The Little Shofar June 2011/Sivan 5771 Jewish Family Congregation Early Childhood Center Newsletter Dear Parents, Let me tell you a story about a small Jewish nursery school nestled in an old temple building surrounded by tall trees, flowers and a large field of green grass. Within the sturdy walls of this structure are three brightly colored rooms: yellow, blue and green. Inside each room are two loving teachers and a class full of children busily engaged in learning, creating and conversing. Of course, you know this is a true tale about JFC Early Childhood Center. The teachers and I just returned from the Jewish Education Project professional day where we learned about using stories as a means of communication with children, parents and the community. Stories can certainly be used to educate children as we often embed cultural and moral lessons into the discourse. They can also be used to connect with parents when the teachers document the work of their young children using a narrative style with pictures and captions. Stories can even form a bridge with the community when we use publications such as newspapers to promote our activities through articles, photos and press releases. At the ECC we know how important stories are. We just had our annual “Book Swap� created and implemented by the Early Childhood Committee. At this event there were guest readers that made stories come alive for all who attended. Everyone, young and old, had a great time listening, having fun and returning home with new books to read. Although we tell many stories throughout the year, our last story is ending as our school comes to a close. Our travelogue is now over since the threes and fours are back from their trip to Israel where they flew on an El Al jet plane and landed in Tel Aviv. When in Israel the children danced Israeli folk dances, ate pita bread and humus, put their prayers in the Kotel and searched for artifacts in the Negev Desert. Our life science text was completed when we returned from our school trip to Muscoot Farm. There we watched and learned all about real farm animals. The Yellow and Blue rooms received their own private tour and everyone enjoyed a hay ride with a real tractor.
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June 2011/Sivan 5771 The chapter on the caterpillars, who were kept and observed in all three classrooms, reached their own conclusion. The children watched them crawl to the top of their containers, form chrysalises and metamorphasize into butterflies. Through this activity, all of the children studied the butterfly life cycle. The four year olds used their knowledge of the butterfly life cycle to create their own fictional tale about an unusual butterfly’s life, which was well read by all of their parents. The saga for our Yellow Room four year olds at JFC Early Childhood Center will soon be over. They are moving onto kindergarten which makes this a bittersweet story, especially for me and all of the teachers. We have watched them grow and develop into competent, skilled and verbal children who are more than ready for kindergarten and we will miss them very much. Like our four year olds, I too am ending my story at JFC and moving on. I will not be leaving until school is over, but I am ready for the changes that lie ahead as I enter the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I know you will all give your support to Jane Emmer as she capably takes on the ECC daily activities and challenges and as she begins a new page for JFC. Before I end this tale, I want to thank those people who are most responsible for making this year a success for the Early Childhood Center and especially for the children. First and foremost, thank you to our wonderful teachers, Debra Cohen, Ellen Elias, Lori Paprin, Dinah Rader, Laura Vayness and Jodi Waxman. Their teaching, guidance and love helped our children to learn, build social skills and grow. Thank you to Rabbi Carla Freedman who was especially supportive and cheerfully led all of our school Shabbat services and holiday celebrations. Thank you to Cantor Kerry Ben David who kept all the children and teachers singing. I especially want to thank Jolie Levy, our office administrator, for her friendly smile and all of her help with publishing, photo development and keeping our building and playground functioning perfectly. A special thanks goes to Kathleen
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June 2011/Sivan 5771 Sakowicz, our bookkeeper, for keeping our accounts in order and to Leslie Gottlieb, the religious school director for all of her support. Our school is an amazing place of learning for our children because of all the help we receive from our extraordinary parent volunteers. Thank you to our class parents, Catherine Lipper, Gillian Margolin, Luda Samuels, Marjorie Schiff, Susan Shapiro and Sherry Wallach who helped with our “Shabbat for Me” services, gave gifts of appreciation to our teachers and above all helped organize our beginning and end of year picnics. Our children’s home libraries have grown this year because of the efforts of Meredith Rudin, our Book Club Chair. Due to her leadership and your generosity, we earned many points and our school has ordered numerous books and a new sofa for the Green Room. Finally, I wish to thank our Early Childhood Committee. Together they accomplished so much including the highly successful Ladies Bazaar, a special adult night out, a Stella and Dot shopping party, a wine and cheese party, a jewelry raffle and just recently the well attended “Book Swap.” They also helped facilitate three mitzvah projects: a clothing drive, food drive and Tzedakah collection with all the contributions going to the Northern Westchester Community Center. Thank you to Karen Blum, Cheryl Chess, Tara Kauftheil, Sara Manes, Dara Marceau, Gillian Margolin, Luda Samuels, Whitney Wasserman and Elisa Zuckerberg. I particularly want to thank our amazing Early Childhood Committee Chairs Rachel Clott and Elise Serby. They put their heart and soul into improving our school. So the story ends. All of the children will have a wonderful summer vacation. The four year olds will move onto kindergarten and I am turning another page. Yet all of us will not leave this story unchanged. This is because every good story leaves a lasting impression. We had great experiences that will enrich our future and wonderful memories that will sustain us as we face new challenges. I want to wish you a happy ending to all of your stories and may you have many great tales to tell. Shalom, Page 3
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June 2011/Sivan 5771 FROM THE RABBI’S DESK
It is amazing to note that the school year for our ECC is almost over! Where has the time gone? Having now spent the last nine months with your children, I can say with certainty that they have all matured and flourished over the past year. The Fours have all the confidence and self assurance that we expect of the oldest kids in our program, though I suspect they will feel a lot more insecure on their first forays into kindergarten next fall. Happily, we know that they are well prepared for the next phase of their education, and that bounce in their steps will re-emerge soon! The Threes are surer of themselves than they were at the beginning of the year, and they are clearly ready to become “the big kids” here next fall. They participate with gusto in our Friday morning Shabbat “service” and greet me enthusiastically in the hallways. The Twos used to sit through that “service” in stunned silence…but now they sing and clap their hands and do all the movements that the various songs call for. They are much more at home here as they turn Three or approach that occasion, and no longer the babies that they were last fall. Each of these children has learned about life, about nature, about firefighters and dentists and about the Jewish holy days and holidays that have occurred during the course of the year. And on a weekly basis, they have been accustomed to celebrating Shabbat with the traditional prayers over candles, wine (grape juice, of course!) and challah. Those who participate in our summer camp will continue to celebrate Shabbat there as well. If you ask your youngster, s/he will tell you what three items (candles, wine, challah) are needed for Shabbat, and s/he will know the correct blessing for each item…even the Twos now know that! You might be surprised and delighted to have your child lead you Page 4
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June 2011/Sivan 5771 through this modest Shabbat experience, proof certain that the purposeful play enjoyed here all year has had a solid educational component in it! I hope that your summer plans include activities that will continue to stimulate your child’s growing mind. I hope that you make play dates so your youngster can stay in touch with his/her ECC friends. And I hope, if your youngster is not going to be at our summer camp, that you will bring her/him around to visit us. Having the kids in our lives during the school year makes the rest of the work we do more fun. And we miss them when school lets out! I would be remiss if I did not remind you about Shabbat In the Great Outdoors, on June 24th. Each family brings its own picnic dinner, blanket or chairs to sit on, and bug spray. We begin dinner at 6:30 pm with the blessings your child knows well, and we provide the candles, wine and challah. Then at 7:30 pm, we have a musical service; the Oneg Shabbat is indoors (because the mosquitoes are not invited!). This is a delightful, low-key experience, and will allow you to visit with your friends from JFC‌ And of course, it allows us to visit with you and your youngster again! So please plan to attend SITGO; make a play date of it, and the kids can enjoy the playground while you enjoy some adult company! Have a great summer!
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d ite n Lim ratio t gis Re
JFC Early Childhood Center PARENTING CENTER SUMMER 2011
INTRODUCING SUMMER CREATION STATION Celebrate Shabbat at Camp! TODDLERS 12 MONTHS AND UP with or without Parent/Caregiver
Celebrate Shabbat at camp! Play, music, art and stories! Spend time with your child
Fridays 10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Camp Director: Jane Emmer Summer Session July 1,8,15,22,29, Aug. 5,12 $30/day with parent $50/day without parent 111 Smith Ridge Road/Rte. 123 [1 miles S of Rte. 35] South Salem, NY 10590 (914) 763-3028 2011 PARENTING CENTER SUMMER REGISTRATION Parent’s name_______________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________Phone______________ Child’s name___________________________________DOB__________________ Email: ______________________________
Cell: _________________________
July 1___ July 8___ July 15___ July 22___ July 29___ Aug. 5___ Aug. 12___ FULL tuition must be paid in full with registration
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orm
F 12 0 2 1201
Priority________________ Date received___________ Check #_______________ Application for 2011-2012 School Year Child’s Name __________________________________________________ Sex ___________________ Date of Birth _________________________ Home Address_________________________________________________ Home Phone_________________ Parent /Guardian Name__________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Occupation______________________________________ Business Address___________________ Business Phone_______________ Cell Phone___________________
E-mail_____________________
Parent/Guardian Name__________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Occupation______________________________________ Business Address___________________ Business Phone_______________ Cell Phone___________________ Other Children: Names/Ages
E-mail_____________________
__________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
1) My child is presently enrolled at JFC Early Childhood Center ____Yes If yes, name of child__________________________________ 2) I am a member of Jewish Family Congregation ____Yes 3) I am presently participating in the Parenting Center ____Yes Program/Dates______________________________________ 4) I am interested in being a class parent ____Yes 5) I am available to help ____Yes
____No ____No ____No ____No ____No
2-Year Old Class (3-day): _____
3-Year Old Class: ______
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30-11:45
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:15-12:00
Child must be 2 by child’s school district cut-off date for Kindergarten
Child must be 3 by child’s school district cut-off date for Kindergarten
2-Year Old Class (2-day): _____
4-Year Old Class: ______
Wednesday, Friday 9:30-11:45
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:15-12:00
Child must be 2 by child’s school district cut-off date for Kindergarten
Child must be 4 by child’s school district cut-off date for Kindergarten
Please attach a non-refundable $350 registration fee made payable to Jewish Family Congregation to this registration form ($300 will be applied to tuition)
Tuitions for 2011-2012: Member/Non-Member
Age
Days
Tuition
Member
2-year-old
2 day
$ 2,500
Member
2-year-old
3 day
$ 3,645
Member
3-year-old
4 day
$ 4,850
Member
4-year-old
4 day
$ 4,850
Non-Member
2-year-old
2 day
$ 2,795
Non-Member
2-year-old
3 day
$ 4,150
Non-Member Non-Member
3-year-old 4-year-old
4 day 4 day
$ 5,545 $ 5,545
Please note: Registration fee will be returned only if we cannot offer your child a space.
Return this form to: Jewish Family Congregation Early Childhood Center 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590
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