The Family Annex is a rare and special institution. We cannot express what it means to us as parents to know when we drop off our children in the morning, that they are in the best hands possible. It is a place where every teacher is deeply insightful about young children, cares for them like family, and loves to come to work each day. If there is true “magic” in the world, this is it.
Our daughter has attended The Family Annex since 2017 and our son began attending in 2020. We have experienced each of the three classrooms and could not imagine a better nursery school. The teachers are masters of their craft (literally and figuratively – nearly all have master’s degrees), they know the children exceptionally well, and care for them with warmth and kindness. The Reggio Emilia philosophy is also a huge asset, with a curriculum that is tailored to the interests of the children, keeping them engaged and excited to come to school every day.
In addition, the parents are a very warm, fun, and intelligent group. We have made many great friends here. Lastly, all of this is the direct result of tremendous leadership by Nancy and Lauren. They have built a staff of exceptional teachers that love what they do and working with one another. This is not an easy task. They have also managed to achieve this while keeping tuition far lower than peer schools. We are truly grateful to be part of this community.
Ben and Lisa Eisler, Current Parents
When we thought about transitioning the kids to a full-time program, we were nervous about how they might handle the new setting and long days, especially because they were starting in the nursery program when most of the kids had joined as toddlers. The transition has exceeded all expectations. The teachers went to great lengths to learn about the kids before they had even started, which made the twins feel special. The kids are all very sweet and the parent group has been extremely welcoming. In the short time since we started at Family Annex we've been invited on group and individual play dates and to book clubs. It's been a warm and welcome experience for the entire family, even in these socially distanced times, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the Family Annex community.David and Colleen, Parents of
Andi Shapiro, Current Parent
When we moved to New York for the first time as a family, enrolling our daughter at the Family Annex was the ray of light that made our relocation meaningful and joyful. Over the last 2.5 years, it has been a blessing for us in the big city: A small, warm, welcoming community that prepares all of us to thrive as learners, as parents, and as people. Our daughter has been incredibly happy at Family Annex: She loves her teachers and friends, and is clearly inspired by the activities she engages in there. Family Annex invests in the things that matter most: truly outstanding teachers and a high teacher-to-child ratio. Not only do the teachers provide loving and thoughtful care, they do so with a rare depth of attention and ability to listen to the child. Some of our greatest parenting breakthroughs happened thanks to the suggestions of Family Annex teachers. For instance, teachers paid close attention to various issues in our daughter’s development, and gave us very effective techniques to help her. Importantly, they did not just communicate parenting suggestions, but grounded them in a subtle understanding of our daughter’s perspective and her developmental abilities. The school’s director, Nancy, has a rare combination of skills: In addition to her unassuming leadership that allows everyone to thrive and the school to run smoothly, she brings a long-term perspective on your child, supported by many years of experience at Family Annex and in the field of education. She is exceedingly perceptive and sincere, and has often given us priceless advice on simple and effective parenting strategies, as well as generous help to navigate the ever-challenging Kindergarten application process. Last but not least are the families in the community: Family Annex is a parent cooperative, and brings in people who are happy to contribute meaningfully to the functioning of the school, rising to the occasion with their time and talents because the school is truly worth it. This forms strong links between collaborating families, that in turn create an atmosphere of unhurried friendliness. Parents, children, and teachers are often gathered on the front steps to chat, and even though they are busy, they take their time to check in with each other and enjoy each other’s company. This school is truly a gem, and we are happy to recommend it in the highest way possible.
Audrey Kittredge and Augustin Chaintreau (French and Russian translations below), Current Parents
Le parcours de notre fille à Family Annex a été notre rayon de soleil quand nous sommes retournés en famille à New York. Cette école est une source de joie et de sens au cœur de la grande ville. Depuis deux ans et demi, nous sommes reconnaissants de faire partie d'un groupe chaleureux et attentionné pour chacun, qui nous a soutenu comme élève, comme parents, et comme personnes. Notre fille, épanouie, trouve un bonheur dans les relations personnelles qu'elle a construite à l'école, ainsi que dans les activités d'expressions artistiques et de recherches conçues pour son âge et son groupe d'amis. Family Annex investit dans ce qui compte: Des professeurs exceptionnels et un quotient encadrant-enfant élevé. Réflexion faite sur notre expérience de parents, les quelques ``percées'' qui nous reviennent en tête ont été le plus souvent inspirées par des conseils offerts par l'école. Le développement de notre fille était au cœur de leur attention, et c'est ainsi que plusieurs techniques nous ont été transmises, à chaque fois au moment et dans le contexte le plus utile. Nancy, qui dirige l'école, possède un talent rare: Son autorité bienveillante et son charisme soutiennent chacun et offrent l'occasion de se dépasser. Son rapport à long terme sur les enfants, comme elle les connait bien et les suit sur plusieurs années, est remarquable. Son expérience immense de l'éducation, que ce soit la pratique de l'enseignement ou le bon fonctionnement de la communauté d'une école, est irremplaçable dans la préparation toujours intimidante des candidatures de Kindergarten. Enfin, nous avons beaucoup apprécié la qualité des liens entre les familles que l'école rend possible. Comme l'école fonctionne avec plusieurs tâches coopératives, des contacts actifs se nouent, au-delà d'une simple convivialité. C'est une manière de fonctionner efficacement et de se connaître. Les parents trouvent leur façon d'apporter temps et talents, en respectant la disponibilité de chacun. La plupart des familles sont bien sûr très occupées, mais c'est pour presque tous un moment précieux que nous passons assemblés devant l'école le matin à échanger des nouvelles. En bref, cette école est un trésor et nous la recommandons avec enthousiasme et bonheur.
Audrey Kittredge et Augustin Chaintreau
Когда мы с семьей переехали в Нью Йорк, и наша двухлетняя дочка начала ходить в садик Family Annex, нам сразу он очень понравился и мы были очень рады, что именно его выбрали. И это наше начальное впечатление от садика, с его очень тёплой атмосферой, не переменилось за 2.5 года. Нашей дочке там очень нравится - она обожает своих учителей и друзей, ходит туда с радостью и даже воодушевлением. В Family Annex работают блестящие профессионалы, в каждом классе маленькое количество детей и по крайне мере 3 учителя. Учителя занимаются с детьми заботливо и с любовью, очень внимательно их наблюдая и выслушивая. Как родители мы многому научились от учителей. Например, учителя обсуждали с нами разные аспекты развития нашей дочки, и давали нам советы о разных эффективных техниках чтобы ей помочь в тех или иных аспектах. Директор школы, Нэнси, обладает редким сочетанием качеств: она прекрасный менеджер, т.к. как бы незаметно управляет школой, которая функционирует гладко и успешно; с другой стороны, её многолетний педагогический опыт в этом садике и до него позволяет ей видеть развитие детей в длительной перспективе. Она восприимчивый и искренний человек, которая много раз давала нам ценные и эффективные советы по воспитанию нашего ребенка, и также много нам помогала с подачей документов в разные школы, в Kindergarten класс. Семьи и родители, с которыми мы познакомились в садике, тоже заслуживают похвал: в садике кооператив родителей, где все отдают свое время и прилагают свои таланты для того или иного нужного проекта. Это сотрудничество поддерживает тесные связи между семьями, которые создают прекрасную атмосферу и перерастают в дружбу. Родители, учителя, и дети часто встречаются на ступеньках садика, чтобы поговорить, и несмотря на то, что все работают и заняты, общаются с интересом и с удовольствием. Мы считаем, что этот садик замечательный, и от всего сердца рекомендуем его новым семьям.
Ксения (Одри) Киттредж и Августин Шантро
Marai's three years at the Family Annex were filled with wonder, joy, and lots of laughter. Her teachers, all, were caring, dedicated, and very special!
David Pincus and Colleen Major, Former Parents
We were at Family Annex from 2017-2019. It was a beautiful experience for us: from nurturing teachers to a safe environment, children were encouraged to express themselves through art and music in the most creative way. As a small cooperative school, parents become part of the school too, creating a supporting community, that lasts long after you leave the school. Highly recommended!
Sara Serpa, Former Parent
We will always cherish the memories of our time at the Family Annex. We were at the Annex for both Nursery and Pre-K from 2017-2019. Not only did we encounter great warmth and dedication from all the teachers and Nancy, the director, we were also lucky to find an extremely supportive community that has and will continue to make an impact in our life in this city.
Sara and André Matos, Former Parents