Preschool recommendations- Hingham/Duxbury (Scituate, Norwell: homes, theater, camp)

[rmh1]

Hi there. We are moving to the South Shore, still looking for a house. We've somewhat narrowed it down to Hingham and Duxbury, but are seeing some homes in Norwell as well. Since preschool applications were due a month or so ago, I sent applications in to several to keep our options open. (My preschoolers are 3 and 4). We have since secured spots at Hingham Nursery School and Dollys Preschool in Hingham and South Shore Conservatory in Duxbury. Does anyone have experience with any of these schools? I would appreciate any feedback at all.
Thanks!

[RESouthShore]

My friend's kids went to Dolly's and loved it but I'm not crazy about the setting of it. It is on a side street and it looks kind of run down from the outside. Also, there is an above ground swimming pool there so just be aware of that. My husband also just told me that he has heard that they sometimes put the kids in front of the tv (I haven't heard this but he mentioned it and said to let you know). Hingham Nursery School is in a building that was just built 2 years ago. They used to be in a basement of a local church and finally expanded to their own location. It is located right off of Main St. (Rte 228) near the Junior High and behind a flower shop called Lamberts. There is a nice playground. I know a few whose kids have gone there and they've liked it very much. As far as SS Conservatory, I don't have any information about the Duxbury location but the Hingham location is wonderful and I've heard very good things about it. I'm assuming that they run the programs in a similar way but I may be wrong. At the one in Hingham there is obviously a very strong presence of art & music in the program. Hope this helps!

[hingham mom]

Hi

I Live In Hingham And Sent My Childeren To Dolly's. The Settting Might Not Be Picture Perfect But The School Is Awsome. They Dont Sit The Childeren In Front Of The Tv. The State Mandates 30 Min Of Quiet Time. After Lunch They Sit For 30 Min And The Movie Is A Educational Movie. Also The Pool Is For Summer Camp There Is No Access To The Pool From The School Playground. I Suggest You Go See Dolly's Before You Make Any Opion.

[hinghammotheroftwo]

I am a mother of two whose children go to Dolly's. It is highly recommended and not easy to secure a spot. That says enough right there. The pool is seated high on a ledge that is not on the same level as the playground. There is a high fence around it and if you didn't know a pool was there (swim lessons in the summer) than you would not know it existed. Also, the school has a spanish teacher that visits the school many times a month usually twice a week and also and art teacher who teaches/exposes the children to many famous artists and their work (my son was able to recognize a Van Gogh painting in our hallway when he was just 4). There are many visitors such as fireman, dentist, police, safety, truck week, musicians, animal week etc..., there are 10 computers (what preschool do you know of has one if any computers never mind ten). A recent kindergarten teacher told me the best prepared children in Hingham are the ones that come from you guessed it DOLLY's or Preschool Playmates. Also, the same director has been there for almost 30 years. Two of the teachers have been there for almost 20 years each. There isn't a school around that can even compare to those statistics. Each year there are two movie day outings at the Loring theater and tickets are one dollar and each year there are two major trips for the families something similar to Disney on Ice or Edaville Railroad. It is an unbelievable school but a very close family atmosphere. The best part of the program is the parent/teacher conferences twice a year. They actually show you your child's papers and the progress/area of improvement. It is an amazing school.

[harvardkid95]

Also Brown bear which I think is in Norwell is a really good school and in Scituate there is Little Munchkins both are really good