Rockwern Academy

Rockwern Academy provides an unparalleled standard of academic excellence, supported by a warm, inclusive community grounded in Jewish values.

Our small class sizes allow our teachers to know their students at a deep personal level, tailoring the learning experience to meet individual needs and interests. An integrated, multidisciplinary curriculum for early childhood through sixth grade supports personal and intellectual growth through discovery and hands-on experiences. In our Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), children are introduced to the joy of learning through play and reap the many benefits of early second language acquisition. In our upper grades, students feel safe to take intellectual and creative risks, and each child is uniquely guided to soar to their full potential.

General Info: 

Address: 8401 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236

Phone: (513) 984-3770

Website: www.RockwernAcademy.org

Q&A with Rockwern Academy:

What makes your school unique?

Our school offers a nurturing educational experience for students from 12 months old through sixth grade. Rockwern Academy is a Jewish Day School, and we welcome children of all backgrounds.

What is your school’s age/grade range?

Rockwern Academy’s Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) serves children ages 12 months through 5 years old (pre-k). In addition, Rockwern has students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

What is your school’s educational philosophy?

At Rockwern Academy’s ECEC, our students learn math, science, letters, and Hebrew through play-based learning. We pack each day with art, music, and games to give children a wonderful foundation for learning.

What is your enrollment policy? Are there any key dates parents should be aware of?

Rockwern Academy Early Childhood Center runs on a school schedule.

Enrollment opens December 5 and operates on a rolling basis. Call the admissions office at 513-984-3770 or email [email protected] for more information. Our school year starts mid-August and runs through the end of May. Camps are available during the summer months. Visit www.RockwernAcademy.org/Camp to learn more.

What are the standard school day hours? Does your school offer flexible day/hour options? Is before/after school care available?

We offer half and full-day options, as well as three or five-day options for toddlers through our three-year-old program. Pre-k students must be here five days, with a half or full-day option.

We offer several options for a school day:

Half day- 8:00am-12:15pm
Full day- 8:00am-3:15pm
Complete day- 7:00am-6:00pm Mondays-Thursdays, 7:00am-5:00pm Fridays

Our before care (7:00 AM – 8:00 AM) comes at no extra charge. Aftercare is offered for a fee, depending on how many days a week are needed.

How many children are in each class? How are children divided up up?

Young Toddlers – 8
Toddlers – 12
Two’s – 11
Three’s – 12
Pre-K – 14

Children are divided by age and stay with their class for the school year.

What is the teacher/child ratio?

Rockwern Academy stays below state standards for our classroom ratios. Here is the current breakdown, based on ages:
Young Toddlers- 3:8
Toddlers- 1:4
Two’s- 2:11
Three’s- 1:6
Pre-k- 1:7

What are the teacher’s credentials?

Rockwern Academy hires teachers based on their experience and educational background. Most of our teachers carry an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree.

Is parental participation required?

Parents are not required to participate – but they are welcome to in various ways!

How do teachers communicate with parents? How often do parents receive updates?

Our main form of communication in the Early Childhood Education Center is through the Brightwheel app. Teachers are able to post pictures of the children from the day and send quick communication to the parents, updating them on how their child’s day is going, what they ate for a snack and lunch, how well they napped, along with any general information. Parents can send messages to teachers as well.

Our teachers send weekly blog posts letting parents know what their child has been working on at school that week and any general announcements. 

We provide parent/teacher conferences twice during the school year; in addition, the teachers are available for conferencing at any time throughout the year if a parent requests it.

Does your school offer support for students with special needs?

Rockwern Academy does not offer any specific support for children with special needs. However, we do have a speech-language pathologist on site who is able to offer support to the teachers if and when necessary. We are also a satellite location for Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Institute (COTI), which offers occupational therapy to Rockwern students in our building.

How much time do the children spend outside?

Weather permitting, each class is outside for a half-hour during the morning hours, and then again for a half-hour during the afternoon hours.

Are meals and/or snacks provided?

We offer a morning snack, lunch, and then an afternoon snack. Parents can opt in or out of lunch, choosing the option to pack if they’d like. We also offer snacks to our aftercare kids.

Does my child need to be potty-trained?

Children do not need to be potty trained in our toddler and two-year-old classes. However, they do need to be potty trained for our threes and pre-k. Support is given by the teachers, especially when children are going through potty training at home.

What enrichment programs/activities are offered?

Enrichment is built into our daily schedule. Students attend library, gym, music, and Hebrew – gifting them the discovery of a second language at a young age.

Who should parents contact for more information about your school?

Parents can contact Sarah Shmoel at [email protected] for enrollment information, as well as to set up a tour. For questions about the early childhood program, contact Toni Brownell at [email protected].