Experience with Temple Sinai Nursery School?

[Anonymous]

I haven't found many comments on Temple Sinai Nursery School. Does anyone have personal experience- especially for the younger ages- that they could share?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

DS goes there -- it's really a fantastic place for kids. It's a fairly large enrollment, and one thing that stands out is that all the teachers seem very nurturing, warm, and educated. I think many/most have a Masters in something young-child related. Seriously, this is the warmest group of adult women I've seen in a long time. Several teachers have children in the school (though not in their own class).

The class sizes are small -- very small for the youngest kids (2), and all classes have two teachers at all times. There's also a separate Music teacher and a Movement teacher, and kids have time with each 1x a week. (altho maybe not for youngest 2s). Also on staff part-time are a speech therapist and occupational therapist.

The playground is large, wooded and wonderful.

The Director has been there since the school started and is, in my opinion, top-notch. She's a great administrator from a parent's perspective.

It's NAYEC accredited.

That's all for now

[Anonymous]

My son will be attending in the fall (he'll be turning 3). I'm thrilled to see the PP's description because it's exactly the impression I got from the open house. It seems like a really wonderful place. I was particularly happy to hear about the extended transition period they provide for the youngest kids; it sounds like they bring them in slowly in small groups with parents during the first weeks so that they get comfortable. This seemed like a very thoughtful -- and resource-intensive -- approach.

[Anonymous]

My dd attends and we all love it. The parents in her class are so warm and unpretentious and the teachers are fantastic. My only complaint is that it's not terribly racially diverse. It's a Jewish school, so it tends to pull from that demographic. It really is a special place.

[Anonymous]

Your have a complaint about a JEWISH pre-school not being racially diverse???

Are you SERIOUS?

These pretentious faux-liberal -I-value-diversity-and-am-hip-to-all-races need to get a grip.

ABTW, Adas is better than Sinai (even though it is not racially diverse, either).

Amy

[Anonymous]

on what basis is it better?

[Anonymous]

I was actually just being obnoxious. I have no idea if its better. Though Sinai does have a reputation for all of this warm nurturing, whereas Adas has a reputation for being really brainy. But I was really just trying to be obnoxious. The whole racial-diversity-at-jewish-school thing pissed me off. "Wanting more diversity" has become the new Lucky Jeans, or Sephora. Really.

[Anonymous]

I'm the earlier poster whose son will be attending Sinai in the fall, and I'd note that I appreciated the way that the teachers and director described the school's approach -- it's a pre-school with a Jewish influence rather than a Jewish pre-school. Jewish education isn't the goal at Sinai, although the Jewish holidays, Jewish values (tzedakah, e.g.), etc., play a role in the curriculum.

They also make a point of noting that the school is open to and welcoming of children of all races, religions, abilities, etc. My sense is that the vast majority of kids have at least one Jewish parent, but honestly, they just don't seem to emphasize this. My husband isn't Jewish, and I'm not at all observant, so we weren't actively looking for a Jewish pre-school. We just loved the feel at Sinai.

Not sure what you're looking for, OP, but I thought this might help you as you consider your options.

[Anonymous]

I will freely admit that I think Sinai is prettier than Adas. I love all the woods and the trees. It's a beautiful setting. It was my first choice, but by the time I inquired they were fully enrolled. Adas had openings, and so here we are. That being said, I would never turn back.

I have also been surprised at the number of people there that are non-observant or not even Jewish, especially since Adas does give the kids a heavy dose of religious training. I think it is because it is easily accessible (metro) and lots of families live in the neighborhood, and it has a good reputation. That's enough for some parents. The convenience and the reputation. I guess they figure it can't hurt their kid to learn some Jewish stuff.

My son is so comfortable there. He comes home singing Jewish songs and prayers. Every Friday each kid gets to have "their Shabbat" where their parents come in with the Challah and the grapes and the kid sits at the head of the table. He's only three, but he seems to have an understanding of Shabbat. And he's doing all kinds of artwork, reading, cooking, climbing . . . it's a great place. We even had a parent-teacher conference the other day. Like, the real thing. An evaluation and everything.

Amy

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your responses!

[Anonymous]

What are people's impressions of the curriculum at Temple Sinai's nursery school? I just ask because I've heard so many good things about the warm and nurturing atmosphere, but less about the curriculum or "academic" side (for want of a better term).

[Anonymous]

My two sons went there (a few years ago) and, since we're Temple members, I've kept in touch.

Sinai doesn't really have an "academic" curriculum, if you're thinking of the phonics unit and the math unit. There's a strong belief that young children learn through play. But there's a real effort to have the type of play experiences which will naturally lead to learning - measuring instruments in the sand table, weather charts, similar toys in different sizes. Each class does a number of themed units - dinosaurs, construction, a Jewish holiday - and the teachers think through how to integrate lots of varied experiences into that theme. So when my kids learned about weather, they came home telling me about measuring temperature, and the freezing and boiling points of water, and different types of clouds. They'll also find ways to support kids who are more advanced in academic skills - older classes might make books where the kids draw pictures and kids can dictate or write a few words for each picture. Kids who are reading can read in the book corner. I know the teachers made a point of finding materials for the classroom that would challenge my kids when they needed it.

And, it's an incredibly warm, down-to-earth place. But others already said that.