JCC

[Anonymous]

We are thinking of sending our DS to JCC in Annandale. We are not Jewish. Do you bring this up when you visit?

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old is in the preschool and child care program at the JCC. My older DD went here as well (preschool only).

There are many, many children who are not Jewish at the JCC preschool. They celebrate the Jewish holidays in a low key way, but I don't think it would make anyone uncomfortable. Your DC may come home singing songs like "I'm so happy it's Shabbat..." on Fridays. They also say a blessing over the food. An issue for some people is that the entire building is closed for the major Jewish holidays, so there tend to be a lot of days off in the fall and 4 days off in the spring for Passover. You also have to pack a dairy or vegetarian lunch. Hot food is available for purchase, but it's a bit expensive.

They also do not celebrate any holidays that are based on Christian traditions. So in addition to the more obvious Christmas and Easter, there is no Halloween, no Valentine's Day, no St. Patrick's Day, etc. They don't make a big deal out of it, they just don't talk about them.

Personally, DH and I are culturally Jewish, but atheist in actual belief, and we are totally comfortable here. The religious teachings are extremely low key. The curriculum that they use is called An Ethical Start and is much more about being a good friend, a good citizen and a good neighbor than religious in nature. Here is a description: http://www.weinsteinjcc.org/childhood/peer-k.php

[Anonymous]

My infant son attend JCC and I have no problems with the care the providers give my son. I find that the center is well organized and very clean. As the previous poster mentioned, there are a lot of holidays where the infant/toddler center are closed.

E.g.

Friday, Jan 29th – Staff Development Day
Friday, March 5th – Staff Development Day
Tuesday, March 30th – Passover
Wednesday, March 31st – Passover
Monday, April 5th – Passover
Tuesday, April 6th – Passover
Wednesday, May 19th – Shavout
Thursday, May 20th – Shavout
Friday, May 21st – Staff Development Day

The center requires you to join the community center as a prerequisite to sending your chlid there. It's an addied cost you should factor into you decision. The cost of joining the cetner for the year upfront is $840 plus the monthly daycare cost. However, you don't have to pay until your child begins attending the center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My infant son attend JCC and I have no problems with the care the providers give my son. I find that the center is well organized and very clean. As the previous poster mentioned, there are a lot of holidays where the infant/toddler center are closed.

E.g.

Friday, Jan 29th – Staff Development Day
Friday, March 5th – Staff Development Day
Tuesday, March 30th – Passover
Wednesday, March 31st – Passover
Monday, April 5th – Passover
Tuesday, April 6th – Passover
Wednesday, May 19th – Shavout
Thursday, May 20th – Shavout
Friday, May 21st – Staff Development Day

The center requires you to join the community center as a prerequisite to sending your chlid there. It's an addied cost you should factor into you decision. The cost of joining the cetner for the year upfront is $840 plus the monthly daycare cost. However, you don't have to pay until your child begins attending the center.

Sorry, same poster here. My husband and I are not Jewish and there have been no problems. I believe around 30% of the kids attending there are not Jewish.