Testimonals from Our Parents

30+ Reasons IAAS is a First Class Education

1. The music, piano and dance program are at a very high level, a level of consistency and quality education I have never seen before in a preschool.
2. All of the children’s specialty classes (karate, music, stretch, piano, violin, art and science) are housed under one roof and are incorporated into the child’s day. Most mothers drive from place to place to have their children experience the best, but here it is in one place.
3. The focus for the children is free play, which will make them better thinkers and communicators throughout their primary and secondary education and beyond.
4. When the weather is nice, the kids get to spend more time outdoors. The curriculum is flexible because it is centered on the interests/needs of the children, and not the teachers or administrators.
5. Projects are made with recycled materials. Milk cartons are reused as planters; toilet paper cardboard is used to make binoculars.
6. My child comes home and talks about the myriad of things (the leaves, trees) she finds beautiful. (She never did this when attending her previous preschool.)
7. The teachers always use positive reinforcement and subtle sign language to show what is correct and what is not. They are also very thorough in explaining both regular instruction and the cause and effect of actions and words.
8. After 2 months, my child was well on her way to becoming fluent in proper Japanese. (I speak to her in both Japanese and English, my husband speaks to hear in English, and so she spoke very little Japanese in the beginning of the year.) Read about the benefits of learning a second (or third) language in “The Bilingual Advantage.”
9. The principal/founder is an expert on language acquisition and values education at every level and in subject matters across the board. She teaches the Whales and the Saturday Asunaro class. She also stops in to read to every class throughout the school year.
10. Educational reports show that a high quality preschool education results in higher achievement and fewer problems later on in life. (*See NPR story below)
11. Children who may have been restless with pent up energy work with purpose. They are soon able to explain what they are doing and what they have achieved.
12. The teachers really give the children the opportunity to explore, and are delighted when they act upon their curiosity.
13. If a child is about to do something dangerous or risky, the teachers are quick to instruct and warn the child in detail.
14. The family is the child’s 1st community. The school is often his or her 2nd community. The school has a tremendous sense of community because of the way it celebrates and validates many nations and cultures.
15. The teachers speak to the children and one another with kindness, respect and warmth.
16. The other parents/guardians are friendly and it is inspiring to watch them communicate with their children.
17. There is a forest, library and museum right next to the school if the children want to explore any of them.
18. Nowhere else will the child receive a handmade birthday card from her teachers AND another one from her principal and the assistant director.
19. We presently live in a time where music and art programs are being completely cut out of schools in both Bergen County, New Jersey, and the United States in general. So while some preschools have a music teacher that visits the class once or twice a week, the children at IAAS have music daily. While other schools seem to have anxiety about funding the Arts, this school seems to be shouting, We Celebrate Music and Dance!
20. The annual holiday concert and art exhibit are always described by parents as being “out of this world.”
21. The school celebrates imagination. The school allows the children to work as a team to build enormous sculptures. This year the children made a giant elephant (Elmer), giraffe and zebra for its Africa themed art exhibition. I was also impressed that the school kept it in the Arts room as a testimony to remind the children: You can do anything!
22. The teachers often work overtime for special events (creating costumes and preparing) for the benefit of the children and their families.
23. At the once/month birthday party, the children get to try a different ethnic food together, followed by cake. It is amazing to watch the children gobble up different foods with their friends.
24. At the once/month birthday party, the children get to try a different ethnic food together, followed by cake. It is amazing to watch the children gobble up different foods with their friends.
25. Parents can correspond with teachers on a daily basis through the use of a notebook that is kept in the child’s backpack.
26. The teachers take every precaution to make sure that the children are safe. They even do not wear accessories to prevent snagging or harm. Decorations that might snag are never placed at a child’s eye level.
27. My child is now telling me strictly (but gently) when I am not minding my manners at the dinner table.
28. The children who attend are articulate and interesting.
29. There are early drop-off and late pick-up options for working parents like me.
30. The school openly welcomes the whole family. There are programs that my 1-year old can enjoy (free mommy & me; baby rhythms class; sitting in on her sister’s piano lessons with Miss Manami.) There is a ballet and jazz dance program for the caregivers after drop-off, with a babysitter in attendance if necessary.
31. Rather than simply being tolerant of different people from different lands, the school actively celebrates and welcomes the notion of difference. A deep question that might occur in the children’s heads might be, “What does it mean to be different?” We live in a plural society in the Tri-State/ Metropolitan area, and this teaches both empathy and self-acceptance.
My daughter loves school so much that she waits by the car in subzero weather for me to get ready and open up the car. Her eyes shine as brightly at the end of the school year as they did in September."