Summary

Parent Ratings

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Quality of teaching

Development of social skills and work habits

Home-school connection

Parent community

Discipline

Facilities

Health

Safety

Handling of separation

Survey Information

Number of parents surveyed:  3

Director survey: Yes

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (3.7)

Building, bathrooms, hallway

Classroom equipment and furniture

Outside play equipment

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

B'nai Simcha is a developmental preschool. We encourage children to explore the world while developing small and large muscle coordination, eye-hand coordination, language skills, and a strong sense of self esteem. We want to help children learn that they are capable of working independently, that there are appropriate times and ways to ask for help, and that they can successfully work in group situations while still getting their individual needs met. We want children to experience a wide variety of activities including art, music, movement, water play, manipulative play (i.e. building sets, puzzles, etc.), stories and quiet time. We combine teacher directed activities and child-led interactive play.

When planning the Judaic content of our program we consider both the differences (Conservative, Reform, Orthodox, and secular) and the similarities of the children and families we serve. Our approach is total integration - there are no "Jewish" times or "secular" times. Our goal is to present a program in which developing a Jewish identity is a natural and enjoyable process. We emphasize the rituals as children love tradition and routine, lighting the Shabbat candles each week or decorating a Succah each year are reassuring to children.

A great deal of a child's early years are spent organizing the world around him/her and seeing how he/she fits into it. A child will succeed in school if he/she has good self-esteem and self confidence, understands that there is cause and effect to his/her actions, can participate in a group setting and focus attention to follow directions when presented to an entire group, and knows how to appropriately obtain help when needed. These are the goals of our program which we achieve by placing the children in situations where they can face new challenges, where they are presented with a wide array of experiences geared to their level of expected competency and by avoiding situations that would prove to be overly frustrating by requiring skills and knowledge not yet within their grasp.

Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

Director has not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (3.5)

This school has increased my child's:

Ability to listen and follow directions

Ability to sit still for longer periods of time

Ability to be a part of a group of children

Self-sufficiency and independence

Awareness of others’ feelings

Cooperation with other children

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	-	-	-	-	-
Music	-	-	-	-	YES
Visual arts	-		-	-	-
Physical activity	-		-	-	YES
Other subjects taught					n/a

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
As for physical activity, school has Kid Fit program come once a week?so that is the structured part, in addition to some physical games in the classroom. Other physical activity is the free time outside, in which children ride bikes, play in the sand, climb jungle gym, etc. In music, the school has a cantor come once a week to the school and children sing in the short chapel service that is also once a week. Otherwise, they learn songs in classroom.

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (4.6)

Full of energy and seemingly happy in job

Patient and affectionate with children

Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her

Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior

Provides feedback on what my child does during the day

Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate

Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses

If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
This school has speakers who come in from the fire department, zoo, etc. and programs like Kid-Fit and Rhythm Rhyme.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (3.8)

Conducts an open house at start of school year

Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year

Conducts regular parent teacher conferences

Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year

Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year

Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

Separation

OVERALL RATING (3.7)

Director's and Parents' Comments

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
As far as guidance on kindergarten, my son is almost 4. Kindergarten discussion will be next year, so I have no experience with that yet.

Drop-in Policy

- During school parents are welcomed as the school has an open door policy

Discipline, Health and Safety

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (4.6)
Parents' Opinions
Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children: are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another

Health

OVERALL RATING (4.5)

Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable

Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided

Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly

Safety

OVERALL RATING (4.5)

Screen and identify all visitors

Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Application & Admissions

Kindergarten Placement & Tips