call Sunrise ELC a school simply doesn't cover it. I consider Melissa and her staff more like an extension of our family. Melissa first taught my oldest daughter, who has some unique learning disabilities. She was so kind, supportive and understanding of her needs. She has now taught my youngest daughter for two years. We love all that Sunrise has to offer. Fieldtrips, yoga, flexible schedules, they do it all. We couldn't be happier!

What a loving place. We initially considered Sunrise due to its being within walking distance from our house. Once we saw the facilities and met the teachers, we tried it with a high degree of confidence. Our three year-old daughter had no previous day care or school experience, and had serious separation anxiety. Sunrise's energetic, extraordinarily competent teachers helped us handle this issue beautifully. Several months later, our daughter now happily goes off to school, looking forward to seeing her friends and the loving staff. The facilities here are first rate. Its classrooms are a child's paradise of educational toys, art supplies, and other learning materials. Hissing cockroaches, fish, reptiles, and the occasional visiting rodent round out the learning-rich atmosphere. The actual learning curriculum is superbly professional. It's just the right balance of instruction and play for these young minds and bodies. The imagination of the teaching staff is boundless, and we are continually amazed at the the energy they put into the children. If the weather is nice enough, for example, the kids march off on neighborhood field trips, exploring nature. The outdoor play area - the feature which first drew our attention to the school - is likewise first-rate. It is large, and equipped with an ample supply of every outdoor play device imaginable