Education | Early Childhood Education About Us
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Mission Statement
History
Philosophy & Goals
Early Childhood Education Committee Information
MISSION STATEMENT FOR ZIPPORAH S. ABRAMSON CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Zipporah S. Abramson Center for Early Childhood Education is dedicated to fostering excellence in Jewish early childhood education. This is achieved by providing a warm, nurturing environment that encourages cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development of the whole child. Our program incorporates Jewish values and traditions and encourages children, along with their families, to consciously develop a Jewish identity and lifestyle. Zipporah S. Abramson Center for Early Childhood Education offers an environment that encourages young children to develop their unique capabilities, interests, and creativity at their own pace and according to their individual needs.
HISTORY
The Beth Or Preschool was started in 1974 to serve the youngest members of Congregation Beth Or and the local community. The Preschool began with two classes – one of 4-year-olds and one of 3-year olds. Shelia Heller Brandow served as the director until 1988, at which time the school had grown to six classes of children ages 2 to Kindergarten. When she retired from her position, there were 6 classes for children ages 2 through Kindergarten.
From 1988 until 1998, the Preschool was directed by Marla Diamond. Under Marla’s guidance, the preschool grew to ten classes and three ‘Parent and Me’ groups. Many new programs were started such as Enrichment and Extended Day. The playground was redesigned and was dedicated in Marla’s and Shelia’s honored in 1999.
Beth Or Babies was started for children 3 to 12 months and their parents. We also have a ‘Parent and Me” group for children 12 to 18 months old. Our Preschool Committee has taken an active role governing the school and does wonderful special events and works very hard raising funds for purchases of new equipment and scholarships. Robin has extended hours for working parents, 7 AM - 6 PM. In addition, we have opened a first steppers class which caters to toddlers 15 - 24 months old and an Infant Program opened in September 2007. This program provides care for children starting at 3 months of age.
At the heart and soul of our school are the wonderful children. We value our greatest asset, our preschool staff, as they focus on the children’s growing hearts and minds every day. We invite you to visit us and discover the place where children come first.
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS
To promote self-esteem and confidence
To increase independence in meeting and solving problems
To form a positive Jewish identity by exposing the children to Jewish culture and tradition through music, holiday celebrations, special Shabbat services and interaction with the Rabbi and Cantor
To further intellectual development; to foster cognitive learning, concept formation, and self-understanding
To learn large motor skills such as climbing, running, jumping and balancing
To develop small muscle competence by using scissors, paste, clay, building blocks, puzzles, and beads
To promote cooperation and other pro-social behaviors
To promote language development
To develop fantasy play that facilitates imagination, ideas and creative thinking processes
To foster awareness of the world by participating in a variety of experiences
To help the child separate from the family, and learn to live comfortably in a social group other than the family
To foster creativity and free self-expression in art, music and socio-dramatic play
To help the child learn control, restraint and good attending skills
To encourage the expression of all feelings, such as fear, anger and happiness, in acceptable ways; to develop positive qualities such as the capacity for fun, humor and optimism
To provide an environment that provides the child with the opportunity to learn by doing – moving from concrete hands-on experiences to more abstract concept development
PRESCHOOL COMMITTEE
We encourage parents to get involved with the Preschool to the extent that they are able. There are many different levels of participation, and we understand that while some parents have a lot of time and energy to commit, others are more limited.
The Preschool Committee is the governing board of the Preschool. It is a Committee of the Beth Or Board of Trustees, and therefore its voting parent members must be members of the synagogue. It meets approximately every two months in the evening and is involved with strategic planning, policy matters, and conflicts not resolved by the teachers or the Director.
For more information about this committee, contact Sharon Carlin at scarlin@bethor.org
From the Early Childhood Educator
Registration 2010
Events & Fundraising
Handbook & Calendar
FAQs
Class Descriptions
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