I was wondering if anybody has had any good results from sending their children to private kindergarten. I have fraternal twin boys and I am not thrilled with their neighborhood school that they would regularly attend. I tried to get them into a public charter school but the did not make the lottery. I have found a couple here in the Gresham area, but they are either way out of my budget or they are at a church. This is the part I don't know and maybe someone can educate me. Do private kindergarten classes that are located in a church have religion taught to them. That is something I am not looking for. But I know that the Arthur Academy is located in a church, but thats it. So if someone can enlighten me on this subject that would be great. So if anybody knows of any good private schools that I might investigate that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for your help.
I guess I should add that I was too late for in district transfers to other schools. This is why I am exploring other options.
My son attends kindergarten at a Catholic school. Yes, they teach religion and the students go to mass every Friday morning. I would imagine that all religious schools teach some sort of religion. Do you have a Montessori school near you? I've heard great things about them.
I would check out some Montessori schools in your area. Montessori is the best!
U could home school.
Look into Montessori schools. They are great for young kids - my kids went early on to those until maybe 4th or 5th grade. They are non religious, and if you don't know much about the system google it - I highly recommend it, the kids seem to learn a lot quicker after going to Montessori.
If religious schools (private) are the only ones located near you, I would rather put my child there - even if I was not Catholic, then put them in a crappy public school, any day. You can always at home teach them whatever you believe in.
When I was four, I didn't make the cutoff for kindergarten (I was five in October and the cutoff was sometime in September). I was really eager to go to school and kept bugging my mom about it, so instead of waiting another year, she enrolled me in a private Christian school for kindergarten and first grade (the public schools wouldn't accept me until I was in second grade; after I'd "proven" myself in the other school first, I guess). I remember having religious education, and in first grade I had to memorize the books of the Bible as one of my assignments. But I was reading in kindergarten and pretty advanced in first grade, so it was a good education for me. And I didn't think that the religious education was that big of a deal; the great education made up for it, I think. And I transferred to public school in second grade and did fine. But it is up to you and how strongly you feel about it. We were Catholic and the school was a Protestant school, so it was a little strange when I looked back on it, but it was a good school so it was worth it. You could always try a private Christian school for kindergarten and transfer them to a different one for first grade. Just a thought. Good luck!
Hi D.! I have fraternal twin boys too! They are only three, but I have an older one who is just finishing kindergarten and putting him in a private school is the best thing I've ever done. He goes to Tucker Maxon in SE Portland, which is the same place my twins go to preschool. It's amazing ... there are only 13 kids in his class and he is already reading books! They have PE everyday and art classes once a week. They also have optional afterschool piano lessons, foreign language and sports. Private schools are nice for twins too, because they can be in the same class together. I live in Happy Valley area so it's a little bit of a drive for me but it's been worth it. The most amazing part to me is that none of my kids want to go home when I go pick them up at the end of the day ...no matter how late it is they always tell me they want to stay longer! I really have nothing bad to say about the school at all. Anyway, hope that helps and good luck with your search!
My daughter attended Stepping Stone Day School off Powell. She's actually been there since she was 6wks old for day care but they also offer private kindergarten. It was also the best place for her because she missed the cut-off for public kindergarten and it was very apparent that she was ready. They're a wonderful place for kids from 6wks to 12yrs. My oldest went there for after school care and then when she was in 8th grade, started volunteering for a few hours a week & is now a teachers aide there. They just built another building on the property to add more classes, added a new playground, and are expanding their educational curriculum. They serve breakfast, snacks, & lunch so no need to pack lunches. They have field trips throughout the year to different places such as the library, JJ Jumps, the park (for nature education), & Cascade Athletics (for swimming lessons & general play). They're also teaching the kids volunteerism as well. They just had a group of kids/parents work for a few hours at the Oregon Food Bank. The owners are VERY passionate about their business in teraching the "whole" child and all of the employees are the sweetest people that have your childs best interest in mind. I highly recommend them if you couldn't tell by now. LOL Good luck in your search and if you're interested, give them a call & talk to Emily (the owner). ###-###-####.
When my second child had to enter kindergarten there was none in the rural area where we lived. Five other mothers and I formed a kindergarten and "home schooled" our children. I did it that year and the next year she and all the others entered the inferior southern Oregon public school. In the middle of first grade we gave up and moved to a better school district.
That year co-operating with the other mothers we had field trips, different kinds of classes every day and lots of good projects.
At the same time I was home schooling my older child who could not return to that school the following year.
I could never send my children to a Christian School because our family from time beyond human memory has practiced our tribal religion.
You need to ask the school.
Each school differs.
Some private religious schools, do reach 'religion.'
Some just have a daily 15 minute type thing where they tell parables or concepts. Bible based.
Also, if your district public school is not a school you think highly of, Then you can also get a 'geographic exception" or "district exception" to other neighboring schools, that are better.
Many parents do this as well.
But they put you on a wait list.
Public schools, if you Google search it, are ranked and/or rated. So you can research that too.
Christian kindergartens do teach Bible stories and BIble songs. They often have service projects too. But kids should learn to think about the big questions in life at an early age. Where do we come from? Why are we here? Is there a God and how do we relate to him? Does the way I live my life make a difference in the world? You don't have to agree with the teachers, but it would be good to start that dialogue with your kids. Hundreds of Christians send their kids to public schools and deal with the unreligious or anti-religious aspects at home. It just makes for good discussion and an opportunity to model your beliefs.
