Preschool at the Weinstein JCC

Alive with Imagination

Guided by Jewish values, we aspire to create a joyful community where we honor the sacred relationships among children, educators, families and the natural world.

In this community, we are all deserving of love and respect. We all have amazing potential for growth and learning. We connect to our sense of wonder and gratitude through the enduring relationships cultivated here. May we inspire one another to make the world better for this and future generations.

We believe that early childhood experiences lay the foundation for a lifetime.

We spend every day promoting the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of each child. At the Weinstein JCC, learning takes place inside and outside the classroom. Our children become independent thinkers and confident leaders through connecting with the wonders of the natural world through our natural outdoor classrooms & our edible school yard. Our experienced educators provide a nourishing environment for every child to learn and grow every day.

Children Take The Lead

Inspiration from the Reggio Emilia Approach goes into the very heart of our programs, we create experiences that encourage curiosity, wonder and discovery. It’s a journey teachers and children take together, as teachers connect with their children’s interests and follow their lead.

Curriculum

Our preschool program also provides a unique curriculum for the teaching of ethics to young children. An Ethical Start™ is based on the text of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), a classic Jewish text on ethics. With its focus on responsibility, dignity, kindness, community, tradition and respect, relevant teaching opportunities present themselves readily.

An Ethical Start

An Ethical Start™ is based on the book “Pirkei Avot – Ethics of the Fathers.” It is an educational program developed to teach Jewish ethics and values to preschoolers. An Ethical Start™ was developed by the Jewish Community Center Association, which was funded in part by the Steven Spielberg Righteous Persons Foundation. An Ethical Start™ is successfully integrated in all of the Center’s preschool classrooms.

The program is developed through exploration of the text, “Ethics of Our Fathers,” environmental enhancements, multi-media exploration through music, books, Peer K doll and the emergent curriculum, which integrates with our current early childhood philosophy.

This innovative program enhances and deepens family commitment to the learning and practice of ethics and values. The six areas of focus consist of the following values: responsibility, dignity, kindness, community, tradition and respect. An Ethical Start™ is a groundbreaking way of helping families and early childhood teachers study a classical text and develop a shared vocabulary for raising young children with a respect and understanding of ethics and values.

An Ethical Start™ program is based on an imaginative character, Peer K Explorer™, an animated character and three-dimensional doll, who is our children’s “guide,” just as Pirkei Avot is our guide to value-based teaching. The multi-media approach encourages interest and peaks learning.

One of the best known teachings of Pirkei Avot is attributed to Rabbi Hillel, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And, if I am only for myself what am I? And, If not now, when?” Pirkei Avot 1:14. This mishna helps our children understand that they, and all other people, have innate worth simply by virtue of being human.

Enrichment Classes

As part of our Early Childhood program, the Weinstein JCC offers additional enrichment classes to stimulate your preschooler and to provide additional play and learning opportunities. Taught by our Early Childhood staff and other area specialists, our enrichment classes are engaging, fun and developmentally appropriate.

ENRICHMENT classes include Aquatics, Art, Fitness, Recreation, and Dance. Children must be ages 3+, toilet trained, and be able to follow age-appropriate directions. Children must meet the appropriate class age requirement by the first day of class.

The Weinstein JCC Early Childhood program is supported in part by:

The Edward J. Becker Family Preschool Children’s Endowment Fund

Margarete Hirsch & Suzanne Hirt Preschool Children’s Endowment Fund

Dora L. Lewis Child Development Fund

Guided by Jewish values, we aspire to create a joyful community where we honor the sacred relationships among children, educators, families and the natural world.

In this community, we are all deserving of love and respect. We all have amazing potential for growth and learning. We connect to our sense of wonder and gratitude through the enduring relationships cultivated here. May we inspire one another to make the world better for this and future generations.

We believe that early childhood experiences lay the foundation for a lifetime.

We spend every day promoting the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of each child. At the Weinstein JCC, learning takes place inside and outside the classroom. Our children become independent thinkers and confident leaders through connecting with the wonders of the natural world through our natural outdoor classrooms & our edible school yard. Our experienced educators provide a nourishing environment for every child to learn and grow every day.

Children Take The Lead

Inspiration from the Reggio Emilia Approach goes into the very heart of our programs, we create experiences that encourage curiosity, wonder and discovery. It’s a journey teachers and children take together, as teachers connect with their children’s interests and follow their lead.

Curriculum

Our preschool program also provides a unique curriculum for the teaching of ethics to young children. An Ethical Start™ is based on the text of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), a classic Jewish text on ethics. With its focus on responsibility, dignity, kindness, community, tradition and respect, relevant teaching opportunities present themselves readily.

An Ethical Start

An Ethical Start™ is based on the book “Pirkei Avot – Ethics of the Fathers.” It is an educational program developed to teach Jewish ethics and values to preschoolers. An Ethical Start™ was developed by the Jewish Community Center Association, which was funded in part by the Steven Spielberg Righteous Persons Foundation. An Ethical Start™ is successfully integrated in all of the Center’s preschool classrooms.

The program is developed through exploration of the text, “Ethics of Our Fathers,” environmental enhancements, multi-media exploration through music, books, Peer K doll and the emergent curriculum, which integrates with our current early childhood philosophy.

This innovative program enhances and deepens family commitment to the learning and practice of ethics and values. The six areas of focus consist of the following values: responsibility, dignity, kindness, community, tradition and respect. An Ethical Start™ is a groundbreaking way of helping families and early childhood teachers study a classical text and develop a shared vocabulary for raising young children with a respect and understanding of ethics and values.

An Ethical Start™ program is based on an imaginative character, Peer K Explorer™, an animated character and three-dimensional doll, who is our children’s “guide,” just as Pirkei Avot is our guide to value-based teaching. The multi-media approach encourages interest and peaks learning.

One of the best known teachings of Pirkei Avot is attributed to Rabbi Hillel, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And, if I am only for myself what am I? And, If not now, when?” Pirkei Avot 1:14. This mishna helps our children understand that they, and all other people, have innate worth simply by virtue of being human.

Enrichment Classes

As part of our Early Childhood program, the Weinstein JCC offers additional enrichment classes to stimulate your preschooler and to provide additional play and learning opportunities. Taught by our Early Childhood staff and other area specialists, our enrichment classes are engaging, fun and developmentally appropriate.

ENRICHMENT classes include Aquatics, Art, Fitness, Recreation, and Dance. Children must be ages 3+, toilet trained, and be able to follow age-appropriate directions. Children must meet the appropriate class age requirement by the first day of class.

The Weinstein JCC Early Childhood program is supported in part by:

The Edward J. Becker Family Preschool Children’s Endowment Fund

Margarete Hirsch & Suzanne Hirt Preschool Children’s Endowment Fund

Dora L. Lewis Child Development Fund