October 2018 • free South Jersey
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Kids Learn to Code Student ʻOccupational Hazardsʼ Independent PreK-8 School Survey Zero Tolerance Policy Limits
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Contents
OCTOBER 2018 • Vol. 23, No. 10
In This Issue 4 Teens Too Old for Trick-or-Treat? 6 Meet 2019’s CoverKids 6 Win It! 7 Students’ Occupational Hazards 10 Coding for Kids
Rooted in Tradition, Progressive Early Learning
4
SpecialKids 8 Caught in Zero Tolerance Resources 13 School Open-House Dates 12 PreK-8 Indepdent School Survey
Quality Counts
10
Family Fun 14 Halloween From Tame to Scary 15 Day-by-Day Fall Calendar
Ad Sections 3 Early Education; 9 Events; 11 Education; 18 Child Care
14
Infant & Toddler Programs Flexible Preschool Programs Pre-Kindergarten Transitional Kindergarten Full Day Kindergarten Creative Curriculum® STEAM Curriculum Jewish Values & Traditions Swim Lessons, Gym, Music & Art Tadpoles: Daily Digital Parent Reports NEW for 2018-19 School Year!
Pumpkin Hayride • Smores Pit Corn maze • dancing in the pavilion y Famil Fall ight Fun N er 12, 2018 tob Friday, Oc :30pm 6-8
ool year h c s 19 he 2018 ltures
!
ow fmoe rfamtilies of all faiths & cu n r e t s i Reg We welco
2016
Visit our website for our fall calendar of events
www.duffieldsfarm.com
Greentree & Chapel Hts. Rd. Sewell, NJ • 856-589-7090 x10
Open All Year! Monday thru Saturday 9AM to 7PM
OCTOBER 2018
katzjcc.org/ece 856-424-4444 x1242 1301 Springdale Road • Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
MetroKids.com 3
Moms Know
Are Teens Too Old to Trick-or-Treat?
1412-1414 Pine St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-291-5560; 856-667-3555; 302-224-3020 Toll Free: 888-890-4668 Fax: 215-291-5565 Visit us online at MetroKids.com
President: Nancy Lisagor, PhD, ext. 109 nlisagor@metrokids.com Publisher: Darlene Weinmann, ext. 108 dweinmann@metrokids.com
They might give up too soon on a holiday for little kids and then discover that costumes are fun at any age.
Managing Editor: Dave Gilmartin, ext. 102 editor@metrokids.com
By Kimberly Yavorski Teenagers occupy a strange in-between world. No longer children, not yet adults, they are quick to abandon “childish” things and almost as quick to regret that they have done so. It is during the teen years that many of us start to wonder why we ever wished to grow up faster. Trick-or-treating is something that many kids look forward to for months. They spend hours thinking about how they want to dress, often coming up with bigger and better ideas each week leading up to Halloween. As a parent, I learned early on to not buy or make the costumes my children asked for in August or September, realizing that they would likely change their minds a few times by mid-October. It is an unheralded milestone when your child says, “Trick-or-treating is for little kids.” The first time I heard this, my insides lurched. My babies were growing up, much too fast, and they wanted to rush the process. Since I made a similar proclamation at that age and later made a game-time decision to go out on Halloween, I advised them to keep the option open. “You can dress up anyway. There may be parties, so what do you want to be?” (Full disclosure, I love Halloween and have loved making costumes for my children. Though I have lost sleep and shed tears in that last week of October, I enjoyed it when they challenged me to create something out of the ordinary.) Many adults think that once a child reaches a certain age or height that this fall ritual should end. They see trick-ortreating as an activity for small children and think that older kids are being greedy. Though candy is a motivator, most teens just want to dress up. In fact, I have seen many teens hand off their candy to younger kids while walking away from a house. Dressing up is fun. It is not often that we have the opportunity to pretend to be someone else, if only for a couple hours. For us and our neighbors, Halloween is a
Resource Editor: Cheyenne Shaffer, ext. 101 calendar@metrokids.com
4 MetroKids.com
community event, one of those days when we catch up with people a block or two over; when we see how much the kids have grown. Some parents also dress up and it is fun to see their costume choices each year. Personally, I like to see teenagers at my door on Halloween. Some years, it was the impetus that got my own kid out the door, rather than moping around at home, if only for a short time. When the kids were little, we divided tasks: my husband handed out candy at our house and I walked with the kids. At some point over the years, he decided to revive the concept of trick-or-treating, insisting that kids do a trick for a treat. Though some are surprised at this, the kids remember it and in later years have come to the door with something prepared. Teens can be shy about this, but we often have been entertained with songs, dance moves and handstands. I vividly remember the first Halloween I thought I was “too old” for trick-or-treating. I had a friend over and after the first few witches and ghouls came around, we decided we really weren’t too old. I had a pirate mask from a prior year and it wasn’t too difficult to come up with the extras to make that work. My friend lived too far away to run home for a costume, so we improvised. We grabbed a black trash bag, created leg holes and tied it loosely around her neck. I think we added crumpled newspaper to fill it out. The image of her walking down the street in this costume and her answer when people asked what she was — “A bag of trash, of course” — still makes me laugh. Today, more than ever, kids are growing up too fast. If they have a costume, no matter how lame, I’ll give them some candy (especially if they are willing to show us a trick). Kimberly Yavorski is an Ambler, PA mom of four grown children who still will create a costume when asked.
Contributing Writers: Terri Akman, Suzanne Koup-Larsen, Frank Lipsius, Kathy O’Connell, Ann L. Rappoport, PhD Production Manager: Veronica Hanna, ext. 103 production@metrokids.com Finance: Marcella Reis, ext. 104 finance@metrokids.com Marketing/Circulation: Susan Braverman, ext. 100 marketing@metrokids.com Interns: Ben Lowenthal
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MetroKids® is published monthly by KidStuff Publications, Inc. © 2018 MetroKids® Magazine. All rights reserved by KidStuff Publications, Inc. ISSN 1094-8503. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material. MetroKids® or KidStuff Publications do not assume responsibility for statements or opinions expressed by editorial contributors or advertisers. MetroKids® and SpecialKids® are trademarks of KidStuff Publications, Inc. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Advertisers indemnify and hold harmless the publisher from any claim and all loss, expense, or liability arising out of the publication of any advertisement. SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S.A. $36, one year; $72, two years. Single copies free. AWARD–WINNING MEMBER OF THE:
OCTOBER 2018
Holding Hands Family Child Care & Play Center
Choosing a child care or preschool for your child is one of the hardest decisions a parent makes. At HOLDING HANDS, we create a quality educational and care environment for your child — a place where your child loves to come and you feel comfortable. We achieve this through our curriculum, our programs and our staff. At Holding Hands, our curriculum emphasizes school readiness, gross motor skills, imaginative play and social-emotional development. Activities are designed to build on children’s natural curiosity and use hands-on experiences to allow child to explore and learn. Holding Hands offers flexible scheduling to the meet the many needs of families in Gloucester County. Programs are offered yearround for children from birth through ten years. Children can attend full-days, half-days or both with a variety of weekly schedules. Our staff is a dedicated team of individuals that bring experience and caring to the classrooms. All of our classrooms operate at better than state-required ratios. This means that your child receives individual attention and our staff build relationships with each child. Holding Hands also offers enrichment classes for children from two through seven years-old. These classes in dance, karate and soccer allow young children to explore new areas of interest. Both currently enrolled children and children from the outside may participate in these classes. Holding Hands Family Child Care & Play Center is the place for families —where children are not just cared for, but are cared about; where children discover that learning is fun; where families find flexible schedules and a variety of programs; and where child’s play happens everyday. To learn more about Holding Hands, call at 856467-6811 or visit our website at www.holdinghandsfamily.com.
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Is Your School
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Maybe, but it doesn’t hurt to look...
Our area offers some of the finest schools in the country. Whether you are looking for your first PreK program, a high school, religious, independent or any school in between, we have a comprehensive list.
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by grade, type or city ATTEND
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MetroKids.com/Education OCTOBER 2018
MetroKids.com 5
MK Memo
Win It!
Meet the 2019 CoverKids Winners Wow, there are a lot of cute kids out there. Hundreds of them entered our CoverKids contest again this year. Picking the winners is never easy, but here they are: The local, adorable stars in each age group who will be on our covers through next year. Thanks to all of you who entered and all of you who voted. There is still time to vote for our Readers’ Choice contestants at MetroKids.com/ CoverKids. We will announce the winner next month. If you know a cute kid, become a fan of our Facebook page, sign up for our newsletters and check out MetroKids.com so you don’t miss out on the chance to enter the 2020 contest. 2-5 years Maggie C.
Infant - 24 mos. Madelynn W.
11-16 years Kal S.
6-10 years Liam H.
COSTUME COMPLEMENTS Any costume looks cooler with roller skates — namely, a pair of wheels from Circle Society. These skates are adjustable (sizes 12-3; 3-7) and styled in cottoncandy pink and blue (ages 5-14; $49.99). Perfect for Potterheads, add a pinch of magic to your child’s Halloween getup with Harry Potter Wizard-Training Wands belonging to Potter, Dumbledore and Voldemort. Each wand features 11 kid-appropriate spells with sound effects (Jakks Pacific; $24.99, each).
SCARY
SCORE
Do you love the thrill of a good scare? Enter to win four silver passes to Eastern State Penitentiary’s infamous Terror Behind the Walls haunt in Philly. You’ll get admission to all six terrifying attractions and a quick pass to skip the line. Note: Kids younger than 7 are not permitted ($45, each). Log on to MetroKids.com/winit and enter to win your favorite prize, beginning Oct. 1. Prizes marked with an asterisk (*) must be picked up at the MetroKids office in Center City. Other prizes will be mailed by the provider to the address given on the entry form.
6 MetroKids.com
OCTOBER 2018
Health
‘OCCUPATIONAL
HAZARDS’
of Being a Student By Jennifer Lesser You may not think of being a student as a job, but it is. Sure, the rewards are grades, not raises. And you get promoted to the next grade, not the corner office. But it’s still a form of work, which means there are “occupational hazards.” Here are some on-the-job safety issues kids and their parents need to watch out for during the school year.
Sleep deprivation
Quite possibly the biggest occupational hazard of being a student is sleep deprivation. After a summer of erratic bedtimes, many school-aged children struggle to get back on track with their sleep routine. Sleep deprivation can lead to an array of issues, from an inability to focus in the classroom to behavior issues at home. Dr. Mary Stailey-Sims, a pediatrician practicing at Advocare Woolwich Pediatrics in Woolwich, NJ and Jefferson Health in Stratford, NJ, recommends that parents ensure their child is getting at least eight hours of sleep. “Most parents become lackadaisical about their children’s sleep patterns over the summer, so you want to be sure they’re able to get back into their regular sleep routines as soon as possible,” she says.
Illness
For many school-age children, back to school often means back to the doctor’s office. Once your child returns to a classroom with dozens of other kids — and starts sharing desks and school supplies — it should come as no surprise if
!
they end up kicking off the school year with a cold or flu. “We generally see an increase in illnesses after school starts,” says Dr. Olga Vinshtok, regional medical director for Patient First, with locations throughout South Jersey and Pennsylvania. “Kids are coming into close contact with one another and increasing the chances for illnesses to spread.” Vinshtok’s advice is simple: make sure kids wash their hands frequently. It’s also never a bad idea to toss a travel-sized hand sanitizer into your kid’s lunchbox with that PB&J.
Backaches
Physical aches and pains may crop up when your child heads back to school and often heavy backpacks are the culprit. “Every student has to carry a backpack to transport his books and personal belongings, but I’ve seen way too many kids — often as young as first or second grade — carrying an enormous backpack that’s completely inappropriate for them,” says Debra Westcott, a pediatric nurse with AtlantiCare Health Services Pediatric Care in Atlantic City, NJ. Westcott says to be sure your child’s backpack has padded straps and is the appropriate size and fit. “Those heavy backpacks can definitely cause issues down the road. Many kids end up with shoulder, neck,
and back issues.” Parents should sort through their child’s backpack on a regular basis to lighten it and ensure it’s packed correctly. “Those books and papers accumulate very quickly, so you want to encourage your child to only carry the essentials and toss whatever is no longer needed,” Stailey-Sims says. Tell them to pack textbooks and the heaviest items closest to their backs to minimize strain.
Sports injuries
Another place where your child can get injured isn’t in the classroom, but out on the field. Westcott says she often sees children with sports-related problems once the school year is in full swing, particularly ankle and knee injuries. “Some students play one sport all year, and that inevitably leads to overuse injuries,” Stailey-Sims says. “For young athletes, it’s really best to have variety; there will be less strain on the same joints, and it gives kids the opportunity to help develop new muscles to help protect against injuries.”
Too much screen time
How much screen time your child should have each day is a hot-button issue among parents. Westcott recommends school-aged children not spend more than two hours a day in front of a screen, including computers, television, phones and handheld or video games. “The overuse of devices is officially being diagnosed as an addiction and there are even studies that suggest the increase in children with ADD and ADHD is directly related to the increased time that kids spend staring at video games, televisions, and computers,” she warns. That time spent staring at a computer or bent over an iPad or phone can take its toll physically as well. “A lot of kids end up with headaches caused by eye strain, which can happen if you don’t take
continued on next page OCTOBER 2018
MetroKids.com 7
SpecialKids
N I P U T H E
G C U N A A C TOLER O R E Z
Get-tough policies meant to prevent violence often unecessarily ensnare students with special needs. By Lisa Lightner A few years ago in suburban Baltimore, a 7-year-old was suspended from school. His offense? He chewed a Pop-Tart into the shape of a gun and pointed it at his classmates. His parents fought the punishment, but a judge and the Maryland Department of Education backed the school since it had a zero-tolerance policy on weapons. Zero-tolerance policies in schools were created out of the tragedy at Columbine in the form of the Guns Free School Act of 1994. Initially created to address guns and other weapons, in many districts it expanded to include non-weapon, non-drug and non-physical offenses. While students in special education can make up 15 percent of a school’s population, they represent approximately 75 percent of the students who get suspended and zero-tolerance policies can contribute to that, according to a report from the Center for American Progress. If students with special needs are suspended for behaviors that are a manifestation of their disabilities, there are two important consequences: 1. They aren’t learning the appropriate replacement behaviors. Since the punishment isn’t always immediate (often the suspension starts the next day), it is hard for students to tie the punishment to the actual offense. 2. Some students who are sent home see it as a reward. If school is difficult, this is a way out. Maybe a child prefers to be with a parent who is home during the school day. The result is positive reinforcement of a negative behavior. In addition, some studies suggest zero-tolerance policies do not decrease the severity or frequency of incidents and may even contribute to an increase. All parents, but especially those who have children in special education, should be aware of their school district’s zero-tolerance policy and contact school board members if they believe a change is needed. Parents can also ask to have items put in the child’s IEP or Behavior Plan to alert staff of behaviors that could be considered dangerous, but are not. For example, some kids really enjoy drawing elaborate pictures of weapons and wars. In some schools, that can be considered a threat and get a student expelled under a zero-tolerance policy. States, such as Delaware, have passed legislation that limits zero-tolerance policies to weapons. Pennsylvania is considering similar legislation with the addition that it also limits enforcement to students over the age of 10. New Jersey is not considering any similar legislation. Lisa Lightner is a West Chester, PA special-education advocate who blogs at ADayinOurShoes.com and is a contributor to MetroKids.com’s MomSpeak.
8 MetroKids.com
Health
continued from p. 7
breaks from the screen,” Stailey-Sims says. “Kids also tend to hunch over their phones, so they’re ending up with neck and upper-back pain.” She recommends that parents encourage their children to take their eyes off the screen every 15 minutes, change positions and stretch or roll their shoulders.
Nutrition
It’s not just kids who struggle to return to hectic school-day routines. It’s difficult for many busy parents to find the time to prepare nutritious meals during the school year. Your child can suffer if you rely on too many packaged foods or skip meals all together. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Do not skip it,” Vinshtok says. “Healthy choices will give your child the energy she’ll need for the rest of the day.” Parents should also try to avoid giving into the temptation to eat on the run. “Nutritious, sit-down meals are often sacrificed during the school year because kids have demanding activity schedules, but it’s important that they have the opportunity to eat a balanced meal, especially if they’re going to play sports,” Westcott says.
Anxiety
Last, one of the most prevalent, but perhaps less obvious hazards of being a school-age student, is anxiety. Today’s kids face pressure to perform in school and juggle multiple extracurricular activities and sports. As a result, many children struggle with increased stress and anxiety-related issues. Stailey-Sims notes that it’s absolutely crucial for parents not to fall victim to the urge to sign their kids up for multiple dance classes, sports and music lessons once the school year starts. “One of the best things you can do for your child this school year is to limit them to one activity per season and no matter what, always make sure they have ample time allotted each day for homework, meals and play,” Westcott says. Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer.
OCTOBER 2018
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Education
Schools are teaching kids coding skills, some from a young age. “It’s a new language.” By Terri Akman We all depend on technology every day, but most of us probably don’t know exactly how our computers or smartphones work. That won’t be the case for students today who learn coding in school as early as kindergarten. “Coding is a subset of a larger set of skills called computer science,” explains Josh Caldwell, K-12 curriculum lead for Code.org based in Seattle, WA. “Kids who are coding are typically writing programs to solve problems.” That’s important, he says, because, regardless of the career path, the world is built on technology. “In the same way I wouldn’t be comfortable with a student not knowing how her body works — she’s going to live with that body the rest of her life — she needs to know how computers work and how they’re a tool for solving problems,” says Caldwell.
but programming coding can be equally expressive,” says Caldwell. Coding is about how to attack a challenge, says Bernadette Gilmore, director of academics and curriculum at The Independence School in Newark, DE. “I’ve brainstormed a way, now I’m going to try it,” she explains of the student’s mindet. “Then I have to reflect – did that work? And then when it didn’t, because in all likelihood first tries don’t work, how am I going to go back and rethink my process? “What a great basis for all learning.” There is a growing job market for coders. “Technology is not going to slow down, it’s only going to continue to permeate every aspect of our culture,” says Gaspich. “The details of coding are significant, but the thought behind how you actually construct code and how to be both direct but also formulaic, is extremely practical beyond the specific computer-science class.”
Basic literacy in a digital age
Start young
While the goal in coding is to tell a computer how to function, coding education teaches students many skills. “It’s a new language,” says Tyler Gaspich, director of academic technology at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova, PA. “Students learn how to organize, express and share ideas in new ways, in a new medium.” It is also not geared only to kids with mathematical acumen, since it requires important communication and collaboration skills, creativity and resilience. “Kids think art and music are expressive,
10 MetroKids.com
Coding is a complicated subject that can take many years to master. Students start in early grades with very basic skills, building upon that foundation as they move through later grades. Older students use coding skills in robotics, popular video games, like Minecraft, and art and music programs. Kids as young as kindergarten learn simple coding skills through animated apps that teach how to program an interactive story or game. A simple drag-and-drop system is easy for young children to understand, especially kids already familiar with
technology. For example, a child might be instructed to move a character forward one block and then take a right turn for two blocks. “Without having to understand the syntax of a more complicated programming language, she can learn the concepts, logic and reasoning behind coding,” says Gilmore. Coding builds problem-solving skills and logic by “making certain things happen in a consecutive order,” adds Bruce Taylor, director of technology for the Voorhees Township School District.
Should coding be mandatory?
There currently isn’t a mandate to teach coding in schools, though each year more schools add some form of computer science. “If you look at the workforce, present day and in the future, we’re falling behind as a country,” says Taylor. “It would be great to get kids more interested.” For students who aren’t able to learn coding in school, parents can take advantage of free apps and programs accessible online. “As a school, our job is to provide opportunities for every student,” Gaspich says. “Just like teaching history or math, coding is something everyone is going to need some exposure to.” Terri Akman is a Philadelphia-based contributing writer for MetroKids.
OCTOBER 2018
continued from p. 6
Give Your Child the Gift of a Westfield Friends School Education!
Moorestown Friends School Moorestown Friends School offers exceptional education for students in preschool through grade 12. We offer small classes, academic rigor and highly qualified teachers who encourage children to achieve their potential in a caring environment. This individual attention grows out of respect for the individual, a Quaker value that is at the heart of our enduring spiritual and ethical education. We welcome students of all faiths; only a small portion of our student body is Quaker. While many schools are transactional, MFS is transformational: We help children develop into better people. Starting in preschool, students learn life skills, from listening, fair play and cooperation to critical thinking, conflict management and decision making by consensus. We produce ethical, resilient young people, virtually all of whom go on to four-year colleges. Our average SAT scores are typically the highest in South Jersey by a significant margin. A cutting-edge Coding program, one of the few in the United States, is offered for students in preschool–grade 5.
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Visit an Open House to see our school community for yourself! Dates can be found at www.mfriends.org. 110 East Main Street Moorestown, NJ 08057 856-914-4426 • www.mfriends.org
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Commitment to Diversity•Vibrant Arts Program Spanish & Latin•Media/Technology Lab•OWLS Lab •Team Athletics•Beautifully wooded campus •Commitment to Service Learning •Conveniently located for Philadelphia and South Jersey families Academic Excellence Since 1788 •PreK through 8th Grade
2201 Riverton Road •Cinnaminson, NJ 856-829-0895 • www.westfieldfriends.org
Great Kids, Going Places. Macy Brooks ’18 Meet great kids like Macy at an upcoming Open House: Sunday, Oct. 14, 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.
“MFS encourages intellectual curiosity and pushes students to be their best.” Visit MFS and waive the application fee. For more information or to RSVP, call (856) 914-4426, email admiss@mfriends.org, or visit www.mfriends.org. Age 3 through Grade 12 www.mfriends.org
OCTOBER 2018
Hometown: Voorhees Activities/Honors: Philadelphia Girls Choir; Drama Club; Diversity Committee; Lead for Diversity Camp Delegate; Treble Choir; String Ensemble; Dance Team; Health Awareness Club; Animal Awareness Club; Fencing; Golf; Boys’ Lacrosse Manager Memorable Academic Project: Spanish IV Honors research project studying social anxiety in the fashion industry...all in Spanish Senior Internship: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts College Destination: Haverford College Career Interests: Arts Management/Museum Curator
MetroKids.com 11
PreK-8 Independent School Survey Nothing prepares a child for a great future like a great start. Fortunately, there are many independent schools in South Jersey that can provide your child with that educational foundation. With so many options, it can be difficult to select which school is best for your family. To help parents in this search, we offer our 29th annual Independent School Survey for grades PreK-8. In the chart below, you’ll find information about school and class size, tuition and financial aid, technology availability and
KEY:
Tuition
Extracurriculars
$ = < $10,000 $$ = $10,000-$20,000 $$$ = $20,000-$30,000 $$$$ = > $30,000 FAO = Financial aid offered
School, Location Website; Phone
instruction, world languages and extracurricular activities. Tuition is listed as a range, as described in the accompanying key; schools offering financial aid are marked “FAO.” You can also find this information and more at Metrokids.com/ k-8schools, where you can sort by school, state, county, grades of school and gender. We are always looking for ways to improve our listings, so please send suggestions to editor@metrokids.com.
Grades Gender
Services
= Art = Community service = Music = Robotics/Technology = Sports
Enrollment Student: teacher ratio
Tuition Financial aid
Languages Grade begins
= Special needs accommodated = Summer camp, school or program
BYOD = Bring your own device
Technology Grade begins
Extracurriculars
Other services
Doane Academy PreK-12 236 $$ Latin-7; classroom Burlington Coed 6:1 FAO Spanish-PreK computers-4 Doaneacademy.org; 609-386-3500 School provides a safe, intimate, diverse and enriching environment for children beginning at age 3. Attractive ambience along the banks of the historic Delaware River. $ (1/2-day PreK); 1:1 iPad program-6; Friends School Mullica Hill PreK-8 140 $$ (full day PreK Spanish-PreK 3D printing; Mullica Hill Coed 12:1 up); FAO instruction-PreK; Friendsmh.org; 856-478-2908 Independent Quaker school with rigorous academics, personalized instruction, small classes and exciting learning opportunities. Service learning, international travel, 3D printing lab. coding; Haddonfield Friends School PreK-8 160 $$ Spanish-PreK tech-integrated Haddonfield; Hfsfriends.org Coed 7:1 FAO curriculum-K 856-429-6786 Guided by Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship, HFS inspires joyful young minds to reach their fullest potential and embrace diversity. 130 $ (K); Kellman Brown Academy Hebrew-K; PreK-8 1:1 iPads-5 14:1 (elem.) $$ (1 up) Voorhees; Kellmanbrownacademy.org Spanish-7 Coed 12:1 (mid.) FAO 856-679-2929 South Jersey’s premier Jewish Community Day School. For 60 years, KBA has brought out the best in its students. KBA’s blend of general and Jewish studies inspires young minds. 100 $ (1/2-day PreK); Chinese-4; French-4; Montessori Academy PreK-8 25:1 (elem.) $$ (full day PreK Greek-4; Italian-4; Delran Coed 10:1 (mid.) up); FAO Manj.org; 856-461-2121 Latin-4; Spanish-PreK AMI-certified Montessori teachers facilitate a creative, noncompetitive learning environment. 11-acre campus with meadows, trails, gardens, fitness circuit & farm animals. Chinese-6; Moorestown Friends School coding-PreK; PreK-12 705 $-$$$$ French-6; Moorestown computer labs Coed 9:1 FAO Spanish-6 Mfriends.org; 856-235-2900 Quaker school pursues educational excellence for diverse student body within academically rigorous and balanced program on 48 acres with refurbished class buildings and halls. French-PreK; computer lab; Oak Hill Academy PreK-8 300 $$ Latin-1; 1:1 BYOD; Lincroft Coed 7:1 FAO Spanish-K tech classes Oakhillacademy.com; 732-530-1343 Programs designed to meet the individual needs and unique learning style of each student. Each child is an active participant in learning process that stresses real-world connections. 1:1 iPads and Our Lady of Good Counsel School PreK-8 420 $ Spanish-PreK Chromebooks; Moorestown Coed 25:1 FAO instruction Olgc.me; 856-235-7885 Strives to educate the whole person, academically, spiritually, physically, socially and foster the value of faith, hope, and charity. Politz Day School of Cherry Hill iPads-4; K-8 175 $$ Hebrew-K Cherry Hill instruction-K Coed 15:1 FAO Politz.org; 856-667-1013 Modern Orthodox Jewish Day School addresses each child’s learning style via rigorous general and Judaic curriculum in a warm environment. Must be Jewish to attend.
12 MetroKids.com
OCTOBER 2018
School, Location Website; Phone
Grades Gender
Enrollment Student: teacher ratio
Tuition Financial aid
Languages Grade begins
Technology Grade begins
Extracurriculars
Other services
French-PreK; 549 Princeton Day School $$$$ PreK-12 Latin-6; iPads-K 15:1 (elem.) Princeton FAO Coed Spanish-K 8:1 (mid.) Pds.org; 609-924-6700 Rigorous curriculum designed for motivated & academically talented students. Campus features garden classroom with sustainable architecture. Interscholastic sports begin in 6th grade. Princeton Junior School Lawrence Twp. PreK-5 95 $-$$$ Spanish-PreK Princetonjuniorschool.org Coed 12:1 FAO 609-924-8126 An International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for children ages 2 - grade 5. Early Childhood Program inspired by Reggio Emilia philosophy. coding, Saint Mary of the Lakes School PreK-8 330 $ Spanish-PreK computer labs, Medford Coed 15:1 FAO robotics Smlschool.org; 609-654-2546 For over 65 years, St. Mary of the Lakes School has offered an academically challenging and spiritually enriching education to children Pre-K3 through 8th grade. South Jersey Christian Academy PreK-8 105 $ Sicklerville; Sjchristianacademy.org Coed 10:1 856-728-2001 Quality, affordable Christian education with half- and full-day preschool and full-day kindergarten.
Spanish-PreK
robotics
$$$ (PreK-elem.); French-K; iPads; engineering; Stuart Country Day School PreK-12 460 $$$$ (mid.) Latin-9; programming; of the Sacred Heart; Princeton Girls 8:1 FAO Spanish-PreK; robotics Stuartschool.org; 609-921-2330 Students are encouraged, and expected, to try new things, participate, work together and be leaders. From PreS-senior year, students’ curiosity and zest to learn are fed. 3D design; Westfield Friends School PreK-8 135 $$ Latin-4; programming; Cinnaminson Coed 7:1 FAO Spanish-PreK robotics Westfieldfriends.org; 856-829-0895 Quaker school develops students to their fullest academic and social potential by focusing on active learning enriched by social values in a nurturing environment.
School Open House Dates Onsite visits provide an opportunity to experience a school’s culture to determine the best fit for your child. Call ahead or register online before you go so the schools know to expect you.
Buckingham Friends School - Lahaska
215-794-7491 - www.bfs.org Oct. 30th & Nov. 10th See our ad on p. 6
Haddonfield Friends School - Haddonfield
856-429-6786 • haddonfieldfriends.org Oct. 21st See our ad to the right
Moorestown Friends School - Moorestown
856-914-4426 • mfriends.org Oct. 14th, Nov. 9th & 17th, Dec. 14th See our ad on p. 11
Westfield Friends School - Cinnaminson
856-829-0895 • westfieldfriends.org Oct. 21st & Nov. 9th See our ad p. 11
Simplicity Peace Integrity Community Equality Stewardship TUESDAY MORNING TOURS
NOW ENROLLING Age 2 yrs. through 8th Grade
OCTOBER 21
(856) 429-6786 | hfsfriends.org
MetroKids.com OCTOBER 2018
smart. local. parenting.
OPEN HOUSE
8:30-9:30 AM
2:00-4:00 PM
admissions@hfsfriends.org 47 N. Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033-2476 MetroKids.com 13
Family FamilyFun Fun
Sweater weather is in full swing, jack-o-lanterns perch on doorsteps and kids can’t wait to show off their Halloween costumes. Celebrate the season with harvest fun and haunted attractions throughout the Delaware Valley.
KEY: not-so-spooky; elementary-age eerie; batten down the hatches!
Johnson’s Corner Farm, Medford
Creamy Acres, Mullica Hill
Through Oct. The farm is downright scary at night, but daytime activities like hayrides, pumpkin painting and a straw maze are perfect for the young crowd.
Duffield’s Farm, Sewell
Through Oct.; closed Sun. After a hayride to the pumpkin patch, navigate the corn maze, hop on the Barnyard Express train and jump around in the Barn Bounce.
Howell Living History Farm, Lambertville
Fri.-Sun. through Oct. The state’s longest-running corn maze calls on families to find puzzle pieces and hidden clues that point the way out. Once you’ve conquered the challenge, head to the courtyard for a pumpkin patch, hayrides and kid-sized hay-bale maze.
Through Oct. In addition to U-pick apples and pumpkins, the Discovery Barnyard is a kid favorite, complete with pedal go-carts, climbing rocks, space net, tractor-tire sand castle, a splash pad and three play areas.
Magueri Farms, Swedesboro
Through Oct. Watch your tots make their way through 200 bales of hay in the kids’ maze and rummage for pennies and goodies in the treasure hunt.
Mood’s Farm Market, Mullica Hill
Through Oct.; closed Sun. Join scarecrow-making and pumpkinpainting workshops on select dates and daily hayrides to the pumpkin patch, with silly displays thrown in along the way.
Sunshine Acres, E. Windsor
; Sat. & Sun., Oct. 6-28
During the day, activities include pumpkin picking, hayrides and a corn maze. At night, those not brave enough for haunted attractions can opt for flashlight mazes and moonlit hayrides.
Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster, PA
Sat. & Sun., Oct. 13-28 There’ll be no scary surprises during Happy Hauntings, complete with an interactive trick-or-treat trail, 30-plus themed rides and entertainment.
Hersheypark, Hershey, PA
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Sat. & Sun. through Oct. Treat the family to a cornstalk maze, pony rides, pumpkin painting, pedal tractors, barnyard animal meet-and-greets and wagon rides.
Indian Acres Tree Farm, Medford
Sat. & Sun. through Oct. Whether your kids enjoy wagon and train rides, mazes, stagecoach bounce, face painting or the pumpkin slingshot, there are plenty of autumnal ways to explore the farm.
14 MetroKids.com
Fri.-Sun., Oct. 19-Nov. 4 Chocolate World’s the starting point for the Trick-or-Treat Adventure, which brings families to 13 stops around the park. After, embark on a flashlight tour of ZooAmerica and experience lights-out rollercoaster rides.
Philadelphia Zoo, Phila.
Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Twp.
Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 4-28 With all treats and no tricks, a visit to this park includes hayrides, pumpkin picking and decorating, and a hay-bale maze.
Sat. & Sun., Oct. 13-28 Creepy-crawly fun abounds during Boo at the Zoo, including a walk through the non-scary Extinction Graveyard, photo opportunities at the giant pumpkin wall and a hay-bale maze.
continued on p. 17 OCTOBER 2018
Family Fun
Revel in seasonal fun at the South Jersey Pumpkin Show in Woodstown, Oct. 12-14.
DAY-BY-DAY CALENDAR Special needs event Blackwood Pumpkin Festival
7 Sunday
Seasonal event
$ = $1-$5; $$ = $6-$10; $$$ = $11-$19; $$$$ = $20 & up
2 Tuesday
Mommy-and-Me Class at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, Medford. $$ Read and Pick: Pumpkins at Terhune Orchards, Princeton. Read about the gourd before picking a decorated pumpkin. FREE
4 Thursday
The Glow: A Jack-o-Lantern Experience at West Fairmount Park, Phila. $$$$
6 Saturday
Witches & Wizards Weekend
Oct. 19 & 20
Aura Fall Festival at Mood’s Farm Market, Mullica Hill. There’ll be pumpkin-picking hayrides, face painting and food. FREE Book Festival on Haddon Avenue, Collingswood. See “Lit Pick,” p. 16. FREE Fall Family Weekend at Morris Arboretum, Phila. Make scarecrows, paint pumpkins and sample different varieties of apples. $$$ Festival of Fine Craft at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville. View 150-plus juried, contemporary and traditional artists, watch demos and check out the “Glass Pumpkin Patch.” $$
Monster Bash
Italian-American Festival at Cooper River Park, Pennsauken. Food, entertainment, wine tastings, a beer garden and kids’ activities pay homage to Italian culture and history. FREE
Midtown Village Fall Festival at 13th & Chestnut Sts., Phila. Family-friendly fun includes entertainment, merchant and vendor displays, crafters and kids’ activities. FREE Oktoberfest at Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway. Expect crafters, an international food court, music, kids’ activities and community resource tables. FREE Pumpkin Pawlooza in Cherry Hill. Garden State Discovery Museum, Kid Fit and Paws Discovery Farm team up to offer fun at each spot, including pony rides, a pumpkin patch, crafts, moonbounce and obstacle course. $$$$ Seafood and Music Festival on Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood. FREE
7 Sunday
Blackwood Pumpkin Festival in downtown Blackwood. Activities include entertainment, rides, pumpkin-carving and talent contests, face painting, scarecrow-building and vendors. FREE Fall Family Weekend at Morris Arboretum, Phila. See Oct. 6. $$$ Festival of Fine Craft at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville. See Oct. 6. $$
27 Saturday OCTOBER 2018
MetroKids.com 15
South Jersey Pumpkin Show at the Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown. See Oct. 12. $$
14 Sunday
Boo at the Zoo at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. $$$$ Fall Family Float Festival at Smithville Park, Eastampton. See “Fab Freebie,” p. 17. FREE Irish Festival at Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway. See Oct. 13. FREE National Dog Show Charity Walk at Wilson Farm Park, Wayne, PA Enjoy dog demos and activities, celeb sightings and prizes. $$$$ South Jersey Pumpkin Show at the Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown. See Oct. 12. $$
LIT PICK
Do your kids have the write stuff? Bring them to Collingswood’s Book Festival, Oct. 6, on Haddon Avenue. Families meet booksellers and storytellers, enjoy poetry readings and exhibits, stock up on books and get the creativity flowing during workshops and activities. First Sunday Family Day: Drum Like a Lady at the Barnes Foundation, Phila. Try your hand at creative projects and percussion activities, including a performance by a local women’s drumming collective. FREE Oktoberfest at Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway. See Oct. 6. FREE Old City Fest at 3rd & Arch Sts., Phila. Showcases work from local artists, designers, restaurants, theaters and galleries. FREE Pumpkin Pawlooza in Cherry Hill. See Oct. 6. $$$$
12 Friday
Fabulous ‘50s and Beyond Celebration at the Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood. Activities include a dance party, street fair and concert. $$$ Fairy Ball at the Garden State Discovery Museum, Cherry Hill. Little princes and princesses gather for character meet-andgreets, crafts and dancing. $$$$ South Jersey Pumpkin Show at the Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown. Find seasonal food, a decorated-wagon-and-stroller parade, a giant pumpkin display, hayrides and the Little Miss and Mr. Pumpkin Show pageant. $$
13 Saturday
Apple Festival at Kirby’s Mill, Medford. Get immersed in all things apple with food and products featuring the fruit, as well as craft booths, demos, kids’ activities and live music. FREE Boo at the Zoo at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. $$$$ Fabulous ‘50s and Beyond Celebration at the Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood. See Oct. 12. $$$ Fall Festival and Craft Show on Kings Hwy., Haddonfield. FREE Irish Festival at Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway. Enjoy live music, an Irish market, fun for kids and a food court. FREE Night Hike at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, Medford. $$ RiverCity Festival at Penn Treaty Park, Phila. Spend the day by the waterfront for live music, magic shows, field games and an inflatable obstacle course and rock wall. FREE
16 MetroKids.com
16 Tuesday
Community Night at the Franklin Institute, Phila. FREE
18 Thursday
Autism New Jersey Conference at Harrah's Waterfront Conference Center, Atlantic City. Get info, resources and support via workshops, exhibitors and networking opportunities. $$$$ Mother of All Baby Showers at the Please Touch Museum, Phila. This parents-only event features exclusive deals on products and services, spa treatments, info sessions and giveaways. $$$$
19 Friday
Spooky Overnight at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. Don your costume to meet nocturnal animals and make crafts. $$$$ Witches and Wizards Weekend in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood, Phila. Watch a Quidditch tournament, navigate a straw maze, take hayrides and make a trick-or-treat tote. FREE
20 Saturday
Access to Science at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. Kids on the autism spectrum and their families experience the museum before it opens to the public. $$$ Boo at the Zoo at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. $$$$ Costume Pet Parade at Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway. FREE International Archaeology Day at the Penn Museum, Phila. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue’s excavation sites. $$$ Pumpkin Festival at Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May. Visit a haunted house, take hayrides and join the kids’ Halloween parade. Be sure to bring nonperishable donations for a food drive. FREE Witches and Wizards Weekend in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood, Phila. See Oct. 19. FREE
21 Sunday
Boo at the Zoo at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. $$$$ Pumpkin Painting at Mood’s Farm Market, Mullica Hill. FREE
24 Wednesday
Preschool Nature Class: The Forest in Autumn at the Watershed Institute, Pennington. Little ones learn about nature while they explore outdoors, listen to stories and make a craft. $$$
26 Friday
Day-Off Adventures at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, Medford. Kids fill their day with hikes, games, animal presentations and crafts. $$$$
OCTOBER 2018
Family Fun Halloween Hootenanny at the Garden State Discovery Museum, Cherry Hill. Don your costume for trick-or-treat and a Monster Mash dance party. $$$$
Day of the Dead Celebration at the Penn Museum, Phila. Mark the Mexican holiday with music, dance, storytelling and arts & crafts. $$$
Halloween Movie Night at the Wildwood Farmers Market lot, Wildwood. Kids 12 & younger snag a bag of treats. FREE
Fall Family Day at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Phila. Festivities include a pumpkin patch, parade and picnic. $
Not-So-Scary Halloween at Fernbrook Farms, Chesterfield. Head to the barnyard for games, wagon rides, and marshmallow-roasting by a campfire. $$$
Halloween Spooktacular at Fox Park, Wildwood. Families enjoy pumpkin picking and painting, a hay maze, professional pumpkin carving, a spooky scavenger hunt, strolling superheroes and princesses and a costume contest. FREE
Spooky Overnight at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. See Oct. 19. $$$$
27 Saturday
Boo at the Zoo at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. $$$$ East Passyunk Fall Fest and Spooky Saturday at Passyunk Ave. & Tasker St. Phila. While the kids engage in pumpkin decorating, arts & crafts, trick-or-treat and costume contests, parents can browse vendors and try seasonal cocktails. FREE
Not-So-Scary Halloween at Fernbrook Farms, Chesterfield. Head to the barnyard for games, wagon rides, and marshmallow-roasting by a campfire. $$$ Philadelphia Shell Show at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. See Oct. 27. $$$ Witches' Day Out at Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway. Enter a witchhat contest and enjoy food and drink specials. FREE
Not-So-Scary Halloween at Fernbrook Farms, Chesterfield. Head to the barnyard for games, wagon rides, and marshmallow-roasting by a campfire. $$$
Family Fun continued from p. 14
Philadelphia Shell Show at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. Features competitive displays by collectors, artists and amateur scientists and an international market with jewelry, shells and books. $$$ Seaport Spooktacular at the Independence Seaport Museum, Phila. Trick-or-treat on the decks of the Cruiser Olympia, see what’s hiding in mysterious mud at the science lab, listen to ghost stories and make glow bracelets. $$$$ South Street PumpkinFest at Headhouse Square, Phila. Family activities include a straw-bale maze, seasonal food, hayride, face painting and storefront trickor-treating. FREE Trick-or-Treat Weekend at Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Twp. $$$$
28 Sunday
Boo at the Zoo at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. $$$$
OCTOBER 2018
31 Thursday
Fall Fest at the Marlton Assembly of God, Marlton. Celebrate the season with carnival games, inflatables, food and prizes. FREE
JDRF One Walk at Camden County College, Blackwood. Benefits research toward finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes. FREE
Monster Bash at Historic Smithville & Village Greene, Galloway. Get a monstrous makeover, browse vendors and watch performances. FREE
Origins of Halloween Night Hike at the Watershed Institute, Pennington. Explore Halloween magic and nature on this non-scary stroll through a jack-olantern-lit path. $$$
Trick-or-Treat Weekend at Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Twp. $$$$
FAB FREEBIE
Set out on a canoe or kayak to view ghoulishly decorated homes along Rancocas Creek and Smithville Lake during the Fall Float Festival, Oct. 14, at Smithville Park in Eastampton. Following the ride, catch a complimentary shuttle back to the park for entertainment, food and all-ages activities.
Beware of Scares Not for the faint of heart, these venues prey on your fears with special effects, menacing characters and jump-worthy surprises guaranteed to terrify all who dare to enter. Bloodshed Farms’ Fear Fest (Fri.Sun. through Oct.) in Columbus lures visitors into a former prison — moved from the Burlington County Prison Museum — and cemetery. Field of Terror (Thurs.-Sun., excluding Oct. 4 & 11), hosted by Creamy Acres in Mullica Hill, is the stuff of nightmares, whether you’re tiptoeing through haunted hallways or dodging evil clowns. Brace yourself for Dorney Park’s Halloween Haunt (Fri. & Sat. through Oct.) in Allentown, PA, featuring mazes, scare zones, themed rides and prowling monsters that are so frightening, kids 13 and younger are advised to steer clear.
Kids younger than 7 aren’t permitted to enter Terror Behind the Walls (select dates through Nov. 10) at Philly’s Eastern State Penitentiary. The famous prison’s dark history, paired with spooks that lurk at every corner, guarantee a bone-chilling experience. Fright Fest (Fri.-Sun. through Oct.) at Jackson’s Six Flags Great Adventure adds four new additions to its lineup, including an attraction that promises to play up popular fears, from small spaces to spiders to ghosts and dolls.
Log on to MetroKids.com/ familyfun for more information, including address, phone number, time & website.
MetroKids.com 17
Child Care & Early Education Directory FY: Full Year AY: Academic Year SP: Summer Program MP: Meals Provided
BS: Before School AS: After School DA: Diapers Accepted TP: Transportation Provided
SN: Special Needs DHS*: Licensed: Dept. of Health & Human Serv. DE*: Licensed: Dept. of Education DYF: Licensed: Dept. of Youth & Family Serv.
NAEYC: Accredited by National Association of Education of Young Children PAIS: Accredited by PA Assoc. of Independent Schools MSCES: Accredited by Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools AMS: Accredited by American Montessori Society
* Note: DHS License: requires annual on-site visits. DE License: 20% of all facilities are inspected annually.
BURLINGTON COUNTY
CAMDEN COUNTY (continued)
BEGINNINGS AT MFS: THE MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL Early Childhood Program, 110 E. Main St., Moorestown, NJ 856-914-4428 • MFriends.org Ages: 3 & up • Hours: 8:05am-3:10pm Beginnings at MFS: The Moorestown Friends School Early Childhood Program offers a values-based education for 3-year-olds and up. A project-based approach to learning and wide range of special subject areas are hallmarks of the experience. Moorestown Friends School is one of the only schools in the United States to offer a Coding Program to all Lower School students - Preschool through Grade 4. This innovative program has three strands: coding, problem solving and teamwork. These skills will be in high demand as the 21st century progresses. Half-day and full-day Preschool is available. Prekindergarten and Kindergarten are full-day programs. AY, SP, BS, AS, MSCES
SHINING LIGHTS PRESCHOOL AND DAYCARE CENTER 1720 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ • 856-424-4915 www.shininglightsonline.org • Ages: 6 wks.-5 yrs. • Hours: 7:00am-6pm M-F Bible-based curriculum designed by our degreed director and certified teachers focuses on your child’s individual needs. Each classroom boasts hands-on exploration and discovery promoting learning centers. Small class sizes allow a variety of programs, which include: field trips, holiday shows, cooking projects and themed days. State-of-the-art security system and fenced-in playground. FY, AY, SP, DA, DYF
ESSENTIAL BEGINNINGS LEARNING CENTER 1329 Rte. 38, Hainsport, NJ 609-667-7838 • info@essentialbeginningslc.com Essentialbeginningslc.com • Ages: 2-1/2 yrs.-13 yrs. Hours 6:30am - 6:00pm Essential Beginnings embraces the differentiation approach to teaching. This method ensures that all children can learn the content based on their learning style. FY, AY, SP, SN, DYF FUTURE SCHOLARS EARLY LEARNING CENTER Bruni Square, 1351 Rte. 38 W., B-1, Hainesport, NJ 609-518-1333 • FutureScholarsLearning.com Ages: 6 wks.-13 yrs. • Hours: 6:30am-6:30pm “Where Generations Come and Grow” Full- and half-day classes available year round. Family-owned and operated with an owner on premises daily. Offering Infant & Toddler Care, PreSchool, Drop-In Hourly Daycare, Established Full-Day Kindergarten, Before- and After-School Care with bussing for township students, Private Tutoring and Summer Camp! We are your one-stop solution for early education and child care! STOP BY TODAY FOR A TOUR! FY, AY, SP, BS, AS, DA, DYF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER 32 W. Main St., Moorestown, NJ • 856-235-5371 • www.olgcnj.org/school Ages: 4 yrs.-6 yrs. • Hours: 8:30am-3pm • school@olgcnj.org Our Lady of Good Counsel School features full- and half-day pre-kindergarten programs, as well as full-day kindergarten. Children in first through eighth grades are educated in a top-notch, Catholic school environment, where our mission to form students in the image of Jesus Christ is reinforced daily. We provide education in music, art, specialized clubs, sports, after-school enrichment programs such as Lego Robotics and Latin, Spanish, technology, and physical education. Students do not need to be Catholic to attend our school. Please call to arrange a tour. Financial aid and volunteer opportunities available. AY, SP, AS
CAMDEN COUNTY BEECHWOOD SCHOOL, PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN 441 Beechwood Ave., Haddonfield, NJ • 856-429-0303 • TheBeechwoodSchool.com • Ages: 2½ yrs.-K Preschool, Kindergarten, Childcare. Beechwood School is a family-owned, independent, statelicensed school since 1951. We offer both half-day and full-day classes year round for children 2½ through kindergarten. Call for a tour. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DYF PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF CHERRY HILL 1875 Rt. 70 East., Cherry Hill, NJ 8856-242-0034 • www.primrosecherryhill.com Ages: 6 wks.-Pre-K • Hours: 6:30am to 6:00pm Primrose Schools® is a national system of accredited private preschools that provides a premier early education and child care experience for children and families. Our Franchise Owners, Leadership Teams and School Staff partner with parents to help build the right foundation for future learning and in life. FY, AY, SP, BS, AS, MP, DA, SN, NAEYC
SARI ISDANER EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AT THE KATZ JCC 1301 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ • 856-424-4444 • KatzJCC.org/ECE Ages: 6 wks.-K • Hours: 6:45am-6:15pm, M-Th; 6pm, F Infant/Toddler Day Care, Flexible Part-Time Nursery Programs, Half- & Full-Day Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Transitional Kindergarten, & Parent/Child Classes. Enriching curriculum, based in Jewish values, in state-of-the-art, child-friendly facility. Program allows children to develop cognitively, academically, socially and emotionally and encourages the development of their inner resources: curiosity, creativity, imagination, independence, love of learning and self-esteem. Children will learn reading readiness, science, math, language, social studies, music, art, swim, gym & Jewish holiday and cultural celebrations. STEAM is incorporated to encourage creative learning and problem solving. Facility includes age-appropriate classrooms with learning and play centers, computer labs, 3 playgrounds including indoor play structure, indoor pool, gym & secure entrance. Contact for free tour. FY, AY, SP, BS, AS, DA, SN, DHS*, DE, NAEYC
18 MetroKids.com
SOUTH JERSEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 406 Church Rd., Sicklerville, NJ • 856-728-2001 www.sjchristianacademy.org • Ages: PK - 7th Grade • Hours: 8:15am-3pm M-F South Jersey Christian Academy offers an affordable Christian education for students, Preschool through 7th Grade, in the South Jersey area. We educate today’s children to be tomorrow’s Christian leaders. AY, BS, AS
GLOUCESTER COUNTY BUILDING BLOCKS CHILDCARE Applewood Dr., Logan Township • 856-975-6247 www.buildingblockscc.vpweb.com • Ages: 6 wks-12 yrs • Hours: 24 hours Building Blocks Childcare is a 24-hr. home care facility. We have daily age-appropriate activities. We also go on local trips to the park and library, as well as field trips. We are very flexible and have rates from daily to rates that include overtime. We also accept Rutgers vouchers. Rutgers Resource and Referral. FY, MP, BS, AS, DA, TP, SN HOLDING HANDS FAMILY CHILD CARE & PLAY CENTER 138 Tomlin Station Rd., Mullica Hill, NJ • 856-467-6811 Ages: Infant-School Age • Hours: 6am-6:30pm A place for families providing exceptional care, engaged learning and everyday play. A full-service center in a new facility with a gym, three playgrounds, access control system and video monitoring. FY, SP, BS, AS, DA, DHS*
BUCKS COUNTY BRIGHT BEGINNERS ACADEMY 800 Clarmont Ave., Suite A, Bensalem, PA 19020 267-520-7200 • http://brightbeginnersacademy.com Ages: 6 wks.- 6 yrs. • Hours: 6:45am - 6pm Our preschool is designed to meet the needs of every child in a developmentally inclusive setting. Our program encourages progress at a child’s own pace and according to individual needs and abilities. Play-based learning centers for math, science, dramatic play, blocks, music, creative art and technology provide opportunities to balance and stimulate both shared and independent learning experiences. Private pay and subsidized funding accepted, infant and toddler care available. Parent volunteer opportunities available. FY, AY, SP, DA, SN, DHS*, DE
The MomSpeak Roundup Moms know things. Find out what kind of things at MetroKids.com/MomSpeak where we keep an eye out for the best local parenting blogs and share with you their tips, observations and humor.
MetroKids.com/MomSpeak OCTOBER 2018
Looking for the BEST school for your child? Browse the complete 2018-2019 Guide to Schools of the Delaware Valley on your favorite device to find information on over 200 independent schools that serve PreK-grade 12, including those that support learning differences. Benchmark School
2107 North Providence Road Media, PA 19063 610-565-3741 admissions@BenchmarkSchool.org www.BenchmarkSchool.org
Thurs., Nov. 8, 2018 Thurs., Feb. 7, 2019 Thurs., Apr. 4, 2019 Thurs., May 9, 2019 Thurs., July 18, 2019 ALL 9-11am
Benchmark Summer Camp: Language arts instruction and recreation program July 1-Aug. 2, 2019 Providing bright children who may exhibit dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, auditory processing difficulty or another learning difference with comprehensive, individualized instructional plans that create a formula for success.
Benchmark provides a comprehensive academic program tailored to the way each student learns best, fostering a mastery of executive function processes and 21st-century skills. The school’s passionate, gifted faculty uses the best current research and practices to develop a detailed understanding of each student’s strengths and challenges to create a profile that guides them in providing the most appropriate instruction for each student. Through an ongoing, ever-evolving continuum of communication and care, a team of teachers and counselors mentors students and works with their parents to develop the whole child. The history of Benchmark School is rich with success stories of thousands of alumni who know who they are as learners. They creatively apply the strategies they learn at Benchmark to take charge of their learning and meet with success in high school, college and their chosen fields. Benchmark graduates are self-advocates who understand their strengths and challenges, are persistent and resilient, confident in their abilities and have an expectation of success. Celebrating 48 years of helping bright students who have yet to reach their academic potential become confident and strategic thinkers, learners and problem solvers who meet with success in school and life.
Delaware Valley
Grades/ Ages
Enrollment Student: teacher ratio
Tuition Financial aid
AIM Academy 344 $34,912-$38,975 Grades Conshohocken 1-12 6-8:1 FAO, FAPE Aimpa.org; 215-483-2461 College-prep program for bright students with learning differences. LD
Support Services
Learning Strategies
Other services/ Ad page
, , OT, ST
PBIS, Orton Gillingham, SPA, Wilson Reading
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School Survey
ATG Learning Academy 30 , , $30,540 Association Method, Warminster; Atglearningacademy.com Grades K-12 FAO Wilson Reading 5:1 OT, ST 267-803-1751 Remedial language structure program strengthens weak cognitive capacities via computer, auditory & pen-and-paper exercises. COM, LD Benchmark School 178 Grades $35,200-$36,500 Language Media; Benchmarkschool.org , , ST 1-8 FAO decoding 3:1 610-565-3741 College-prep school for those with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, auditory processing disorder and other learning differences. LD Camphill School, The Glenmoore; camphillschool.org 610-469-9236
Ages 4-21
110
Tuition on Request FAO
,
Waldorf
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Waldorf education rich in music, art & drama with various therapies and an animal/agricultural program. ASP, AUT, CP, DD, NI, PDD
Center School OrtonAges 95 $32,500 Abington; Centerschoolpa.org Gillingham, , ST FAO 6-14 8:1 p. 65 Wilson Reading 215-657-2200 Full curriculum for those with average or above-average learning potential and learning differences or a lack of reading and language skills. LD Concept School, The 30 Grades $20,750, Westtown; Theconceptschool.org Wilson Reading , , ST 7-12 Private pay 4:1 610-399-1135 Social thinking curric. for those who have difficulty focusing in class, struggle with reading comp. or find social interaction difficult. ASP, LD 100 Crefeld School; Phila. 19118 Grades $28,842-$32,918 Individualized p. 51 , Crefeld.org; 215-242-5545 7-12 FAO learning 5:1 Educates the whole child and provides a college-prep, hands-on and experiential curriculum with an emphasis on social justice. ASP, LD
Points of Pride: • Digital learning • Hearing tech • Counseling • Language decoding • Sports • Theater Grades: 1-8 Coed
of the
DIGITAL EDITION
Schools for Learning Differences/PA School, Location Website; Phone
to
Schools
In-Depth Profile
Transforming Futures. Empowering Success.
OPEN HOUSE DATES:
Guide
185 Delaware Valley Friends School Grades $33,950-$38,890 OrtonPaoli; Dvfs.org; 610-640-4150 3-12 FAO Gillingham 4:1 National recognized, coed, Quaker college-prep school for bright students who struggle with LDs in reading, writing, math, memory and more. LD
Enrollment: 180 S/T Ratio: 3:1
Tuition: $35,200-$36,500 Financial aid offered
Devereux PA - Brandywine 110 Ages PBIS, Trauma, , Glenmoore; Devereuxpa.org 7-18 FAPE informed care 12:1:1 OT, PT, ST 800-935-6789 Serves boys with a wide array of mental health, emotional & behavioral disorders, PDD and Tourette Syndrome. AUT, EMO, LD, PDD
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Devereux PA - Day School 50 Grades PBIS, Trauma, , Malvern; Devereuxpa.org FAPE 1-12 informed care 12:1:1 OT, PT, ST p. 62 484-595-6773 Serves students with a wide array of mental health, emotional & behavioral disorders, PDD, and Asperger syndrome. ASP, AUT, EMO, LD, PDD Devereux PA - Mapleton 50 Ages , , Malvern; Devereuxpa.org FAPE PBIS, Read 180 11-18 10:1:1 OT, PT, ST p. 62 610-935-6789 Multisensory education for males & females with mental health, emotional & behavioral disorders, ASDs, PDD & Asperger syndrome. AUT, EMO, LD, PDD Green Valley Academy; 75 Paoli and Parkesburg Grades ABA, Academic Club, FAO, FAPE Greenvalleyacademy.org 3-12+ PBIS 10:1 484-568-4409 Scholastic program that incorporates IEPs in low-enrollment classes with nurturing, support and mentoring. ASP, COM, DD, EMO, LD, PDD Hillside School 72 $24,500 Grades Macungie; Hillsideschool.org K-8 FAO, FAPE 8:1 610-967-3701 Rolling admissions at school for bright students with complex learning disabilities. LD
, OT, ST
Multisensory approach, Lindamood Bell
WHAT’S INSIDE:
At-a-glance surveys let parents view pertinent facts about regional schools and refer to In-Depth School Profiles for sponsor schools.
MetroKids.com/GuidetoSchools
We begin each day with a positive approach to learning.
Private Special Education … an Option You Should Know About! Sometimes, it starts with a twinkle in the eye. Just a little spark of curiosity that soon blossoms into a journey of discovery, learning and achievement. That’s because at our private special education schools, we see beyond a child’s disability, and awaken the joy and creative expression within. Our schools are welcoming places where students feel at home and are able to enjoy a rich and rewarding social life. Our students feel cherished, well cared for and respected for a very good reason—it is part of our mission and our commitment. Students at our special education schools experience a school day as it should be—filled with discovery, achievement, learning and friendship. Here, they have people they know they can count on—outstanding teachers, therapists, counselors, psychologists and job coaches who constantly encourage and support them.
With individualized attention, on-site therapies and vocational training, our schools deliver unparalleled services for students with special needs. Our New Jersey Department of Education certified special education teachers, licensed therapists and counselors provide expert, advanced instruction and support … along with plenty of smiles.
These unique services are provided at NO COST for families. Find out if private special education is the right fit for your child. Our staff can help answer your questions. To find out more about what programs may be right for your child, call us at 1-800-697-8555 or visit SpecialEducationSchools.org
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