BY JOSH ROGERS | There are many dozens of families on the waiting lists for pre-K seats at PS11 and 33 in Chelsea, including mine — but there is a full-day program nearby still accepting students.
The Salvation Army NY Temple pre-K center at 132 W. 14th St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.) is off to a great start, and is anxious to increase enrollment. I was impressed with Johanna Torres, the school’s director, and the other teachers when I first met them three weeks ago, right before school started. My wife and I continue to be happy with the school now that our son is enrolled.
Torres is an experienced early childhood educator, and I was amazed that she and the Salvation Army were able to hire such obviously capable teachers in such a short amount of time.
The school occupies the entire second floor of the Salvation Army building with two classrooms stocked with brand new furniture and educational toys, and a kitchen which serves free hot breakfast and lunch to all students.
The program has no religious component since it’s city-funded, and runs 8:45 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. (the hours were tweaked this week in rapid response to some parent requests). There is now an after-school program whereby a McBurney YMCA staff member will pick up the children and walk them across the street to participate in Y activities until 5:45 p.m..
Our son, so far, is happy too. Why not? The first week, one girl, who shares his sense of humor, said she wants to marry him, and another boy told him, “You’re my best friend.”
For more info, contact Sarah Fay at sarah.fay@use.salvationarmy.org or by calling 212-337-7439.
