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[quote=Anonymous]We are in our first year at St. Joseph's and couldn't be happier.  It's a small school, and I think I've realized that's the reason you don't meet many families who sent their kids there, it's small and there's very little turnover among the families.

The 2's room does seem large and overwhelming, but with 5 teachers in there, the ratio is still really small.  I had been worried about how my shy DD would do in a louder room and so far she's doing great and learning a tremendous amount as well as really gaining in social skills.

We toured a number of preschools and so many were spiffy and high tech and shiny.  That's all good, I'm not knocking it.  By contrast, St. Joseph's is an old school preschool.  Kids' artwork is on the walls, the school's fish tank and pet fish reside in the lobby and there aren't computers in the classrooms.  One of the things I love about it is that everyone there knows my kid.  The cook, the religion teacher, the teachers of all the older grades.  They all know her by name and readily give her hugs when she runs up to them.

Old school doesn't mean the educational preparation isn't 21st century, though.  All the lead teachers have or are close to gaining degrees in education or child development and a few of them have masters degrees.  There are new teachers, but many have also been there for years.  The director is fabulous, having instituted a new approach to curriculum and is actively pursuing NAEYC accreditation for the school.

Meals are nutritious and prepared onsite daily.  Two snacks plus lunch are included in the incredibly reasonable tuition.  All the classes, including Pre-K have a 2hr nap/rest time each day.

In addition, they offer a number of specials that you can pay additional fees for.  An outside program for soccer weekly in the spring, a creative movement class, a computer class, a music class and a Spanish class (taught in-house).  In terms of the Catholic aspect, it isn't pushed on the kids.  There is a simple non-denominational grace before lunch and a 20min chapel each week.  In addition they do recognize and teach a little bit about Lent, Advent, the Sign of the Cross.  Although many of the families are Catholic and some do head to St. James a block away for elementary school, it is a very heterogenous school.  This year the 2s class had a presentation on Hanukkah by one of the kid's parents.

Communication is great.  Monthly school-wide newsletters, weekly emails from the director and a weekly email from the teachers with the lesson plan.  All this in addition to the basic daily report in your child's folder.  There is a PTO organization as well, although the teachers aren't much involved.

I could go on for days and am happy to answer more questions if you post them.  No place is perfect, but of all the places we visited including some well-regarded Montessori and immersion schools, St Joseph's was the place we felt most at home.[/quote]

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