Catholic Schools week, open houses, great fullday pre-K, etc.

[Anonymous]

FYI, next week is Catholic Schools Week and all the elementary schools in Montgomery County (and perhaps throughout the Archdiocese of Washington) will hold their annual open houses. This is great opportunity to check out a number of schools and observe classes, talk to teachers and parents, etc.

FWIW, I'll give a plug for a great fullday pre-K program in Rockville: St. Jude's on Veirs Mill Road. Pre-K is from 8:30 to 2:45 M-F. The class presently has 15 kids and two teachers. The pre-K class has music, art, PE and library each week with the teachers from the elementary school. The children do not wear uniforms. The kids have "buddies" from the 5th grade who they interact with during various projects and special events. They actually have two classrooms -- lots of space for various activities -- and the kids are broken into smaller groups for math and language arts. There is a one-hour rest break/naptime each afternoon. It's a great program, and we've been very pleased.

Also FWIW, I found this program by visiting a few schools and calling around right before Catholic schools week a couple years ago. At the time, this was the only fullday pre-K program I came across -- and it's reasonably priced.

The open house at St. Jude's is next Wednesday from 9-11 and 6:30 to 8:30.

[Anonymous]

I think it is Catholic Schools week throughout the archdiocese. Our own school, St. Ambrose in Cheverly MD (in Prince George's County, about a 15 minute drive east from Capitol Hill on Route 50) will also be holding its annual open house this weekend.

http://www.stambrosecheverly.org/school

This is a terrific school with dedicated teachers and staff, and reasonable tuition. (About $6,000 for a non-parishioner student.) St. Ambrose offers a solid education for children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is one of the very few elementary schools in the diocese to offer art, music, physical education and Spanish. The teaching and administrative staff are warm, loving and caring people, and the school is extremely well organized. Communication between parents, teachers and the principal have been very effective. We have a new princiapl this year, and she has been a great addition to the school community!

The school starts with full day preK, although many children do two years of preschool and then enter in kindergarten. It has aftercare until 6 I believe, and a wonderful summer camp as well. http://www.stambrosecheverly.org/school/espanol

Visit St. Ambrose School this Sunday January 25 between 11:30AM and 2:00PM for an open house. There is tuition assistance available for qualified students. Visit the school website for more details and to see the pictures of some very cute kids!