Feedback on Jewish Full Day Preschools

[Anonymous]

Looking to hear from parents who send their 2-3 yr olds to full day Jewish preschools in the area. We are looking at these three ...

1. JCC of Greater Washington (Rockville)
2. Ohr Kodesh Full Day (Chevy Chase)
3. Beth Shalom (Potomac)
4. Aleph Bet Montessori (Rockville)

Many thanks for any/all opinions!!

[Anonymous]

i have three kids and have had experience at the jcc and beth shalom. i would not send my kids to either one. i would look at binderman which is excellent or bnai tzedek not the 4 you listed. i am a teacher and i was very unimpressed with those two schools

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, we are looking for a full day (or almost full day) school and I believe those are only half day. Any other recommendations? Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

To the 2nd poster: What bothered you about those schools?

[Anonymous]

BETH SHALOM EXCEPT FOR THE KINDERGARDEN TEACHER WHO IS OUTSTANDING IS LIKE A MOM AND POP STORE. IT IS NOT VERY PROFFESSIONAL. I WOULD NOT SEND MY CHILD THERE. THE JCC IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO WHEN MY KIDS WENT. THEY HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR AND I AM NOT IMPRESSED. A LOT OF GOOD TEACHERS HAVE LEFT EXCEPT FOR THE T/K TEACHER. WHAT I WOULD DO IN YOUR POSITION IS SEND MY CHILD TO BINDERMAN AND HIRE AN EXCELLENT NANNY WHO CAN DRIVE AND LOOK AFTER YOUR KIDS IN THE AFTERNOON. I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH BINDERMAN. IT IS PROFFESSIONAL AND RUN LIKE A REAL SCHOOL. THEY ALSO HAVE LOTS OF AFTER SCHOOL OPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES. GOOD LUCK YOU CAN ASK ME ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WITH PLEASURE.

[Anonymous]

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ME YOUR NUMBER I CAN CALL YOU AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN MORE DETAIL

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback.
However (and unfortunately) not everyone is in the position to pay for both a preschool and a nanny (not to mention any other care for other children.) Just worth keeping in mind.

[Anonymous]

I really liked the DC JCC when I toured it, and I have a friend whose son is there, who loves it. Don't know if that would be an option for you, since it's downtown.

Also, I've been urging the clergy/directors at WHC (we are members) to extend the hours at the Bindeman center. If they heard from more families who could use full-day care, you never know -- they might consider offering it! The director there is a former daycare center director, so she certainly has the expertise to oversee a longer-day program. We're in the same boat of not being able to afford preschool plus a nanny. Not to mention that I'm not sure I want a nanny driving my kids every day.

Email me if you'd like to chat more about Bindeman. Maybe we could band together for after care!

[Anonymous]

Yes, the DCJCC is just too far outside our commute circle! I guess it really is a personal decision - check out the old DCUM site - there was recently a whole long string about the negatives at the DCJCC. You just can't please everyone all the time!

Would love to talk more about Binderman, and other schools. We are doing a few visits and open houses in the next few weeks. Do you mind posting your email and I'll get in touch with you? I have heard great things about that school - even from a family we were waiting next to at The Shoe Train a few months ago!

[Anonymous]

Is the DCJCC the same as the JCC in Rockville?
Does anyone have specific information/feedback on the Rockville JCC?
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

DCJCC is downtown and the JCC of Greater Washington is in Rockville. It sounds like the one in Rockville is bigger and might be better organized. I've heard anecdotes from friends of friends that they are happy there...
Anyone out there with kids at the school? I understand the director changed and there may have been some growing pains that are working themselves out? There is an open house next week ... I'm hoping will answer some questions, but always good to hear from from Real Parents.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in her third year at the JCCGW (Rockville JCC). We were very happy in the 2- and 3-year-old classes, but this year many of the class parents are disgruntled. It's partly the administration, which did change last year and is still much less organized than we would like. I would have hoped that we'd be beyond most of the growing pains by this time. Part of it is the teachers in our particular classroom, who are young, who have been in and out of the classroom throughout the school year due to personal reasons, and who don't seem as vibrant and creative as the teachers we've had in past years.

I'm not one of those who thinks preschool should be academically rigorous, but some parents have pointed out that kindergarten next year will be real work for the kids, and this year they're essentially having a big daily play date. It would be nice if they were getting some preparation for the kindergarten experience. Most of what my daughter reports learning is coming from the specials, especially music and Hebrew, not from the regular class time.

But again, our teachers the past two years were fabulous, and there were few or no complaints from parents until this year.

[Anonymous]

Try Children's Learning Center (doesn't sound like it, but it is a Jewish pre-school) on Bestor in Aspen Hill. Our daughter has been there since she was 2 and is now 5. We absolutely love it and so does she.

[Anonymous]

I actually left Bindeman and came to the JCC (Rockville) 2 years ago. The administration at the JCC is disorganized, but the teachers who are good still run good classes. It is VERY teacher-dependent there. Because there are some fabulous teachers, there are many happy parents there. But the above poster is an example of someone who does not have such luck this year.

My experience at Bindeman was not so wonderful. It is a preschool for stay-at-home moms essentially. And I actually was not happy with my child's class, or teachers, or their learning philosophy. (quite developmentally INappropriate, actually.)

Beth Sholom- I hear very mixed things about. I had observed there and was disappointed by some impatient, yelling teachers. Plus there seemed to have been a lot of teacher turnover. But I do know people who are happy there. Again, I think it's teacher-dependent.

Ohr Kodesh- supposed to be great but I really don't know much about it.

Aleph Bet- worth taking a look at. Don't know much. The downsides are the small facility and lack of resources (e.g. small playground, no indoor rec room for rainy days etc.)

Children's Learning Center (CLC)- I have heard great things about. They seem to be under-recognized. I think that's because of it's location.

The advantage of the JCC is its resources-- large indoor rec room that the kids go to on rainy days (- they really love this-). Ceramics studio. Great music teacher. The community atmosphere is nice-- and parents who have time can hang out in the lobby or take a class there or work out in the fitness room.

Wherever you go, there will be good and bad. And like everything else, your child and you will just keep plugging along! So try not to fret too much. (even though I always do....)

[Anonymous]

oops. I said "it's" instead of "its." Hate that.