Refuge Christian Preschool

I rarely write reviews, but when credit needs to be given, I make it a point to do so. Our daughter has been attending Refuge Christian Preschool since November 2023, and I must emphasize that both my wife and I are very protective--some might even say too protective. In fact, I am often referred to as a helicopter mom. Initially, we planned to homeschool our daughter because we believed we were the only ones who could ensure her safety and care. However, as she grew older, we noticed her longing for more social interaction, especially since her sister is significantly older, and the only time she was really able to socialize with children her age was during Sunday classes at church.So, we decided to look around and see if we could find a place that felt right. After some research and a few school tours, we found Refuge. The school administrator, Lisa, was absolutely welcoming and wonderful. Based on our impression, their mission statement, and feedback from our daughter, we decided to enroll her.Fast forward to today, I must express how completely satisfied we are--actually, satisfied is an understatement. We are beyond pleased with the amazing people dedicating their time to our daughter and all the kiddos! The level of love from the director, Ms. Dina, and teachers Ms. Jodene, Ms. Alexis, and Ms. Natalie is something every parent prays for when leaving their child in the hands of someone else. They are excellent at communicating with parents, go above and beyond to make the kiddos feel safe, and the special events they create are truly magical.I am the kind of person who is an overthinker and can usually point out anything that is not right, or tend to correct things that are not being done as I would do them when it comes to our children. But with the nurturing teachers that our little girl has and Ms. Dina overseeing it all, I can honestly say there hasn't been any cause for concern. I actually feel a sense of ease dropping her off at school every morning, and for me that is definitely saying a lot!!!Some highlights for us include the growth we've seen in our daughter, the excitement she shows when she tells us about her day, and the scriptures she learns and recites. There are so many amazing things I could say about Refuge, Ms. Dina, Ms. Jodene, and Ms. Alexis, but the best testament is that our daughter genuinely loves them, and that means everything to us!We've been happy with many decisions we've made, but enrolling our daughter at Refuge is by far one of the best!

My daughter has been at Refuge preschool for the last two years and absolutely loves it. The staff is amazing and she is greeted with smiles every morning. Since being there she has learned her ABCs, her 123's, and increased her social skills. They also provide before and after school care which is a blessing for us since both my wife and I work full time. If you are looking for a good preschool to prepare your child for kindergarten I would definitely recommend Refuge Christian Preschool.

My son had been attending Refuge since he was two years old. We had him at a daycare/in-home learning before enrolling at Refuge. I was nervous about sending him here because we aren't religious, so I wasn't sure how that would work.Refuge has been nothing but accepting and encouraging. We want our son to have the opportunity to experience and explore religion. We couldn't personally provide that, so when I experienced they teach positive and religious beliefs but did not demand their faith, I was excited about his learning and development.We adored our daycare; however, our son's motor skills, speech, and communication changed beyond what we anticipated. Our son is four years old and excels beyond his age and peers.Most of all, THE STAFF!! To say the least my son is .... Difficult, he has big feelings and an even bigger personality, the staff has been so patient, positive, and guide for him. They always take the time to get him back on track and figure out how to correct and change his behavior. We are thankful for such an outstanding school and support for our son. We love Refuge and would choose them again and again.Thank you, Refuge Christian Preschool and Kindergarten, for being so am

My daughter went here for 3 years and we absolutely love this school! The teachers and staff are all super friendly and truly care about the children here! We love this school so much!

We were nervous about sending our daughter to preschool cause she hadn't been in daycare or anything like that before and we weren't sure how she would adjust but the staff and teachers are so kind and patient. One of the things that really drew us to Refuge was seeing how happy the kids were. I really love that there is an open line of communication through the app that they use so you can check in and they send you pictures. They really go above and beyond to make holidays and parties special for the kids. My daughter has only been attending here a few months now but has loved every second of it. She looks forward to school every week and is sad on the days she doesn't get to go. She comes home so excited to tell us about her day. We look forward to hearing what she's learned and seeing the artwork she's brought home. We really love Refuge and can't wait to see how she will continue to grow here.

Both of my sons have attended Refuge since they were two years old. My oldest now 5 years old moved on to UTK. He has done such an amazing job excelling in all areas such as numbers, alphabet, sorting, and patterns. At his first teacher conference, she noted that Refuge set him up for success. My youngest, who has a big personality, strong-willed, and stubborn at times, also attends Refuge currently. The staff is amazing with him! They are always kind, attentive, loving, and helpful. They work with me in getting him back on the right path. Helping work through any difficulties he may have. Their staff is the patience and understanding. They address any issues with love and connection.My favorite part is all the art work they bring home. The little hand prints and feet prints that I get to keep forever. They have an amazing program and with the best staff. They do tons of community events, ours favorite is the trunk or treat.Thanks for all you do and continue to do to shape these little lives!

My son really enjoys going to school! The staff is very friendly and has great communication! Mrs. Jodene always gives me a rundown of my sons day and they always work with me and my son when he has bad days! The director is very sweet and makes events so special for the children!

I want to share our deeply troubling experience with Refuge Christian Preschool to warn other parents who may be considering this place for their children. What we went through was nothing short of a nightmare, and it is important that others are aware of what really happens behind the facade of this so-called church setting.Our 4-year-old daughter was mistreated and subjected to an environment that no child should ever have to endure. Instead of the nurturing, caring atmosphere we expected (and did initially for years when Rhonda Conte was managing), it was met with disregard and neglect. When I raised valid concerns about the care she was receiving, our entire family was mistreated and ostracized.When I tried to address these issues with the preschool director, instead of being heard, I was bullied and dismissed. They never took the time to look at our side of the situation. The worst part was when I brought my concerns to the pastor, hoping for a fair and compassionate response. Instead, I was met with more hostility and bullying, as if the goal was to silence me rather than address the real issues.Adding insult to injury, I was lied to about being refunded for the tuition after they refused to allow my daughter to attend. Despite assurances that we would receive our money back, they ultimately ripped us off, denying the refund and closing the matter without any consideration of the emotional distress they caused. This place operates more like an evil cult than a Christian institution. The way they handled everything--especially their treatment of our daughter and our family--was completely unprofessional, dishonest, and outright cruel. They refused to acknowledge our concerns, and their behavior is far from what one would expect from a place that claims to be a safe and loving environment for children.I strongly urge any parent considering Refuge Christian Preschool to think twice before entrusting their child to this place. What is supposed to be a church setting is anything but that. My family and I went through terrible emotional stress, and I would never want another family to experience what we did.Please, for the safety and well-being of your child, do not take them here.UPDATE: response to the comment below---It's interesting that you would comment on our situation when you don't even know us or the full story. What's truly disheartening here is not my review, but the complete lack of acknowledgment from your side regarding the disrespect and pain that was caused to my family and, most importantly, to our child.Your response only reinforces the troubling pattern we experienced--where our concerns were dismissed, and our family was mistreated. It's worth noting that several other complaints have been filed through social services regarding situations very similar to ours, which begs to differ from the picture you're trying to paint. This is not just about a refund; it's about the well-being of children and the integrity of the environment they are placed in.I stand by my review because it reflects the truth of what we experienced, and I hope it serves as a warning to other parents to carefully consider where they place their trust.

Best school in Manteca! I highly recommend at least meeting with the director and touring the campus. You will not regret enrolling your child!All of the teachers are wonderful and the kids are very well taken care of!If you're like me, have a hard time trusting people and are scared of putting your children in the care of someone else.. then this school is for you! The campus is secure, there's a strict check in and check out policy ensuring the children are never picked up by someone who shouldn't be. They do not release the child to someone else unless the parent/guardian has given them permission. My favorite is the security of the classrooms. There are very great and trustworthy teachers here and there's also cameras in each classroom so if there is ever any concern you can speak with the the director and review footage if needed! My two year old only said a hand full of words before he started preschool in April and now he doesn't stop talking! Now he knows his abc's and can count to 20. He is learning to play well with other kids and is getting better about sharing. The teachers here make school so fun that he usually doesn't want to leave and he's always so excited to go to his class!I also love that your two year old doesn't have to be potty trained to attend school until they enter the 3year old class, unlike many other preschools! We really wanted to put him in school to socialize with other kids but he was not interested in potty training yet so this school was a great option! As soon as my son turned two he was able to start and we didn't have to wait for a new school year to start. This place is absolutely wonderful and I can not think of a single negative thing to say about it.

My first born attended this school starting at age 2 through pre-k. My second is currently attending and will stay through pre-k, and when my 3rd is old enough, she will be enrolled as well. Refuge came recommended to me and I am so happy we found them. Lori and all the staff are absolutely wonderful with the kids. My children love going to school and get excited to see their friends every day. I've gotten to know most of the teachers, and they really do care about the kids and seeing them succeed. They always have fun activities planned something to look forward too. Highly recommend!!!