Preschool

Yesterday we went to an open house for a potential preschool.  I'm proud of myself for not crying at the thought that they will be old enough to go to preschool in the fall.  The one I had the best feelings about from my research, and by research I mean looking at websites, was a Montessori school about 20 minutes away.

After visiting, I think I'm in love.  I want to go to preschool.  This place was really fantastic.  The age 3-6 classrooms are completely self-contained.  They have everything right in the classroom from library books to a snack area, to bathrooms.   There's a fish tank and a grow lab where they start seedlings.  When the seedlings are big enough, they plant them outside in their garden.  Kids go grab some spinach that they grew while playing and eat it.  There are two big play structures outside and kids spend a good amount of time outdoors.  There's a maintained nature trail through the woods that goes down to a small stream. 

They focus on fostering independence and focus on manners and respect.  Respect for themselves, each other, and the environment, to the point where there is a container for rocks that get stuck in their shoes to be collected and returned to nature.  This school has classes up to age 15 and they are looking at adding a high school class as well. 

The boys got to stay in one of the classrooms while we toured the school.  They had older children to help watch them.  All the students we met were exceptionally nice and polite and really looked like they enjoyed spending time with the younger kids.  We met one girl who had started at the school when she was 3 and was now in high school but frequently returned to help out whenever she could.  After we came home, Nick kept saying, "I go Nick's school now?"  I think they rather enjoyed it. 

I really want them to go there.  How we're going to be able to afford it is a problem that I haven't quite figured out the answer to.  They do offer a 4% discount on one of the tuitions for having two kids enrolled, but that's not a whole lot.  I think we'll be able to do the half day with a lot of sacrifice, but I have no clue how we'll pay for it once they go to full days and it pretty much doubles.  But this school feels right for both of them and I hope we can find a way to make it work.

Comments

[Flicka]

The school sounds great! I hope you can find a way to make it work for you. A container for rocks, wow. That is plain awesome.

[tripleblessings]

Sounds terrific! But a 4% discount is REALLY not a lot of a break. It's worth asking if they can cut you any more of a deal, but keep shopping around too.
You should tour a couple of other preschools with different styles and philosophies, to make sure you love this one because of what's unique there, and not just because it's the first one you saw.
Some preschools should be willing to give you a much better break on the 2nd or 3rd child from the same family - at least 10 or 15%. Good luck!

[Kir]

wow, I want to go to preschool too. :)
We have them in a daycare that is very good for them right now and I keep hoping that it continues that we can keep them there and pay for it. We get a 10% discount for a 2nd child. Hoping you all find a place that you all love.