Most parents drop their children off at preschool and then move on with their day.
At this northern Manhattan school, the parents follow their kids right through the front door.
Since the school’s 2011 opening, parents have been a mainstay at Osher, from teaching classes, to leading field trips or balancing the books. In exchange, they receive work/study grants that allow the school to be self-sustaining and affordable for families wanting this caliber of a preschool experience for their children.
Anna Pervukhin is a criminal defense attorney in Manhattan. Two of her children graduated the school, and she has twins in the wings waiting for their turn to attend. Pervukhin is a passionate supporter of Osher and has dedicated her volunteer hours to marketing the school as well as redesigning its website.
When students expressed an interest in shopping and storefronts, Kirschenbaum hauled out a big cardboard box and they had a go at it. They measured, sawed (with their teacher’s help), created signage, and chose merchandise. In the end, they had a fun store to play with and in the process they accrued mathematical, literacy, and cooperation skills. Another box became a space shuttle (a popular haunt for kids eager to blast off) in conjunction with the class’ unit on space.
The small school teaches Judaism and the Hebrew alphabet through a hands-on, Reggio-inspired approach. Students made lightning and thunder to mimic the giving of the Torah, and planted trees in honor of the holiday of Tu B’Shvat. To learn about the concept of kosher, they marched off to a neighborhood store to check out kosher products and symbols.
With a program built so profoundly on the trifecta of parents, teachers, and children, Osher’s inspiration travels naturally beyond the classroom.
We had such a wonderful year at Osher that we have stayed connected ever since we've left. The Kirschenbaums did such a lovely job with our son, Binyamin. It all culminated in having our son's upshirin in the classroom during the final month, an unforgettable experience.