Early Childhood Program
Mission
The Early Childhood Program of Germantown Jewish Centre provides high-quality Jewish education and child care, enriching both the families served and the congregation. The original Nursery School was expanded in 1980 to a full-day program which emphasizes learning through doing in an environment where individuality is nurtured and respected. At the same time, the program develops a sense of community and friendship. Our talented, dedicated, professional staff provides age-appropriate activities that stimulate the development of the whole child.
We encourage children at varying developmental stages to interact and learn from one another. Our staff, school and families are mutually supportive and strive to maintain a caring community and a stable “home” for our children.
Learning and experiencing Jewish culture and tradition are central to our program. Holidays are celebrated through classroom activities, family programs, and synagogue events. Children learn Jewish values through discussion, song, story, drama, and puppetry. We are proud to be located in the midst of the beautiful and diverse Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. We are committed to teaching and promoting respect and understanding of all persons.
The Early Childhood Program of Germantown Jewish Centre is a nonprofit center licensed by the Department of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are open to all; however, priority for admission is given to synagogue member families.
The Germantown Jewish Centre Early Childhood Program is a special place for young children from 6 months of age through 5 years of age and for their families. Through the lens of Jewish culture and tradition, our children learn about themselves, and the world around them.
The Early Childhood Program is a Jewish Preschool that offers Half-Day and Full Day Programs as well as Early and Late Day Care. We are open to all; with priority admission given to synagogue member families. Our dedicated and talented staff are committed professionals. The preschool environment, created by our outstanding staff, is warm, nurturing and creative. The staff takes interest in all of the children and a family atmosphere is created throughout the school. We believe that every moment is a teachable moment and we are committed to instilling this belief in our children.
The preschool follows the yearly cycle of the Jewish holidays. Each week is highlighted by the Friday Shabbat celebration. Jewish culture, traditions and values are woven into our curriculum. Through Mitzvot (commandments), Tzedakah (charity) and Tikun Olam (repairing the world), the children learn to respect themselves, others and the world they live in.
Germantown Jewish Centre Early Childhood Program is dedicated to encouraging children to:
• Develop self-esteem; know that they are loved and that they have a special place in the world.
• Respect all people and value their differences
• Have a strong identification with Judaism and the Jewish people
• Develop cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical skills
We encourage families to become:
• Partners with the school in the education of their children
• Participate in our school community
• Our program stresses “learning through doing” using a multisensory approach and emphasizes the importance of play. We understand that children’s work is play. The teachers utilize many learning styles to engage the children and allow for individual differences. Through this approach the staff assists in the development of cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical skills.
The curriculum consists of the children learning:
• Shape Recognition
• Numbers
• Letter Recognition
• Color Differentiation
• Spatial Concepts
• Motor Skill Development
• Conflict Resolution
• Science Units-Dinosaurs, Space, Ocean, Animals
• Weekly Hebrew
• Weekly Music/Yoga Classes
Infant-Toddler Program
We offer weekday morning-only and full-day options in the Infant-Toddler Program to accommodate your family’s needs, and we maintain staff-to-child ratios of 1:4 throughout the day.
The Infant-Toddler classes are unique in that six-month-old through three-year-old children are integrated into “family groupings” rather than being divided by age levels. This organization enriches the experience of both staff and students and provides many opportunities for children at different developmental stages to learn from and enjoy each other. It is as important for older toddlers to have opportunities to be nurturing “big kids” as it is for the youngest children to be stimulated by the example of their elder peers.
Preschool Program
The Preschool Program provides morning-only and full-day options for children from ages 32 months to pre-kindergarten. Each class has a teaching team made up of a head teacher and one or two assistants, depending on the size of the group. Staff-to-child ratio is 1:6.
Classrooms are set up with activity centers where children are encouraged and helped to choose from activities such as blocks, painting, puzzles, and other small manipulatives, books, art projects, dress-up imaginative play, and work on special classroom themes. Circle time provides opportunities for the whole group to meet together to sing, talk, read a story, or participate in a special group activity.
Each Early Childhood Program class meets with the music teacher for a half hour every other week for special singing and games, and with our Hebrew language specialist every week. Each class celebrates Shabbat on Friday mornings in an age-appropriate way, including songs and rituals. The Rabbi of Germantown Jewish Centre meets with the children to help celebrate Shabbat and holidays. He can often be seen in the classrooms joining in a holiday celebration with the children or sharing a story with them.
Sara Goldfuss
Sara is thrilled to join the staff of GJC’s ECP program. She has two years of experience working (and playing!) with infants and toddlers at the Chabad school in Wynnewood, PA. Previously, she spent three years organizing social programs for children with special needs as a Program Coordinator for The Friendship Circle in Philadelphia. Sara is a new mommy as of May 2010 and feels a special pull toward Early Childhood Education. She is looking forward to a great school year!
Shira Kamm
Shira always wanted to live in Mt. Airy when she grew up. And while there is some debate about whether she has actually grown up, there is no doubt that Shira is here in Mt. Airy. She first moved to the Great Northwest (of Philadelphia) in 2002, after spending 2.5 years in Israel raising funds for a civil rights organization. She continued to raise funds for the Mural Arts Program and Temple University Press before leaving the city and apprenticing as a biodynamic farmer at the Kimberton CSA. But the pull of the 'hood (Mt. Airy) is strong, and after three years of farming, Shira came back to our community to work with our children and families. She started as an assistant teacher in January 2009 and as a lead teacher in September 2009.
Anna Kilmer
Anna has a BA in psychology, and got her certification for teaching preschool in 1995 while working at a Jewish Community Center preschool in Brookline, MA. She specializes in toddler classrooms, basing her curriculum on enriching the five senses. Anna has taught instrumental music at the elementary school level, and also brings an appreciation for the visual arts to her teaching. She enjoys making every day creative, beautiful, and fun.
Rebecca (Becca) Flynn-Meketon
Becca graduated from Earlham College in May 2003 with a liberal arts degree in Fine Art and Psychology and is currently working toward a Masters of Education from Cabrini College. After two years as an assistant teacher in an Ardmore preschool and then for Germantown Academy’s preschool, Becca was hired as a lead teacher here at GJC in 2005. She has enjoyed her time here immensely. She grew up in Mt. Airy and now lives here with her cat Charlie.
Lani Krausz
Lani moved to Philadelphia with her husband and daughter from New York City. She graduated from Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women with a B.A. in Judaic Studies and continued on to Touro College where she received a Masters in both education and special education ages birth through second grade. Lani has been teaching for four years and loves working with children. She is excited to be working at ECP and is looking forward to having her daughter, Anna, in the Kochavim class.
Shari Prensky
Shari moved from Brooklyn to live on the Main Line with her husband. She graduated in 2006 from Binghamton University in New York with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development. In 2008 she completed her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education at Hunter College in New York City. Prior to moving to the Philadelphia area, Shari was an assistant teacher in a 3-year-old class at Temple Israel of New York City's Early Childhood Learning Center. She also spent eight summers working as both an assistant and head teacher at Flatbush Park Day Camp in Brooklyn. Shari is excited to be part of the Germantown Jewish Centre family, and is looking forward to a great year in the Early Childhood Program.
Aviva Hassan
Aviva moved to the area with her husband after having lived in Northern Jersey. She graduated from Stern College in 2008 with a degree in Biology, a minor in Psychology and an associate degree in Judaic Studies. She is currently pursuing a masters in Education. Aviva has been working with young children for many years in school, camp, and day care settings and is looking forward to a wonderful year in ECP.
Gavy Alter
Gavy is our PM Supervisor. She joined our staff in 2009 and currently attends Gratz College where she is earning a degree in Jewish Studies with certificates in Jewish Education and Jewish Early Childhood Education. When she completes her degree, she plans to continue teaching at the preschool or elementary school level. Gavy has worked at day camps and overnight camps and was an assistant in a 2-year old classroom before coming to the Early Childhood Program at GJC.
Carol Bailey
Carol joined the staff of the Early Childhood Program in 2003 and currently works as an assistant in one of our infant-toddler classrooms. She was born in Trinidad and Tobago and has lived in Philadelphia since 1990. Carol loves children and, before coming to Germantown Jewish Centre, she worked as a nanny. In her free time, she likes to read, listen to music and have fun with her family.
Alberta Brown
Alberta has been working in the Early Childhood Program for over 15 years and appreciates teh warmth and spirit of Germantown Jewish Centre.
Linda Colbert
Linda has been working as an assistant teacher in our infant/toddler classrooms since 2002. She has lived in Philadelphia all of her life and loves working with children and their families.
Tina Easley
Tina is an assistant teacher in one of our preschool classrooms and also supervises Child Care on Shabbat and Holidays. She joined our staff in 1998 and has always enjoyed working with children. Tina has one daughter and in her free time, she likes to exercise, read and spend time with her family.
Brieon Levin
Brieon joined our staff in January 2011 and is an assistant teacher in one of our preschool classrooms. She also attends Chestnut Hill College where she is working towards a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. Brieon was in Americorps for 10 months and taught preschool for two years at a center in Philadelphia before coming to Germantown Jewish Centre. She is excited to be part of the Early Childhood Program team.
Cynthia Paullman
Cynthia joined our staff in 2010 and is an assistant teacher in one of our infant-toddler classrooms. She comes to GJC with experience teaching dance and working with school age children living in transitional housing. Cynthia is pleased to become part of the Early Childhood Program where she finds the children a pleasure and the parents extremely kind.
Mollie Serdikoff
Mollie has lived in the Philadelphia area her whole life and joined our staff in 2010. She has a B.A. in Education from Temple University and has been working with children for 12 years. She enjoys reading, photography and hiking and would like to earn a Masters in Special Education with a focus on Early Childhood.
Erika Trenard
Erika is an assistant teacher in one of our preschool classrooms. She came to us in September 2010 after completing her undergraduate degree at Morgan State University in Baltimore where she also worked at two day care centers. Erika was born in Brooklyn and has a lot of hobbies including event planning, babysitting, scrapbooking, stepping and doing community service. She hopes one day to acquire a graduate degree and open her own inner-city youth community center.
Shirley Williams
Shirley is an assistant teacher in one of our infant-toddler classrooms. She joined our staff in 2003 after working in the public school system. Shirley has lived in Philadelphia all her life and enjoys reading, music and travel.
Jacqueline Wilmer
Jacqueline worked in the Early Childhood Program as a part-time assistant teacher for 10 years until her retirement in June 2011. A native of New Jersey, Jacqueline came to GJC with experience working as a Social Service Coordinator at Head Start and as a caregiver in an afterschool child care program. Jacqueline enjoys bowling, traveling and volunteering, and she looks forward to filling in from time to time as a substitute teacher.
For the 2011-2012 Calendar click here
For the Curriculum Progression click here
Active parent participation is critical to the success of the program and is an important part of what makes the Early Childhood Program special. There are lots of ways to get involved, and we are always open to hearing your thoughts and ideas about how you would like to participate. If in your schedule there is time to share yourself and your interests, please arrange to do so with the teachers. If you sing, dance, paint, tell stories, or just enjoy being with the kids…WELCOME! You will value the opportunity to get to know other parents and to contribute to your child’s “home away from home,” and your children will appreciate your participation. There are a number of ways you can get involved:
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The Early Childhood Parent Auxiliary
The Early Childhood Program Parent Auxiliary functions as a parent-teacher association. The Committee’s chairpersons work in close collaboration with the ECP Director. Parent Committee meetings are scheduled and publicized well in advance, and all are welcome to attend. The Committee coordinates many activities and is always looking for more volunteers. The Committee is also interested in how the program and other parents can support you and your family. Committee members contact new families to welcome them to the ECP, assist with the orientation and educational activities for parents, and help organize holiday and other potluck family meals. The goal is to have all parents involved in the program in some way. Be assured that your talents will be put to good use! Can you coordinate a fundraising event or holiday celebration? Be a class parent? Host a potluck meal? Help spruce up the classrooms? Repair equipment? Other ideas?
The ECP Committee chairpersons have a mailbox in the ECP office. The Committee is eager to take full advantage of your skills and interests, so please let the chairpersons know how you would like to contribute and what ideas you have for enhancing the program. Watch for notices of upcoming meetings, and join in!
Work Parties
It is a custom for parents to help repair toys, books, and classroom furniture and furnishings. We hold fix-up days several times a year, usually on Sundays. Information on dates and projects will be left in your child’s cubby. We count on your participation on those days to help make your child’s school home a pleasant place to be. If you have particular skills or talents, please let the Director know as soon as you can.
Early Childhood Program Fund
Individuals may make donations to this special synagogue fund, which is used to purchase books, supplies, and equipment not allotted in the budget. Special donations may be made to the Early Childhood Program Fund at any time by giving a check to the synagogue office with a notice of the donors, the reason for the donation, and the address to which an acknowledgment should be sent. A note from the synagogue will acknowledge your contribution. Cards can be sent to family, friends, or colleagues in honor of a person or an event or for any reason you choose.
Your child should have a clearly labeled lunch box and unbreakable thermos, cup, or bottle. Please send utensils and bibs if needed. They will be sent home daily. Your child’s name should be written on all food containers, including tops. We will supply a plastic spoon or fork only in an emergency. Help us save the environment by providing utensils for your children.
Water is provided for the morning snack. Extra bottles or covered cups may be left in the Infant-Toddler classrooms for this purpose. If you want your child to have a drink at lunchtime, please send it.
Food will be refrigerated. We do not heat any food. If you want your child to have warm food, send it in an insulated container marked WARM and leave it with the teacher.
The ECP keeps a kosher home. Only dairy or pareve foods may be served. This means that only non-meat, kosher foods are allowed. No meat, poultry, or shellfish should be sent to school. Packaged foods should be labeled with a Kosher symbol and must contain no animal fat. The ECP is also a nut-free program. If you have questions about what is or is not allowed, please speak to the Director or your child’s teacher.
If your child stays in the afternoon, include enough food and variety in the lunch to provide an afternoon snack for your child. Please send food that is ready to eat and does not need further cutting, peeling, coring, etc. Please advise us of any specific foods your child may not have. Finally, if you are stumped about what to send for lunch, you should feel free to ask the staff and other parents; there is a wealth of creative food ideas in our group.
Here is a brief list of ideas:
- noodle kugel
- egg or tuna salad with crackers
- kasha with bowties
- fried egg sandwich
- vegetable noodle soup
- yogurt
- vegetarian chili
- noodles with cottage cheese
- celery and carrot sticks with hummus
- cold vegetable lasagna
- tuna casserole
- mini pitas with cream cheese or hummus
- vegetables with dip
- cold cheese pizza
- hard boiled eggs
- cheese slices, sticks, or cubes
- vegetarian meat substitute slices with cheese or on sandwiches
We welcome the celebration of our children's birthdays, but BIRTHDAY PARTY TREATS MUST BE KOSHER! Entenmann’s or Tastykakes are easy, much-loved treats.
At the beginning of each school year, you will need to provide us with the names of people who can be contacted in the event of an emergency. Of course we will try to reach you first, but if we cannot it is essential that those people be able to get to the Centre and care for your child until you arrive. Please be especially sure to notify the Director immediately of the following:
- Change of emergency persons
- Change of phone number or address of emergency persons
- Change in your daytime phone number
If severe weather conditions force the program to close, listen to radio station KYW (1060 AM) for our school closing number, 3277, or watch KYW Channel 3 or FOX News.
In the event of other emergency closings, parents or emergency contact persons will be notified by phone.