Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hours of the ECC?
The ECC offers half day (9:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.) and full day (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) programs. All four-year-olds are placed in a full-day program.

Is there before and after school care, even for my two year old?
Once a two year old’s transition is complete, we do offer early and after care as an option. Before school care is from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and after school care is from 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

Does my child need to be toilet trained?
No. We believe that “toileting” is a learned process. Children learn how to use the toilet in a variety of ways, either when they determine they are ready or by watching peers. Most two year olds and many three year olds have not yet learned to use the toilet but will likely do so once they start school.

What is the drop-off/pick-up procedure?
For children three and up we offer the option of a drop-off/pick-up car line. If your child is younger than three in September, you may park on La Cienega Boulevard (after 9:00 a.m.), or in the tennis parking structure on La Cienega Boulevard. and Gregory Way to drop-off or pick-up your child in their classroom. More information regarding pick-up and drop-off will be available in the Parent Handbook.

What is your sick policy?
We take the health of our community extremely seriously. In order to provide the best possible school experience for everyone, children, teachers, and administrators all need to be healthy. We understand that it’s challenging when your child needs to stay home, and we also cannot have sick children at school. If your child’s nose is excessively runny, they don’t seem to be their healthiest selves, or they are contagious, we ask that you please keep them home. If during the day your child’s nose is running excessively, they have a fever, vomit, or may have a contagious illness, caregivers will be called to pick up their child.

Do you provide food?
Children bring snacks from home and we are a nut-free campus. All food brought to Pressman must be Kosher. We offer an optional hot lunch program Monday – Thursday with a variety of menus. The meals cost approximately $8 per day. In addition, we have a pizza program on Fridays for an additional fee. Families may send their own kosher dairy or pareve lunch for their child on Mondays and Fridays, and may send their own kosher meat, dairy or pareve lunch for their child on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

How do I help my child transition into the ECC?
The Transition process for all children (especially two year olds) can last two weeks, and is an important part of setting up your child for success. Every child separates on a different timeline and we ask that parents/caregivers plan to be available to stay at the ECC during the transition process. That means parents/caregivers will be on campus until your child is fully ready to spend the day without you there for comfort.

Transition happens in partnership with your child’s teacher and has two parts:

Transition: Helping children feel safe while giving them time to adjust to their new setting, get comfortable with a new routine, and develop relationships with the new adults in their new environment.

Separation: Feeling confident and ready to be away from their primary caregiver for the full day.

How can I be involved?
We encourage our parents to be involved at many levels. We have an active and ambitious Parent Association with many opportunities from support to leadership positions. In addition, our teachers love to have you in the classroom! Whether you help with baking, assist with an art project, read a story, chaperone a field trip, or just lend an extra set of hands, your involvement is always welcome.

What is the religious atmosphere of the ECC?
We offer a program that integrates Jewish tradition into everyday activities. We celebrate Shabbat and the holidays in a way that is meaningful, age-appropriate, and joyful. We encourage the children to experience God’s presence everywhere, from the classroom to the synagogue to the sandbox, raising their awareness of their own special place in God’s world. Our day begins with morning line-up where we incorporate Jewish traditions at the start of every day. Our day includes t’fillah (prayer) and blessings said before and after eating. On Mondays morning line-up includes Havdallah and we enjoy a lovely Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday mornings in the chapel. Our families represent a wide spectrum of Jewish observance. We are an inclusive environment for all families, no matter how they observe.

Is there Hebrew in the ECC?
Research shows that the optimum age to introduce a second language is between the ages of three and seven when the first language is acquired. The system we use introduces Hebrew in the most natural, stress-free way, the same way they are acquiring English. Although Hebrew is introduced in all of our classes, our Pre-K (four-year-old) classes have one hour per day of Hebrew in the afternoons and our three-year-olds have a Hebrew-speaking staff member speak in Ivrit, and also have a 1/2 hour of Hebrew circle time daily.

What immunizations does my child need for school?
California law requires all children enrolled in state schools, both public and private, to have certain doctor-recommended immunizations, or receive them when they enroll.

Polio
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
Haemophilus influenzae type b
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
Hepatitis B
Varicella (Chickenpox)

Do you offer Tuition Assistance?
We believe Jewish education is the responsibility of our entire community and we are dedicated to providing meaningful tuition assistance for as many families as possible to ensure that children who want a Pressman education can receive one. We also offer an innovative Jewish Communal Professional Discount Program, which we hope will be the first step in a long-term strategy to address tuition affordability. You can find the tuition assistance application on our website, Pressmanacademy.org.

How long is the school day?

Is there extended care after school?

The school provides several forms of after-school care based on parent interest. For children enrolled in our Early Childhood Center, Gesher, or Kindergarten, we offer The Kid’s Club, a program of supervised inside and outside play. This extended care is offered Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., and Fridays until 4:00 p.m. For children enrolled in 1st and 2nd grade, we offer our Jr. Homework Club where children play and do homework in a supervised setting. Students grades 3-8, may participate in our Homework Club. Students have outside playtime, supervised homework time, and library usage when appropriate. All programs include a snack.

For children enrolled in our Early Childhood Center and Gesher we offer The Kid’s Club, a program of supervised inside and outside play and Homework Club based on parent interest, for Kindergarten. This extended care is offered Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., and Fridays until 4:00 p.m. For children enrolled in 1st and 2nd grade, we offer our Jr. Homework Club where children play and do homework in a supervised setting. Students grades 3-8, may participate in our Homework Club. Students have outside playtime, supervised homework time, and library usage when appropriate. All programs include a snack.

What about lunch?

Our Parent Association contracts with a Kosher caterer to provide a variety of hot, nutritious lunches for students four days a week. The meals cost approximately $7.50 per day. Fridays are “Pizza Days” at Pressman Academy. For an additional cost, children can receive pizza every Friday. We are a nut free campus.

What after school activities can my child participate in?

Pressman Academy has an outstanding after school enrichment program, hugim. Activities include art, cartooning, chess, dance, drama, karate, marine biology, science, soccer, tech, tennis, yoga, and more. There are two sessions each year: Fall and Spring.

How can parents get involved?

Parents are encouraged to get involved in a variety of ways, including taking part in the active and vibrant Parent Association, serving on various committees, becoming room parents, volunteering to help with class projects, fundraising and volunteering in the library.

Where do Pressman graduates attend high school?

Over the last three years, Pressman Academy graduates have been accepted to the following schools:

Beverly Hills High School
Crossroads
de Toledo
Hamilton Music and Humanities Magnets
Harvard-Westlake
Oakwood
Milken
New Roads
Shalhevet
Wildwood

What is the religious atmosphere at Pressman Academy?

We are affiliated with the Solomon Schechter Day School Association, the national organization of Conservative Jewish schools. Our school promotes the egalitarian and halakhic(Jewish legal) approaches of Conservative Judaism to ritual and practice.T’fillah(daily prayer) is an essential component of our curriculum. All food served at school is kosher. We celebrate Shabbat and the Jewish holidays as a school community. Pressman Academy is committed to the State of Israel and to a pluralistic approach to the broader Jewish community. Our families represent a wide spectrum of Jewish observance, from secular to Modern Orthodox.

What if I need tuition assistance?

Pressman Academy is committed to providing tuition assistance based on demonstrated need. These are one-year awards; families must reapply annually. Despite our deep desire to make a Jewish Day School education available to all children, the Academy has limited financial resources.

For information regarding financial aid, please contact tuitionassistance@pressmanacademy.org.
What if my child does not know Hebrew?  

In the middle school, we group students in Hebrew and math according to ability. New students’ skills are assessed and they are placed in the appropriate level. There is movement between the levels, so if a student shows improvement, he/she will be moved to a higher level. Upon acceptance, we may require a new student to begin Hebrew tutoring which helps smooth the student’s transition in the fall.

How will my child be accepted if current students have been together since preschool?

It is true that many middle school students attended our Early Childhood Center or entered Pressman Academy in Kindergarten. However, new students enter our school at every grade and, because our school is small, our students welcome new faces and new friends.

Is my child permitted to walk home?

If a child lives within walking distance and his/her parents provide written permission to the school, Middle School students are permitted to walk home.

Do you require applicants to take the ISEE or other exams when applying?

Applicants must provide the school with transcripts from the previous three years. As part of the application process, we require a Confidential Teacher Recommendation Form completed by one of the applicant’s teachers. Applicants to K and 1st grade come for a 2-hour classroom visit.  During this time, our principal will get to know your child.  Second through seventh grade applicants spend a full day visiting our school. During this time, our principal or dean will conduct assessments as follows:

Math-2nd grade and up; Writing-4th grade and up; Hebrew-3rd grade and up.

What immunizations does my child need for grade school, preschool or day care?

California law requires all children enrolled in state schools, both public and private, to have certain doctor-recommended immunizations, or receive them when they enroll.

Immunizations required to enter Child Care (ECC):

• Polio
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella (Chickenpox)

Immunizations required to enter Kindergarten:

• Polio
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella (Chickenpox) 

Immunizations required to enter 7th grade:

• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster (Tdap)
• Varicella (Chickenpox)

Follow these links to see detailed immunization requirements for child care and school entry in California.

We do not allow for any personal, religious or philosophical exemptions. We do permit for the rare true medical exemption when a student cannot receive a particular vaccination due to medical contraindications. In these rare cases, the licensed physician must submit the standardized medical exemption request form through the California Immunization Registry (CAIR). A student provided an exemption from a licensed physician will be required to provide evidence of a valid contraindication prior to the first day of school, based on the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.