“The Foundation School offers a warm and nurturing environment where both of our daughters at age 2 walked in and instantly felt safe and could be themselves. The daily routines are thoughtfully planned, and the teachers are terrific at communicating to both the children and the parents. Our daughter who just turned 6 was very well prepared for the fast pace and competitiveness of kindergarten in the Portland Public School System. Having our girls start their education at this incredible Jewish institution is (was) worth the 25 minute drive from our house.”
Lindsay G
“As an east-coast transplant, I grew up in an area with a palpable Jewish presence. Despite the fact that my wife and I are very secular, we wanted our children to share that same sense of Jewish community and identity. I brought our son to the free Friday morning playgroup at Neveh Shalom when he was 2 years old. I was so impressed by the quality of the facilities, the student-teacher ratio, and the atmosphere of genuine affection for the children, that I signed him up for the following year. Three years later, his little sister is delighted to follow in her big brother’s footsteps as a student at the Foundation school.”
Jason L
“While we are not Jewish we LOVE the Foundation School. We love the warm, loving, and nurturing environment that Foundation School provides. Not only for our daughter but to us as her parents. We could not be more delighted with the teachers, curriculum, and the community as a whole. We feel so lucky to be part of something so special. Thank you Foundation School!”
Ric L
If you’re looking for a quality Jewish education, in a safe environment, with amazing teachers, a nurturing support staff, surrounded by a community that embraces newcomers and makes everyone feel like they’re a part of something special, the Foundation School is the perfect place for your child. Over the course of the past two years, our daughter has met incredible friends, learned how to go potty, mastered her ABC’s and 123’s, figured out how a butterfly is born, dabbled in ballet and soccer and generally received the finest pre-k Jewish education Portland has to offer. We love Foundation School!
Richard L
I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to start sending my daughter to preschool when she was barely 2 years old. I was afraid it might be too overwhelming. What we found at Foundation School was the exact opposite. My daughter has thrived at school and loves every minute of being there. She wakes up in the morning excited to go. She has grown so much in the warm and nurturing environment that is provided to her at Foundation School. I have to confess that I’m picky too. My mom has been a preschool teacher for 25 years and I couldn’t think of a better place to send her.
Lauren F
Foundation School has been a gift to our family. Noah walks down the hall each morning with a giant grin and says good morning to every person he sees. It is his home away from home. I feel an immense sense of gratitude when I drop him off each day that he will spend his day in the caring, capable hands of the entire Foundation School staff. He is thriving there and I could not be happier for him. There are many reasons why Foundation School has been such a good fit for us. We have a small nuclear family and only one grandparent who lives locally. I feel as if his school community acts as an extended family that he does not have. It is important to me that he feels connected to a larger community of adults that care about him and are helping to guide him in his academic, social, emotional and moral education. Of course academics are important and he is in a rich, vibrant academic environment that will serve him well moving into Kindergarten but it is not the most important to me right now. I am focused on the other pieces of educating him as a whole child. What does it mean to be a good friend? How do I treat others how I would like to be treated? I want him to always try to be the best person he can be and put that energy into making the world a better place. Foundation School has offered him the environment and the tools to begin on this path.
Aura S.
We chose Foundation School for our daughter after visiting 7 other preschools. It was the first school we saw and was always our number one choice. Our child stayed for four years and there is no better testimonial than hers. She is eager to go to school, loves her teachers, and clearly feels at home at Foundation School. The opportunity to be outside regularly including hikes on the grounds has been a good fit for her energetic personality. She enjoys the ability to be creative and comes home with new art on the regular. Learning about Judaism for us all has been a good and educational experience. We are better off for the expanded knowledge.
Our kiddo thrived in the Foundation School environment. The transition to Kindergarten is a big one and will take some adjusting but I anticipate our daughter’s start at FS will have given her the right tools to succeed. Thank you!
Jennifer Q.