Pre-K choice ramblings

[thedahliharpa]

I'm curious to know what others think...We have been at our current preschool since 2010 and have always planned for D to finish up there. However, there is now a new pre-k teacher (there were some turn over issues because the old teacher has cancer and they had a long term sub) I haven't warmed up to her yet and was put off a few times by her. We toured the pre-k a H's school.

Old school
*this place is like family, they have done a lot for us over the years
*D loves her friends
*Play based but has a great phonics program. I have no doubt she will be well prepared for K
*closer to my work which means I can leave later in the mornings and stay at work until almost the last minute to get her.
*Class size is 12 in a huge shared room with D's current class of 12 & teacher and a floater.
*Pre-K teacher is young
*She will have priority for K because she has a sibling in elementary
*We don't like change or transition
*Love the director but she seems generally less into it. They've stopped doing some of the extras, she doesn't hang out and greet everyone anymore. It's just different.
*No security


At H's school
*The preschool is completely separate from the elementary school so the girls still wouldn't see one another
*About 40% of the class is expected to flow into the K class D will be in
*Developmental with lots of focus on outside play, they have a credentialed teacher whose entire job is "outside". They work on K readiness but I'm not sure that portion is as good as our current school.
*Full staff is veteran teachers.
*22 in a class w/ 2 teachers and a floater
*It would make pick up/drop off/mornings/leaving work harder on me. Her days would be longer.
*It's at least 25% less expensive during the year and A LOT cheaper in the summer. Plus a 5% discount because H goes to the day school
*The teacher is also the Spanish teacher for the lower grades (I don't how this works exactly..). H generally doesn't like it and fakes being sick. She's the only staff member, ever, that I haven't seen H bond with. 
*D would have double priority for K but I think siblings still get in first over pre-k, but that rule may change.
*Director is amazing and is the mom of H's BFF
*They are installing a key card gate system


I have a little bit of time to decide. What do you think about asking to reduce our fees at our current school? We will have spent over 100K there by the time we are done. *HORK*

[TrudyCampbell]

I don't know. Looking at the list I choose the new school, but I know you love the current school and it feels kind of silly to stop going there with only one year to go. So basically I am no help.

I definitely think you can ask to reduce fees.

[Deleted]

I think I would switch

Although I don't see how drop off/pick up will be harder-- do you not take H?

[Deleted]

Hmm that is a tough decision. I don't know what I would do. I think asking the current place for a reduction to see if they will is good place to start. If you can get a reduction I would probably stay there because logistics sound easier for now.

[thedahliharpa]

Feb 12, 2016 13:26:36 GMT -5 gamecockgirl74 said:

Gut is would be to switch. Cheaper, more qualified teachers, H goes there, sounds like more structure and you really like the director. Now let me read over it again and digest and I will come back.

Question, if she stayed in her current school would it just be the rest of this year and next and then move to H's school?

If I moved her I would move her in July when her school year ends. I love her current teacher. The following June she would go to Summer camp with H, no matter what.

[thedahliharpa]

Feb 12, 2016 13:29:43 GMT -5 ladybug said:

I think I would switch

Although I don't see how drop off/pick up will be harder-- do you not take H?

He takes H 4 days a week. They have to leave by 7:45. I leave at 8:30 with D. It's 10-15mins from my work and D's school is about 7mins.

We have to do this switch eventually but avoiding it for another year would be nice, for me.

[Deleted]

Feb 12, 2016 13:47:41 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

Feb 12, 2016 13:29:43 GMT -5 ladybug said:

I think I would switch

Although I don't see how drop off/pick up will be harder-- do you not take H?

He takes H 4 days a week. They have to leave by 7:45. I leave at 8:30 with D. It's 10-15mins from my work and D's school is about 7mins.

We have to do this switch eventually but avoiding it for another year would be nice, for me.

Oh ok makes sense
And I assume no early care/don't want her to get up earlier?

I'm sorry, I just had to make a preschool decision too and it sucks thinking of all the logistics and wondering if you're making the right choice (switched her to the afternoon class, different teachers, etc)

[thedahliharpa]

Feb 12, 2016 13:50:35 GMT -5 ladybug said:

Feb 12, 2016 13:47:41 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

He takes H 4 days a week. They have to leave by 7:45. I leave at 8:30 with D. It's 10-15mins from my work and D's school is about 7mins.

We have to do this switch eventually but avoiding it for another year would be nice, for me.

Oh ok makes sense
And I assume no early care/don't want her to get up earlier?

I'm sorry, I just had to make a preschool decision too and it sucks thinking of all the logistics and wondering if you're making the right choice (switched her to the afternoon class, different teachers, etc)

Both schools open from 7am to 6pm at no additional cost (at preschool).

[mcburglar]

I'd switch just to have the transition over with. I'd be angsty about it though. The thing that tips me towards switching in June is giving her time to make friends with people that she will be in K with.

I feel you though because I don't know what I'm doing with Thad next year.

[Deleted]

Would the preschool have the same extended holiday breaks as H. I think you said she goes to "camp" winter breaks but would preschool have off or is that an additional cost

[thedahliharpa]

Feb 12, 2016 14:23:07 GMT -5 @jayhawkali said:

Would the preschool have the same extended holiday breaks as H. I think you said she goes to "camp" winter breaks but would preschool have off or is that an additional cost

Hmm this a good question! I think the preschool is closed less days than the day school. Right now, preschool closes and we pay the full month with no care options.

[charlielove]

Since she's going to be going to H's school the year after anyway, and it sounds like there are a lot of pros to it (except the leaving early thing) I'd switch her. I would also think a lot of the kids that go there would be in her K class then? It would be cool for her to be making friends that she would be in K with too.

[thedahliharpa]

This shouldn't really influence my decision but H's school has them do a Christmas pageant, sing in Church, and they do a "Spring Musical'. But, she will get plenty of that in K-8. 

Thinking of leaving our school make me teary. I wish they were more equally priced so I could ignore the other option.

[carawestt]

I think since she is going to end up at H's school anyway, I'd switch. I would assume that most of the kids in the pre-k class would be in her K class as well? It would nice for her to move up with her friends.

[fusion]

I'd switch with that list, with the big tipper that she's going there eventually anyways and it's cheaper.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

I'd switch.

[shevacc]

As soon as you said you're not thrilled with the pre-K teacher at her current school, I thought switching sooner is your best option. D must interact some with the teacher if they share a classroom. What does she think of her?

I would also look for ways to combine their drop-offs and pick-ups at least a few days a week. Seems like it would be nice to have them at the same school for an extra year.

Finally, as hard as it is to leave, I'd rather do it on a positive note. We went through a daycare implosion when the director checked out then eventually left. Hopefully that isn't the case for you, but that biases me towards leaving while things are still good. A great/mediocre teacher can make such a huge difference.

[sandj82110]

I would switch.

[thedahliharpa]

Feb 13, 2016 8:40:20 GMT -5 shevacc said:

As soon as you said you're not thrilled with the pre-K teacher at her current school, I thought switching sooner is your best option. D must interact some with the teacher if they share a classroom. What does she think of her?

I would also look for ways to combine their drop-offs and pick-ups at least a few days a week. Seems like it would be nice to have them at the same school for an extra year.

Finally, as hard as it is to leave, I'd rather do it on a positive note. We went through a daycare implosion when the director checked out then eventually left. Hopefully that isn't the case for you, but that biases me towards leaving while things are still good. A great/mediocre teacher can make such a huge difference.

Well, current school teacher rubbed me the wrong way but Ive talked to friends with kids in that class and they and their kids like her. One of those parents is a Kinder teacher and thinks now that the class is on track the program is great. She was very sweet when D gave her a VD card yesterday and wrote an incident report for D yesterday (she bonked her head) that seemed very sincere. Of course this was after looking at the new program, lol.
It's really unfortunate what happened this year. One of our favorites, from the early days with H,came back after a couple years off with her son to resume teaching pre-k and became sick a few weeks in. It turned out she had thyroid cancer and eventually was unable to return. I'm really glad D wasn't in pre-k this year.

[jg183]

I think I'd switch. Can H drop both off those mornings and you could have alone time in mornings

[steph196]

I think I would switch.

[thedahliharpa]

Does anyone know anything about these programs?

Handwriting Without Tears
Zoophonics

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2016 12:03:51 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

Does anyone know anything about these programs?

Handwriting Without Tears
Zoophonics

Ido but I'm about to go in a client so I'll write back later

[Deleted]

Brady's school does handwriting without tears. They just started January. They do a lot with these wooden blocks long lines, short line, big curve (semi circle), a small half of a circle. They thin move on to sensory board letters while practicing those simple four lines and curves and start to put it all together.


The zoophonics has cards and song associated with each letter Ally alligator (ahh ahh ahh) Bubba bear (buh buh buh). The kids I nannied for for 5 years had this at their preschool. It comes highly recommended by parents.

[bean47]

Feb 13, 2016 12:03:51 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

Does anyone know anything about these programs?

Handwriting Without Tears
Zoophonics

Handwriting with out tears is a fantastic multi sensory program. I LOVE it and although my district doesn't use it, all of us OTs use it in therapy sessions. If Olivia gets into the preK I'm hoping for, she will have it too and that was a big plus for me.

[claralou]

I'd switch.

[jg183]

Both very popular programd

[shevacc]

G's been doing zoophonics in her preschool class this year and I really like it. It's a great way to introduce all the letter sounds.