UrbanBaby

07.18.08, 08:56 AM NY Schools
16 replies

New to NYC. My ds will be 2.6 in Sept and has not started pre-school. I am ok with starting him the following September when he is 3. Is this too late? I live on UWS. When do I start the process, this September? TIA. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
NY Schools 07.18.08, 08:56 AM Flag

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at urbanbaby-support@cbsinteractive.com.

Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

no, yes [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 08:57 AM Flag

Not too late. This means march bday? correct? If so, would start private or public K in 9/2010. Do you public or private school? Would you consider jewish preschool? You just call for applications after labor day. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 08:59 AM Flag

I am open to any kind of pre-school that seems like a good fit. I want something down to earth and would like to avoid the whole craziness of the "competitve" school process. I know that I will find something but it seems like in this city a kid who starts pre-school at 3.6 is "behind" and I wanted to get a fee for the process. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 09:03 AM Flag

Where are you on UWS? I think location is the #1 priority in choosing preschool. Would you consider public preK isyou are zoned for a school that has it (it is only for one yr - the calendar yr in which child turns 4). Low key preschools on UWS include Columbia Greenhouse, Columbus Preschool adn Gym (you just sign up and pay fee), Habonim (jewish), Weekday, First Friends (just sign up and pay fee), Brownstone (but few spots), Westside Y (coop program), other nice places, but more traditional application stress = JCC and West End collegiate. There is also International Preschool, but I do not know much about that place. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 09:21 AM Flag

np: do not count on public pre-K at all, even if you're zoned for it. Siblings supposedly get priority, then zoned kids, then outside-zone kids. Siblings were expected to fill the entire pre-K in my zoned school, PS 87, and my dc did not get a spot. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 09:24 AM Flag

I really wouldn;t consider westside YMCA as "low key" for admissions. Last year, flor the incoming Sept. classes- they had only a handful of morning spots left for non-sibs and it was worse if you had a ds. i think it was something like 300 apps for 30 spots. GREAT school, but not so much "Secret" anymore. Best of luck! i know habonim takes basically anyone they can get- admin is AWFUL there. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 11:43 AM Flag

I disagree on Habonim. It is a very small, intimate and nurturing place. Exmissions is at least on par with the JCC. I have twins and therefore had to apply to 10 UWS programs for this fall. I came away very impressed with that place. Others we liked were Woodside, Rodeph Sholom and Claremont (if you like a more structured approach). Every other place was good, but the JCC stood out as most disappointing relative to the hype. Great facility, but unskilled staff and a total zoo organizationally. 80 people at the info session and 40 kids at the playsession. Administrators never even popped their heads into the room at the playsession. In the end, we had the opportunity to get two spots because of contacts and told our source that we weren't even interested. The amazing thing is, we live 2 blocks away, go there all the time for other things, and thought for certain it was the place we wanted most before the whole process began. At Habonim, the info session had 12 people and the playsession was you, the director and your kids. The facility is a drawback, but the environment is beyond sweet. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 06:31 PM Flag

NP: I have to second this. Habonim was one of the few places that really made an effort to get to know my dc during the interview. So did Rodeph. Couldn't stand JCC or Claremont with the zoo-like environment. Brownstone was sweet, but I think they took 2 kids. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 08.18.08, 10:39 AM Flag

many, many dcs start preschool at 3.6. mine was 3.3 when he started and he wasn't the oldest. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 09:25 AM Flag

not to panic you, but the process at even the relatively low-key preschools is pretty nerve-wracking these days. cast a wide net and stay open-minded. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 09:42 AM Flag

there are plenty of preschool alternative programs in the city that you can sign up ds for this year that could be anywhere from 1-5 mornings/week and will provide a preschool experience. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 12:01 PM Flag

ITA - NY Kids Club and Columbus Gym have a short combo Gym and Art class that is similar to the structure of a 2's program, although you have to stay with your child. We did it the summer before preschool and I think it got my ds used to the classroom environment, activities, teachers etc. 3.6 is not that old - many 2's programs cut off at kids born in end of Feb. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.19.08, 04:01 PM Flag

If you want to avoid the competitive school process then either move out of manhattan or be OK with settling for a crappy school. you don't get to live here and just "opt out" and still get into a good school. For ANY grade. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.19.08, 09:03 PM Flag

not too late at all. In fact, your ds misses the cut-off age for most programs anyway. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 09:20 AM Flag

Weekday has still openings available in the 3s program for this fall (beginning sept), if you are interested ! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.18.08, 08:17 PM Flag

search this school first! Be careful what you wish for! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.19.08, 03:37 PM Flag