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Re: Mid year openings for a 4 1/2 yr old in Berkeley?
The Jewish Community Center in Berkeley has a wonderful Pre-K program
that our son was in last year. Our class had a couple of children join
mid-year and it seemed to work OK, perhaps they would do it again. The
preschool director is Ruth and the Pre-K teacher is Sarah, they are both
great to work with. You don't have to be Jewish to join.
We love JCC Preschool
Re: Good preschool for my active 3.5 years old boy?
My son was very active at that age. Our
daughter went to the Berkeley JCC Preschool (jcceb.org) and we thought
it would have been a good fit for our son. There were lots of very
active boys in her class. I would look for a developmental preschool
that doesn't expect kids to sit quietly if they don't want to. Male
teachers may also be a plus--on the whole, they seem to understand
that boy energy better than female teachers.
-Been there, unfortunately didn't do that.
Re: Recommendations for Bridge-K programs Oakland
While it's not in Oakland, I and another Oakland family that we know
chose the Berkeley JCC Bridge K program last year. While it's not a
fancy facility, it was a small class (only 8 boys) with a wonderful
teacher. The class did fun outdoor stuff, like walks around
Berkeley, picnics, a visit to the Oakland museum and to a shoreline
park in alameda, as well as artwork, singing, dancing, cooking, and
gardening. They also did kindergarten readiness things like letter
and number recognition, sorting, writing etc. You don't have to be
Jewish to send your child there but they will learn songs and some
holiday info. It was a great year.
Gwen
Re: Bridge K/Transitional K Programs?
My son is finishing up at the JCC East Bay's Bridge-K program. He has had
an amazing year in a very intimate class led by an incredible teacher. I
think all of the parents in the class would agree with me!
Sally
Re: Transitional kindergarten for almost-5 yo
We have a 'young' 5 year old at the JCC East Bay's new Bridge-K
program and couldn't be happier. He is making great friendships and
feeling so positive about learning, I highly recommend it. The
teacher is great and the community wonderful!
Sally
Re: Albany parents, which preschool did you pick?
Our kids went to the JCC of the East Bay preschool in North
Berkeley. This is an outstanding school, and
well-established. It's terrific even if you're not Jewish -
they are very welcoming to families of all backgrounds, and
there's quite a bit of diversity amongst the kids and families.
For more info:
http://prod.jcceastbay.org/childhood/preschool.html
Best of luck!
### Happy JCCEB Family
Re: Program for 4 yr-old not quite ready for K?
The JCC in North Berkeley is starting a Bridge-K next year
for kids like yours. The current ECE director will be
directing it--she's great, and currently directing the
preschool (where my daughter is--she loves it), and they'll
be providing everything you mention. Although it is a
Jewish Community Center, and has some Jewish content, it is
open to all, and there are lots of kids in their afterschool
programs who are not Jewish. You can call Ruth Shorer at
510 848 0237 x122 for more info.
JCC parent
Re: Feed back on Temple Sinai Preschool &
Gan Mah Tov
I don't know personally about Temple Sinai or Gan Mah Tov
(although I have friends with kids at the latter who love
it). However, we have our daughter at the JCC Preschool in
Berkeley. It's fabulous--the teachers are super loving and
patient and smart about kids, the new director is really
approachable and helpful, and my daughter has formed lots of
important friendships--with other kids as well as with
teachers (we're planning a playdate with her teacher from
last year, in fact). The JCC provides a Jewish context,
celebrates the holidays, has shabbat every week, etc, but
most of the families are also 'not very religious' and often
not affiliated with synagogues. Lots of interfaith families
and ''secular Jews.'' It's been a great place for all of us.
call Ruth Shorer about the Preschool--510 848 0237 x122; or
email at ruths@jcceastbay.org
JCC mom
Re: Year-round all day preschool in Berkeley/Albany
The JCC of the East Bay in North Berkeley provides care 8am -
5:30pm year-round. Our daughter went there for
several years and just ''graduated''. We were extremely happy with
the school and the community.
Our daughter was thrilled to go to school practically every day, and she and the other kids were lucky to have the wonderful and caring teachers who are at the JCC. The activities are fun and age-appropriate developmentally, with room for adjustments based on the needs of the individual kid. She made several friends with whom she's had all kinds of play dates as well.
I believe they still have a few spaces open for the Fall, so you may want to get in touch right away. Very satisfied JCC family
Re: Preschool suggestions near El Cerrito or Albany
The JCC of the East Bay in North Berkeley is just a few minutes
away from Albany and El Cerrito. Our daughter went there for
several years and just ''graduated''. We were extremely happy with
the school and the community.
Our daughter was thrilled to go to school practically every day, and she and the other kids were lucky to have the wonderful and caring teachers who are at the JCC. The activities are fun and age-appropriate developmentally, with room for adjustments based on the needs of the individual kid. She made several friends with whom she's had all kinds of play dates as well.
I believe they still have a few spaces open for the Fall, so you may want to get in touch right away. Very satisfied JCC family
Re: Seeking full time preschool for my 2 year old
The JCC of the East Bay in Berkeley has a really great preschool
which accepts 2-year-olds. Our daughter is just finishing up
there (she's 5), and has a wonderful experience.
Details at:
http://prod.jcceastbay.org/childhood/preschool.html
- Happy JCC East Bay familiy
Does anyone have any recent experience with the Berkeley JCC preschool program? I know they have a new Director this year and there were some changes, but I'd love to hear experiences from parents whose kids have been there over the past few years or are currently enrolled. Pros/cons, general experiences, earthquake safety of the building, and are there a lot of fees and donation requests above the base expenses? I really loved my visit, but would appreciate current feedback. Thanks! Figuring out preschool
There has been a change in director, and we've been there for the transition. In our opinion, the new director is terrific. Note that she's no novice - among other things she was director of all the JCC schools in San Francisco previously and had a great reputation there.
The building, though historic and perhaps in need of some touch-ups, seems adequate for a preschool. In fact, we found the classrooms to be larger and with better sunlight than other local schools. Fundraising does happen, but it doesn't seem to be too overbearing. As far as the fees are concerned, since they have options for various length days, it seems that families can simply sign up for what they're most interested in and avoid any undue haggling. Good luck! Current JCC preschool parent
As for the additional fees/donation requests, there are not many. During the winter holidays we are asked for a monetary donation for teachers but it is always what you feel comfortable with and it's very low pressure.
I have really enjoyed being a part of the JCC community and have met many wonderful families here. I am most happy though with how much my daughter has enjoyed her time here and how she has been exposed to the Jewish culture without it being overbearing. Happy with the JCC
Re: Do I need to join a temple to get into preschool?
The Berkeley JCC has a good nursery school & draws from a wider area than
just Berkeley. My cousin's daughters both went there, and they live in El
Cerrito. Temple dues vary from place to place, but can easily be close to
$1,500 to $2,000 yearly, and that will not include full time nursery school.
However, if you call the temples you are interested in, the office will give
you
the dues schedule, nursery school costs, etc.
Happy Grandmother
Re: Preschools with Male Teachers
At my son's preschool, the JCC of the East Bay preschool, we have two male teachers
who have been here for multiple years and are both amazing, sensitive guys. One
teaches in the 3-4 classroom (Kitah Bet) and another teaches in the 4-5 classroom
(kitah gimel dalet). The 2-3 classroom has two wonderful female teachers. The
school welcomes those of all faiths, but does celebrate the songs and culture of the
Jewish people. It's a great, fun place for kids. Hope you consider us! You can contact
the JCC at http://www.jcceastbay.org/, but if you want to apply or do a preschool
tour, email and call the director, Karen Cagan, to make sure you get through. her
info is on the site.
happy parent
Re: Preschool feedback
My daughter is in the oldest class (Kitah Gimmel Dalet) at the
JCC Preschool. She started last year and my only regret is that
she didn't have 3 years there. All of the children's programs at
the JCC are of the highest quality and have been for years. (I
started hearing about them 14 years ago.) To me, the main
''Jewish'' features are the teaching of social awareness from an
early age, and celebrating the (uncommercialized!) Jewish
holidays in an age-appropriate manner. The parents make a point
of knowing each other, and the staff make a point of knowing all
the parents, not just those of the kids in their class. The
director, while new, is fantastic. Another poster asked about
the teachers for the youngest class. Although my daughter wasn't
in that class, one of those teachers also teaches in the
after-school program. She and the other after-school teachers
are just as professional and dedicated as the other teachers.
Neither my husband nor I have ever had a complaint about the
program. I'm only sorry that my work schedule has kept me from
participating in the classroom as much as I would have
liked--they do really interesting and unique things!
Francesca
I recently went on a tour of the EBJCC and thought it seemed like
a great place. My child would be entering the 2 year old room
next fall. One thing I noticed is that the two teachers in that
room seemed pretty young -- and I could confirm it because the
room had photos of all the kids plus teachers up on the bulletin
board, and the teachers were born in the late 70s and mid-80s. As
a late-1960s baby, I would love to hear from any parents of my
age whose kids are, or have recently been, in that room. Are the
teachers professional, mature, and loyal to the school? I know
I'm gonna offend some younger parents with this post and I'm sure
it's conveying some stereotypes on my part, so I apologize in
advance. I think I still think of teachers as older and more
mature than me so it was a surprise to see ones so much younger!
One other question: I know the director is new. I thought she was
great but would love to hear feedback about her because I think
most archive postings are about the former director.
Thanks!
I guess I'm an older parent
We're moving to Berkeley shortly and in my search for a preschool for my 4.5 yr old, the JCC has openings in their new Bridge K program. Does anyone have any input on the program, or since its new, the preschool in general. thanks. Nina
For the person seeking a wonderful pre-school in the No. Berkeley/Albany area, I highly recommend the JCC (aka the Berkeley-Richmond Jewish Community Center). The JCC has very (!) gifted and enlightened teachers, and I cannot commend enough the dedication to coming up with varied, intelligent activities for the children, some of which are science activities. They certainly, with a great garden, have earth science and science units/topics that the children express interest in or curiosity about. ''Relaxed Montessori'' is a contradiction. Montessori is not about relaxedness--highly structured and dug in about its curriculum. The JCC is wonderful--great kids, teachers, parents, space, sensibility. Good luck!
Re: How to find a good preschool
We (especially our just-turned 5 year old) love the JCC on the
corner of Rose and Walnut in Berkeley. The teachers are
fantastic, great at working with eachother and with parents,
really warm, and terrific at fostering positive interactions
between kids. Tons of interesting activities for the kids, dance
class, cooking, art, gardening, music, dramatic play, you name
it! You don't have to be Jewish to attend---it's very warm and
welcoming to all types of families (though my daughter has
enjoyed learning about Jewish history and tradition on the side,
especially baking her own Challah bread every friday and singing
shabbat songs).
K
We are considering sending my daughter who will be three next year to the JCC. My husband loves the school--could it be its convenient location next to the gourmet ghetto-- but I am less sure of it as a good choice for our daughter. I like the new director, the feeling in the building, the few parents I have met in the hallway, and that my daughter will be given a positive sense of herself as a jewish person. My concern is the teacher turnover rate and their ability to find high quality replacements. I would love to hear from parents with children currently enrolled in the three and four year old programs about this issue and any others you feel might be of interest. Thanks Deb
I would be happy to talk to you in person if you have any specific questions. I have found the JCC to be about as warm, loving, supportive, fun and interesting as I could hope for for my daughter. They have wonderful and progressively complex art projects, cooking, singing, a good mix of structured and unstructured time etc... our class parents have formed a tight knit bond and we meet often outside of the school If you are close by, and were accepted, I recommend you jump on it! Best of luck and please feel free to contact me. Helen
Our positive experience at the JCC is a stark contrast to the other three places we tried before finally finding the JCC, especially as regards turnover problems, and the experiencedness of the teachers. I can't recommend the JCC more highly!! Karen
We tried several preschools before finally finding the JCC (sure wish we found it sooner!) including the one you mentioned, McGee's Farm. Although we liked the low-key atmosphere, physical space, and the other families we met at McGee's, our daughter did not do well with the lack of structure/activities or with the limited choice of playmates her own age: the 4-11 kids she was with there (it varied as people joined and/or quit), the age range was 2-5, and most of them at the time were much younger than she was. I thought the mixed age group sounded like a good idea, but she was bored and didn't find good friends, which at age 4 for her was very important. Of course, kids are different; some kids seemed to do fine there, especially the younger ones. At that time, there was also a lot of turnover of staff (and surrounding tension), making it hard on the kids, too. Feel free to email me about looking for preschools in Berkeley. kesmith
Anyone care to venture an opinion about the BRJCC pre-school in Berkeley, particularly an opinion that is tied to recent exposure to the pre-school (in the last two years) and has knowledge of the new pre-school director? The postings about BRJCC are either older or not during the regime of the new director. Also of interest to me is whether there are non-Jewish children, there (I am interested in a religious mix), economic diversity, and if part of the child population goes on to Tehiyah Day school. Thanks so Interested Mom
Hello, I'm interested in enrolling my daughter to the JCC preschool in Berkeley. She will be 2 years old this summer. I'd like to know what parents thinks about this program. Especially parents to toddlers in the 2 year old class (Kita Alef). How religious is the program? Is the school close for both Jewish and Christian holidays? Any information will be greatly appreciated (good or bad). Thank you.
The school celebrates all the jewish holidays (and yes, many of them are days the school is closed). There is a two week break at Christmas/New Year, a one week spring break and a two week break in late August. The kids learn about holidays from other cultures -- Cinco de Mayo, Chinese New Year, but not Christian religious holidays (no Christmas, no Easter and no Halloween or Valentine's day). There are lots of non-jewish kids there, and not all of the teachers are jewish, either.
Despite the teacher turnover issues, my son was very happy there and we were very happy with the program. My son did a lot of different kinds of art. The head teachers in the two and three year old class room both play the guitar and sing with the kids. They have Gerry Tenney in every other week (or maybe every week) for music with the kids (the 3 and 4 year olds; I am not sure about the two year olds) and the 3 and 4 year olds have a movement class with Jim Beatty every other week. It is a developmental play-based program. Although it is not at all academic, the teacher my son had in his four year old class (who has since left) did a stellar job of getting the kids ready for kindergarten. Most of the kids could write their names, if not more, and they all were up on colors, shapes, numbers, etc. She also was great at helping them deal with the idea of the changes that were coming when they left the JCC and what kindergarten would be like.
I have a younger son who will be going to preschool in September 2002 and although I am concerned about the staff turnover issues and plan to meet with the new director to see if she can address those concerns, I will probably send son #2 there when the time comes. Karen
Hi. I think I responded last year to you and we may have spoken on the phone, but I'm not sure. Anyways, my son (3 in July) and a few of his good buddies will be going to JCC preschool next year. My daughter (now 7) went there for 3 years and we were extremely pleased. The Kitah Bet (3 yr olds) teachers are a great team and we are really looking forward to next year.
I believe that the Bet class may be full for next year, so unless you're already on a list, you might want to give the director a call (Betty Peterson, 848-0237) to make sure this is still an option for you.
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