I would call and ask the preschool about where they want to place her. They probably have established cut offs.
In terms of Jewish preschools -- there is a lot of variation. Our old school was for Jewish families only. Our current school doesn't care about religion. As long as you're OK with the Jewish content they're fine with you being there. I'd guess our current program is maybe 60% Jewish.
My child went to a "3" program and she also has a winter birthday. If she did the camp program before she would have been in the "2" section. It was from 9-12 and then she'd come home for lunch and a nap. They do 9-2 at 4.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Feb 17, 2014 15:15:31 GMT -5
I doubt you'll be allowed to choose. She'll be several months away from turning 3, so it isn't like she'll be right on the edge of the cut off. I would absolutely put her with the 18 months to 3 years group -- she'll do better with her peers!
My daughter has a late July birthday, so in Florida she's almost the absolute youngest for school (cut off is September 1). Last summer she couldn't do vacation bible school because it started with 4 year olds. Even though she was going to be in 4 year old preschool starting in August (and many of her friends from school were going), because the program was a couple weeks before her birthday, she wasn't allowed to do it.
Okay, maybe we wont get a choice for summer camp, but in the fall, when it is school, I would want her with her peers for JK. I hope they will let me opposite-red-shirt her.
Why wouldn't she be with her peers? What is your school cut off date? Wouldn't the preschool follow whatever the school cut off date is?
Okay, maybe we wont get a choice for summer camp, but in the fall, when it is school, I would want her with her peers for JK. I hope they will let me opposite-red-shirt her.
Does it not say on their website?
ALL of the preschools here go by the state cut-off date for school enrollment. They have to be X by September 1st. I'd be very surprised if yours doesn't do the same (go by the local school guidelines).
Okay, maybe we wont get a choice for summer camp, but in the fall, when it is school, I would want her with her peers for JK. I hope they will let me opposite-red-shirt her.
There is really a lot of variation about schools address this. Our old school was very strict and get kids in the classes based on public school cut off windows. Those windows meant my kid had to turn 3 before year end and not be 3 at the start of school. Our current daycare allows kids to take the "4's" class twice if you have a birthday close to the cut off of 12/31. A fair number of kids end up doing about 18 months in the 4s class because the school and parents feel they're ready to move up. I have no idea if I'd let my son move up early if we're asked to consider it. I'm generally of the mind set that it is probably better for him to move through each class room for 1 year more or less than to rush into the oldest classroom but I'll just have to see where he's if the director asks us to move up early.
As long as the school has a consistent approach either is fine. I would not fight to put your kin into a 3's class if that is not their normal practice.
Have you been to the school? I'd go an observe the classrooms before making any decision (if you have the ability to do so).
Okay, maybe we wont get a choice for summer camp, but in the fall, when it is school, I would want her with her peers for JK. I hope they will let me opposite-red-shirt her.
When is the cutoff by you? You don't really get to decide that if she's not old enough.
I agree with others that you most likely won't have a choice.
Our preschool uses the district's Sept. 1 cut-off, so when DD1 started, she was placed in the 2s class even though she was turning 3 in November. I do know of two girls with October birthdays who were bumped up to the 3s class that year, but from what I understand that was the result of over-enrollment. They all end up in pre-k together the year before kindergarten regardless of when their birthdays fall.
I meant, that when September rolls around and she goes to preschool, I want her with the kids she will go to preK with the following year. Not the kids born 10 months after her with 2 more years before preK. Our school cut off is January 1st. Our kids go to school with kids born in the same year as them regardless of when school starts. So that is why I assumed her preschool could work the same way.
I have the same cut off system and my kid was in the 3's class starting in September. She was 2 at the time. She turned 3 before the end of the year. I would assume this program works the same way. If it doesn't work the same way it might not be the best fit for you. Is it your only option?