Berkeley Parents Network: Temple Sinai Preschool (Oakland, Ca)

Berkeley Parents Network

Temple Sinai Preschool (Oakland, Ca)

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Preschools > Temple Sinai Preschool

http://www.templesinaipreschool.org/

Jan 2009

For parents that are moving from the Berkeley area to the Silicon Valley area, or split their time between both areas as I do - I met a mom in Starbucks who was having a hard time finding a school, and when I told her about Sinai, she said I should post here so other parents know. Sinai Nursery School has an OPEN HOUSE January 25th from 10-12. My 3.5 year old has been attending Sinai since she was 2.5 and she loves the intimacy of the setting and thrives in the developmental focus and age-appropriate curriculum. They have openings in 2-pre-K (6). Please contact the school director Miki Gurantz at 1532 Willowbrae Ave. San Jose, CA 95125(408) 264-8486. The web site is www.sinainurseryschool.org. This is a Jewish school but I am not Jewish, neither is my daughter, and the community is amazing and welcoming.Facility Number: 434408052 Contact: Miki Gurantz - director, (408) 264-8486

March 2006

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

We are at Temple Sinai Preschool, and I couldn't think of a better place for our child!!! The staff is top-notch, the director is amazing and sooo dedicated, the curriculum is wonderful and has lots of enrichment, and the facilites are great-- a playground that my child wishes he could attend on the weekends, when there is no school. We also looked at Gan Avraham, and would have gladly attended the school, but there were no spots at the time our child was ready to start. I think you can't go wrong with either school. In terms of community, we frequent events (Shabbat services, holiday celebrations, etc) at both synagogues, since we have made lots of friends at both. Good luck with your decision! Happy TSP family

(Reviews were also received for Gan Avraham Preschool)

April 2005

My daughter was accepted at Temple Sinai Preschool starting in the fall. We have visited and I liked what I saw, but I'd love to hear from some current parents. The reviews in the archives are dated. Some specific questions -- my daughter will be among the very oldest (she's an early fall birthday) in the 2 year old class. Will this matter? She's very verbal but socially somewhat awkward, and she sometimes gets excluded by other kids at her current daycare. Have you experienced this? Were your children prepared for kindergarten? Do they get enough free time and outside time? I recognize that every child is different, so people's experiences will be different, but I'd love to hear people's thoughts, good or bad. Thanks. prospective TSP parent

Temple Sinai preschool is phenomenal-- in so many ways! I carefully researched many Oakland and Berkeley preschools (and visited most of them!), before deciding to send my child to TSP. So far, in our esperinece the teachers are amazing. I have personally learned a lot from them! The kids get a lot of high quality outside time and inside time with the teachers. The director is so devoted and makes it a priority to get to know each and every child. I can't think of a more nurturing place, but also a place where a kid gets to be a kid. They have wonderful enrichment activites, regular visits from the Rabbis and the cantor...my child wakes up on the weekend asking if he can go to preschool that morning.

In regard to your kindergarten question...I feel my child is well-prepared intellectually and academically at TSP. There is a mix of where kids go to kindergarten after TSP. There are quite a few kids going to public as well as private next year-- including Piedmont schools, Head Royce, Bentley, Joaquin Miller, Canyon, Montclair school and Berkeley public schools too.

You didn't mention if community amongst the families is important to you, but it definitely exists. For example, when we had a baby, we had overwhelming support from other families (people we had just met thru the preschool) who brought us homecooked meals, took our child to school and back for us, etc. There are also nights out and special parent-only events for parents to get to know each other-- which has been nice.

The only bad thing that I can think of is that the school only goes until 3:30pm, when they have to make space for the religious school students. Often, parents that need more time than that share a nanny or have come up with other strategies.

Good luck with your decision! TSP parent Current TSP Parent

I have two children currently enrolled at Temple Sinai Preschool-- one in the two year old class, and one moving on to kindergarten next year. My eldest has been there since he was two, so we've been there for three years. It has been a very positive experience for both my children and our family as a whole. All of the teachers are very skilled at getting to know the children and their different needs well, and helping them learn to express emotions, use words to talk through conflicts, etc. My daughter was one of the youngest in the two year old class this year-- many in the class turned three right after school started. This age difference is not a problem as their curriculum is all very open-ended and the teachers are always right there helping students with the social experience. As far as having enough free and outside time, there is a lot of freedom built into the schedule. Even when there are stations set up with different projects, the students do what they choose to do, and if they don't feel like working on any of those projects they are playing in the other areas of the room. They are usually outside for 45-60 minutes a day, I think,sometimes more or less depending on the weather. It is a very developmental, play-based preschool, so when you ask if they are prepared for kindergarten, that depends on what you mean. They do not make the kids sit and learn letters and numbers, and practice writing or tracing words, etc. But they do have lots of opportunities to engage in activities around letters, numbers and science at all levels, but especially in the 4 year old class. They all have regular circle times, and in the 4 year old class do calendar time as well. So they are used to the kind of day that a kindergarten class presents. I feel like my son is very well prepared for kindergarten, but as you say, everyone is different. The preschool is great in lots of other ways-- we have a new director this year who is very committed and has done an amazing job. Being involved in the preschool is a great way to become more of a part of the synagogue, if that is something that interests you. Next year the preschool is adding a second 2 year old class, with the goal being to have two classes at each age sometime in the near future. But one of the school's goals is also to keep the small family/community feeling that it currenttly has. Oh, and I forgot to mention, my kids are both so happy to go to school! They love it. I'd be happy to share more info or answer questions. You can email me at fujitamedress@comcast.net Happy TSP Parent

I have nothing but positive things to say about Temple Sinai Preschool. My daughter entered last year as one of the oldest (also turned 3 in October), and has had a wonderful experience. The program is developmental so children have a lot of time to play, explore, and follow their interests. Teachers focus endlessly on social and emotional development in wonderful ways classroom, etc. Teachers are very loving and caring. Your daughter will get personal attention, and so will you. I could go on, but just know that it's all positive. (And, my 2nd daughter will also be starting in the fall!) amy

I can't directly address your question about entering the 2 year- old-class with an older child since my son started at TSP as a four-year-old, however I can tell you that I have a daughter who will be going to TSP (eventually) as one of the older kids in the two-year-old class, and based on my experience at TSP I can't wait for her to start!

Simply put -- we love the school. My son adapted really well and easily to the school -- I think because it is such a warm, welcoming and engaging place. The teaching staff is fantastic (I have gotten to know and like the teachers from all the classes), the director is organized, responsive and kind, and the kids are really great with each other because the teachers are so tuned-in to what is going on.

I have total confidence that the teachers will meet my daughter's needs (whatever they turn-out to be) -- they are so respectful of each child as unique and interesting.

Good luck with your decision. Happy at TSP July 2002

I'm interested in having my toddler attend a Jewish preschool in Oakland or Berkeley. I checked the website, but would like more recent responses, specifically if anyone has had positive or neative experiences with their child attending Temple Beth Abraham's or Temple Sinai's preschool.

My son just completed three years at Temple Sinai Prsc. and we have been very happy there. If you are looking for a small school, with a supportive, participative community, that offers playbased curric., you will enjoy it. Benefits are that you learn Jewish traditions, songs, prayers, holiday rituals. It's a warm, caring place. Lisa N.

My daughter attends Temple Sinai preschool and I am very happy with it. My daughter is thriving and is very excited to go to school. In fact, she cries if we can't find a parking spot right away and have to drive around the block thinking we're not going to go after all. They provide a very nurturing as well as stimulating environment. I believe that it is developmentally based. I also like how the staff and teachers interact with and speak with the children and that they focus on teaching social skills. Jewish culture and tradition is built in the curriculum and the rabbis and cantor all visit the children each week. They also do a very lovely shabbot every Friday that many parents attend as well. My only complaint is that they do not have extended care hours past 3:30 which is hard for working families. Also, it is very hard to get into unless you are a temple member. If you are seriously considering this school, I would join the temple as long as possible before applying. We joined 8 to 9 months before the start of the school year and ended up 4th on the waiting list. It can also be very hard to get into the 2nd and 3rd year preschool classes as few spots open up. It's always worth a try however as people do get in.

Temple Beth Abraham also seems to have 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

October 1999

We have sent both our kids to Temple Sinai e and love it for a large variety of reasons. Primarily, the staff is wonderful, very experienced and well trained. We have always felt that our kids got more focused and direct attention and had more simple fun and better friendships at Temple Sinai Preschool than at the three other places they attended. The curriculum and some art projects are moderately structured (with set circle times and outside times and group projects). We haven't been able to do field trips this year because of state regulations.

The director, Susanne Goldman, is extremely caring and focused and still has little kids herself, which is a surprisingly important factor in the mood and effectiveness of a school.

The play yard is used by all the age groups at once only in the summer when there are far fewer kids. I have never felt that it was crowded or small, and it's better equipped and maintained than many. In the course of my work and my attempts to find schools for our kids when we've moved, I have visited perhaps 50 preschools and child care centers.

I wanted to add two comments to my plug for Temple Sinai Preschool: Its curriculum is developmental and play-based, and the community of parents is uniquely warm, friendly and supporting. I can't say enough to recommend it! Laura

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