Old Firehouse School (Lafayette & Walnut Creek, CA)
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Old Firehouse School
Lafayette Site
- Owner: Alexander Soliven
- Phone: (925) 284-4321
- Email: ofslafayette@gmail.com
- Neighborhood: Moraga Rd.
- Zip:94549
- License #: Licensed
- Capacity: 81
- Website: http://www.oldfirehouseschool.com/
- Bilingual:
- Ages: toddlers & preschoolers
|
Walnut Creek Site
- Owner: Kimura Shigeko
- Phone: (925) 934-1507
- Email: ofswalnutcreek@gmail.com
- Neighborhood: Eckley Lane
- Zip: 94596
- License #: 073405625
- Capacity: 45
- Website: http://www.oldfirehouseschool.com/
- Bilingual:
- Ages: toddlers & preschoolers
|
Sept 2011
Re: Full-day but part-time preschool near Walnut Creek
My kids went to the Old Firehouse School in Lafayette (on Moraga Rd
near Mt. Diablo Blvd) and they had part-time full day programs when we
were there. It was a number of years ago, but you could choose M-W-F or
T-Th or all 5 days. I believe they have another location in Walnut
Creek, as well as Mill Valley. We absolutely loved the school, the
director, Dorothy, and all her teachers. My daughter is in 7th grade
now and my son is in 4th, but they still have very fond memories of
their years there.
Happy Former Old Firehouse Parent
August 2010
Re: Full Time Orinda Preschools?
Our daughter went to the Old Firehouse School in Lafayette,
which we loved. She had a wonderful experience there. She
is 10 now, but at the time, that was one of the few full
time preschools we were able to find in the Lamorinda area.
Happy Old Firehouse Mom
June 2009
Re: Suggestions for a preschool in Walnut Creek
I would recommend checking out The Old Firehouse School. The Old
Firehouse school is a play based developmental preschool based on
Emilio Reggiano. The Lafayette branch has a long wait list, but
the Walnut Creek school is newer and more likely to have room,
and has a larger outdoor space. I toured most of the preschools
when we moved out to Lafayette and found their philosophy to be
the most similar to our daughter's current program at the Child
Study Center at UC Berkeley. We love the Child Study Center but
wanted to have her closer to home, and the director of the Child
Study Center also recommended Old Firehouse.
Vali
Jan 2008
Re: Preschool that accommodates language delayed child
I would encourage you to check out Old Firehouse School in
Walnut Creek. It opened just last year, and while growing
(about 40 families right now, accommodating 2 - 5 YO) it is
still very intimate. And while I'm not specifically aware of
the school's approach toward language-delayed children, I do
know of one student who was delayed and he has since thrived.
The staff is incredible and works very hard to meet the needs
of each student. I have seen them learn basic words in Farsi,
Chinese, and Spanish - as well as sign language - in order to
communicate with their students. You can learn more about the
program itself at www.oldfirehouseschool.com, or contact the WC
school directly at 925.934.1507.
good luck,
OFS mom
June 2007
hi! i'm considering sending my toddler to either the old
firehouse school or diablo valley montessori and would like
candid opinions about either school. i know the old firehouse
focuses on nurturing the emotional well being of the child and
focuses on communication and the DVMS is more ''task oriented''
but i know those two aren't mutually exclusive. i'm sure kids
at the old firehouse school learn and i'm sure at DVMS, they
also nuture the emotional needs of the child as well. i went to
both schools and they both seemed good. i've heard though that
the old firehouse school can be viewied as just glorified
daycare. they also are much more expensive. i just don't know
what to do. he will be starting with the 2's and i wanted to
make sure i make the right decision. i would love to hear any
and all opinions anyone has had with these two schools. i'm
mostly curious on how kids from both schools turn out when they
enter kindergarden and what difference if any might be. thanks
a lot!
undecided parent
I assume you are looking for a full-time preschool. If only
part-time then there are many more options than those two. I
would recommend NOT choosing OFS. They are WAY more expensive
than equivalent schools and do not live up to the costs. They
will nickel and dime you for lots of things beyond tuition. I
am sure you are aware of the pot of money to keep teachers at
the school. That will set you back a pretty penny. Don't feel
like going to the fundraiser? You will have to pay some kind
of donation in lieu (which I would always do on my own, but
don't want it to feel forced). Another ft option is White
Pony, but I have heard nothing but great things about DVMS.
Also, have you ever heard a preschool not described
as ''nurturing''?
Anon
Hi there,
My child attends the Old Firehouse School in Walnut Creek and
we absolutely adore it. I am honestly surprised to hear that
some have called OFS ''glorified daycare''. This is the 3rd
preschool for us, and I have definitely seen my share of
glorified daycares. OFS is not one of them. Their holistic
approach toward teaching and engaging the children is
impressive and effective. Of course the students have tasks,
whether they help prepare the fresh snacks served daily, water
the plants they are growing, or pull out cots for naptime. The
project-based curriculum engages the children far beyond
any ''sit down and learn this'' curriculum. Not that Montessori
is that way, but the Reggio Emilia-project approach really
empowers the children to determine - as a group - the course of
their learning, and in that way, encourages and sustains their
interest in topics far beyond the scope of anything I've seen
at other schools. In talking with a few local teachers, I've
heard only great things about the students they get from OFS.
These kids have, in essence, 'learned how to learn'. They are
often socially developed beyond their peers, and generally
right on par academically. There isn't an inordinate amount of
focus on rote reading, writing, etc...but there is enough pre-
reading and fine motor skill work that the kids are not behind
in any way. What they have instead is a more sophisticated
understanding on a range of topics (ie. the 3 y.o. class this
year studied outer space; by the end of the project, these
children could grasp this very abstract concept, could name and
talk about all the planets, and discuss flying (rockets) in a
way that showed they ''got it''...more than some parents!).
I'll just add that the emotional connection that the teachers
make with the children is incredible. They really work with
the families and the children themselves on specific issues,
and provide a genuine network of support. As for the 2s class,
one thing you might be interested in knowing is the high number
of students that are potty-trained; I've never seen so much
progress made in one class in such a short time!
I don't know anything about DVM, but I have considered other
Montessoris. I am, however, grateful everyday that I pick my
child up that we opted for OFS. She is benefitting tremendously
from the nuturing atmosphere and impressing us constantly with
her newly acquired knowledge. If you haven't yet, check out the
OFS website (www.oldfirehouseschool.com)and perhaps visit the
WC school.
Happy OFS mom
A quick follow-up to my previous post, courtesy of my husband:
The amount of work that goes into the Reggio Emilio project
approach makes it hard to believe that anyone would call
OFS ''glorified daycare''. Because the kids themselves are
integral in shaping the content and direction and depth of
their project, the teachers have to be genuinely resourceful,
creative and energized. The teachers have no way of knowing at
the beginning of the year what projects the class will be
doing; there is no agenda they must adhere to...they just have
to listen to what the children are asking for.
Obviously we are having a strong reaction to this one term, but
hopefully our reasons for disagreeing with it help answer some
of your concerns. There will always be dissatisfied parents and
legitimate reasons for dissatisfaction at every school. But I
thought my husband's input was particularly insightful,
especially as it took some time for him to come around to the
less ''traditional'' approach toward learning.
Once again,
Happy OFS Mom & Dad...& Child!
I can only tell you about DVMS, as I have no experience with Old
Firehouse. I don't know if you are looking for a full day 2's
program or half-day 2's, but I do know that there are only 12
half-day 2's spaces, and most of those go to siblings, so the
chances of getting into the half-day 2's program at DVMS is not
great. I would apply to both schools and make the decision when
you find out if they have spaces available.
Good luck.
Jan 2006
I recently attended the open house at Old Firehouse School.
Does anyone else have any comments positive or negative about
OFS? Just wanting a reality check.
I was happy with the building - it was large, clean and airy
with little nooks and hiding places and lots of areas to
explore.
And the teachers were wonderful.
But I was turned off by several things: it is so play-
based and child directed (Reggio Emilio-style) that the
director stated that the kindegartens complained that the
graduates of OFS could not write their name.
Also, I was not too keen on the annual $1000+ payment to a fund
for the teachers that they receive for staying for several
years. It helps to retain teachers. The school is already in
the top for tuition, s o I feel a little put off by this. ALso,
their policy is that the teachers move through the levels with
the children, so your child will have the same teacher for 3
years. They say this aids attachment. But what if its not a
good match.
Are there any recent or past graduates who can provide more
feedback on this school? Thanks.
anon
My daughter attended OFS from when she was 2 until she started
kindergarten last year (she's in 1st grade now) and we all
absolutely loved it there. All the teachers are truly
wonderful. The cost is a bit higher than other preschools in
the area, but we felt that it was worth it for us. I think the
extra $1000 you are asked to put in for the teachers fund really
does help them hire and retain very high quality teachers. In
addressing your academic concerns, she had no problem adjusting
in kindergarten although she was one of the youngest kids in her
class (she could write her name though, which she learned at
OFS). Having the teacher move up with the child does aid
attachment, and it was great to have the consistency of a
teacher who really knows your child. It may have made the
transition to kindergarten a bit harder (she initally kept
asking to go back to OFS, as she knew some of her classmates
were staying on for T-K) but she adapted after the first few
months. But I looked at it from the perspective that the
environment was so loving and supportive at OFS that it would
have made it difficult for any child to leave. My younger child
went there for a year as well, but we had to move him to a
different school for other reasons. Although we are very happy
with his new school, we still miss OFS and they still ask to
drop by to visit their old teachers. Overall, we absolutely
loved OFS. Hope this helps...
Former OFS Family
I have a daughter at Old Firehouse and overall I would highly
recommend the school. I think the teachers and staff are very
committed to their jobs and the whole experience is very
inviting, loving and every child is made to feel at home
there. However I share the same feelings as you, towards a few
aspects of the school.
The Reggio-Emilia philosphy was one of the reasons why I chose
the school, and I do stand by my choice, as I think play-based
programs are very beneficial at the preschool level. I cannot
attest to a child not being taught to write their name, as my
daughter is not near ''graduation'' yet. However my concerns lie
with how the school carries out a central part of the
philosophy, which is having child-directed activities - an
interesting idea that I think holds a lot of merit. My child 's
class settled on their current topic sometime in October. It
is January now, and they are still on the same topic. Every
day, songs, stories, art and role-play revolve around the same
topic. It has been about 3 months now and I am not sensing an
end in sight. I'm not sure if I agree that so much time/such a
large aspect of every day be put towards the same topic for
months on end. I am familiar with other Reggio-Emilia based
programs and in my experience, the time spent on one topic
seems excessive.
Also I could not agree with you more about the hefty extra fee
involved to put towards the teacher's fund. I truly do not
agree that the children are benifitted by having the same
teacher for 3 years. The director holds this idea in the
highest esteem, saying that children need to feel that people
don't ''abandon'' them. Personally I feel that this lesson is
better grounded in each child's family experiences. Not only
will your child experience only one teacher and one teaching
style, but YOU will be stuck with the same teacher as well. If
you and your child's teacher are ''not on the same page'' about
particular issues, or are not able to communicate well, YOU are
stuck with them for the entire duration of your child's
preschool life!
Despite my reservations about these issues, I still think Old
Firehouse School is an excellent choice. Now if there was a
bit more ethnic diversity, that would be even better; but maybe
that is just Lafayette... well, that is another topic.
anon
You are certainly an astute shopper of preschools. My first
suggestion is if you are only interested in part-time, I would
definitely go elsewhere - you have alot of choices and OFS is
primarily a full-time program.&n bsp; I never felt very satisfied
with the bonus pot for the teachers. although I agree in
principle with trying to pay teachers a good wage, it put the
tuition quite a bit higher than other schools. In retrospect,
my opinion is that the teachers were not of a higher caliber
than others out there. If you had an unsatisfactory teacher,
you would move with that teacher to the next year. When we
decided to leave the school, I felt like a pariah, so you can
only imagine what switching teachers would be like. If you are
looking for full-time preschool I would research White Pony or
Diablo Valley Montessori. As regards being able to write one's
name, that is something that most parents work on with their
child anyway I would think. However, they were decidedly anti-
academic when we were there.
Anon
I read your concerns about OFS and wanted to reply. First of
all the kids do know how to write their names. The school
has a writing program called Writing Without Tears. (Which,
by the way, many local school districts use in their schools).
My child, who has poor fine motor skills, has really come
along because of it. Secondly, the school is play based. My
feeling is that he will be in an academic setting for the next
16 years. Why worry about academics now. He needs
social skills that will better serve him in the next few years.
It all really comes down to what you want for your child. I
wanted a wonderful nurturing atmosphere that would not
focus on academics. He is growing and thriving and I could
not ask for anything more. And yes, tuition is steep, but you
get quality teachers who can stay in the profession they love
and still make a decent living.
Happy at OFS
I have two daughters currently in Old Firehouse (OFS) one child
is in for her 3rd year and the second child is in it for the
first year and love it. They both Go Fulltime however the
other one went part time as well and loved it just as much
then. It is a great school with a great teachers and the best
play enviorment inside and out that I have seen in any daycare.
The school also has many programs to educate parents about
their children and the community. they also host some very fun
Adult events a couple times a year as well.
Important things to consider
1. The school hours are catered to Stay at home moms or people
with more flexible schedules. Our Child's fulltime schedule is
8:00-4:30 so even if you had no commute you would be hard
pressed to be able to drop off the kids put a full work day in
and then pick them up.
2. The School takes off every holiday as well as most of the
normal vacations that K-12 kids have. 2 weeks of Xmas, 1 week
for easter, 1 week in August. Which adds up to over 5 weeks
that you pay for but have to find other Daycare solutions for.
3. You have to pay the teacher stability fund although your
child may not have the teacher in continuous classes. The
notion of the Teacher Following the kid through all grades
doesn't always apply. My older Daughter has had a different
teacher for every class, so the extra money that we pay for
Teacher Stability is not really true.
4. You have to pay extra for your kid to participate in special
activities during the normal day care hours even if the person
teaching that special activity is your childs assigned teacher.
Like I said before its a great school, my main issue is the
short fulltime hours and all the days off but we are lucky to
have relatives close by to help us work around this.
OFS parent
March 2005
If you are looking for full-time care for your infant, I would
wholeheartedly recommend the Old Firehouse School in Lafayette
on Moraga Rd. Both my kids attended preschool there and they
had a wonderful experience. All the teachers are incredibly
nurturing and are there because they seem to truly love
children. The teachers all stay with the same class as they move
up to the pre-K program, and they have an incredibly low staff
turnover rate. Although OFS may be a little more expensive, if
you can swing it, they are absolutely worth it.
Linda
this page was last updated: Oct 13, 2011
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