Any FDA WOW Discovery Preschool Program parents here?

[Anonymous]

I am an enrolled parent and we did not receive any notification about a black folder via email. The only email we received recently was asking to ensure that all forms were in. DC does not attend yet, so I cannot speak to whether or not we received a black folder in our box, however, I have been in the center to observe and did not notice a black folder in DC's cubby in anticipation of starting.

[Anonymous]

14:30 poster here. The email you received referenced the forms in the folder and not the actual folder. My point is that a parent that has a child attending the center should have received the email and questioned what was required of them if they had not received the information.

The folders were given out by the teachers and not put in the cubbys.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure what would make someone on here lie about what they encountered at the center. From what my spouse said, in talking to one of the directors, they admitted that the teacher did say that numbers aren't taught and the reasoning for that was b/c that teacher had not been trained yet. I have a colleague whose spouse said there has not been a security guard on duty everyday, so again, that sounds true. This center is so much less expensive than other centers in the area and it would be more convenient to have DC on campus with me than at another location, that I wanted this center to work out so badly. I am sure most other people in this thread feel the same way and I can't believe that someone would have motivation to lie about what they've seen.

[Anonymous]

14:30 here again. I have the same goal. I want the center to work not because it is a cheaper option than the other's that I am waitlisted for but because I believe it will be a good place for my daughter. By the way, the center is not at all convenient for me.

WOW has too many advantages to write it off so quickly; especially with an anonymous internet thread. I questioned that if the person did not recive the information then why did they ignore what was referenced in the email. That has still not been answered.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, that email was very unclear. All it said was please provide your forms, then it listed the forms, and finally said disregard this email if you've already provided the forms. There was no mention of where the forms could be found and no mention that some forms came from the downloadable forms section of the website and others were in a folder. Perhaps PP thought they had already turned the forms in. The email went out to (I assume) all families and was not family specific. If my child had already started attending and I had turned in forms, I would not have thought to ask where certain forms could be found-I would have assumed my file was up to date and that I would be contacted directly if it was not. I only know that some forms were distributed in the classroom b/c my child has not started yet and in reviewing the list of forms I still had in front of me (b/c, again, my child had not yet started so I didn't turn anything in), I coudnl't find certain forms on the website. I do remember thinking at the time that it would have been a lot more clear if the directors could have specified where the forms were found and/or contacted families individually.

[Anonymous]

I am the one who did not receive a folder. All forms were available on their website- Needs and Services, all medical forms, etc. We had every single form turned in, signed, on day one. Given the recent newsletter stating some w/ children already at the center don't have all of their necessary paperwork handed in (including medical forms). We did not receive a folder with February curriculum information in it- nor an email pertaining to February curriculum information. Nothing in his cubby or little closet.

Again, why wouldn't the teachers reference this information when speaking with the parents (ie. me) who is specifically asking about what the children are currently learning? Or what they had learned that day?

You know, just because a curriculum is stated on a website, or even a monthly form, doesn't mean I won't ask what my child specifically did that day. And by me asking questions, I'm not a bad parent, I'm a proactive parent. I want to know that what is being transcribed to me via brochure and an Open House is what is really going on. That is why I checked in during the day randomly. And that is why it is a red flag to me when what the teacher says to me is vastly different than what "should" be taught.

[Anonymous]

15:28 here again- I was very excited about this center, and I'm not an FDA employee. It was out of our way to go to this center. I love the building/design and all of the playgrounds and natural daylight. I was very hopeful, and even more so after the Open House. However after one or two things I noticed, but didn't think anything of. Then one of the first posters on this thread who spoke about a child being forcibly sat down caused me to keep my eyes wide open.

Now that I have raised these issues- I do hope they get resolved for the future families.
Regards to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Have you called the director to say that you have not received all of the necessary forms and to please make sure you are on the email list because you did not receive the last email but are receiving the other emails?

[Anonymous]

To the 11:54 poster today who followed up with the center directors and is seeing some changes:

What is their response and/or corrective action for the aide who was witnessed physically forcing a child to sit back down?

Thanks!

Future FDAer considering a spot (again)

[Anonymous]

I was told there would be a zero tolerance policy for things where a child is being mistreated/physically harmed, but I did not get any specific feedback on that particular situation, nor do I know if they had been made aware of that particular interaction, nor do I know if that would rise to the level of a child being harmed. I did get the impression that the directors were not aware, but they did look concerned to hear about it.

[Anonymous]

15:28-Are you the same poster who resigned from the center? I am starting to lose track.

[Anonymous]

How's it going this week, parents?

[Anonymous]

DC seems happy there and likes the school-asked when it was time to go back. That makes us happy. DC's particular teachers seem okay, but I've observed other teachers who don't really seem to want to be there. It almost seems as if they are bothered by the kids and aren't really invested in them or their well-being at all-in the classroom attached to DC's room I see the teachers talking to each other but not really talking to the kids. I have not been there 24/7 though, so I cannot speak to what the teachers are like over the course of the day. I also observed other teachers from different rooms. It's hard to put into words, but they don't feel like teachers to me. I don't feel like they really care about the children, I don't see them as being part of a team of sorts-where if I was working on something with DC they would also work on it to reinforce it. I guess it seems like they are just there to do a job and have no real committment to the work they are doing. I'm also not sure how strong the curriculum really is after observing circle time in DC's classroom. Like I said, DC seems to be quite happy, but it's about 99.9% certain that DC will be going back to our previous school.

Also, on a few things the story has changed. At first we were told no outside food was allowed in unless a child has allergies and apparently now parents can provide food for children who don't have allergies. I found out that this was now possible from a colleague, but it has not been communicated from the administration to the parents, or, at least if it has, we have not recieved notification of this change in practice. Also, there was a black folder referred to here last week and we still have not received ours. So communication seems like it could be improved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC seems happy there and likes the school-asked when it was time to go back. That makes us happy. DC's particular teachers seem okay, but I've observed other teachers who don't really seem to want to be there. It almost seems as if they are bothered by the kids and aren't really invested in them or their well-being at all-in the classroom attached to DC's room I see the teachers talking to each other but not really talking to the kids. I have not been there 24/7 though, so I cannot speak to what the teachers are like over the course of the day. I also observed other teachers from different rooms. It's hard to put into words, but they don't feel like teachers to me. I don't feel like they really care about the children, I don't see them as being part of a team of sorts-where if I was working on something with DC they would also work on it to reinforce it. I guess it seems like they are just there to do a job and have no real committment to the work they are doing. I'm also not sure how strong the curriculum really is after observing circle time in DC's classroom. Like I said, DC seems to be quite happy, but it's about 99.9% certain that DC will be going back to our previous school.

Also, on a few things the story has changed. At first we were told no outside food was allowed in unless a child has allergies and apparently now parents can provide food for children who don't have allergies. I found out that this was now possible from a colleague, but it has not been communicated from the administration to the parents, or, at least if it has, we have not recieved notification of this change in practice. Also, there was a black folder referred to here last week and we still have not received ours. So communication seems like it could be improved.

They aren't teachers, they are daycare providers. All you have to do is readjust your thinking and remember that most of the people working in daycare settings in DC do not have an education and have very interest in what they are doing. Treat the daycare for what it is, a place that should care for, feed, and keep your child safe for up to 10 hours a day. Nothing more nothing less.

[Anonymous]

Except that this is an NAEYC accredited preschool... The teachers have the education (bachelor's in early childhood , etc) and it was displayed as such. As was the curriculum. Parents are not paying just for "care" ie. make sure my kid is alive, but they are paying for the early childhood education element as well.
So yes, you should expect more.