This is a wonderful place for kids to study both English and Russian. My kid loves going to school and learns a lot there. The teachers are thoughtful, gentle, but firm enough to instill order and respect. It has definitely been a great help in my endeavor of raising bilingual kids. The school is not only focused on academic advancement, but also on creativity, cultural context, physical health. Of paramount importance is the aspect that the administration cares for health and wellness standards! They inform parents of medical concerns related to the spread of diseases; have well-established policies regarding elevated body temperature, cough and other symptoms as applied to ability to attend classes. Keep it up! I know it is not an easy job... read more

we have been going there since my son was 2. the education is great. food provided by school is great. small classes high quality care and direct attention from teachers. communicating with teachers weekly about any concern and we are working as a team to improve my child education. read more

When we were considering this school for our then 2.5 year-old son, we were concerned because we couldn't find any reviews for Metaphor. We ultimately signed up and were actually very happy with the school! Within just the first month, our son has picked up so much Russian. This is an excellent school because it offers: - Great teachers - Spacious venues and an outdoor playground - Four meals/snacks a day - A separate quite room for nap time - Professional preschool program - Russian language proficiency - Regular concerts to develop a child's public speaking skills We were also concerned about our son's transition to the preschool, but the teachers and the school director made it very smooth. Within a week and a half, our son was no longer crying when we left him at the school in the mornings, instead he was waving good bye with a smile. :) Highly recommended! read more

Metaphor International School - Preschools Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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Great School! We attended several concert programs and it was awesome. Kids performed beautiful, thank you to all the teachers who put their efforts. Looking forward for next one. Also, when I enrolled my kids in the school, they couldn't speak Russian, but with very friendly staff and interacting with Russian children made the difference. Now they speak very good Russian. I like to see the progress in my kids. Thank you. Definitely will recommend that school to all the parents, come and try. read more

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Great school. My daughter likes it a lot. After she started Metaphor, we as parents see big progress in her speech . I love that little daily report . I saw one negative review on Metaphor, and it was made after just a quick look at the place . Its like judging the book by the cover ( not clever ). But everybody who has gone to this place for a while actually loves it. Because they see what kind of product this school gives to their kids. read more

Metaphor is an excellent school. The teachers and principal make every effort to make sure that the children receive the best possible educational services, as well as opportunities to participate in academic competitions such as Math Kangaroo. I am consistently impressed by the level of the subject material taught in both Russian and English languages. Not only are my children getting a great education here, but they also love school. Keep it up, Metaphor, you are doing a wonderful job! read more

Well, having 13 reviews for over 10 years is very suspicious because 12 of them were possibly written by "friends" of the company. And the one negative one is very truly gives the description of the school. I got my daughter there almost 9 years ago and pull her out and ran away after 4 months. I have to share some of my experiences with this "school'. My English is not so good but I will try my best to give some idea about their practices. First, the owner bought a single family house and after quick repairs opened it for service even without having a county permit. The air inside was awful apparently from using wrong type paints (for outside use) inside of the house, and poor kids have to breeze the harmful volatiles all the day. It seemed like greed took over conscience. Very soon my daughter came home with her foot bleeding from numerous scratches, and the next day I found out (myself) that floor air grilles were not properly secured and kids could remove them. I even found dried blood stains on edges of the opening. They implemented the Russian style of napping for kids after lunch. The sleeping headquarter was in the attic area where were even more paint fumes, no air conditioning, no proper ventilation or a bathroom. In order to get there, kids have to crawl there by the stairs having at least 55 degrees slope without any side handrails or any other safety precautions. Any child could fall and get very heavy injuries. Half of the attic area was designated as the bedroom for a couple who lived there. There were no partitions or any dividers. In a few occasions, I saw a man, apparently a husband of one of the "teachers" who was sleeping in the attic within ten feet from kids. Maybe it is OK in Russia, but it is completely unacceptable in US. When kids were going outside for play, it was not better. First, the green property fence was the 10-15 feet tall bushes with sharp thorns from bottom to top, and kids' eye injury could happen at any time. Moreover, there were some sharp boulders-rocks on the ground and kids were playing on top of them. Any kid who would fall down may and up with a cracked head and/or other injuries. My concerns were dismissed by the personnel. When the last time I picked up my daughter, she was very upset and had the red eye; so, I had to ask the stuff about the cause. They replied right away that she possibly got cold and she actually came like this in the morning. I personally brought her then and it was not true; however, the personnel was swearing by "their mothers' graves" and calling God as a witness that I was wrong. My daughter was in the car and at that time only started to talk a little bit. After a few my attempts she began to cry and managed to say: "Andriushka" and "Glue stick". Then I walked back and found Andriushka, the much bigger boy, twice of my daughter age. He said that he simply did not like my daughter and tried to hurt her any time he had an opportunity. So, he took a glue stick and punched it in my daughter's eye. Later I found out the he also had some behavioral problems and only this school agreed to take him in. Two women in charge that day were stating that they had no clue about the accident. In the light of this "shady business" and the school's upfront request to sign release papers for taking all the responsibilities from the "school", I figure out that it is a best idea not taking any chances to run away from that business as fast as possible. I did not bring my child in the world to be treated like this, especially in US. Remarkably, later in a few occasions we tried to get the tax related documents from the school but never got them regardless of numerous promises. Such the schools exist and flourish here only because of high local population density and lack of decent child care facilities. High cost of living pushes mothers to work, and many people try to take advantages of the situation. read more

We have special feelings about this school and the teachers. Great program, love enrichment classes. Good schedule for Saturday program classes. My daughter enjoys very much and we see big improvement in her Russian. Thank you Metaphor! read more

I have two boys in Metaphor and we've been there for a few years. To call Metaphor amazing is an understatement (and also not really useful to parents trying to find the right fit for a kiddo). So I'll just list specifics: 1) Individualized approach: The school director, Zhanna, works with me to develop the best approach for each of my (very different) boys. For example, when my older son was little and had behavioral difficulties she matched him with the right for HIM teacher and the situation resolved. We are currently working on thumb sucking with the younger one. 2) Strong Academics: lessons clearly build on one another and I see progress in math, reading, and attention skills. 3) Professional extracurriculars part of the curriculum: part of the regular curriculum (as in, not stuff you pay for in addition) includes classes with pros who otherwise run their own studios. Specifically, last year my kiddos had: 1) gymnastics taught by pro competitive gymnasts, 2) dance with pro choreographer/dancer (my five year old boy was doing real waltz with a girl, in choreography with three other boy-girl couples.) 3) voice lessons with music pro, leading to a solo voice performance that was legitimately musically impressive (again, this was for the older five year old - the younger one sang as part of choir). This was all done in school by the school, without any extra pressure of time/energy/money from me. A whole lot better than driving kids to extra activities after school! 4) Drama focus: I think this is a russian thing, but there is a lot of emphasis on performing and the kids prepare shows for parents. They start with two year old just to get them used to being on stage and by the time they are 4-5-6 they are reciting full poems, holding themselves well on stage, and presenting themselves with confidence. One of my kiddos used to get completely lost in front of people, and last year he happily traveled (with the school) to perform at the World Bank. 5) Convenience: They are open 8am-6pm and they feed the kids four times. I don't have to pack lunch and they kids get home cooked food. You can also arrange an earlier drop off if needed. 6) Above and beyond: I had a teacher take the LEAD on potty training a kiddo (saying "i'm willing to try if you provide plenty of underpants!") I've had Zhanna sit with me for an hour to help me work through parenting concerns (not just academic ones). 7) True Caring: I feel so much warmth from the teachers it makes me smile. They are truly emotionally invested in my kids. Bottom line: Highly recommended. read more

I am a student of the Russian Language and had reached the level where I wished to take the Russian TORFL Test, level B1 ( ). Level B1 is also called The First Certification Level (TORFL-I / B1) and is the certificate required for foreign exchange study at a Russian University, but also serves as testament to an individual's Russian language skills in the business world. Until recently, this exam was only offered in the Russian Federation and some European testing centers, but not available in the United States. Metaphor Russian Language School has now teamed up with the Pushkin Institute of Moscow to administer this exam at the Russian Cultural Center in Washington D.C. The exam is actually still administered by the Pushkin Institute on-line from Moscow, who have the actual license from the Russian Ministry of Education, and a Proctor from Metaphor is present with the student in the test room in D.C. The test is given on-line using a laptop provided by Metaphor and is linked directly through a secure line to the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. The on-line aspect of the test was a surprise to me when I arrived - I expected a written test book and answer sheet - which was the format of previous lower-level exams I took in Moscow. However, once I adapted to this, the exam went much faster. The exam is supposed to last almost five hours, but with this format, I was done in about 3.5 hrs. Fortunately, I passed the exam, and Metaphor got the results to me very quickly (in a few days), and then sent an electronic cop of the certificate to me within a few weeks. My only constructive remark is that it took over two months to get the actual paper certificate from them - which I believe was actually the fault of the people in Moscow. I would have been willing to pay for a courier service if it would have speeded this up. However, I will note that Metaphor promptly kept me informed during the wait period. I know from searching on-line that there are numerous Russian Language Students in the United States who would like to take the TORFL exam, and prior to now, had no venue in the USA to do so. I recommend they contact Metaphor, as well as monitor the Russian Cultural Center Website for scheduled dates. It was very easy to register, and the Russian Cultural Center is a beautiful venue. The latter will actually help prepare a student for the exam if one wishes (I did!) You can contact them at: rccusa.org read more

Two years ago I was a student of Metaphor School. It was good experience! The school gave me an excellent opportunity to learn the native language in the company of smart and friendly classmates. During my time at Metaphor Russian Language School I have improved my language skills, deepened my knowledge of Russian history as well as literature. The lessons were filled with interesting material and discussions. Our teacher, Marina Sarukhanyan, made sure the lessons were ran smoothly and every student was able to grasp the bigger ideas that were taught to us through literature and history. But academics are not the only thing the school has to offer! Being a part of the theatre program gave me a chance to perform on a stage of the international competition for the Russian speaking theater. The community is very welcoming and has a lot to give. Would definitely recommend Metaphor to a friend:) read more

I want to express my sincere appreciation to all the teachers, help stuff, and of course the principal Zhanna Buzov. My daughter (now 3.5 years) going to Metaphor School since June this year. We came here from a home based day care in hopes to get more educational programs for our daughter. At first it may seem too busy and first couple days of school we 've got a little overwhelmed with the amount of kids in school and slightly chaotic drop off and pick up times. But I realized, we came from a home based day care, where everything was quiet and in different way. As it turned out, only us , the parents got this impression. For my daughter there was no transition time. Seemed like she was going there for a long long time! She loved it from the first day! I truly appreciate Zhanna's and our teacher Irina's attention to our child. It means a lot when teachers sincerely worry about your child's feelings. My daughter loves her teacher Irina, she misses her when she is home and always talks just good about her. The academic program is phenomenal. She leaned so much for the time she is going to Metaphor and improved in many areas of development. I can see how teachers takes their time in working with kids, preparing them for holiday concerts, how much effort they put into all of that. I cant recommend highly enough this school. I've toured probably every single russian daycare in NOVA area and wast able to find better options for education-cost value. They have great discounts for paying in advance and for siblings. We planning to enroll my son (now 2 years old) starting April-May. read more

I honestly, can not say enough good things about this school and teachers. Zhanna is very nice and always look out what is best for your child. An awesome school! My husband and I debated whether to send our children to public school or Metaphor, and we could not be happier that we stayed in kindergarten one more year! The K curriculum at Metaphor is very strong and they offered a lot of classes. I am absolutely amazed that my 5 years old daughter can read, write, performed on the stage with no hesitation. She was accepted in Metaphor Choir "Lada" and was able to perform in the Russian Embassy and some local competitions. The teachers and Zhanna have been amazing. They are many great activities surrounding the school, they have nature discovery class and field trips. Both of my kids love going to school every day and we did not have a day they do not want to be in school. This fact is telling me that they are absolutely happy to be there. Here is the list of some classes for my 5-year-old: Music, speech therapy, reading, dance, math/reading, logics, the world around us, experiments and crafts and some more. read more

Our son has been with this school for 7 years now, from pre-school and continues on Saturdays in his 4th grade year. This is a school truly dedicated to education of your child and they do it in a fun environment. I don't know of any other program where you can place your child for half a day and he will get all different educational courses. read more

My son is in his 3rd year going to Metaphor and we are so pleased. We visited 8 schools before picking this school and we are very grateful that we did. Pros: (1) Russian full immersion: There are even parents from non-Russian speaking homes that enroll their children here, because they want their children to learn a foreign language. It's also perfect for families where 1 parent only speaks Russian--- it gives the child that extra exposure to become fluent. (2) Flexible schedule and pricing: Flexible drop off and pick up times and different pricing and programs offered. You can drop off 8am or 9am, and pick up at 1pm, 3pm, 4pm, or 6pm. Each is at a different rate and compared to other schools of this quality, the price is fair. Even though you have your standard drop off and pick up times, I'm just an email away on my iphone from requesting that I drop off early or pick up late (for a small hourly rate). They also have a summer program, a Saturday program, winter break camps, and for kids that are already in public schools, they can go back to Metaphor on e.g. teacher's work days just for the day. One of my son's friends who is now in public school kindergarten goes to Metaphor;s Saturday school as well as any days when FCPS is closed and her parents have to go to work. (3) The WOW factor: This school has demonstrated the WOW factor on a number of different occasions. A good example is when my son just turned 5 and for his birthday, we dropped of a small homemade cake (nut free, dairy free) and a candle. While at work, my husband and I got an email with high resolution photos of a birthday party the school had thrown for my son-- complete with party hats, multiple games, group photos, and of course the cake. When I picked him up, his folder had a present and a handwritten personalized card from the teacher. Another example is when they were preparing their quarterly school play and my son was in a skit called "Who I want to be when I grow up." The skit was pre-written, and they assigned him the role of a firefighter and he told the teacher that he didn't want to be a firefighter and that he wants to be an astronaut. The teachers rewrote the entire skit to make him as astronaut, and made custom props and music to go with the change-- it was a big hit and my son was so proud and happy. These are just two examples of how they go above and beyond. (4) Relationships: His teachers care about him-- he isn't a headcount. They provide abundant feedback and they go out of their way to communicate with parents, not just on the daily report sheet but also face to face. If my son has a conflict with another child, they inform us about it and we all work together to resolve.... it's not brushed under the rug. Very professional. I feel that my son is really being nurtured in this school intellectually, physically and emotionally. We are very happy parents and recommend this school to anybody looking for this type of school. read more

My son is attending this school for two years by now. It is very Russian! Thus, language, culture, food and atmosphere. If you are looking for these features, you will be pleased there. My husband and I were looking for good Russian school in DC area. Planning to send our daughter there as well. Very thankful. read more

Love how my son learns a lot and the staff is friendly. Creative atmosphere! I love the small class sizes and the individual attention each child gets. The curriculum is impressive and rigorous. Each week has a specific theme: Transportation, Clothing, Nature, Vegetables, etc. Sometimes we get some homework and my son gets excited to do it. The best thing is that my son has so much friends, and as soon as I wake him up and tell him he is going to school he gets so happy and excited. It makes me happy!! Love how he loves his school and how he is learning! read more

Metaphor is the most amazing preschool that we have encountered. Our daughter has thrived in it immensely for the past 3 years. She came in knowing barely any Russian or English, and has fully thrived in her linguistic and other development. We are leaving the area and were hoping to send our son there as well. It really is the most amazing educational Russian immersion program for young children. Zhanna and the teachers are simply amazing.. more like family. Our daughter has gotten very close to her teachers, and it saddens us that we can't take them with us. Anyone would be lucky to be part of the Metaphor community. read more

Writing about the Metaphor is like writing about your family: when you step inside the school you immediately are welcomed, feel secured and appreciated; staff is wonderful and attentive, kids are busy and happy ! My daughter stared going to Metaphor when we was just 20 months old , now she is 7 years old and still continue to go ... This line alone explains how happy she has been in Metaphor and how caring and thoughtful the Metaphor staff has been. And that is not only about my daughter, every time I go to school I observe kids being treated with sincere love and respect. When it comes to school curriculum and after school activities , they are the best of the best: math and Russian lessons are stimulating and interesting; dance, art, choir, chess and many other activities are also well attended and led by professional teachers. I do not usually provide any reviews: as a working mom I don't have spare time for it. However, this time I really wanted to share my thoughts and let other people know that Metaphor is a great school with dedicated teachers and genuine love for kids. read more

Our daughter joined Metaphor preschool when she was 3. From day one, the staff at Metaphor made transition very smooth. We were delighted to see that she grew increasingly fond of Metaphor, teachers and other kids day after day. She is always excited about classroom and outdoor activities and particularly enjoys music lessons where kids learn songs and dance. We are happy to see that Metaphor has kept the best of the Russian preschool style, including hot and nutritious food and emphasis on children's development. We also feel that Metaphor offers a safe and kind environment for each kid, doing their best to accommodate each child's individual traits. And we certainly love the concerts (utrenniki) that Metaphor regularly holds! read more

Excellent teachers under motivated leadership, above all. My child and her peers truly bonded with the teaching staff and Director Zhanna Buzov is closely involved in the curriculum and school life. Children know when they are loved! The curriculum is strong: age-appropriate literacy, reasoning, and motor skills grew quickly and homework was not excessive. The meals are excellent, fresh, balanced, and varied. Children are in good care, the facility is clean and children practice regular hand-washing, etc. Obviously, this is a language immersion program and I was happy to see that the teaching staff and children really do stick to speaking Russian to each other 100% of the time. At the same time, the staff is bilingual so English-speaking parents are not left out and can communicate effectively. One of the deciding factors for me with this school was actually the balance between academics and kinesthetic learning or active play time. The children do spend some time in classroom instruction, but this is done in effective interactive lessons, with adequate breaks. A significant part of the day is spent in recess outside, as well as indoor activities including group games, gymnastics, dance, etc. The more complex activities are taught by qualified instructors. One fantastic part of the curriculum is the outdoor learning/nature exploration program (again, with a qualified instructor), which we found enormously valuable and which my daughter loves. read more

Not too happy for several reasons: 1) Child coming from school always complaining that someone either hit her or pinched her or pushed her. Know of another student who lost a tooth in a group fight there. Doesn't work for us. 2) When dropping off we constantly saw children in a fenced playground on their own while their teachers chatting with each other. Very former Soviet Union style which we are familiar with and don't appreciate. 3) During our 3 month at the school 4 nice clothing items have disappeared and were nowhere to be found, the lost and found box wasn't of much help. This was the last drop for me. Time for a change. None of the above is an issue at the new school. read more

5 years ago, I thought that the child did not need to know Russian !!! Thanks to the "Metaphor" !!! Thanks to you, my child knows Russian perfectly, and in the future will be very useful! I am very glad that in Virginia, such a wonderful academic center "Metaphor". read more

We came to Metaphor for two two-weeks' long summer camp sessions in July - August of 2012. We then decided to add one more summer session. And then we signed up for the 2012-2013 school year for our daughter. She just started her kindergarten year with Metaphor for this, 2013-2014 school year. This morning on the way to school, she told me, "Mama, I have really good kindergarten." I was looking for an extension of our home environment, where our daughter is exposed to both Russian and American culture, both Russian and English language. But i was also looking for more professional instructional help with teaching her the intricacies of the Russian grammar, inciting her to read and write more so than i could do at home. And this is what we found at this school. Metaphor offers a unique experience for both kids and parents alike. It combines the high standards of learning with a warm, home-like atmosphere. Classroom teachers to kids ratios are kept small and intimate, so the kids get more individualized attention. Teachers know exactly what each child under their care is capable of and how much they need to be challenged or helped. Kids get to have these highly skilled teachers to work and play with them. Did you have a speech therapy class, music class, theater, regular participation in fun performances, along with a superior academic program at your school? I went to a great school, but I did not have all that. I am glad our daughter does. read more

Good teaching staff, convenient location. School open to children from international backgrounds. Very closely knit with local communities.

My family loves Metaphor! Teachers, staff, and the principal Zhanna Buzov really care about their students! Everyone is helpful and responsive to children's needs while challenging them academically. We enjoy both regular classes and camps, which are very well-organized and boast excellent academic and extracurricular programs, nice homelike atmosphere (including housemade hot food!) and fun field trips. Classes are small and all kids get sufficient individual attention, learn a lot, and make close friendships. All teachers I met are nice, caring, helpful and always find time to give me a short feedback. The school is very personal and gives you a cozy feeling. My son's Russian language skills have significantly improved; he enjoys the school's semi-annual performances and community events - and he made some good Russian-speaking friends. I am happy - he knows that he belongs to a good community that shares his other language and culture. read more

This is a great school. My three children have been going there for over 2 years. We participated in Saturday program, in full time Kindergarten, summer camps and after school lessons. This school offers a variety of interesting activities: music, drawing, chess, drama, ceramics and more. All teachers there are very professional, experienced and pleasant. My children enjoy going to Metaphor and thrive there. Their Russian language is improving. read more

My husband and I are very pleased with Metaphor. We could not ask for kinder, more dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators. Our daughter started at 2, speaking almost no Russian. After about three months, Russian quickly overtook English as her dominant language. As a dual-language home with only one Russian-speaking parent, Metaphor has been an invaluable resource . Our daughter loves going to school, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that she is getting an excellent education. Her teachers are highly educated, the curriculum is well thought out (including a ton of work on fine and gross motor skills), and the schedule provides ample time for play and enrichment through art and music. We have daily proof of the quality of education at Metaphor, when our daughter comes home singing new songs, demonstrating gymnastics and ballet dance moves, speaking grammatically correct Russian with an ever-increasing vocabulary, and demonstrating increased motor skills. We are so lucky to have Metaphor and hope to send our children there for years to come. read more

This school really tries to be a good alternative to local Montessori schools, but it really lacks simple respect and appreciation of the kids. Very Soviet style approach of teaching, old facilities, always hot and stuffy and food is terrible. Teachers are fakely polite and if you raise a concern they become very snappy. Instead of understanding parents' needs the attitude in this school is that you are WRONG for being concerned or raising issues and we will prove it to you. The only good thing about the school is that its program is fully immersed in Russian. read more

The school has a few very nice and very well trained teachers that run nice programs in their assigned groups. On of my children learnt to read and write mainly thanks to her teacher. We were lucky to work with a few. However, general administration is so not-transparent and hard to navigate that for working parents it is hard to plan ahead. Rules seem to adjust all the time, and apply differently from person to person. Finances are not always clear as well. As one of the previous commentator, I also saw teachers chatting to each other often at the playground while kids were playing by themselves (and cried, hit each other). I also do not approve various disciplinary measures and teachers' tone when they discipline kids (although my kids are well behaving and were not themselves punished these ways as far as I am aware): kids start "putting dolls in the corner", raise their voices in a particular "Russian" way when playing at home with each other and the dolls. read more

This school was an unexpected but exceptional find for us. As a English/Russian/Spanish speaking family we were originally looking for an immersion pre-school to strengthen either the Spanish or the Russian. We assumed we would go the Spanish route, because there are many more Spanish options in the area. We actually bumped into this school quite by accident when touring a Spanish Bilingual program in the same building and were actually already enrolled in another local Spanish immersion program (that starts at 2.5). Because we were quite impressed with the spontaneous tour and the facilities and we had immediate childcare needs (our kid was only 2 at the time), we decided to try it out for a couple of months. Initially the plan was to transfer him to the Spanish school at 2.5yrs. Here is why we decided to keep him at Metaphor (despite the withdrawal fees/losing the deposit at the other school): 1) The quality of instruction is exceptional. The instructors and staff are extremely educated (PhDs) and really work with and care about individual students learning needs and styles. My kid has a very high energy level, not a lot of focus (even for a two year old). He gets a daily report card, with individual feedback and little practical exercises (i.e to improve focus and fine motor coordination). At no point did the teachers complain about his bad behavior (and I know it was early on) or label him as a bad apple. Through their focus on routine and structured expectations, and a lot of praise for what he does well (apparently colors/shapes and dancing/gym) they turned my little wild child into a kid who will sit at the table and eat, focus on an activity and even walk in a line with other kids. A huge transformation both at home and in school! I am a bit ashamed that I initially thought our focus should be on language. He is getting that too here for sure (full immersion), but really he is benefiting most from what is really 8 hours a day of cognitive behavioral therapy disguised as play based learning. Having toured a lot of schools and shared experiences with friends and neighbors, I am not sure he would get this anywhere else. 2) My son loves it (yes there were initial tears at drop off but this only lasted a few weeks). He got my husband out of the shower last week with his backpack to go school on Saturday. He really enjoys the arts program, playing with blocks and other toys and their nice big shaded playground which importantly (if your kid is a flight risk like mine was) is attached to the school. 3) They can handle food allergies. My kid has Celiac disease (an autoimmune disease/allergy to wheat, barley, rye and all products containing gluten). They have done a great job making sure that he sticks to his own lunch (we provide it) and does not handle or ingest gluten. (We also provide our own gluten-free play dough etc.) 4) They understand normal child development and have great suggestions. For 2 years I have been asking our pediatrician for an assessment/suggestions about our sons drooling. (He soaks several bibs a day) still despite being off gluten. I was told he would grow out of it. He hasn't. One of the instructors suggested I look up a type of Russian facial massage because they were also worried that he was still drooling. I was skeptical (I'm also a physician but not a pediatrician). But low and behold, this level of drooling is not only not normal, the facial massage is actually used to treat drooling in the US and it has helped :) 5) The focus is obviously on the kids education. I've read some of the negative reviews and some of it is true. Has my kid come home in clothes that are not his once? Has an occasional shirt gone missing for a while? Yes. Is their website a little lacking/un-updated? Absolutely. Do they go to all the preppy Arlington School Preschool Fairs. Don't think so. Do they give you a seven pages of color-print folder to peruse when you visit? Nope, that's not what you are paying for here, which is by the way (and my husband's favorite part ;) much less than the competition. read more

This is the second school my son (2.5yo) has attended and the difference is outstanding.The staff is wonderful. The teachers actually love their jobs and are great with the kids. The class size is small and my son started repeating Russian words after his first day! I love that my son is learning Russian, eating home made food and being treated well. I couldn't be happier. read more

My daughter is very picky about teachers but she LOVED every single one she had during her three years at Metaphor. We chose this school because of its academic program that helps children to grow up bilingual. A mix of strong curriculum and a variety of art classes (musical theater, drama, ceramics and more) has kept our daughter engaged and entertained for three years in a row. Concerts, shows and field trips make her forget to complain that she has to go to school on Saturdays =) read more

Two of my kids attended Metaphor school for several years now and we absolutely love it! The teachers are amazing! The school program not only has Russian language, it has Math, Art, Theater, Music, and more! Their concerts are so creative and always well prepared. Their rooms and playgrounds are beautiful, the food is great. One more thing I'd like to mention here is the summer program. It's lots of fun and always keeps things interesting for the children. We would definitely recommend Metaphor to all of our friends! read more

My biggest goal was to teach my 3 y o. son Russian language with great focus on writing and reading skills (I spoke Russian only to him since he was born). In the beginning of my search to find the best school in Virginia I explored several options. Zhanna spent almost one hour with me on the phone explaining the learning process at their Russian Academy Metaphora. The location, flexible hours, young enthusiastic teachers and reasonable prices - what attracted me first. My son was attending this school for over two years and we had to stop due to our move. Since then, there wasn't a day when my son didn't mention his teacher Dana. He really misses her and school in general. The school has the most experience in comparison to other Russian language schools in the area ( over 10 years). It offers gymnastics, nature exploration classes, art, music classes, home cooked Russian meals at no additional cost. We really enjoyed attending kids concerts every season. It promotes memory, confidence and musical sense in kids. The most importantly, my son did learn to read and write letters in Russian. I strongly recommend this school for the kids of parents who want to nurture Russian culture. Metaphora is the best place for that in Virginia area, no doubt. read more