General History of Facilities & Description of Architecture/Design

Preschool of the Arts began in 2000 in a modest basement in the East Village. It was born of our zeal to provide the Chelsea community with a preschool that merged high quality, cutting edge, arts inspired, preschool education with core Jewish values and culture. We aspired to create a school like no other in New York City. We drew so many families who shared our idealism and passion that we quickly outgrew our space. We searched for a raw space where we would be able to design our school from scratch and found the ideal location on 19th Street and 7th Avenue. We collaborated with the most innovative and inspired architects and designers with whom we attended to every detail with meticulous precision. Everything- from the shape and size of our state of the art classrooms, to the paint hues, to the location and intensity of lighting, was carefully chosen to advance our educational philosophy.
We filled our space with comfortable and beautiful furniture and inspiring materials, many derived from nature. The enthusiasm for the unique education Preschool of the Arts provided continued to spread and incredibly we soon outgrew our new facility as well. We expanded to our current magnificent 10,000 square foot facility down the block at 121 W. 19th Street. We currently maintain both facilities to full capacity and anticipate the opening of a satellite school at Cooper Square during the 2010-2011 academic year.

State of the Art Classrooms

At Preschool of the Arts we believe children are more productive and happy learners when in a calm, comfortable, and attractive space. Each classroom's airy architecture creates an inviting work and place space and provides many opportunities for children to explore and develop competence. Our classrooms are designed to facilitate center-based learning; centers typically include a dramatic play area, art center, block area, science and discovery table, writing center, and sensory table. Child-sized sinks allow children to practice self-care and hygiene and provide them with opportunities to practice everyday skills such as washing paintbrushes. Moveable child-sized tables and chairs and comfortable stuffed furniture and pillows enhance the loveliness of each classroom and help children feel comfortable. Many classrooms boast a cozy loft, a multipurpose space that serves an oasis for small group activities and dramatic play.

Art Studio & Gallery

Our school maintains its own art gallery -the J. Klaynberg Gallery-that is quickly gaining distinction in the New York City art world. It features the works of renowned as well as emerging artists. Our children have a unique opportunity to view and enjoy the various artistic exhibitions. They have been visited by many of our featured artists who they have had the privilege to speak with the children about their inspirations and creative processes. Being surrounded by art of this caliber diversifies the children's artistic experience and inspires their own creativity and work.

Indoor Garden

Our stunning indoor garden is centrally located in our preschool building. There our children plant grass and seasonal plants and, with the support of their teachers, work diligently to maintain its beauty and vitality. Our garden enlivens our school environment and brings nature inside for the pleasure of our children and school families. Tending our garden fosters responsibility, as well as children's feelings of competency, self-esteem and pride. Additionally, the garden area provides the optimal setting for engaging lessons pertaining to nature and the environment.

Outdoor Space

Our attractive outdoor space features another beautiful garden tended to by the children and equipment that promotes a wide range of physical activity - running, jumping, climbing, crouching, rolling, and creeping. Additionally, our children acquire knowledge about the world by playing at our discovery table which is alternately filled with soil, sand, water, seashells, or other tactile materials. They build tunnels, skyscrapers, and highways with our outdoor blocks. Our children have daily opportunities to play in our outdoor space. We view this space as the children's outdoor classroom. In addition to providing hours of fun it provides opportunities to learn science, math, and social studies in a dynamic, hands on manner while also promoting their gross and fine motor skills, creativity, and social development.

Indoor Gym

Our gym boasts a trapeze, trampoline, climbing dome, tunnels and other equipment that promotes gross motor development. Our children enjoy using this equipment independently in an open-ended fashion. Additionally, they use this expansive space to play more structured games under their teachers' guidance.

Observation Kitchen

Our children take pride in baking, cooking, and preparing delicious treats to enjoy at lunch and at birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and other school events. They acquire a host of skills as they follow recipes to combine ingredients to bake challah for Shabbat, cakes and cookies for their friends' school birthday celebrations, and even various foods for lunch. They bake honey cake for Rosh Hashanah, doughnuts for Chanukah, hamantashen for Purim, and matzah for Passover. In our observation kitchen they have the opportunity to watch their mixture of ingredients evolve into delicious culinary creations. Food preparation, baking, and cooking are activities that imbue children with tremendous feelings of competency and self esteem and teach them meaningful lessons about literacy, math, science, and nutrition. Of course, cooking and baking are intrinsically pleasurable and rewarding activities as well.

Social Hall

Our social hall is an expansive and beautiful multi-purpose space that accommodates up to 250 guests. We use the social hall to host parent curriculum meetings, children's athletic games, family Shabbat dinners, and other community- wide gatherings. Families that attend our preschool and other local families often use the space to host important events such as birthday parties or Bris Milahs. The social hall is also home to frequent upscale networking events hosted by the Young Jewish Professionals.

Cafe

Books and Bagels is our beautiful, Kosher dairy cafe adjoining Preschool of the Arts. It was conceived of our desire to further our schools' sense of community. Parents have an opportunity to network and socialize with one another as well as spend quality time with their children while partaking of our cafe's delicious fare. Teachers too, enjoy meeting, sharing ideas, and planning activities over delicious foods and beverages. Our cafe is filled with quality adult and children's literature for all patrons to enjoy.