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Can't afford pre-school - what would you do?; costs of jewish schools
Topic Started: Nov 27 2006, 04:10 PM (820 Views)
sauls_mom
Bala Buste
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the cost of education in riverdale is one excuse my parents used for not sending me to any jewish ed classes
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Akvir
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aishes chayil
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Ok, your son is only 2 at the moment and i do understand you wanting him to go to a more orthodox nursery now. I had the same thing, i sent my son to a creche and nursery from when he was 6 months because i was working and the only place that would take for those hours and that age was an orthodox school, but it wasn't frum. They did have kosher meals and were very understanding about me not wanting them to give my son the milk they have when he was one and they would also ask about other foods they had. Most places should be like this as there are children with allergies.
My son turned 3 in january and he still went to that nursery. it wasn't as frum as the one i wanted to send him to, but i wasn't working the hours that would be suitable for me to send him to the frummer nursery.
Only this year my son has gone to the more orthodox nursery and yes he learns more Jewish stuff (like aleph bes and brochos etc) which is wonderful, whereas before he got the basic learning before each yom tov where they would make something. As for birthdays, i had the problem as well with kids who had their parties in completely non kosher venues or in their houses, but i never sent him to the parties and at that age, the kids don't even realise or care. The nursery i sent to didn't allow parents to send any food with their child though as they provided all the meals and were under Beth Din, so they couldn't allow anything apart from baby formula.
I think maybe for your own sanity and for your child to just get some social life and stimulation, i would consider sending to the cheaper place with less hours. Also most places should let you go in to check the place out before you send your child there. Good luck with your decision.
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Chavelamomela
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aishes chayil
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Have you considered Stein Yeshiva of Lincoln Park? (in Yonkers). I send my son to their daycare, which is excellent. Their elementary school is not great, IMO, but they have really worked to improve their early childhood program over the past few years (I think it's a good way to start their improvement, so that can make more changes to the whole school with time).

If you want more info, PM me.

We have been very happy there.
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MamaBear
baby
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We would love to send him to stein - it's a good program and much cheaper but i need a car to get him there...

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sauls_mom
Bala Buste
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what about a private van service? theyused to have a ton in the area
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MamaBear
baby
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Any kind of bus/van service would work for an older child, but imo, not for a 3 yr old.

I just keep telling my husband that this is an imperfect situation but even if we lived back in his hometown, there would be other compromises to be made. He thinks life would be close to perfect if we left NY! :Blah oh these smilies are so cute...
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MamaBear
baby
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hmm i can't see my smiley
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realeez
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Brain Freeze
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I fixed your smiley :)
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Chavelamomela
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aishes chayil
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okay, so you want Stein but don't have a car. Can you pay another parent who takes their kids there to take your kid too? Maybe you could work something out with a parent who could use a little extra and you'll buy a booster seat for their car.

Just an idea...
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shortcake
aishes chayil
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ahhhh! I know what you are going through! We are i'yh putting DD in a school about 20min. away by car (it's half the price of the only other option so we don't really have a choice) and we have to figure out what to do with DS...there is one governmt. subsidized nursury that goes from 8:30-12 and if you want from 12-3:30 you have to pay $500mo...it's right near DD's school for next year, wich is fine in the AM but i'd have to run to pick up DS at 12 and then go back for DD at 3:45 and if there is traffic etc... I basically will spend the afternoon in the car and won't have a chance to get much done- it's hard, we haven't finalized yet, but it seems it's our only option :tantrum ...we too have only one car and as of now i drive DH to work e/day if I want/need the car and he's 15 min. away in the opposite direction!
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Kmelion
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Yishuvnik
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This was a big reason why we moved to Israel...
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rikal
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Rebbetzin
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I didn't say this when the thread started maybe out of timidness, but to get what they need in cheder, if they get it, going until only 12 is not enough. I was horrified that so many kids get out at 1:20 in Israel when I made aliya and was happy to see that all of the frum schools realized it was not enough and added hours. It is a very rare 3 yr old who cannot stay until 2-3. They get a lot of breaks and playtimes interspersed throughout the day.

Another question. If you went a little farther away and were paying much less wouldn't that plus an inexpensive small car be cheaper than paying such a high price?

A 3 yr old should be in school and not round robin unless the parents are able to give them what they need. Making decisions id easier when there is clarity. What is more important to you (even if it is neck and neck) the chinuch aspect or the babysitter? It takes a real professional (in Israel preschool teacher learn a year longer than regular teachers) to realize how much education is going on in gan. I didn't realize it until having to spend a year as a gannenet. And since much of this is around acquiring good habits even more than the material learned it will be harder on him if he misses.
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Marion
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aishes chayil
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Is there a way for your DH to commute by subway? NYC has pretty decent public transit, if memory serves me. That would leave you with the car and the other schools farther away would then become options.
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zuncompany
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Administrator
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rikal- Zu still naps from 1 until 4 almost every day. If we skip it he is a wreck and can not function and than does not sleep well that night and wakes up cranky and just makes it cyclical. I think you need to know your kid well before deciding half day or whole day. I will under no circumstances put Zu in a full day and will be picking him up next year I think at 12:45/1. If he starts phasing out of his naps and we find he can handle more we will make arrangements. I know he is not the only one in his class and there will be a few others who leave half day for a variety of reasons.

My other thing is- by us after lunch is just daycare. The stop the real learning- I don't have spare money to send him to daycare and can do more with him at home than if I sent him.
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