Testimonials

Juan & Mirna Guardado 2022
Lake Ōkāreka Preschool is a wonderful place for your children to grow, play and learn. Since we discovered Lake Ōkāreka Preschool we couldn't think to send our son to another childcare centre. Apart from being an excellent place, Leslie and Davina created a second home for our son, Juan. It was such a joy to see Juan enjoying his amazing teachers and friends.
I could give more than 5 stars to Lake Ōkāreka Preschool. We are grateful for all the support, dedication and love we received.  What a fantastic guidance and preparation our son had before going to school. We continue telling our family and friends that is the best place to take your children if you are in Rotorua and its surrounds. Lake Ōkāreka Preschool has a very warm place in our hearts. Thank you for all the memorable moments, especially for our little boy. They will be treasured forever.

Michelle Herrick 2022
Two out of my four children were lucky enough attend Lake Ōkāreka Preschool. It’s an incredible place, the facility is welcoming and always warm, the outdoor area is lovely and shaded but it’s the teachers that make it what it is. Leslie and Davina have been amazing, their love for teaching children, their open minds to trying new things, the gentle way they guide children is amazing. Watching my daughter ‘graduate’ from Lake Ōkāreka Preschool in May was so special. Seeing how my daughter set goals and the teachers encouraged her to continue with them and master them. Rebecca can now do all the Monkey Bars. Even recently at school she told her teacher her skill was that she cold ‘build a wooden tiger’ - Thanks Davina and Leslie! If you are thinking of sending your child to a warm, loving ECE facility you won’t find anywhere better than Lake Ōkāreka Preschool. Thank you for everything ladies. 
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Samantha & James Fraser 2022
Lake Ōkāreka Preschool has a warm and friendly atmosphere and made my son and our family feel welcome from the beginning. The Teachers are trusting and supportive, taking the time to understand each child and their needs. It has been a pleasure to see how Lochie has continued to develop his speech, communication skills, empathy, discovering new ways to play and I have noticed his confidence grow over his time at the centre. The centre has a variety of toys which all promote different styles of learning, as well as plenty of space to run and enjoy the sunshine. 
I really enjoyed the 'Whanau Help Day', where you can observe and help with a typical day at the centre. It really makes you feel part of a community. Thank you for our time with you. We will no doubt visit when we are in the area. Thank you so much. 

Michelle & Rod Brittain 2020
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It is with sincere gratitude that we leave Preschool today and I have to say we're a bit sad about it!
When I think about the huge difference you have all made to our Niko and our family unit, it really is incredible and so worthy of taking this time to reflect and count our blessings. We were a bit shy moving but very quickly settled in with your warm welcomes and we quickly wished we had moved him sooner. Nevertheless we were lucky to have these precious 9 months at all, as with anything good - time flies when you're having fun. 
I have just reflected back on his starting notes and it was our wish that Niko make a best friend at Preschool. Well, he didn't make one, he made a solid handful. I'm sure these friends will be with him for life - what a gift.
You turned a boy shy of speaking in public into a front of stage king. We were flabbergasted to see our new showman son boldly singing to an audience and loving it. Leslie thank you thank you thank you - words can't describe how proud were that day and this striking memory will be with us forever. He is confident because of you.
Davina, you have coached him from day one, carefully weeding out the habits he needed to leave behind and moulding him into such a wee MAN. Its just blows us away what you have drawn out of him. Our proudest memory of your feedback was when you said: "He doesn't know he is a leader". Oh my!
Debbie, you're beautiful caring nature has nurtured Niko and taught him to show love to others. Considering that our man on the move barely stops for cuddles I have been so pleased to see him happy in your arms or on your knee. You have considered and respected all of our needs and nothing was ever too hard.  It was such a pleasure, such a special time at Ōkāreka Preschool. I don't think we will ever come across something as fine as your place again. Its as good as it gets.
It with the warmest wishes for the future that we leave you to nurture and develop more beautiful kiddies - we can't be too greedy. We have definitely had our fair share.
Aroha Nui,
Michelle, Rod and Niko XXX


Claire & Dane Stewart, 2018
​Lake Ōkāreka Preschool is amazing. I only wish I'd found it sooner. A total haven for children with amazing learning, fantastic teachers (who have been there many years) and a passion for sustainability and the environment and passing this knowledge on to the children. 


​​Lyndell & Jared Christoffersen   2018

Our daughter had such a fantastic time at Lake Ōkāreka Preschool. Over the two years she attended Lake Ōkāreka Preschool she blossomed into a confident compassionate girl ready for school. Debbie, Leslie and Davina are such warm and caring teachers that really take the time to encourage each child's strengths and help them in areas they struggle with. The preschool has such a lovely warm friendly family-oriented atmosphere that is created by the teachers and the lovely families and children that attend the preschool.
We really loved all the little things that are part of the preschool culture that promote kindness, confidence and independence such as the way the children greet each other at mat time, how each child regularly gets to be the teachers Helper for the day which involves speaking in front of the whole group, to the shared fruit session at the end of each day and the end of year Christmas Nativity play.
We will miss coming to preschool and look forward to bringing our son in a couple of years’ time.

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Bronwyn Duncan 2018
 
"Thank you, Ōkāreka Preschool, for all the lovely memories!
George spent a wonderful year last year at Ōkāreka Preschool. He was new to the school in February 2017 but fitted in so easily for his final year at preschool. The three enthusiastic, warm and caring teachers love what they do. The large learning and play area is well equipped with plenty of space for hands on fun. The teachers provided plenty of varied activities and excursions throughout the year to aid in learning. But what I liked most as a parent was seeing the values of sharing and kindness emphasised throughout the preschool daily.


Julie and Eben Herbert, 2018
 
To Debbie Leslie and Davina, 
Thank you for taking such excellent care of Jasper over the last few years and helping to shape him into the kind and respectful person he’s growing to be. I know he’s going to miss you all but hope he has lots of good memories, which I’m sure he has, and we’ll be sure to come to events you put on to catch up. I remember Leslie saying “I’ve got the best job in the whole world’ to me before Jasper started there, and it really does show, you are all fantastic and make Lake Ōkāreka Preschool the amazing place it is.  We will all miss you and look forward to bringing Quinn in a few years’ time. 
Julie, Eben, Jasper and Quinn xxxx


Mariska van den Haak. February 2018
 
We cannot speak highly enough of the Lake Ōkāreka Preschool and the warm, dedicated and welcoming teaching team. There is a real community feel and our son has flourished while there. A small group of students means your child gets the attention they deserve. We could not have asked for better schooling for our son. Thank you, Debbie, Leslie and Davina. 


Ian and Mel Loveless - August 2015 

 A huge thank you to the lovely teachers at Lake Ōkāreka Preschool.   
Their attention to detail in every aspect ensures that all the children are respected and treated as individuals whilst the small environment and community feel brings all the children together to play and learn as a team.
I've enjoyed coming along as 'parent help' and have noticed how highly observant of each child's strengths and weakness the teachers are and how they really work hard to nurture these.  Each experience that arises during the day is used as a learning experience from empathy and respect to encouraging the children to make their own learning goals on areas of interest.
A regular routine including mat-time, play-time and food breaks really prepares them well for transition to school and I'm sure this familiarity of structure has made Sophie's transition easier.  The confidence she has gained being amongst caring role models and fantastic life-long little buddies is absolutely noticeable.
Keep up the fantastic work!


Dr Toni Withers – March 2012

Both my children were lucky enough to attend the Lake Ōkāreka Preschool for those two very important years prior to starting primary school. 
My elder child had a little difficulty settling into the routines and the teaching team responded with compassion and firmness. It was only a few weeks before he was fully complying with their requests to undertake the same activities as the other children.
The teaching team are  extremely skilled at adapting to the individual needs of the children attending. I was constantly astounded at how it seemed to be second nature to them how best to respond to various social interactions that would have challenged my own best efforts!
The profile books that are kept for each child are a treasured work of art and include teacher feedback and descriptions that fully capture the growth, progression and highlights of each child during attendance at the centre. There is a distinctive culture surrounding the special day of "graduating" to school. This becomes a memorable and remarkable date that all families and departing children will hold dear for years to come.
I still desperately miss my visits to the preschool and how I wish that our primary schools could try to emulate even some of the behaviours and values that are taught and modelled at Lake Ōkāreka Preschool.
I cannot recommend this centre highly enough to other parents of young children.


Rachel Rachmani – November 2011

I can not speak highly enough of Lake Ōkāreka Preschool, my children blossomed in the warm, welcoming environment. 
The teachers are passionate, enthusiastic and experienced  and the small ratio allows the teachers to get to know the children intimately and nuture their strengths whilst building on their weaknesses.  I know the teachers at Lake Ōkāreka Preschool put a lot of thought into how best to prepare the children for the transition into school. This has led to a programme where literacy skills critical to reading are immersed into the daily plan, routines are developed, making healthy food choices are encouraged and independent learning and exploration is a part of each day. I look forward to my youngest starting next year and to rejoining the Lake Ōkāreka Preschool community.


Anne Lightfoot – October 2011

Dearest Debbie, Leslie and Davina. I can't express to you how much we have appreciated the experience you have given Chloe over this past year. 
She has blossomed since spending her time at Lake Ōkāreka Preschool. You ladies are fantastic teachers for all the kids and create such a magical, creative, supportive and fun environment for the kids, and they (well Chloe has) learnt a whole lot of good stuff!
We are all really going to miss LOPS for so many reasons. Thank you so much.