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NEW & NOTEWORTHY PRESCHOOLS

Lifelong Learning Starts Here
Tribeca Community School fosters innate curiosity

Another new school that follows the Italian "Reggio Emilia" approach to early education, the Tribeca Community School aims to develop lifelong learners by fostering the innate curiosity of each child. Children use painting, sculpting, music, science and storytelling in creative ways to express themselves. They are not only encouraged to create their own ideas and discoveries, but also to share their thoughts with classmates. These methods are also enhanced by enthusiastically detailing the child's work and actively involving parents.

As Ayala Marcktell, the school's founder, puts it, "Our goal is to create conditions for learning that will benefit a child's powers of thinking by creating opportunities for self-expression and self-actualization."

The school is operated by Marcktell Management, a company which has been involved in New York City education for 30 years, and has a network of successful public and private early education and learning centers. Located in the newly renovated landmark Ice House building, the school's atmosphere is homelike and comfortable, but also state-of-the-art. It includes a large art studio that doubles as an area for children to work in and also a spot to display their work.

Tribeca Community will offer half-day programs with morning and afternoon sessions for children ages 2 to 4 this fall. Several meet- and-greet sessions are scheduled through December 2006.

-Danielle Sullivan