Preschool recommendations in potomac ?

[Anonymous]

Suggestions?Please offer any thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Geneva Day School

[Anonymous]

All 3 of mine attended Potomac Nursery School. We were very happy. The atmosphere was warm. The approach was play based but my kids were well prepared for kindergarten. I especially loved their open door policy for parents.

[Anonymous]

Our soon to be 3 year old is in Potomac Nursery school and we couldn't be happier with them. She started in the fall and goes 5 days a week because we both work full-time. However, they offer all sorts of options- before care, lunch bunch, after care, 2 days/3days, etc.

It's located on Falls Road- definitely check them out!

[Anonymous]

Rock spring

[Anonymous]

We are moving soon and looking for a fours program in Potomac/Rockville area. We need a longer day as we both work, does anyone know of a school that still has space?

[Anonymous]

St. James. Lots of room in the 4s room as there was a mass exodus this past year. They recently hired a new 4s teacher who seems good. Administration is still lacking and the 3s room is still a major problem -- so avoid if you have a younger one who will be coming up through that room. Worth a look if you just need 4s, but be really careful. There's a lot of turnover with the staff right now and playground supervision is a concern.

[Anonymous]

Stop the fear mongering. We are there and are happy.

[Anonymous]

It's not fear mongering, it's a set of facts which lead to an opinion -- all of which is fair game to share here.

Is teacher morale low? Yes. (This was acknowledged by the administration at last month's parent meeting.)
Have a lot of teachers left in the last 18 months, including the lead K teacher, the lead 4s teacher, and the lead 3s teacher? Yes.
Have a lot of families left in the last 6 months? Yes.

There are parent-led and board member-led efforts to fix some of the issues. The administration of the church and school seem more concerned with trying to monitor and control the rumor mill than tackling this problems head-on.

[Anonymous]

St james is a fantastic school with absolutely amazing teachers. We have 2 kids there and are very happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not fear mongering, it's a set of facts which lead to an opinion -- all of which is fair game to share here.

Is teacher morale low? Yes. (This was acknowledged by the administration at last month's parent meeting.)
Have a lot of teachers left in the last 18 months, including the lead K teacher, the lead 4s teacher, and the lead 3s teacher? Yes.
Have a lot of families left in the last 6 months? Yes.

There are parent-led and board member-led efforts to fix some of the issues. The administration of the church and school seem more concerned with trying to monitor and control the rumor mill than tackling this problems head-on.

A board should never run a preschool. That is a ridiculous concept. Also the fact that most of the time the board is made up of non educators and business people who don't know squat about running a preschool. It is not a Chipotle, it is a preschool. Also, why do you need 10 people to make decisions dealing with a preschool? Shouldn't a director or directors be enough? It's just ludicrous and anyone at a school who uses a board like this is ludicrous as well.

[Anonymous]

Harbor School is very near Potomac.

[Anonymous]

St Raphael's. Nurturing, nice families and kids, good teachers. Fun.

[Anonymous]

St. James' Children's School in Potomac is truly an exceptional pre-school & daycare. They offer long/full days opening at 7:30a & not closing until 6:30p. While they have had some recent staff turnover due to typical changes that may impact any school from year to year, the vast majority of the staff have lovingly cared for and educated the children there for many years.

The recent staff changes (former Ks teacher relocated w/family; long time 4s teacher accepted a substantial promotion to a mgmt position at a school very close to her home, etc.) occurred for understandable reasons. Further the SJCS staff had been exceptionally stable for many years prior, making the recent changes appear more significant.

The Board of Trustees is engaged and serves as an advisory group to the SJCS leadership. All established schools that have any sort of history and hope to have any sort of future have a Board of Trustees, as this is a standard structure for schools as well as the broader NFP community.

I strongly encourage any working parents to check out SJCS. Gather the "facts" for yourself, meet w/SJCS leadership, ask questions and observe a class if you like. I'm certain you'll come away w/a much better perspective than that offered by any web site, and you can rest assured it will be time well spent.

We have both of our children at SJCS and they have absolutely benefitted from their SJCS experience. Our kids love the school & are truly excited to get up & go there each day. As parents we take tremendous comfort knowing that our children are extremely well cared for in a loving, nurturing, educational environment, and we've been truly blown away by all that they've learned in their years at SJCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not fear mongering, it's a set of facts which lead to an opinion -- all of which is fair game to share here.

Is teacher morale low? Yes. (This was acknowledged by the administration at last month's parent meeting.)
Have a lot of teachers left in the last 18 months, including the lead K teacher, the lead 4s teacher, and the lead 3s teacher? Yes.
Have a lot of families left in the last 6 months? Yes.

There are parent-led and board member-led efforts to fix some of the issues. The administration of the church and school seem more concerned with trying to monitor and control the rumor mill than tackling this problems head-on.

These aren't facts, they are half truths! Yes, morale is low because of people like many here that spread rumors and are trying to cover the canvas in one large malicious stoke. The Head K's teacher's husband took a new job in Carroll County. So she moved. When the Head 4's teacher succumbed to a physical ailment removing her from the classroom, the Head 3's teacher moved to the 4's room because that's the age she used to teach and wanted to return there. This past August, she was then offered a Managment role, i.e. a promotion, at a school that was a 5 min commute as opposed to a 40 min commute. Oh, and that former 4's teacher - she still works at the school and provides administrative support in the office along with being a teacher resource for the faculty, especially new teachers.

This school has been around for over 20 years. Many have been there for nearly that entire time. Numerous alumni of the school have come back to teach there. Some teachers have been there for over 10 years and commute over an hour each way. We've had family and friends go through the school. Our 2 children are there currently and are absolutely thriving academically and socially.

And, for the Chipotle comment - their board doesn't run their restaurants and the board at SJCS doesn't run the school. It's an advisory board. Something quite common and routine in the world of 501 (c) 3 businesses. The appropriate, qualified administration runs the school and remains extremely open and approachable to CONSTRUCTIVE feedback.

If you have a problem with SJCS, then put a name to your voice and concerns to the school, either in writing or in person, and please stop anonymously bad mouthing a loving home away from home for the rest of us. There are many of us with eyes wide open that believe in, have faith in, and remain loyal to the school, the teachers, the administration and the overall SJCS community.

If you're looking for a daycare/pre-school then fact check for yourself. Observe the classrooms and teachers and form your own opinion to do what is best for your own child and family.