Nursery School News

One of the most joyous times of the year for children, the holiday of Hanukkah, presents a wealth of learning opportunities in the Nursery School. We pride ourselves as being a process oriented school - a place where deep learning occurs through exploration and investigation. In general, we are not a product-oriented place where projects, usually teacher-directed, are the focus. However, when it comes to our Jewish holidays, we believe in the importance of traditions. Thus we guide children in creating a ritual object, something that families can use for many years to come.

One two-year-old class used an oil bottle to create a Chanukiya for their families. Two year olds love to stuff, and they were given a wealth of materials – pompoms, pipe cleaners, beads, and wooden pieces, which they used to fill their bottles. When placed horizontally, there was ample space for tiles and bolts that were glued on to hold candles. Another twos class used baby food jars glued to a paint stirrer, and they also stuffed to their heart’s content. We are confident that these chanukiyot will be used for many years as part of our two -year-old families’ tradition.

Hanukkah is not just about candles-it’s about oil as well. Our three year olds did many experiments involving oil and comparing oil and wax. They made beautiful chanukiot that will house oil cups when they light at home with their families.

And let’s not forget our four-year-olds who made a unique Candle Box Holder covered with a beautiful chanukiah that they embroidered on the top. Their box is just the right size to hold the 44 candles necessary for the holiday.

And what would Hanukkah be without delicious latkes fried in oil?! It was our pleasure to host a number of parent volunteers who came to school to help with frying.

Our annual Hanukkah Chagigah was a fabulous success! Children and parents in our 3s and 4s classes gathered in the Ballroom for our traditional Hanukkah Chagigah: candle lighting, communal singing and dancing with our Music Director, Moreh Jack. A few highlights of our program: seeing four dads create a huge human dreidel and spin around at different speeds, and watching our clergy and synagogue leaders jump out of the frying pan and run around the room acting the part of runaway latkes.

Following singing, families spent time with their children experiencing first- hand the creative process and methodology of good early childhood practice. They built chanukiot in the block corner, played dreidel, explored light and dark with our light tables, explored Chanukah puzzles and matching games, played Pin the Shammash on the chanukiah, and engaged in a variety of art activities related to the holiday. Although we were all a bit dizzy from spinning around like dreidels, it did not stop us from enjoying some tasty sufganiot (jelly doughnuts), latkes and applesauce. We look forward to celebrating many more holidays together with our extended Beth El community.

We all know that famous phrase, “It is better to give than to receive,” but this is a difficult concept to convey to children, who are culturally bombarded with a much different message. We would like to thank our parent body for remembering to send tzedakah coins with the children. This hands-on-approach helps the children internalize one of the important meanings of “doing a mitzvah.”

As Jews, we are obligated to walk the world mindfully. We teach our children to act with kavod- respect; to realize their responsibilities towards one another and the earth. Our parent body launched a Mitzvah Committee, a program that seeks to increase our children’s understanding of what a mitzvah is and promote a desire in our children to perform acts of kindness. Many pairs of mittens and gloves were collected for The Sharing Shelf and displayed on our Chaverim Chanukiah in the lower lobby.

There is no question that the Hebrew month of Kislev, filled with the joyous and magical holiday of Hanukkah, could be our favorite one of all!

Ronnie Becher, Director Beth El Nursery School