Local Enrichment Center Wants 'Everyone to be Bright'

Future leaders in their fields are being groomed in a recently reconstructed, thin building off of Saddle River Road.

Better yet, the youngsters ages 1 year and up are using their free time creatively, instead of plopping down in front of a television set.

"We would like to help everyone to be bright," says All Bright Center co-founder and owner Irina Sheynin. "And we believe everyone is bright."

Subjects taught at All Bright Center include math, Russian, English language arts, science, visual arts, drama, dance, and mixed martial arts, as well as SAT NJ Ask, and Bergen Academies prep courses. Private tutoring is also available. All Bright works in conjunction with the Bright Start Educational Center, a neighboring nursery school and kindergarten run by director Anna Merrill. Open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Bright Start hosts children age 1 to Pre-K and has many classes as well.

All Bright was started in 2002 as an enrichment center, and since then, many programs have been added.

"We have students now in college," says Sheynin.

This was a difficult year for All Bright, but the center still made progress. After a March 13 winter storm, the school was flooded, and most of everything at the site was damaged and carted away. While classes were handled at neutral sites around town, the school was entirely rebuilt by June. This year was also a special project year for the school.

"There is no full time kindergarten in Fair Lawn," claims Sheynin, "so this is the first year of our independent school project where we have a full blown kindergarten and first grade program. We'll see how it goes, but I do know that the parents want their children to continue here."

The curriculum at All Bright is diverse. For example, the dance program consists of ballet, hip hop, modern dance and dance acrobatics, and Gila Stavnitser—who attended the London School of Ballet—is the instructor. As for the music program, newcomer Arina Baranov is the vocal teacher, Tatiana Kreyn teaches piano, viola and sometimes violin, and Yuriy Maevsky instructs in improvisation and music theory. The fine art program features two instructors in Elena Syney and Leo Shoshensky.

For Sheynin, it's all about creativity and having fun.

"Childhood is once in a lifetime, and kids are supposed to have fun," she says. "Creativity is a key word, because a creative person can always be successful. It's part of personality—it's about building a personality. Creativity is a key word for a successful person."

The All Bright Center, located at 5-05 Saddle River Road, can be reached at 201-794-9400. You can also visit www.allbrightcenter.com.