The Kaplan Cooperative Preschool is the newest addition to Hoboken preschools~and each year it is bigger and better. The school was started by the United Synagogue of Hoboken 3 years ago with one class. These founding children will graduate this spring! Next fall, the school will offer five morning classes (9:00am-noon) for children ranging from 2 to 5 years, and afternoon enrichment opportunities (noon-3pm) for all.

Kaplan is located at 115 Park Avenue in the Synagogue's Learning Center Building. This year the school uses two classrooms, with the 2 1/2s and 3s classes in the morning, and the 4 class in the afternoon. But next year the school is expanding to include another floor of the building - this will bring the space to a total of four classrooms. All of the classes (2 1/2s, 3s and 4s) will meet in the morning, and for the first time the school will offer the option of a full-day program.

To begin at Kaplan in the 2 1/2s class, children must literally be 2 by September. (That's New Jersey State licensing rules - if your child misses the cutoff slightly, they may still be eligible; however, an adult must be onsite the entire time until your child is 2.) You can sign your child up for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days a week in this class. You also have this flexibility with the 3s class - children may attend 3, 4, or 5 days a week. All students in the 4s class attend Monday through Friday. All children are eligible for the afternoon programs - again you may sign up for any number of days.

The school has a developmentally appropriate curriculum for each age level. But what makes it unique in Hoboken is the Jewish curriculum. Throughout the year the children learn about the Jewish holidays, observe Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) together weekly, and visit with the Rabbi on Fridays. The Rabbi - who is also an excellent musician and preschool father - leads the children in song and dance as he introduces them to Jewish life.

The school staff includes a head teacher and assistant teacher for each class, movement and music specialists, and the Rabbi. In addition, the classes also take a "field trip" to Echo of Art once a month. As well, Kaplan is a cooperative school - and each class also has a "helping parent." Class size varies from 10-16 children (depending on the size of the classroom).

As for coop duties, you are "helping parent" about one time per month. In addition, each family also has a coop job (shopper, scheduler, class president, fundraising, etc.) and is obligated to help with regular school cleanups or other equivalent assignment.

Applications for the school are available in January. Synagogue members and siblings have priority enrollment from mid January to mid February. Then enrollment opens to the entire community.

We are very satisfied Kaplan parents. My older son is now in his second year, and my younger child will begin there next fall. (Further disclosure: we are members of the synagogue and I serve on the preschool board.) The benefits to me are multi-faceted - most importantly, the excellent and highly professional staff, the nurturing environment, the developmental (and fun!) curriculum, and the additional benefit of the Jewish curriculum. In addition, I also appreciate the flexibility of the school (this year my son attends 4 days/week); the early preschool 2 PI year (that was great for me, my son started in the 2s class when I had a newborn); and the location (it's the closest preschool to our home).

Clearly we love the school, but I do want to add a cautionary note for those who are not looking for a religious preschool. Kaplan is a Jewish preschool. The school celebrates Hanukkah and Purim, not Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day. There are non-Jewish families at the school - many of whom choose not to send their children on Fridays. However, Jewish holidays are taught throughout the entire week and the children sing a Hebrew blessing before snack every day. That said, many of the non-Jewish families continue to sign up their children because the standards of excellence are high and the school is such a warm and caring place.