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YWCA Registration Open for Nursery School, After School Programs, and Fall Classes

By Diane Hasili
Looking to get physical and build confidence at the same time? Seeking engaging activities for your children?
Welcome to the YWCA Princeton where more than 250 classes and activities are available this fall. Registration is officially open for its 2012-2013 Nursery School, the Bilingual Nursery School, Before/After School Programs (ASP), ESL, adult learning, arts and crafts, dance, martial arts, financial workshops, community events, and much more.
Registration can be done online at www.ywcaprinceton.org/register for most classes. Other options include by phone at (609) 497-2100 ext. 0, by fax, or in person at 59 Paul Robeson Place in Princeton. There are no residential requirements to take classes and virtually  every class is open to males and females. A complete listing of the classes can be downloaded from their website. 
Parents wanting to ensure their children are safe before and after school can enroll them in the YWCA’s After School Program (ASP). It has been in the Princeton and Montgomery School systems for years providing care and activities during the regular school days, early dismissals, most full days, and spring break. In Princeton, ASP is available at Community Park, Johnson Park, and Riverside with a new ASP program for preschoolers at Riverside launching this fall. In Montgomery, ASP is available at Montgomery Lower Middle School, Orchard Hill, Village Elementary, and Rock Brook Elementary. Full time, part time, and day passes are available at most schools. 
The YWCA’s Nursery School has some spots remaining for children ages 2½-6 years, including its Bilingual Nursery School. A licensed educational school, it offers students a variety of activities that engage their minds and prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond. Students may also take advantage of other YWCA offerings such a swimming and dancing for an additional cost, which includes changing your child and escorting them to class. A new swim class is available exclusively for its Nursery School.
Children ages 3-6 can immerse themselves weekdays in classes such as “Fall Madness,” “Messy Art,” “Game Time,” “Munchables,” and “Puppets and Performances”  and do not need to be in the Nursery School to participate.
Four new Saturday classes covering grammar, writing, and conversation has been introduced by the English as a Second Language (ESL) Department. There are more than 40 ESL classes this fall including TOEFL Preparation,  a beginner to advanced curriculum, as well as free GED Preparation (for ESL students) , and free Citizenship Preparation classes – all designed to help students succeed in life and on the job. 
 “Our aquatics classes in Princeton and Plainsboro continue to be extremely popular in part because there is something for kids, teens, adults, and families,” states Diane Hasili, YWCA spokesperson. “Our Waterbabies is also a favorite. It is a parent/child class, teaching children as young as 4 months to swim.” American Red Cross youth swim classes are available for children above age six.
The YWCA’s martial arts program is very solid and continues to attract more students each year. “Our aikido, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and judo instructors are truly outstanding,” Hasili adds.  “Not many people are aware that our judo program is one of 220 sites nationally to earn the distinction of being a USA Judo site (the organization that selects athletes to represent the U.S.A. in international competitions such as the Olympics and Pan American games). “
The YWCA’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructors are just as impressive – Arthur Keintz, a black belt, has been a law enforcement officer for more than 22 years, is a NJ State Police Training Commission certified instructor, and instructs Ground Defense Tactics at the Mercer County Police Academy. Emily Kwok is best known as a World Champion and a multiple-time Mundials medalist. She is also a Pan Am medalist, veteran of the prestigious Abu Dhabi Grappling Championships, SMACKGIRL’s all female MMA organization from Japan, a Grapplers Quest Champion, a NAGA Champion, Canada’s first female Black Belt, and the first Canadian Black Belt to have ever won a World Championship title. “The feedback from all three of our martial arts programs is the level of comfort participants feel regardless of their age, weight, sex, or ability,” adds Hasili.
To register for the YWCA Princeton’s martial arts or fall classes, visit www.ywcaprinceton.org or call (609) 497-2100 ext. 0. A Class Listing Guide showing all classes and upcoming fall events for members and non-members can be downloaded from the website.