Consider Takoma Educational Center for preschool 3, prek 4 lottery

[Anonymous]

I am reposting this from a neighborhood list serve, although I live in the neighborhood, my kids do not attend this school.

REPOST>

Takoma is not the awful school it used to be. In fact, it's reading scores jumped more than 20 points last year, there are a wealth of new programs that have made the school a happy and stimulating place for children, it is becoming a "catalyst school" for arts integration, and next year all its early childhood classes, for 3 year olds through Kindergarten, will utilize the Reggio Emilia approach, widely recognized as "state-of-the-art." I repeat - there will be a class for 3s - a rarity in the public schools.

If you don't want to read the rest of this lengthy email - or even if you do - check out the school's new website: http://www.takomaedcenter.org It has a wealth of information and a gallery of pictures that give a sense of the learning environment and students. Under "Programs/Academics" there are informative descriptions of the Reggio Emilia approach and the Fillmore Arts program.

Things you may not know about the revitalized Takoma:

1. Class sizes are small - early childhood no larger than 17, some smaller.

2. Remember how wild recess over there used to be? No more! There is now a program called Playworks, staffed with recreation specialists who structure recess and make it a positive time for exercise and teamwork.

3. Fillmore Arts has partnered with Takoma, with 4 teachers there on Tuesdays and Thursdays, providing classes for children from pre-K through grade 6 in music, visual art, dance and drama. (More detail on the website.)

4. Other partnerships include the Embassy Adoption Program - (so far with Mexico and Indonesia); the Takoma Theatre Conservancy, which is bringing performances of the Smithsonian Discovery Theater to the school; and the Folger Theater, with older kids participating in Shakespearean performances.

5. Spanish is taught to grades 3 and above.

6. No massive, chaotic cafeteria - instead three smaller spaces are used, and hot lunches are prepared on site.

7. A model advisory program for older kids has been implemented.

I spent part of last Thursday observing at Takoma. I saw students clearly engaged in learning, quietly working in small groups or with a teacher. The kids were respectful and helpful, the building - despite its deficiencies, cheerful and quiet. I urge you to see what Takoma has to offer your child. And just think what it would mean to us all to have Takoma once again be a true neighborhood school, a center for our community

[Anonymous]

For more info on Takoma Ed Center, see www.TakomaEdCenter.org