new FULL DAY pre-school at Adas Israel synagogue in Cleveland Park

[neskatan]

Gan HaYeled, DC’s premiere synagogue pre-school, is
expanding its NAEYC accredited classes to include two full day
programs for the 2013-2014 school year! Children ages two+ can sign up
for classes that run from 9 am to 6 pm or for a selection of part time
programs. (Early bird option available from 8-9am by preregistration – no additional fee for full-day students).
Registration begins January 17. Housed within a beautiful,
fully equipped facility within the historic Cleveland Park synagogue,
the Gan features small class sizes, superior faculty and staff, and an
innovative play-based curriculum for children ages two through Pre-K.
Contact Rabbi Sarah Meytin, Gan Assistant Director, at 202-362-4491 or at
[e-mail] to learn more or sign up.

[Anonymous]

I am really tempted by this, as I would love a Jewish preschool for my 2 year old. We are now at a full-time Montessori school that we are generally happy with but we do have some issues.

[Anonymous]

There is an open house this Tues, Jan 22nd at 9:30am. I plan on checking it out!

[Anonymous]

What % of the currently enrolled children are non-Jewish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What % of the currently enrolled children are non-Jewish?

I don't have an official number, but it is very small. We sent our daughter there and we were one of two non-Jewish families in her "grade." They will take non-Jewish families, but there is a preference for synagogue members and families seeking out a Jewish foundation in the classroom. I wonder if that will change, since I imagine the full-day option is very attractive to many Cleveland Park families, Jewish or not. Our experience there as non-Jews was great. We felt no exclusion from other families and still have friends from those years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an open house this Tues, Jan 22nd at 9:30am. I plan on checking it out!

Could just one preschool do a darn evening, post-work open house so we don't need to miss work? We heard incorrectly this was at 7pm and were excited. We are at the JCC anyway but would have appreciated a look at a school closer to our home. Adas, please post if you schedule a night-time event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What % of the currently enrolled children are non-Jewish?

I don't have an official number, but it is very small. We sent our daughter there and we were one of two non-Jewish families in her "grade." They will take non-Jewish families, but there is a preference for synagogue members and families seeking out a Jewish foundation in the classroom. I wonder if that will change, since I imagine the full-day option is very attractive to many Cleveland Park families, Jewish or not. Our experience there as non-Jews was great. We felt no exclusion from other families and still have friends from those years.

At the open house I went to a couple of years ago they made a point of saying non-Jewish families were welcome and that there was usually at least one or 2 non-Jewish kids in most classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an open house this Tues, Jan 22nd at 9:30am. I plan on checking it out!

Could just one preschool do a darn evening, post-work open house so we don't need to miss work? We heard incorrectly this was at 7pm and were excited. We are at the JCC anyway but would have appreciated a look at a school closer to our home. Adas, please post if you schedule a night-time event.

Off topic, but I find the daytime times much easier. Evening times assume that the family has child care, and many do not. For us, it's easier to do things during the day while our child is in preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an open house this Tues, Jan 22nd at 9:30am. I plan on checking it out!

Could just one preschool do a darn evening, post-work open house so we don't need to miss work? We heard incorrectly this was at 7pm and were excited. We are at the JCC anyway but would have appreciated a look at a school closer to our home. Adas, please post if you schedule a night-time event.

Off topic, but I find the daytime times much easier. Evening times assume that the family has child care, and many do not. For us, it's easier to do things during the day while our child is in preschool.

plus, how do you gauge a school when you don't see it in action, full of kids and teachers?