Indian Land Welcomes Two Preschools This Fall, Part 2: The Goddard School of Indian Land
The Goddard School of Indian Land is scheduled to open by the end of this month.
October 6, 2020 | Wilson
Sisters, Dhwani Patel and Maitri Desai dreamed of jointly opening a preschool for years. After Patel and her family moved to Indian Land and discovered potential, the sisters made their dreams reality.
Patel and Desai’s mother worked as a teacher for more than 20 years. The sisters remember her quoting, “Once you get an education, no one can take that away from you.” That old saying stuck with them.
Patel and her husband, Vikash moved to Indian Land from Charlotte. They chose Indian Land because they loved the community and saw potential. “We found our dream home here,” said Dhwani.
Vikash and Dhwani Patel and their daughter
The couple began looking for preschools in the area after the birth of their daughter. Patel said they wanted a preschool focusing on education, as opposed to traditional daycare. “There just weren’t any, and it was kind of disheartening,” said Patel. “The educational aspect is so important to me.”
The Patels shared their struggle with Desai and her husband, Nihit. The Desai’s son had attended a Goddard School location until first grade. “We both noticed that my nephew was miles ahead of his peers,” said Patel.
The families decided to partner and open a Goddard School in the Cross Creek Shopping Center with Patel being the sole operating owner. “The Goddard School has been around for over 30 years so, at this point, they know what they are doing,” said Patel.
Opening a preschool during a pandemic presents additional challenges. The family-owned business took additional precautions to make parents feel comfortable with their kids being at school during this time. In addition to limiting the classroom sizes, the family invested hospital-grade technology.
“No other preschool in the area has these machines,” said Patel. Goddard School will have the ZONO Disinfecting and Sanitizing Cabinet, which claims a 99% disinfecting rate. “Everything that isn’t attached to the walls can go in there,” Patel added. The school will also have a HaloFogger, which releases fog to kill airborne bacteria.
After two years of planning, the school expects to open by the end of October. This location is currently enrolling with limited spaces remaining.
About The Goddard School:
The Goddard School is the largest franchised preschool system. It currently licenses more than 500 schools in 38 states. The curriculum starts in the infant room and delivers a high-quality, play-based learning program.
The school will follow The F.L.EX. approach to early academics, which according to the website, gives children the opportunity to develop into joyful lifelong learners, equipped with 21st-century skills. Enrichment programs include yoga, Spanish, music, sign language, and STEAM.
The Details:
The building is just under 11,000 sq. ft. and will have 10 classrooms for Infant to Pre-K. The school will temporarily offer a school-age supplemental program for K-3rd grade. The program will provide help with schoolwork and opportunities to play with other children. Hands-on activities will reinforce what children learn in school and enhance their educational experience.
In addition to the two outdoor playgrounds, children will enjoy a large indoor play gym with a rock-climbing wall and a BEAM Interactive Projector Game System. Patel and Desai also have plans for a garden and a stage area for dramatic play within the next year.
The school recently created a video tour of the progress. Check that out here.
The Goddard School of Indian Land is located at 8345 Collins Road, Indian Land, SC 29707.
https://www.goddardschool.com/charlotte/indian-land-collins-road-sc
I have worked at this Goddard School, and I am very distraught about this place. When I was hired I was happy about working at this school, gradually as time went on I was kicked in the butt! I am not the only employee as well four other employees were kicked in the butt! When I worked here I saw many things for example bugs behind the toy shelves, cleaning crew only comes three times a week, VERY cheap, treats employees like crap, and much more. First of how they treat children is utterly disgusting, for example I had a special needs child in my classroom allergic to eggs, wheat, and dairy one day she was chocking and throwing up. I yelled for help and the OWNER came into my room exact words saying "____ is throwing up?" I said "yes" and the owner started asking for another child because his dad was there to pick him up. The owner looked at me and said "I can't help" and closed the door. I lost so much respect for the owner after that. Another situation with a student in my class was she was getting picked up from her dad and left the school in the front seat with no car seat (child is 2). The students also do not get much for AM snack as well as PM snack, my toddlers got quarter of a bagel one day. Another time only five cheez- its for PM snack. For the employee side we had to buy EVERYTHING the owner handed us a magazine from Lidal of discounted supplies for us to buy. Another thing is I would be in my classroom calling for something important like the bathroom, iPad, help, and much more the front directors ignored me. The same goes with other employees that have worked or is working there! When I respectfully put my two weeks in I was very honest and kind to the owner to be professional. As I was putting my two weeks in I brought up how much there is gossip, negative energy, and how I want a career field for what I'm school major. I told the owner how they treated previous employees affect my work ethic and makes the environment negative her response back was "you don't know how she failed as a teacher" when that teacher put more into that school than the owner. They have ambushed me as well as other teachers, cornering us into the front office with the two directors and the owner questioning every little thing. When I mentioned in my two week meeting all the gossip going around the owner was confused what I was talking about. Yet, one of my employee friends called me up telling me the owner as well as the assistant director went into her room talking bad about me. They have also put employees in classrooms where they don't want to be. I was targeted by the owner and the employee as for other employees who have/ did work at this place. I am more disappointed, disgusted, irritated, and much more by this facility and school. The owner I am very disappointed in she has never worked in childcare before and it shows by how she runs the business of this school. The two directors are treated like puppets gaining up on employees targeting us. The owner targeted me about my room saying the students ruin the classroom by accidentally putting crayon on the table while coloring. There is much more but this school and owner has lost everything in me and changed my point of view of childcare.
I have worked at this Goddard School, and I am very distraught about this place. When I was hired I was happy about working at this school, gradually as time went on I was kicked in the butt! I am not the only employee as well four other employees were kicked in the butt! When I worked here I saw many things for example bugs behind the toy shelves, cleaning crew only comes three times a week, VERY cheap, treats employees like crap, and much more. First of how they treat children is utterly disgusting, for example I had a special needs child in my classroom allergic to eggs, wheat, and dairy one day she was chocking and throwing up. I yelled for help and the OWNER came into my room exact words saying "____ is throwing up?" I said "yes" and the owner started asking for another child because his dad was there to pick him up. The owner looked at me and said "I can't help" and closed the door. I lost so much respect for the owner after that. Another situation with a student in my class was she was getting picked up from her dad and left the school in the front seat with no car seat (child is 2). The students also do not get much for AM snack as well as PM snack, my toddlers got quarter of a bagel one day. Another time only five cheez- its for PM snack. For the employee side we had to buy EVERYTHING the owner handed us a magazine from Lidal of discounted supplies for us to buy. Another thing is I would be in my classroom calling for something important like the bathroom, iPad, help, and much more the front directors ignored me. The same goes with other employees that have worked or is working there! When I respectfully put my two weeks in I was very honest and kind to the owner to be professional. As I was putting my two weeks in I brought up how much there is gossip, negative energy, and how I want a career field for what I'm school major. I told the owner how they treated previous employees affect my work ethic and makes the environment negative her response back was "you don't know how she failed as a teacher" when that teacher put more into that school than the owner. They have ambushed me as well as other teachers, cornering us into the front office with the two directors and the owner questioning every little thing. When I mentioned in my two week meeting all the gossip going around the owner was confused what I was talking about. Yet, one of my employee friends called me up telling me the owner as well as the assistant director went into her room talking bad about me. They have also put employees in classrooms where they don't want to be. I was targeted by the owner and the employee as for other employees who have/ did work at this place. I am more disappointed, disgusted, irritated, and much more by this facility and school. The owner I am very disappointed in she has never worked in childcare before and it shows by how she runs the business of this school. The two directors are treated like puppets gaining up on employees targeting us. The owner targeted me about my room saying the students ruin the classroom by accidentally putting crayon on the table while coloring. There is much more but this school and owner has lost everything in me and changed my point of view of childcare.