
Truly
a Community
My daughter
loved MCNS from the very beginning. When she first began the 3's class,
she was very quiet and shy. Now, as the 4's class comes to an end, she
has blossomed into a friendly, playful, and social little
butterfly. Not only are the children supported and welcomed
into the school, but the parents are as well. My daughter and I have
both developed friendships with people that will continue to grow, even
as school ends. The name of the school truly says it all
Merrick COMMUNITY Nursery School.
Ava's
Mom
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Thanks MCNS
My daughter
Jenna's years at MCNS
are simply irreplaceable. Not only did she learn her ABCs, how to play
"nicely" and negotiate, experience life's most beautiful wonders, but
she also made her very first friendships here because of the love and
tenderness that surrounded her. She truly could not have had a better
experience for her forming years of school. As an elementary school
teacher, these elements are so very important in setting the foundation
for a successful child. Thank you from the bottom of my heart
Lauren
Marciente
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A Passion
for Teaching
To all of the
new parents who are looking for the perfect school for your
children….look no further. We were lucky to be referred to
Merrick Community from a friend who was sending her children there. The
thought of allowing someone else to teach and watch over your child for
a few hours without you there can be daunting. Those fears that come
with finding the best preschool for your precious children will be
calmed when you meet the teachers at MCS.
I have three children who all
have very different personalities. By the first parent/teacher meeting,
each teacher had absolutely ‘pegged’ who my
children were….their likes and dislikes, their skill sets,
what makes them tick. My first reaction was that they pay attention to
detail and that my children were getting the individual attention that
they need. All three children love going to school. They talk about
their day, they talk about their teachers affectionately and most of
all they come home happy and smarter. So you might say, how can a 2, 3
or 4 year old come home smarter? There are examples for each grade but
I will tell you briefly about The Great Artists art show that the 4
year olds participate in. Each child learns about and paints 12 Great
Artists and one evening they display their work and talk about one
particular artist. It is nothing short of amazing that the MCS teachers
led by Miss Jodie, Miss Joan, Miss Ellen and Miss Maureen are able to
teach these young children about 12 artists and keep their interest and
attention.
MCS is a cooperative school which means parents participate
when scheduled in the classroom. What a great way to see firsthand how
your child is interacting and developing over the year. As parents, we
are able to watch how the teachers interact with our children, how they
respond and have a hand in their first exposure to
learning….what more could you ask for?
The most important
factor for our family is that the teachers at MCS love what they do and
have a true passion for teaching. It shows in their faces and their
actions every day.
Miss Joan, Miss Abbe, Miss Ellen, Miss Colleen, Miss
Jill, Miss Jodie, Miss Maureen and Miss Barbara made my children love
school. There is no better gift a teacher can give a child or their
parents and for that they will always hold a very special place in our
hearts.
Judy
and Jerry Kenny; parents of Katie (graduating 4’s), Maddie
& Ryan (currently in 2’s)
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Leaps and
Bounds
Before
attending Merrick Community Nursery School my little girl was painfully
shy. Over the past two and a half years with the program, she has made
leeps and bounds socially as well as with her letters, numbers, and
knowledge of the world around her. We find comfort and security in the
trust we feel for the the staff at MCNS because they are like family
members to all of us. The playground outside is huge and there are many
different toys, art projects, and field trips made available to the
children. We are grateful and blessed to have been able to give this
opportunity to our child.
Michele
and Joey Z
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A Special Thanks
I just had to
write you and thank you ALL for the most memorable pre-school
experienceFor Justin and for me and John as well. You all have
transformed my little babyInto such a well-developed, independent
caring and sharing boy who is so ready and eager For kindergarten. We
have enjoyed getting to know all of you the past two years. It has been
such a wonderful experience participating for us and for Justin. We all
will really miss that next year. Not only was it great to experience
what theywere learning and to see how they were interacting with each
other , but it was alsoso heart-warming to see how much they bonded
with all of you and how beautifullyyou treated each and every child. It
made me feel so safe and secure knowing that Justin would be taken care
of by all of you each and every day. As we pulled away yesterday Justin
said he was feeling very sad, so I asked why (thinking heWould say he
misses Ryan or Kate) and he said I want to cry because I am never going
to seeMy teachers ever again and I will miss them L I re-assured him
that this baby will be goingTo MCNS and he will definitely see all of
you again . We all feel so part of your MCNS family and feel so blessed
to have had this experience.Thank you all for all of your hard work and
great memories you have made for me and my family
Nicole
Hayes
We finally
sent our youngest child to Merrick Community Nursery School!!!
For many
years we lived
within walking distance of MCNS and would pass the
school while out for a family walk or a bike ride. My oldest
child, who had attended a different preschool, would always stop and
look through the fence at all of the outdoor fun asking “Why
didn’t I get to go there?”. My wife and I
would just shrug our shoulders. I can’t
tell you how many times we went through this same
conversation. The day finally came when we were to decide
where to send our youngest child to nursery school and pre-k.
By then we had received many complimentary reports about MCNS and
investigated it for ourselves. When we finally signed up we
realized that we had missed out on a local gem that was so close to us.
While our youngest was about to start her school experience, our oldest
was still complaining that she had wanted to attend. Well,
the oldest attends every school event with us and enjoys it as if she
were the one attending. It is a loving, nurturing,
educational and fun experience for any child. I highly recommend not
overlooking MCNS like I first did.
Mr.
and Mrs. B
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Dear Fellow
Parents,
One of the
most important decisions we make as parents is the school we select for
our children’s preschool education.
I underscore
“education,” because Merrick Community Nursery
School believes that’s what the primary goal of pre-schooling
should be. A child’s thirst for knowledge is
extremely active at that age, and sets the stage for future educational
achievement.
Our school
goes far beyond the ABC’s and 1-2-3’s.
For Example, we teach appreciation of great artists of our time and
showcase their works with trips to a local art museum. How
surprised would you be if your toddler came home one day and out of the
clear blue, started talking about Picasso’s paintings? And oh
yes, our own little artists are recognized with an art show of their
own at school.
To get
imaginative juices flowing, we recently staged a one-week
“let’s pretend” trip around the
world. With homemade ticket, passport and paper
“suitcase” in hand, kids were welcomed aboard a
make-believe jet by our little pilot, flight attendant and boarding
steward. At take-off, a parent, a native of the country they
visited, described what they were about to see. After
“landing” and getting passports stamped, the kids
continued to learn about those places. They cooked tortillas
in El Salvador, went to a luau in Hawaii, built a Wailing Wall out of
sugar cubes in Israel, ate rice with chopsticks in China and danced in
Greece, it was more than a blast, but more importantly a prime example
of how we combine learning with fun…and the unique way we
get parents and teachers to work together in the cooperative
Educational environment, to make the children’s first
separation a positive learning experience.
As the proud
working mother of two children ages 2 and 5, who are getting so much
out of Merrick Community Nursery School, I would be remiss if I
didn’t recommend this school to others in similar
circumstances. If you’d like to see how a good
nursery school can be. I suggest making an appointment and
check us out with your family. While you’re there,
please say hello to my Cassie and Mikey. If you’re
nice they may even give you a tour.
Sincerely,
Grateful
Mom of Mikey and Cassie
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Your child's
first learning experience
What do you
want for your child’s first learning experience? If
you are like my wife and I you want your child to be in a friendly,
warm and loving environment, where learning comes from experiencing
life in age appropriate fashion. An added bonus would be if
the other parents have the same commitment to their
children’s early learning experience as you. If this seems
like what your seeking, MCNS is the place you want your child to
experience. From their parent and me class through their 4
year old program, you and your child will be afforded decades of
traditions and an experienced staff, dedicated to fostering a learning
environment that is fun and meaningful for both child and
parent.
Both of our
daughters had great experiences there and to this day the staff at MCNS
is like an extended family to our family. But understand what makes
this place really work is that you the parent will need to be engaged
in your child’s learning experience. From class time to
weekend maintenance
you will become a part of the MCNS family. Your
child will see you in the classroom helping out and will know if
you’re going off on a Saturday to do fall clean up. Now if
you look at price and compare to other schools and say well for the
same price I can send my child to XYZ and not have to be involved and
make the commitment of time then you’ll miss the beauty,
tradition of being a part of your child’s early education at
MCNS.
Too many
people associate the term cooperative with less expensive program, but
this is not the case and in this era of two working parents
it’s difficult to find the time to make the commitment to
MCNS. But if you can make this commitment, like any
commitment that doesn’t come easily, you and your family will
be rewarded for many a year to come. As your child will have
learned and be ready for kindergarten and you will have been a part of
that experience too.
A
proud and grateful dad Mr. G.
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Happy 4 year
old
The moment I
walked into MCNS I knew it was the place for our family. As a
parent of an only child, you can imagine how I researched nursery
schools. I dragged my son around with me from school to
school with him clinging to my leg trying to figure out where he would
thrive best.
When we
entered MCNS, we were welcomed with open arms. I was
immediately introduced to other parents, teachers, and staff.
My son was asked to play, and joined in building with construction
blocks, and even got to hold the guinea pig! He
stayed the entire 2 hours and had snack, as I spoke with the director
and learned all about this special place.
Seeing my son
immediately so happy and content sold me on MCNS, and I have never
looked back. This was the best decision I have made as a
parent so far.
Mommy
of a happy, thriving 4 year old
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A Thank You
Letter
Let me start
by saying that there really are no words to express how grateful we are
to all of you for giving my daughter a second home with four very
special new friends who are as nurturing to her as her own family.
Never in my
wildest dreams did I even expect to separate so early let alone
ever. I came to you with a child who actually cried until she
was ill at the thought of school - I have a little girl who is so
excited that every morning she wakes up asking me "Mommy school
today?" You all are a very special and amazing group of women.
By the way,
if I could have I would have told you all this in person, but I would
have been crying too much to get any of these words out.
With much
love and appreciation,
A
loving family
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Slow
Separation
Sending my
son to a nursery school was a major milestone for our family.
I visited numerous nursery schools before moving to Long Island, and
chose MCNS for it's uniqueness, particularly the open slow
separation program. My son at the age of two was very
attached and I wanted his school experience to be fun.
Keeping in mind the way a two year old views the world, I was not
willing to sneak out on him or let him cry when I leave. MCNS
is the perfect place for a smooth loving adjustment. I had no
deadline - a time when I had to say goodbye at the gate. The
teachers were amazingly helpful with their input and setting a loving
atmosphere.
Today my son
runs happily to school and says "I'll see you after the Goodbye Song
mommy". I take him to school today knowing that he is in good
hands. A parent is never turned away and is always welcome to
be in class. I know that he is in a place where he is loved,
and where he learns about the world through play and fun
activities. I know he plays in an environment where positive
behaviors are reinforced, and negative ones are corrected before they
take root. No words can express my satisfaction with the
school, and MCNS will always be cherished in our hearts.
Daniel's
Mommy
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Wonderful
Place
Merrick
Community Nursery School has been a wonderful place for my daughter as
a student and for me as a parent as well. When I first went
to look at Merrick Community Nursery School, my intention was to find a
place for my daughter when she turned 3 the following year, but I was
so impressed with the school and my daughter had such a good time there
during our visit that I decided to enroll her in the 2 year old
program. It was the best decision I ever made. The
curriculum is age appropriate and teaches while still allowing children
to be children. I was also given the chance to separate from
my daughter when I felt she was ready rather than forced to leave her
by a set date.
Merrick
Community Nursery School lets you be as involved in your
child’s education as you want to be, which has been a very
rewarding experience for me as a mother. I love being able to
participate and watch her mature and learn new things at
school. The teachers are also fantastic and treat our
children as they would their own. I cannot imagine my
daughter at any other school or having any better preparation for
kindergarten.
Alexa's
Mom
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Amazing
Teachers
As a parent
it is not easy
to decide if your two year old is ready to go to school
and if your child has any delays that decision can be even
harder. MCNS was the perfect place for my daughter's
school career to begin because I was allowed to stay with her for as
long as we both needed. Their view of separation, that there
should not be a time limit, was exactly what I was looking for.
It was an amazing opportunity for me to be able to watch as
my daughter quickly adjusted to school, learned to follow the
routine and made friends.
MCNS is a
special place due to the amazing teachers and the amount of parent
involvement. You walk in everyday and feel welcomed
and wanted. My daughter flourished under Joan's
loving care and I could not have made a better decision for her first
school experience.
As I write
this it is July, both of my daughters are at MCNS Camp having a great
time with their "old" friends and making new ones.
Becca's
mom
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One of a Kind
My son,
Devin, has attended MCNS
now for two
years. As an educator and a mother, I can honestly say that MCNS is
truly one of a kind. I have visited numerous nursery programs in the
area and no others can compare. MCNS has exceptional teachers that take
a developmental approach to learning that insures that children
experience the excitement and wonderment of learning on a daily basis.
My husband and I are reminded every day of how much Devin learns at
MCNS as he recites the lines to a fairy tale play, has conversations
with us about eating habits of a walrus or rushes home to tell us about
the chicks that hatched at school. I truly believe that Devin will not
only be prepared to enter kindergarten, but more importantly he will be
a lifelong learner. And for that, we will be forever indebted and
grateful!
Devin's
Mom
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Home Away
From Home
My daughter
attended Merrick Community Nursery
School and Day Camp for three years and now that she has entered
kindergarten, I truly believe that MCNS has played a major role in
preparing her emotionally and socially for that transition. She
absolutely loves school and her new teacher and I believe she harbors
that love from being at MCNS since she was two years old. The teachers,
parents and children are a close knit community and the children feel
that closeness. They feel that school is a safe place; a
“home
away from home” and that learning is fun. The knowledge she
obtained at MCNS was amazing; science, artists, animals, Spanish, field
trips, in addition to the nursery school basics. I have no doubt that
Ava will thrive in kindergarten and in the future and that MCNS was an
important part of that foundation.
My son has been in the school and day camp for two years and also loves
it. He enjoys playing with the teachers and children and looks forward
to going to school.
I made a great choice by sending my children to MCNS and will maintain
my relationships with the teachers, the school and the friends I have
made there for years to come.
Ava
and Tyler's Mom
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An
Appreciative Grandmother
It is often
said that ‘one picture is worth 1000 words.” I wish
you could have seen my grandson’s face light up when I tell
him he has school today. He actually jumps up and down. He is so happy
and so am I.
The teachers and staff definitely deserve an accolade for their work at
MCNS
Rose
Russo
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