Does this sound crazy to you too?

pevila

I chose a preschool for DD last year based on proximity to my house and the opinion of two friends that are preschool teachers. They both recommended the center I ended up choosing and both told me that that was the center they would choose if they could afford it. 

I'm happy with my choice, the place is incredible (no characters, everything is recycled, they use real cutlery, porcelain dishes and real glasses, they give children healthy food) and I don't even have to cross the street to take her. 

BUT I'm having problems with the date they're starting classes.  Most schools and preschools started today (Monday 10th), but the director in DD's center told me they were starting on Wednesday 12. I thought that it was a bit late, but no big deal. Then I had a meeting with DD's teachers, and they told me that DD will go on Thusrday 13, and only for 20 minutes. Then again on Monday 17th, but only from 9:00 to 11:30, she will not go on Tuesday, and she returns Wednesday 19th from 9 to 11:30. She will start her normal schedule (8:30-12:00) on Thursday 20th. So she will really be starting on Thursday 20th.

The teachers said that this broken schedule is for her to get used to the center, but I'm kind of pissed for paying (a lot) for the whole month of March and she will only be attending a few days. 

So, am I right for being pissed because she will really start classes on the 20th, 10 days later than all of the other schools, and 8 days later than they told me, or do you think that the center's approach is correct and kids need to ease into it? It's the first time DD will go to preschool so I don't know what to expect. 

pevila

We pay 11 months + 480 dollars a year for materials.  X(

Mrs.Greg

I agree with Lala - my kids attend/will attend preschool from Sept to June and I pay the same amount each month, regardless of how many actual school days there are that month. They start like Sept 20-something and the last day is like the second week of June but I pay the same amount those 2 months as I do for months with no days off.

pevila

I know that I have to pay for March and December in full amount even though they don't attend every day (I'm sure teachers get full wages for those months too), but having only 6 days of complete classes for one whole month pisses me off. 

pevila

I just want her to start, dammit!

pevila

.And she's starting so much later than all of the other preschools. I see all those pictures on FB of chuildren going to their first preeschool day. I want that to be me, too!

Mrs.Greg

I think it's kind of odd that the beginning of the school year is in March. Or am I reading your post wrong?? It sounds like she's not actually started going yet and will start this month. And most preschools in your area start in March? Not in Sept?

Mrs.Greg

Hav=Fath said:

Mrs.Greg said:

I think it's kind of odd that the beginning of the school year is in March. Or am I reading your post wrong?? It sounds like she's not actually started going yet and will start this month. And most preschools in your area start in March? Not in Sept?

Don't forget she's in Peru.

Doh!! Sorry!! I did totally forget. Thanks, Hav!

AimeeL85

How many days per week is the normal schedule? 4?

penguingrrl

My younger daughter had a schedule similar to that when starting. She loves her school, I love her school and I trust that the school has this system in place because they know it's the best way to transition kids to school. And ditto everyone else that our school offers monthly payments but it's really ten equal payments in installments. Some months are shorter and have days off (I've lost count of how many snow days she has had this year) and others are full months. I figure it all evens out.

LoveBeingMama

Our preschool does transition days, too. The first week or so, they had shortened days. I don't know I it ended up being 10 days, but it seemed like a lot.

I get how you feel, wanting to start already. I was the same way. DS had no problems transitioning to school (though the change in schedule tired him out), but a few of his classmates did have trouble adjusting, and this addressed that. I think it is perfectly reasonable to have these shortened days and start the full schedule a little later.

spring_time

I am with the other posters, the monthly fee is only the year divided across the months. We only went two weeks in December, and will only go two weeks in May, but pay the same amount. We could just pay a lump sum. As for the transition, DS's preschool did the same thing. The class was divided for the first week or two and the kids went half days. Some went fir the first half of the class period, the other half of the class wen for the scone half of the class period. It gave the teachers a smaller group to help transition the kids into the rules and procedures.

Angela814

I was so confused about the March start at first...

My niece's kindergarten started in a similar way. They had a few shorter days before full day started.

We pay monthly for DD2's preschool, and it's just the full tuition divided by the months she attends. DD1's after school care is billed the same way. I would assume that's how your preschool is structured.