Akiba Academy

Neighborhood: North Dallas
Telephone: (214) 295-3400
Website: www.akibaacademy.org

Summary

Contact Info

Akiba Academy
12324 Merit Drive
Dallas , TX 75251
www.akibaacademy.org

Tel: (214) 295-3400
Fax: (214) 295-3405

Director: Jordana Bernstein
jbernstein@akibaacademy.org

Admissions Director:
Hanna Lambert

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Application Information

Applications accepted

While child is in utero, upon birth, after a phone conversation with the appropriate person at the school

Wait list

Yes

Key Statistics

Total enrollment

Student/teacher ratio

6:1

Extended day

Yes

School year

8/18/2008 - 6/5/2009

Summer Program

6/16/2008 - 8/1/2008

Survey Information

Director survey: Yes

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Basic Stats

Total enrollment

Student/teacher ratio

6:1

Established

1962

Average tenure for teachers

15 yrs.

% of teachers with:

- Bachelors

70%

- Masters

15%

- Teaching credentials

- CPR

100%

- First aid

100%

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school

Dropoff Procedure

- Parents walk their child into the classroom

- Teachers/director meet children at their cars and walk the children into the classroom

Late Pickup Policy: Parents are charged the aftercare rate until 6:00. After 6:00 parents are charged $1.00/minute until child is picked up.

Features of the Preschool

Provide a third year

Yes

• We offer part time and full time options for parents. Our core program runs from 8:30 - 12:30. During that time children work in centers, have outdoor play, snack time, and lunch time. Older children participate in circle time/meeting time and all children have small group opportunities. Throughout the week children also are enriched by our professional music teacher, P.E. teacher, Art Director, and Librarian. Toddlers staying after 12:30 take a nap, while 3 year olds and 4 years olds participate in daily enrichment opportunities (Math, Science, Cooking, Woodworking, Drama, Literature, and more). Three year olds and 4 year olds who stay past 2:00 rest or nap until 3:30. And all those staying after 3:30 have free choice until they are picked up, no later than 6:00.

Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program

Yes

Affiliated with a religious institution

Yes

Teach religious concepts	Yes
• No answer provided.

Some experience serving children with special needs	Yes
• We have worked with children with speech delays, sensory integration, ADD, behavior disorders, hearing impairments, visual impairments, autism, and Asperger's. We have counselors on staff and refer families to outside resource help if necessary. Each child is evaluated individually to determine whether or not we can meet his/her needs.

Accreditation, Membership & Awards

Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children

Yes

Other Accreditations

We are working toward an accreditation with the Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative. Akiba was chosen as one out of 13 schools in the nation to be part of this pilot program developing the highest standards for Jewish Early Childhood.

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached)

Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)

Music room

Art room

Library

Playground

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

Akiba Academy provides a superior general and Judaic education to children preschool through eighth grade. As a Modern Orthodox school, Akiba develops ethical and responsible members of the Jewish people and American society, knowledgeable about and committed to their Jewish Heritage and the State of Israel.

Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

We offer part time and full time options for parents. Our core program runs from 8:30 - 12:30. During that time children have time to work in centers, outdoor play, snack time, and lunch time. Older children participate in circle time/meeting time and all children have small group opportunities. Throughout the week children also are enriched by our professional music teacher, P.E. teacher, Art Director, and Librarian. Toddlers staying after 12:30 take a nap, while 3 year olds and 4 years olds participate in daily enrichment opportunities (Math, Science, Cooking, Woodworking, Drama, Literature, and more). Three year olds and 4 year olds who stay past 2:00 rest or nap until 3:30. And all those staying after 3:30 have free choice until they are picked up, no later than 6:00.

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Director's Comments

Our curriculum at Akiba is an emergent process that emerges in collaboration between the teachers and the children. Through observation and documentation of the children's interests, growth, and development, teachers plan for each child to deepen their thoughts and understanding about how the world works. Teachers set up the environment so that children are encouraged to be risk-takers and to always be asking deeper questions and seeking the answers.

Curriculum and Teaching Approach


Language					YES
Oral language	-	-	-	-	n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-	-	-	-	n/a
Storybook reading	-	-	-	-	n/a
Emerging literacy skills	-	-	-	-	n/a

Cognitive Development					n/a
Math and number sense	-	-	-	-	YES
Time & space	-	-	-	-	YES
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-	-	-	-	YES
Music	-	-	-	-	YES

Visual arts	-	-	-	-	YES
Physical activity	-	-	-	-	YES

Other subjects taught	As a Jewish Early Childhood Program, children at Akiba experience an environment that is rich in Judaic content that is completely integrated into the school day. Jewish holidays, prayer, and Hebrew language are all taught at Akiba.				n/a

Director's Comments

At Akiba we feel that children are all incredibly unique, infinitely valuable, and equal to others. They are born with a sense of wonder, and as teachers it is our responsibility to nurture their passion to wonder. Our curriculum at Akiba is an emergent process that emerges in collaboration between the teachers and the children. Through observation and documentation of the children's interests, growth, and development, teachers plan for each child to deepen their thoughts and understanding about how the world works. Teachers set up the environment so that children are encouraged to be risk-takers and to always be asking deeper questions and seeking the answers.

Quality of Teaching

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Individualized Teaching

Description of how teachers work with children who are
"behind," "excelling" or "different" from the majority of students

Because of our low teacher/child ratios, teachers can develop close relationships with each child so that they know and understand who they are and how each child learns. Through ongoing observation and documentation of the children's learning and growth, teachers can best plan for the growth, development, and learning styles for each child.

Home School Connection

Director's Comments

Weekly newsletters by your child's teacher, progress reports twice a year, parent/teacher conferences twice a year or more often if necessary, parent education opportunities, family programs, and frequent contact with your child's teacher.

Separation

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Home visits by teachers
- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
- Extra staff dedicated to handle seperation

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

Infant and Toddler parents receive home visits by their child's teacher. All parents are invited for Meet the Teachers Night before school starts. The first day of school is an orientation day; the children come to school for an hour with their parents and leave after that hour. From then on the children can begin to come to school for their regular day without their parents. We have school counselors available for parents who are having a difficult time separating.

Discipline, Health and Safety

Overview

Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline

We encourage the children to problem solve with each other when they are having a conflict. We use 'Love and Logic' techniques as well.

Director's Response to a Sample Discipline Scenario

Description of how teachers handle the following scenario: Child A and Child B are good friends and usually play together. One day, Child A decides to play with Child C and tells Child B, 'I don't want to play with you today. I'm playing with Child C instead.'

If conflict arises between child A and B, the teacher would bring the two children together and ask Child A to first state his/her side of the story, then ask Child B to state his/her side of the story. The teacher would then summarize what the children had said and make sure that what she heard was accurate. Next the teacher would ask the children how they think they might be able to solve this problem. Perhaps she would ask them to come up with three possibilities. If the children are having trouble coming up with possibilities, then the teacher might help them out. Next the teacher would ask the children which possibility they think will work the best. Children will decide and the teacher would tell them to go try it out and see how it works. If they need anymore help they should let her know.

Food Allergies

- We do not allow certain foods in the classroom

- We keep special snacks for allergic children

Medications

- parents must sign a form of consent and medication is kept in locked cabinet in the school office

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition

Ages	Class Size	Days	Tuition
From 3 years to 4 years	14		$5355/Year
From 2 years to 3 years	12		$5355/Year
From 1 years to 2 years	8		$11525/Year
From 2 years to 3 years 36 months	12		$5355/Year
From 3 years to 4 years 48 months	14		$5355/Year
From 1 years to 2 years 24 months	8		$11525/Year

Extended Care

- This school does have extended care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

Early care (starting at 7:30 a.m.) and after care options available until 6:00 p.m. Call the school for more details.

Calendar Year

School Year

8/18/2008 - 6/5/2009

Summer Program

6/16/2008 - 8/1/2008

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: While child is in utero, upon birth, after a phone conversation with the appropriate person at the school

There is a wait list for upcoming school year. • Only certain classes are on a wait list, and all applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

Parent visits tours are: Recommended

Child interview process: Required for Kindergarten and up and takes the form of teacher-child

Parent interview process: Admissions Director-parent

Application fee: $200

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: First-come basis

Notification occurs: Rolling

Deposit required:

Financial aid is available.

Director's Comments

Comments

The earlier you get your application in, the more likely you will have a space in our program.

Age/Child Requirements

Child does not need to be potty trained to enroll.

Director's views on diversity:
We have families who come from all walks of Jewish life (nonaffiliated, reformed, conservative traditional, and orthodox). In addition, some families are on full financial aid, while others pay full tuition.

Kindergarten Placement & Tips

Director and Parents have not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source.