Berkeley Parents Network: Gan Avraham Preschool

Berkeley Parents Network

Gan Avraham Preschool

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Preschools > Gan Avraham Preschool

March 2006

Any advise regarding choosing between Temple Sinai and Gan Avraham Preschool? Thank you for the help. jenny

My kids both went to Gan Avraham and I was very happy with it. When you choose the preschool, you are choosing a community, which you (hopefully) will want to be part of for some time. You may also want to look at the services at both synagogues, which are very different and at the religious schools, which again have somewhat different philosophies. anon

I'm happy to speak to our experience at Gan Avraham. My son is currently in his second year with the program and we have been extremely happy -- and so has he! The teachers are warm and loving, and have extensive knowledge in early childhood development. The teachers are very approachable and communicate well with parents. There is one class per age group (3 classes at the entire school) which makes it a very nice environment. The preschool makes a large effort to create a community among the families at the school. Although Temple Beth Abraham is a conservative synagogue, the children (families) that attend the school come from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds. The director of the preschool is great and a real asset to parents. There are still a few spaces available in both the 2 year old and 3 year old classrooms for Fall 2006. If you are interested in more information, please contact the director, Wendy Siver, at 763-7528.
Samantha

I have been very happy with Gan Avraham. Both schools were highly recommended to me, and I considered both when my older son was starting preschool. Temple Sinai's shorter hours did not work for my family, so we never looked in-depth at that school. My older son is a graduate and I plan to send my younger son to Gan Avraham starting in the fall. Gan Avraham is play-based, and I think the kids develop good social skills that serve them well as they advance into elementary school. The teachers are loving toward the kids, and staff turnover is low.

My son developed a positive sense of being Jewish at Gan Avraham by celebrating holidays, including a special Friday Shabbat celebrations. The school has a number of kids from mixed religious backgrounds, and I think that their parents would agree that Gan Avraham is welcoming toward all kids.

I especially like the sense of community at the school. It is more than drop your child off or pick him/her up at the end of the day. Parents help out, as their schedules allow, both inside and outside the classroom, which allows them to get to know each other better. Parents provide meals and other support if there is a new baby, illness, or death in a family. The school has a good mix of stay-at-home Moms (or Dads), but is also very friendly toward working parents who need full-time child care. Many families belong to the synagogue and see each other at events outside of school.

A difference between the two schools is that Gan Avraham is affiliated with Temple Beth Abraham, a conservative synagogue, while Temple Sinai is reform. Having said that, I doubt the religious education at the two schools differs greatly, because 3-5 year olds are mostly celebrating holidays and learning basic Hebrew words, but not getting too in-depth into religious training. Gan Avraham is closed for major Jewish holidays (the number of days depends on the year and when the holidays fall), although childcare is available at an extra charge on most of these days.

The school also offers summer programs to current students. Feel free to email me if you have additional questions about Gan Avraham. Susan

(Reviews were also received for Temple Sinai Preschool July 2002

My daughter has just completed her first year at Gan Avraham, the preschool at Temple Beth Abraham, and we are very pleased with the school and the community that one joins when your child enrolls there. My husband and I have never been as courted as we were when we joined Temple Beth Abraham nearly 3 years ago and then started to consider preschools. Everyone we met raved about the school, and we found this enthusiasm to be accurate.

Gan Avraham is a play-based curriculum, which from our experience has allowed our child to develop as she wishes. The teachers are creative, caring, and very in-tune with what works with individual kids. One of the co-directors just celebrated her 20th anniversary, and many of the other staff have been there for many years. Additionally, there is a very active parents group that works on everything from meals to families with new babies or illnesses to teacher appreciation efforts to various holiday celebrations. We quite like everyone we've met through the nursery school.

You should know that Gan Avraham has a waiting list for this September, and likely will for the following year (we can count 10 babies already who are members and/or have siblings in the school). Priority is given to Temple members. It's also a great temple, as has been attested in other posts to this list. Good luck! Jody

Temple Beth Abraham has a great preschool and seems to be easier to get in if you are not a member. We were going to go there prior to getting into Temple Sinai school. I think their directors are terrific and I've only heard very positive things about their school. Hannah

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