Early Childhood Education Center

Programs

Baby Steps Infant Program
Full-time only

The Baby Steps infant program provides a warm, nurturing and supportive environment for infants ages 3-12 months where babies feel safe and secure. Babies are engaged in experiences that foster curiosity and invite exploration, while laying the foundation for later learning in language, cognitive, motor skill and sensory development. The program is staffed by warm and nurturing caregivers who provide individualized attention and experiences and who forge meaningful partnerships with parents as well.

Bright Beginnings Program
Full-time only

The Bright Beginnings class is the next step after the infant program. Our young toddlers ages 12-18 months are hard at work learning how to accomplish tasks on their own such as eating, playing and talking. As these new abilities emerge, young toddlers are excited to explore the world around them. Under the guidance of our nurturing and experienced staff our toddlers enjoy hands-on experiences and social interactions in a safe and engaging environment. This class provides daily opportunities for learning experiences that foster and promote toddlers’ emerging independence and social skills while helping to build self-confidence.

Little Learners Program
Full-time or Part-time

This class is designed to provide a warm and nurturing introduction to the routines of our school for toddlers ages 18-24 months old. The program provides stimulating, interactive activities for children who are engaging in their first independent school experience. Activities are planned which provide opportunities for children to interact with their peers and become acquainted with a structured group environment. The program includes circle-time, play-time, art, cooking, snack and more.

Two-Year-Old Program
Full-time or Part-time

Our classes are designed to provide our two-year-old students with a secure and caring environment and to make their first steps away from home safe and comfortable. This program of gently structured educational play-based activities includes circle-time, music, story-time, cooking, creative arts and crafts, science, literacy, numeracy and outdoor/indoor play activities – all in a supportive and loving atmosphere.

Three-Year-Old Program
Full-time or Part-time

Three-year-old classes emphasize developing social skills such as making friends, sharing and taking turns. This comprehensive program stresses the child’s individual development and understanding of the world around them. By exploring nature, the seasons, the community and the family, the children become more aware of themselves, their environment and others. The program incorporates language acquisition, science, math, cooking, outdoor/indoor play, creative movement, music and library. Special activities help the children develop responsibility and independence along with sensitivity towards others.

Four-Year-Old Program (Pre-K)
Full-time or Part-time

Our Pre-k classes are designed to prepare the children for kindergarten. Our program enhances self-esteem, listening skills, attention span and the ability to follow directions. We continue to emphasize independence and self-reliance.

We use kindergarten-readiness materials that provide solid preparation for kindergarten in both public and private schools. Language arts and math concepts are integrated into the daily classroom experience. The children are exposed to science, nature, geography, imaginative storytelling, cooking, art, computers, creative movement and indoor/outdoor play. Our teachers work to bring out the best in each child. The program also promotes each child’s social development including consideration of others, self-sufficiency and self-discipline in a happy, nurturing and productive setting.

EXTENDED HOURS
Students enrolled in the three-year-old and four-year-old programs have the opportunity to stay until 3:00pm for an extended day. The children will have lunch then settle in for free-play, art and snack.

EARLY CARE
Early care is available starting at 7:00am for full-time students. Children who arrive early enjoy informal time with the teacher. Part-time students may participate if space is available and will incur an hourly fee. Use of early care requires 48-hours notice (drop-in basis). Requests are subject to staff availability.

LATE CARE
Late care provides an informal, play-date environment with ECE Center staff supervision, Monday through Friday until 6:00pm for full-time students. Activities might include: art projects, story-time, games and free-play. Part-time students may participate (space permitting) until 4:00pm and will incur an hourly fee. Use of late care requires 48-hours notice (drop-in basis). Requests are subject to staff availability.

Supplemental Programs

Creative Arts

Our elective Creative Arts workshops offer afternoons of fun. The Creative Arts workshop offers high-quality programs like those you might choose outside of school. There are two semesters of programming per school year, and class choices may include dance, art, music, science, language, yoga and sports.

12:00pm-2:00pm | Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Enrichment

Enrichment Programming is available in our three-year-old and four-year-old (Pre-k) programs. Students will delve into many theme-based units incorporating hands-on projects and activities. These units are typically those not experienced during the morning class sessions. Students will explore and learn through songs, stories, theme-based art activities, science experiments, cooking activities, dramatics, play, movement and games. Our hands-on approach facilitates imaginative and inquisitive learning.

12:00pm-3:00pm | Tuesday and Thursday

Summer Camp

Camp Or Ami

Our summer camp program offers children many varied experiences throughout the summer. The children will spend time in our fully-equipped, air-conditioned classrooms and spend time running and playing on our state-of-the-art playground on our large, enclosed, beautifully maintained property. Outdoor time also offers the daily opportunity to jump on our moon bounce and cool off while running through the sprinklers.

Once again, we will be offering instructional swim and recreational swim periods for all toilet-trained children three to five years of age every day under the watchful eyes of our Red Cross-certified swim instructors. We also offer a variety of water play activities for children who are not yet toilet-trained. Camp offers sports, music, nature, art and cooking activities centered around a different weekly theme. In addition to our regularly scheduled activities, there will be weekly special programs throughout the summer. As always, we look forward to celebrating Shabbat together each week!

Camp 2023 Registration Form

Committees

ECE Center Committee

The Early Childhood Education Center Committee works cooperatively within the structure of the ECE Center to enhance educational programming and policies and encourage its continued development and growth in order to support the school in achieving its greatest potential. Issues of concern may be brought to the attention of the School Director or the School Committee Chair, Jen Segal.

ECE Center PTO

The ECE Center PTO meets each month (time and location varies).

For more information on the PTO contact:
Jennifer Goldman
Alexis Mandracchia

ECE Scholarships Available

About

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, in partnership with regional Jewish day schools and private pre-school/kindergartens, provides needs-based scholarships to lower and middle-income families attending Jewish day schools and pre-schools through the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools. This program is available to students beginning at age three for families who qualify. If you are interested in applying for any available scholarship money, please look at the attached materials. There is an initial March 31 deadline for this program.

Apply

You may apply by use of the online, interactive, web-based application, by creating an ISTS account. You will be taken directly to the application after you have set up your account. Click on “ADD NEW APPLICATION”. The program key for our scholarship program is: FJDS.

If you have any questions, please contact ISTS customer care or call toll free 855-670-ISTS (4787).