FOCUS ON YOUTH
April 2022
Federation Star
23
www.naplestemple.org / 239.455.3030
TEMPLE SHALOM PRESCHOOL
Celebrating Passover with the kids By Rabbi Ariel Boxman, Director of Lifelong Learning
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ater this month, we will celebrate the holiday of Passover! This is by far one of our favorite holidays to celebrate at Temple Shalom Preschool. We tell the story, taste different flavors of matzah, sing songs and talk about the value of freedom. Here are some fun ideas to do at home with your kiddos and family!
Have a chocolate Seder
A chocolate Seder is a fun twist on the traditional Seder. All the ritual foods are substituted for a chocolate alternative (i.e., 4 cups of wine become 4 cups of chocolate milk). Here is a link to a chocolate Seder Haggadah if you are interested in hosting a kid-friendly chocolate Seder! https:// tinyurl.com/chocolatesederhaggadah.
Make homemade matzah
Matzah is super simple and fun to make. Only two ingredients are needed: flour and water! Check out this recipe and enjoy your delicious Passover friendly treat. tinyurl.com/homeadematzah
Tell the Passover story
The Passover story is fascinating, even for little ones. You can make it more exciting and act it out with costumes and props.
Watch the “Prince of Egypt”
This Disney movie tells the story of Passover with drama and music. It brings the story to life and helps young learners understand the meaning of Passover.
PRESCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Make a Seder tablecloth
Purchase a white tablecloth and let children use fabric markers to decorate the tablecloth for Passover. Children can use stencils to draw Passover ritual items and write your family name. Alternatively, place a large piece of white butcher paper on your Seder table and Acting out the Passover story provide markers and crayWe wish you a happy and healthy Passons for the kids to decorate during the over and hope you and your families have actual Seder. fun preparing and celebrating. Passover is our most child-friendly Chag Sameach! holiday and a super festive time for all!
www.chabadnaples.com / 239.262.4474
Our children and the community around them By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool of the Arts Founder & Director
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t Preschool of the Arts, we strive to cultivate each of our student’s intellectual, emotional, social and moral potential. The exceptional individualized care invested in every single child, from the time they walk in the door as a toddler until the day they walk out as a capable and school-ready student, is truly one of a kind. Step onto our beautiful state-of-the-art campus and you are no longer just a face in a crowd; you and your child are important individuals that make up the mosaic of our unique community. That community extends beyond just our students and their families. We are privileged to benefit from the support and partnership of our Greater Naples community. Throughout the months of February and March, we enjoyed numerous events that fostered warm relationships between our children and the community around them. In late February, POTA welcomed officers from the Naples Police Department for a fun “Cookies, Cops and Classrooms” event that introduced our children to law enforcement in a warm and educational way. Our brave law enforcement officers connected with the children over some delicious cookies and the children were able to gain a sense of security and appreciation for the incredible work our police force does to keep our entire community safe. Visits like these are crucial to creating a foundation of trust and support that builds community relationships. In early March, we continued to foster important relationships by hosting one of our most popular events of the year — Grandparents’ Day! At POTA, we know that being a grandparent is one of the
Thank you to the Naples Police Department for visiting Preschool of the Arts and for always going above and beyond to keep our community safe! greatest gifts in life and we were honored to recognize the special role grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives. This year’s event was a garden party, inspired by the theme, “Grandparents Are Our Roots.” Our guests enjoyed fun-filled gardening activities and a special musical performance from our star students! Throughout the day, we were inspired to witness the Nachat — overwhelming pride and joy — on all our grandparents’ faces, beaming as the children demonstrated their tremendous accomplishments and growth. Most wonderful of all, was the way the children burst with pride, as each one felt like a million dollars — special and loved by their beloved grandparents. It is truly only grandparents who can bring so much joy! The joy continued in the weeks leading up to Purim. Our children got well into the spirit of the festivities at school, dressing up in costumes, singing Purim songs and baking Hamantaschen. In art class, the children designed and decorated beautiful baskets that they filled with yummy goodies. The children then gifted their
basket to a friend in the Purim custom of Mishloach Manot, encouraging sharing, giving and friendship.
Preschool of the Arts children delight in friendships, playground fun and hands-on learning experiences.
The highlight of the holiday was a community-wide outdoor celebration at the Chabad and POTA campus — “Purim in the Wild West!” There was fun for the whole family, from pony rides to a rope show to rides on a mechanical bull! The ultimate Purim party also invited all our cowboys and cowgirls — and various other guests dressed in costume — to a delicious Saloon Dinner and the speediest Megillah readin’ in the Wild West. Everyone had a roaring good time with smiles and laughter galore! Want to bring a smile to your child’s face? Sign him or her up for Summer of the Arts! Our summer experience is like dozens of specialty camps rolled into one. Families can sign up for all six weeks or either of our two, three-week sessions, which run from June 7 to July 15. Enrollment is almost full, with very limited availability in certain classes. Due to high demand, we encourage prospective families to enroll today. For more information, visit our website, NaplesPreschooloftheArts.com, or call 239-263-2620.
