moving to Bethesda from NYC area and need to find quality preschool for 2 of my 3 kids

[nycmom]

Please help me with recs for preschools- I have a son turning 2 and a daughter turning 4- that I need to enroll into a preschool in the Burning Tree area- we are renting a home while we build and are looking to stay in the Burning Tree area as our 6yr old daughter will be enrolled in 1st grade this fall. We move down at the end of June and I am now desperate to find something for my 2 youngest babes...our soon to be 4 yr old is in a private preschool here- 5 days a week- 3 half days and 3 days 9-4pm- the program is similar to a Montessori and she is really loving the full time days- plus the socializing- I am afraid to halt her love of learning and pace now as she is excelling so much. Any thoughts? My son has only been at home with me and has no intro so I am not as concerned about what s available for him- and will only put him in a few half days a week for socializing purposes...but I don't want my middle daughter to suffer and become bored!
I realize we are way behind the enrollment process as our enrollments here were back in January for next year....any advice will be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I would check into Abbingdon Montessori. It is pretty close to Burning Tree... close to the DC line but probably just a 10 min drive for you. It is a great Montessori program (but not strict Montessori - uses other approaches as well. Unfortunately they do not have the best website so I would call them and set up a time to come visit. The director has been running this school for 40 years and is amazing. They have rolling admissions so the fact that you are so late in the game will probably be ok for you. Good luck

[nycmom]

thank you so much! I have been pouring over this website and I have found little info on Bethesda- i am new to this site, so maybe I am just ignorant to how best to navi thru it!
Thanks for the info- I will be ringing them tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

Manor Montessori is supposed to be excellent and "warmer" than more traditional Montesorri schools. The location at St Dunstan's on Mass Ave at Westbard is slightly (not significantly) closer to you than Abingon: http://www.manormontessori.com/

[Anonymous]

Yes I would second Manor Montessori.

[nycmom]

thanks everyone- I am looking into Manor- any other quality recs?
nyc mom

[Anonymous]

Bethesda Community School
Bethesda Montessori
Beth El Preschool (Reggio)
Harbor School

[Anonymous]

The Oneness School is really groovy.

[nycmom]

does anyone have kids at these schools? if so, what do you think of Oneness and Manor and Bethesda Montessori?
thanks!

[Anonymous]

You could try Caterpillar Preschool in NW DC. It's language immersion in French and/or Spanish. It's for 2.5 to 5 year olds and they have openings. www.tenleycircle.city-gate.org

[Anonymous]

I would avoid oneness the little stars program is a mess.

[Anonymous]

nyc mom,
Manor Montessori IS the quality rec. Mass Ave campus or Oaklyn Drive, Potomac.

[nycmom]

thank you everyone- was offline for a few weeks on vacay -no luck so far with preschools- but heading down to MD tomorrow to check out a house- is Manor a friendly place if I just pop in to check it out?

[Anonymous]

For the 4-year-old you could check out B-CC Nursery School if you're interested in a co-op. (www.bccnurseryschool.org)

[megg3277]

My son attends Suburban Nursery School, a play-based, cooperative preschool in the Bannockburn neighborhood of Bethesda (very close to Burning Tree). It is a wonderful school and the teachers are amazing! Check out the website at www.suburbannurseryschool.org