Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten: Love, Laughter and Learning

Have you made plans yet for your child(ren) to go to preschool in September? Or, maybe you are on the fence about the decision you’ve made for your child(ren)? Well, it’s not too late to check out Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten, located conveniently on Pottstown Pike in West Chester.

I have a very special and personal connection to Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten since both of my children are students there. My oldest daughter started there in the Two’s program and has progressed through the Three’s and Four’s and this year is attending their outstanding full-day Kindergarten. My youngest daughter is enjoying her first year at the school in the Two’s program and is looking forward to moving onto the Three’s soon (Wow, where does the time go?).

My path to finding Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten is an interesting one. I remember quite clearly being advised by the other knowledgeable mothers in my moms group that I needed to start looking at preschools and scheduling tours as her second birthday approached. I got some recommendations, I searched the internet, I made a list and I scheduled some tours. I think that we looked at a total of 6 preschools in the area, and KI was the last tour that we had scheduled.

You see, Kesher Israel wasn’t on my original list. My family is not Jewish. I had automatically ruled it out (quite mistakenly) because I thought that only Jewish families sent their children to preschool there. One day, I had mentioned that to a friend who was Jewish and was happily sending her kids to KI, and she giggled. That was the day I learned that Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten serves families of all faiths, and that my children would be more than welcomed there. That was also the day that I called Gail DeMarco and Rohna Paskow, the preschool directors, for a tour.

I often tell the following story about what “sold” me on this preschool to people who ask my opinion about it. My husband and I took Madison (age 2) with us to see the preschool and talk to Gail DeMarco about their program. We were immediately impressed with the security, the cleanliness, and the orderliness of the facility. We reached Gail’s office and were greeted warmly. I was ready to launch into my questions as we had done at the other meetings we’d scheduled, however, Gail was already on her knees at Madison’s height talking to her, making her feel welcome, asking her questions and showing her things. It was, after all, all about Madison, not us.

As we started the tour, Gail took Madison by the hand and showed her some of the classrooms, introduced her to some of the teachers, took her to see their large indoor play space, their two outdoor playgrounds, and showed her the school’s mascots … the beloved guinea pigs. All the while my husband and I got our questions answered, but we were essentially along for the ride. Gail wanted to be sure Madison went home feeling good about the tour, just as much as her Mom and Dad did. And, that story sums up my experience of that day, and every day since that I have had at Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten and it sums up why I love it there so much. They are all about the kids.

As I mentioned, we’ve now been there for 4 years and are still thrilled with their staff, their programming, the environment, and the overall experience that it has offered to our daughters. They both have flourished under their use of Emergent Curriculum, guided through the PA State Standards, encouraging creativity through literature, music, art, science and play. Each child is nurtured individually to enhance their social and academic skills. They are able to do that through their low teacher to student ratio. Each classroom has a head teacher as well as two assistant teachers letting each child get the individualized attention they desire as needed.

Kesher Israel’s (KI) top-notch preschool program features classes in the following age categories:

• The Toddler Program with an adult on Thursday from 9:15 – 10:45am (child must be age 1 by 9/30/11).
• The Two’s Program on Tuesday & Thursday from 9 – 12pm with the option to stay until 1, 2 or 3:00pm (child must be age 2 by 9/30/11).
• The Three’s Program on Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 9 – 12pm with the option to stay until 1, 2 or 3:00pm (child must be age 3 by 9/30/11). Additionally the Three’s have the option to sign up for Enrichment on Thursday’s, also from 9-12 with the option to stay until 1, 2 or 3:00pm.
• There are also Four’s and Five’s Programs, themed Afternoon Connections (Sports or Music, Art & Drama) as well as a robust Full-Day Kindergarten program to choose from. Please see Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten’s website for full details.

Don’t just take my word for it. Take a look at the website and then email Gail DeMarco at gaild@kesher-israel.org or call (610) 696-4457 to ask any questions or schedule a meeting for your family!

**Don’t forget about Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten’s Summer Camp offerings too! Contact them for more information!**

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and although I (Shannon) have a very positive personal experience with Kesher Israel Preschool and Kindergarten, we (ChesterCountyMoms.com) have no specific affiliations to any particular academic, religious, or political, etc. views.