Anonymous
Post 02/25/2020 16:33     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
Anonymous wrote:Bump. How is this school for kids who have to enroll in aftercare? Are there other preschools that people would recommend instead?


If you are looking for a place that is both Preschool and full child care, look at SSPC Children's Center. It is just down the road on University and has a fully accredited Preschool as part of a fully licensed child care center. They do have a 9-1 option for preschool that a few families every year opt for, but most children are in the full day program.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2020 14:13     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
I have seen many families go there and love it. There seems to be a tight connection between the families. OTOH, I was very turned off by how rowdy and wild the kids are at the couple of events we attended related to the school. We chose a different direction both due to what we saw in the children behavior and the shorter hours than we could find elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2020 21:24     Subject: Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
We think the new head of school is doing an excellent job and navigating pretty gracefully through all the change and feelings that come with a leadership transition. Plenty of families definitely do aftercare every day. And the school is being thoughtful about balancing the needs of working families while also still remaining a school rather than a daycare, as a PP mentioned.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2020 17:23     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
Bumping up to see if anyone has recent feedback on SSDS, particularly for a family that would use aftercare five days a week.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2018 20:46     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP. I would guess it's maybe 50/50 (though that is totally unscientific, just based on my visuals/experience co-oping in the classroom). There are plenty of kids at SSDS who do before and/or aftercare. And plenty whose parents or grandparents or nannies pick them up. About half the kids in my child's class do either the Little University option (goes to 3:30) or the Extended Day option (goes to 5:30), and some of those also do Early Bird.

Your child would definitely not be the only one.


Thanks so much, PP!
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2018 16:44     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
I'm the PP. I would guess it's maybe 50/50 (though that is totally unscientific, just based on my visuals/experience co-oping in the classroom). There are plenty of kids at SSDS who do before and/or aftercare. And plenty whose parents or grandparents or nannies pick them up. About half the kids in my child's class do either the Little University option (goes to 3:30) or the Extended Day option (goes to 5:30), and some of those also do Early Bird.

Your child would definitely not be the only one.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2018 16:29     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
Anonymous wrote:This is our second year at SSDS and we love it.

There is a strong sense of community, gentleness, learning to be good citizens of the world. We like the size -- it's large enough to have energy but small enough that every family & child is known well. We liked that it was the right amount of "crunchy" for us -- for instance, the kids drink organic milk but the school doesn't turn up its nose at (heaven forbid!) plastic toys like some other schools we checked out. And the other families are very pleasant, low-drama.

Our kid has done aftercare and been perfectly happy. There are multiple aftercare options (Little University and Extended Day).

It was really important to us to be in a co-op school -- the ability to be in the classroom periodically was a high priority and has been a great way not only to see our own kid in that setting, but also to build a strong relationship with the teachers, the other kids, and the other parents. That said, it's not right for every family -- so if co-oping isn't your jam for whatever reason, that won't be a selling point for this school for you (though of course you can "buy out" of it, which some families definitely do).

Full disclosure, we have not always loved the back-office -- but the teachers are really, really excellent. We are very glad we chose this school.




Thanks for this feedback. Do you get the sense that many kids are at the school for a full work day, or are most families lucky enough to have one parent at home or a nanny? Clearly, its not a daycare, but do many families send their kids to before and aftercare most days? I know it's available but I wouldn't want my kid to feel like the only one who's there all day (about 8 hours instead of 4).
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2018 16:39     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
I've heard good things about SSDS and have some friends who went there.

If you want, check out Evergreen, Rock Creek Montessori, and Spring Bi-Lingual. They are also in the area and are GREAT schools. Rock Creek in particular has a good after care program.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2018 11:01     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
This is our second year at SSDS and we love it.

There is a strong sense of community, gentleness, learning to be good citizens of the world. We like the size -- it's large enough to have energy but small enough that every family & child is known well. We liked that it was the right amount of "crunchy" for us -- for instance, the kids drink organic milk but the school doesn't turn up its nose at (heaven forbid!) plastic toys like some other schools we checked out. And the other families are very pleasant, low-drama.

Our kid has done aftercare and been perfectly happy. There are multiple aftercare options (Little University and Extended Day).

It was really important to us to be in a co-op school -- the ability to be in the classroom periodically was a high priority and has been a great way not only to see our own kid in that setting, but also to build a strong relationship with the teachers, the other kids, and the other parents. That said, it's not right for every family -- so if co-oping isn't your jam for whatever reason, that won't be a selling point for this school for you (though of course you can "buy out" of it, which some families definitely do).

Full disclosure, we have not always loved the back-office -- but the teachers are really, really excellent. We are very glad we chose this school.


Anonymous
Post 03/04/2018 09:15     Subject: Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
SSDS has a really strong community feeling. The teachers are really warm and supportive, and the families are engaged, since parents volunteer in the classroom regularly. The classrooms are a bit small, but the teachers are really good, and help children learn to get along with each other. I recommend it.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2018 21:54     Subject: Re:Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
Bump. How is this school for kids who have to enroll in aftercare? Are there other preschools that people would recommend instead?
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2018 09:35     Subject: Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
What are you looking for exactly? Our DD has thrived at Evergreen in Toddlers and Primary program. They're having an open house this Fri.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 22:07     Subject: Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
I've heard good things but it didn't wow me either. My child didn't seem to be excited over it either so we looked elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 20:43     Subject: Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
Dp you want full day or half day? 5 days or part-week?
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2018 21:59     Subject: Experiences with Silver Spring Day School (SSDS)?
We're thinking about SSDS for our 2 year old in the fall. I'm wondering if anyone has any recent feedback or experience with the school. It seems like a good school but doesn't "wow" me. Our older kid went to preschool in a different city before we moved here, and I loved-loved-loved his preschool there. It took me a long time to find it (he went to a different one his first year -- actually, a coop school like SSDS), which I didn't like much, but then I found what was basically "perfect" for his last two years (not a coop school). I planned to send my younger kid there, too, but alas, job changes brought us to DC.

Can anyone share their experiences with SSDS? If there are other nearby schools, I'd be willing to consider those as well. Thanks!