probably one of the Arabic schools in Fairfax county.

It isn't Spanish. It's one of the more obscure heritage languages, so if you weren't born to it, you wouldn't want to attend. Good luck with your child, fall birthdays are tricky.

Sure it is.

Anonymous wrote:I'm really curious about the private immersion K in Fairfax, OP. Is it Spanish immersion? We have a fall birthday kid coming up through preschool as well. What's the name of the school?

It isn't Spanish. It's one of the more obscure heritage languages, so if you weren't born to it, you wouldn't want to attend. Good luck with your child, fall birthdays are tricky.

Anonymous wrote:I think its kind of amusing that you are going with the plan suggested by the "harpy contingent" after all. But I hope your son enjoys his new daycare next year. It does sound nice.

I don't believe there WAS a plan they advanced, they were too busy trying to convince me their vision of preschooling is the only one in the universe.

Are there any private immersion elementary schools in Fairfax? I can't think of any.

I'm really curious about the private immersion K in Fairfax, OP. Is it Spanish immersion? We have a fall birthday kid coming up through preschool as well. What's the name of the school?

I think its kind of amusing that you are going with the plan suggested by the "harpy contingent" after all. But I hope your son enjoys his new daycare next year. It does sound nice.

That sounds like a good solution, OP, and I am glad to hear how reading in K works.

This is OP. For the people who were following it with genuine interest, and not for the harpy contingent, here's the update.

For the person who advised that graduates of accredited private kindergarten programs are entitled to move up in FCPS public system, you are absolutely correct. That is the case.

I made an appointment to speak with the principal of our base elementary school. A lovely woman who knows what she's doing. We had a good long chat and she reassured me that a) there is a range of ability in entering kindergartners, from fluent readers to non-readers, and b) children are grouped based on their ability and those who can read better are given more challenging assignments and more challenging books to read. They do their best to meet each kid where he or she is at. In addition, they evaluate children based on where each child was at the beginning of the school year (not an arbitrary average standard) and the aim is for each child to progress from his or her individual starting point. Based on this, I am feeling much more comfortable that DS should go to public K next fall where he can mature while remaining appropriately challenged.

This year, he will enroll in a private immersion K and leave our beloved preschool. Our goals are to strengthen his command of our heritage language and prepare him for public school. This program offers academics along with lots of enrichment (music, art, clay, science, lots of outdoors time) and we are comfortable that this is what he needs right now. After that, he'll proceed to public K.

Thanks, everyone, who offered honest advice and guidance. We've made our decision.

There really aren't very many immersion daycares. I guess its hard enough to staff them with qualified people fluent in one language, let alone people who speak two languages. But that's because most places pay so poorly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys, I'm starting to think OP is an elaborately clever troll. Think of all the hot button issues she is posting about-redshirting, daycare vs. regular preschool, how her gifted child is so amazing, all the teachers at her daycare have bachelor's degrees... (truly, this seems very expensive! Think of how many teachers daycares need to hire to cover the whole day. Several per classroom and all making 30k+?). And she keeps coming back to argue with people. Yup, troll.

Have to agree. That, or her initial question was legit and she started making stuff up to try to make it sound better when she didn't get the answer she wanted.

I really want to google "immersion daycares in Fairfax" and find the one where every single teacher has a bachelor's degree or higher, but I'm trying to resist the temptation.

Ha! I am pretty sure thee isn't unless it is brand new. We looked at immersion daycares about two years ago and there were none where the teachers all had degrees. So maybe this is a troll thread.

Ladies, please! Its a PRESCHOOL! The licensing agency says so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys, I'm starting to think OP is an elaborately clever troll. Think of all the hot button issues she is posting about-redshirting, daycare vs. regular preschool, how her gifted child is so amazing, all the teachers at her daycare have bachelor's degrees... (truly, this seems very expensive! Think of how many teachers daycares need to hire to cover the whole day. Several per classroom and all making 30k+?). And she keeps coming back to argue with people. Yup, troll.

Have to agree. That, or her initial question was legit and she started making stuff up to try to make it sound better when she didn't get the answer she wanted.

I really want to google "immersion daycares in Fairfax" and find the one where every single teacher has a bachelor's degree or higher, but I'm trying to resist the temptation.

Ha! I am pretty sure thee isn't unless it is brand new. We looked at immersion daycares about two years ago and there were none where the teachers all had degrees. So maybe this is a troll thread.

Even the most expensive private preschools in DC will have some assistant teachers with just community college degrees or work experience. Man, OPs daycare budget must be like another mortgage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

You're being completely ridiculous. Your high-schoolgirl experience in daycares is completely irrelevant to our preschool, where every teacher has a 4-year degree. They do everything you mention and more, painting, playdoh, art project every day, playground, science, music, pretend play, field trips, travel stories, yoga, seasonal performances, what have you. I get that you think my son *ought not* be able to read and love it, and you're entitled to your opinion but not your own stories. I'll take a full waitlist and tons of happy parents and kids over your high-school memories.

So how would a junior kindergarten at another daycare or school be any better than what he has now? If it is all that you say it is, you aren't going to find something better. Just leave him at this wonderful Lake Wobegon NOTADAYCARE for another year, then start K.

Hahaha! It wouldn't be, I don't think, but OP wants her kid in something that is designated kindergarten so he can get ahead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys, I'm starting to think OP is an elaborately clever troll. Think of all the hot button issues she is posting about-redshirting, daycare vs. regular preschool, how her gifted child is so amazing, all the teachers at her daycare have bachelor's degrees... (truly, this seems very expensive! Think of how many teachers daycares need to hire to cover the whole day. Several per classroom and all making 30k+?). And she keeps coming back to argue with people. Yup, troll.

Have to agree. That, or her initial question was legit and she started making stuff up to try to make it sound better when she didn't get the answer she wanted.

I really want to google "immersion daycares in Fairfax" and find the one where every single teacher has a bachelor's degree or higher, but I'm trying to resist the temptation.