Education
Gan B'nai
Shalom Preschool
Gan B’nai Shalom is a preschool where children receive a stimulating, creative, and nurturing learning experience that will provide them with the foundation to grow educationally, socially, and spiritually. Inspired by Jewish values, our program provides opportunities for children’s exploration, self-expression and strong community building. Each child is special and unique. We encourage each child to develop as an individual and as part of the Jewish community. Our goal is to make learning exciting through a hands-on-approach. We strive to encourage our children to be creative and independent thinkers, as they increase their self-confidence, enhance their independence, and develop a sense of responsibility all within the Conservative Jewish framework.
Gan B’nai Shalom provides a high quality early childhood program. We nurture the social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive development of each child by providing a creative, warm, respectful, and enriching Jewish environment. Our program is designed to facilitate self-esteem and respectful social relationships. The children are encouraged to explore and develop their curiosity through play and challenging experiences. Our age appropriate environment encourages language development, creativity, gross and fine motor skills.
Judaism is integrated into our daily activities through art, science, manipulatives, stories, songs, and imaginative play. Whether we are learning about a holiday, exploring our environment, or merely playing with our friends, Judaism is a living experience for all those who are part of our community.
Each individual grows and develops at his/her own rate and possesses their unique ability to learn. The teachers at Gan B’nai Shalom respect each child’s needs and provide experiences to enhance each individual.
Download
the Gan B'nai Shalom Preschool 2008-2009
Application for Admission
See the News page for Preschool
Director Liz Kaufman's latest Hadashot article.
Curriculum
The curriculum at Gan B’nai Shalom supports our philosophy and matches the developmental needs of the children. The children explore their environment through play and activities that encourage them to discover, observe, and question the world around them. Focusing on a theme-based curriculum, our program offers creative art projects, science exploration, critical thinking activities, and dramatic play. Language art skills and gross and fine motor development are stimulated through a variety of individual, small and large group interactive experiences. The children have opportunities for quiet and active play, in addition to a balance of child-staff initiated exploration. Daily use of our outdoor environment includes a play structure, a sand and bike riding area, and a children’s garden.
Class
Size
We maintain a low child/teacher ratio to insure that each child’s needs are met. Our two year old class does not exceed ten children and our three and four year old classes do not exceed fifteen children, each class has two teachers.
Staff
Our staff at Gan B’nai Shalom are warm, dedicated, and creative educators, who are carefully selected for their Early Childhood Education backgrounds, teaching experience and sensitivity to the needs of young children and their families.
Communication
and Parent Involvement
Parents are regularly informed of classroom and school activities through class calendars, monthly newsletters, e-mail, and daily contact with the teachers. We encourage parent involvement and provide many opportunities for participation through activities such as: parent orientation, “Meet My Teacher Day”, Friday Shabbat, family holiday events, parent/teacher conferences, parent education workshops, and fundraising events. Each family is required to commit ten hours of volunteer time to the preschool. You may elect to satisfy this requirement in a variety of ways, including serving on the Gan B’nai Shalom parent committee or one of the sub-committees. Parents with special talents, interests, or vocations are encouraged to share their experiences with the children.
Hours
Gan B’nai Shalom runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 – 1:00 with two, three, four and five day options. Children who are two years of age by September 1st may attend our program.
Application
Process
Gan B’nai Shalom is open to the community, with a priority given to Congregation B’nai Shalom members. After the enrollment application is processed, an appointment will be made for prospective parents to meet with our director, Liz Kaufman. Please download
an application, call (925) 933-7633 to set up an appointment to visit
our school.
Program Options
For 2008 – 2009 school year Gan B’nai Shalom will operate three classes:
Parparim Class—Butterflies
Our Parparim class is open to children who are two years old by September 1st.
This program provides a warm, loving, and nurturing environment for our youngest children, as they expand their social, emotional, and intellectual horizons through developmentally appropriate play.
Children in the Parparim class may attend school two, three, four or all five days a week.
Tziporim Class-Birds
Our Tziporim class is open to children who are three years old by September 1st.
Daily age-appropriate activities focus on the physical, emotional, social and cognitive needs of each child in our stimulating, creative, nurturing, Jewish environment.
Children enrolled in our Tziporim class may attend three, four or five days a week.
Tsfardeim Class – Frogs
Our Tsfardeim class is open to children who are four years old by September 1st.
A stimulating program designed with the pre-kindergartner in mind. Children in this class work independently as well as collaboratively. The curriculum provides an appropriate balance of children’s choice and teacher initiated activities.
Children enrolled in our Tsfardeim class attend five days a week.
Judaism
is fully integrated into our preschool curriculum.
All
Gan B'nai Shalom children have weekly Shabbat and joyous holiday celebrations.
(back to top)
|
