Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando - JCC4517

Pretty much the best preschool in town.

Words cannot describe the love that is inside that building!

this is the best organized facility in the orlando area. from the fitness center to after-school activies & community events it's the place to go!

The best preschool around! The staff is loving and the parents are very active which adds up to a great environment for the kids. I highly recommend this preschool!

The JCC preschool is the only place that I will send my child. My 18 month old was learning math skills, reading skills and attending music classes and I didn't even know that was possible at that age. He is now in the 4's program and is thriving! Their parenting center (Shayna's Village is part of what makes the JCC an amazing place. I have taken their art, music, and science mommy and me classes with my infant/toddler and as my son got older he has taken drama, art and photography. Best preschool by far!

I am a stay-at-home mom who realized after a year that it takes a family to raise a happy, successful child ... and I found my family at the JCC!!!! We started with the mommy-and-me program at Shayna's Village and all had a great deal of fun with art, music, yoga, and even science. My two girls confidently sailed into the part-time program, enjoying loving, attentive and nurturing teaching staff all through their preschool years. Does this level of care and attention cost? ... You bet it does! It is worth the while? ... Over, and over, and over!!!!!! For my family it was worth denying ourselves some luxuries in order to send our girls to this wonderful preschool!!!!!

The JCC Pre-school is the ONLY place I would trust the care of my child to. He is happy, well cared for, and learning so much every day! Everyone in the staff knows his name and greets us with a smile at all times!

Their BEST KEPT SECRET.....Their Mommy and Me classes !!!! While we love their preschool (all three of my kids have gone their part time), I REALLY love their Parenting Center (Shayna's Village!!!) I have done baby yoga, music classes, art classes, sign language, even science class, all with a child under 2!!! My older child (3) has done their lunch time programs including drama, science, art, photography and cooking!!!! AND THE BEST PART... when you join the parenting center you get FREE gym time on Tuesdays and FREE programing on Friday!!! Including Storytime and a Sing-a-long music time!!!

We chose the JCC Preschool several years ago because my husband and I felt we needed to encourage our daughter to better understand our Jewish heritage. Even though she started mid-year in the 4s program, she was warmly welcomed by her teachers and her new friends and quickly fit in. We were amazed at the broad expanse of topics that were being taught to her. Not only did she learn about the ABCs and 123s, she was introduced to Hebrew, Spanish, computers, the visual and performing arts, Jewish holidays, personal health and safety, science and geography. Most importantly, she gained confidence in all areas of her life. From the playground and swimming pool, to the stage and the classroom, the staff carefully challenged her to excel. She was well prepared for kindergarten—poised, respectful, well rounded, confident and already knowledgeable of so many of the concepts that were taught in kindergarten. We now have our youngest children at the JCC. They, like their sister, started school mid-year and were immediately accepted by the teachers and the other children into the friendly and nurturing environment of the classroom. Their experience has been identical to their sister’s. They are growing into more confident and knowledgeable individuals each day. They still have a year to go before kindergarten, so we expect them to shine there with the amazing start they have gotten at the JCC Preschool.

Horray for the JCC!!!! My kids return this summer for another awesome camp experience. They are all excited about going back this summer (ages 4,9 and 14) The staff are the best. Always kind and loving towards my children and myself. My kids will spend time cooking, making pottery, swimming and going on the best field trips. I don't have to worry about them as I know they are all safe and having a great time. My pre-schooler will learn how to swim this summer. He can't wait to go back and see his friends and teachers.

I have to disagree "KELKIM". Not only are the fees mentioned FROM THE BEGINNING,(and possibly a bit higher than most), they're worth every single penny! My daughter attended the J when I planned to be a stay at home mom. At about 20 months of age, I realized that my daughter needed more than I could provide at home. I got way more than I bargained for. There were countless times when I would sneak a LONG peek - without the teachers even knowing - and they were so loving, patient and best of all, had happy faces. It was obvious to me that they loved their job and they genuinely loved the children. After my son was born, again, I planned to stay home with him for a few years. However, after about 18 months of not being able to take a shower or brush my teeth before my husband came home, I decided to enroll my tazmanian devil into the JCC as well. This was one of the best decisions I could've made. It brings tears to my eyes knowing how loved and cared for he really is. Honestly!!!! I get detailed reports on how he's eating, drinking, sleeping....what activities he's done for the day. When I pick him up, he's CLEAN and happy and hesitates to leave. We have a very happy home life, yet he chooses to stick around as long as possible. I find that to be so comforting. I can't end this without mentioning that my daughter went into Kindergarden knowing so much, they moved her to another class in her 3rd week. She's not too happy, but I'm thrilled! She learned more in PreK at the J than I can say. And she had a BLAST! (The wedding between Q & U, etc). I can't wait to see how my son does. He's already learned so much in the 4 months he's been there. He's talking so much more and pointing out things and sounds, singing songs, saying the names of his classmates before bed (every night) and is just blooming :o) I've said too much already... and have probably lost readers by now... but I assume that my point has come across well. The JCC Rocks!

My grand daughter went to JCC and I never saw so much love and dedication as the teachers at JCC. They treated her as though she were their own and she loved them the same way. I was heartbroken when she started kindergarden, for I knew it was going to be so different for her, and yet, she did adjust. And smart! You bet. Now my grandson who is almost two goes there and gets the same love and attention as Gabby, and that thrills me. I am allowed to go and visit and interact whenever I want and that is great. Any one who has a child that goes there, can visit at any given time, and they will ALWAYS see love given with each child there. These teachers are all so loving and caring that it is winds up being a wonderful and loving adventure, rather than a traumatic time away from Mom and Dad. Three cheers for the JCC.

It's very expensive (around $1000/month) PLUS you have to pay registration/tuition coverage fees EVERY YEAR that amount to almost $700. They don't tell you this up-front. You think you're paying that amount once at the very beginning, but it's every year. When it came time to re-register for the second year and I was surprised by these fees, I asked four other parents what they thought. Someone mentioned it to the director and she called me personally to ask me to stop talking about it! What is she trying to hide...

In my life I've never experienced such an amazing staff full of wonderful, involved, enthusiastic, caring teachers and administration. The school and activities offered are beyond compare. I recommend this school and camp 100%! I can't imagine our lives without the JCC!

Dear Marcy,

As I catch a moment in the interim between graduation and camp, I want to drop you a line to let you know how very pleased Jeff and I are with Zachary's experience at the JCC preschool.

I remember you leading me on a tour as I was deciding where Zachary would attend preschool. As I toured different classrooms with you, I was impressed with the friendliness of the kids and teachers. The clincher--what I consider the most important needs of a preschool age child--was when a child ran up to you, excited and bursting at the seams to tell you a story. You bent down to his eye level and listened intently as he told you that another child just pooped on the floor. Without missing a beat, you told him that it is nice to say hello to people when they enter the room, and then we can hear your story. You then acknowledged the poop on the floor story, in a way that a 4-5 year old would want to be acknowledged. These social lessons I witnessed from that very first tour made me feel good about Zachary at the JCC.

In the fours, Mrs. Ortiz and Mrs. Mosseri helped Zachary transition from home to preschool just about seamlessly.

In pre-k, Zachary blossomed. Ms. Lyons' caring, fun, energetic personality was a perfect balance for his sweet, shy, reserved style. At the beginning of the year he would make excuses for why he did not want to participate in some activities. By the end of the year Zachary was genuinely excited about participating. On graduation day, I asked him how he felt; he said he was so excited he could not even talk. I was in the classroom quite often and witnessed Ms. Lyons' genuine excitement toward the students. For Zachary to be able to learn that kind of emotion is, as they say in a commercial, priceless!

Academically, Zachary continually surprises me. I am frequently very pleased to hear him say so many things that had to come from Ms. Lyons. Just the other day he was counting by 10s, which I had no idea he knew - he learned it at school.

Through classes I have taken, books I have read and research I do, I feel that the curriculum Zachary was exposed to at the JCC was what he needed to help build the strongest foundation for a happy life. Success can be defined in so many different ways. If he can be happy by forming strong social bonds and caring about people, I firmly believe he will be successful. Zachary's education over the past 2 years has given him a successful beginning!

Thank you for all you do,

Sheryl Asarnow

My child attended the JCC for over a year. He was in the infant and toddler classes. We loved the teachers and felt that our child learned a lot while there. The teachers change an area of the room every month or so to bring in a new theme (grocery store, garden, etc.) and they are very creative with art projects. The discipline was appropriate and effective (basically time out in a loving manner but called something else which I forget). The academic lessons are interesting for the children and well thought out, but not overwhelming. The children have many activities (music, Judaica, water play/swimming, gym, etc.) On the one or two occasions we had a concern, the administration was very receptive and reacted promptly. Overall, we loved the JCC except for the money. It is very expensive (tuition, tuition insurance and monthly activity fee), but we felt like it was worth it b/c our child was so well cared for.

We had a great time at the Family Fun Day, We were surprised at ALL THE THINGS FOR KIDS to do there!! It was a GREAT TIME and we were proud to be a part of it!! You really should check out the JCC for family fun and entertainment--They also offer a lot of other services that we are sure you will enjoy!! Thanks Again JCC. Tom & Donna Backstage Magic & Novelties