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Preschool and Daycare Discussion
Openings in Bethesda/Rockville daycare
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Anonymous
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My children's day care and preschool, Rock Spring Children's Center (formerly Christ Church Children's Center), has a few unexpected openings for January in the toddler and preschool rooms. If you are looking for care in the Bethesda or Rockville area, I highly recommend Rock Spring.
We're holding an open house this Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30 pm in our new, custom-designed facility in Bethesda, near Walter Johnson High School and Montgomery Mall. My 5 year old and 3 year old started at this school when each was 6 months old, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Teacher turnover is extremely rare, and all the teachers are engaging, nurturing and devoted to the children. The curriculum is excellent and parents of our graduates have often remarked how well prepared their children were for kindergarten. The directors are accessible and involved, and set the tone of warmth and accountability that pervades the center. If you have any specific questions for a current parent, please feel free to contact me at kakki_lewis@hotmail.com. You can learn more about Rock Spring Children's Center at www.rockspringchildrenscenter.com or by calling 301-530-4526. |
Anonymous
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I wanted to add to the comments about Rock Spring. My two children have attended since they were infants. RSCC has a great preschool program with a curriculum that they introduce in the toddler class and which gets more formal as they prepare the kids to go on to kindergarten. The curriculum is just one aspect of what they do each day as it is designed to enhance their “learning through play” activities.
We have found Rock Spring to be an incredibly warm and loving environment that has helped my 5 yr old daughter and my 2 yr old son develop into great kids who will be more than ready for kindergarten. They helped my son get potty trained in 1 week earlier this year and my daughter is about ready to read, does math, and even loves doing the voluntary homework. The kids love being there and they love their teachers. The atmosphere there encourages interaction among the families and fosters a sense of community with such things as potluck dinners, parents night out babysitting, and even Saturday gatherings at Cabin John Park. If you are thinking about starting your toddler or young child in daycare or preschool in January, you should try and attend their open house on Thursday. They will have two more in January if you cannot make it. You can also call for a tour during the day. |
Anonymous
| When I called them a few weeks ago about a 4 month old (when we need the care) they completely blew me off, told me to go online for the waitlist and I never heard back...very frustrating, but that has been my experience with several day cares. |
Anonymous
My kids are there and I have found the directors to be extremely responsive so this does surprise me. I do think that they ask that people sign up on the waitlist online so that everyone "enters" the system the same way. But I'm surprised its been a few weeks and they haven't followed up with you yet -- maybe it isn't looking like an infant spot will be available when you need it but they wanted to wait to confirm this before contacting you? Or maybe there was some problem with the website? I'd give them a ring or email them to confirm your status on the waitlist. |
Anonymous
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Maybe they are more responsive when you are in the program, but it doesn't appear well when you call several times and just get told to place your name on the waitlist online and that's it... and then you see a post with a lot of openings and telling people to just call. Maybe you can suggest to them to look at those who placed themselves on their online waitlist as they should get "priority" if there are open spots. If a day care is not initially responsive, it is a big red flag to me about their communication style. Yes, they are busy and their priority is the children, but if you want your spots filled asap, first impressions are very important. I will call a place once or twice assuming someone is having an off day, but after that... forget it.
We found another center who was very responsive and can accept my son should I choose to go back to work. |
Anonymous
Are you affiliated with the center? Just wondering why you say "we're holding an open house". I get the impression a lot of staff or board members post the positive comments for this center. |
Anonymous
| Um, we're parent-run, with a parent advisory committee - so the parents actually have a say in the running of the center - which is why the parents post alot and say things like "we are doing this" or "we are doing that" - it's a community, and "we" all feel invested in it doing well. Also makes for happier parents. I doubt that staff are posting at all, and perhaps board members do (I am not one of them, and I do post), but that is probably because board members are also parents. |
Anonymous
| BTW, 15:56 here - and I am not the OP - The OP is a big booster of the center, certainly - I think she was instrumental in getting much of the fundraising for the new facility, and I know that she has posted before. But there are plenty of happy parents, including myself, who post and consider themselves part of the "We". |
Anonymous
| How does the part time option work at this daycare? Is there a place where I can look for families seeking to share spots at this Center? |
Anonymous
| I'm also interested in whether there is a part time option. |