We meet or exceed Department of Early Education and Care guidelines for teacher/student ratios and each classroom has at least two assigned teachers.
Our curriculum is based on core elements of learning that are child centered, play based, developmentally appropriate, hands on and experiential. Our children learn by “doing.” While we do not follow a “published” curriculum, all of our children are exposed to activities that invite creative thinking in all of the learning domains.
Children do not have to be potty trained to attend CBE ELC. Teachers are supportive of potty training and encourage children to try the bathroom throughout the day. Some classes have had potty training sticker charts and teachers are aware of children’s potty training needs.
Safety is our first priority. Our staff is professionally trained in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR as the key first responders on site. They create a safe environment for the children in our early childhood education programs. Every member of the teaching staff, led and monitored by the Director, ensure that all safety measures are in place throughout the day, maintaining consistent visual and voice contact with colleagues so that together they can supervise all children in the classroom, bathrooms, play spaces, corridors, walkways and all outdoor environments. Procedures are in place to react to emergency situations and evacuations.
SECURITY
Outside doors to the Early Learning Center/building are kept closed and locked at all times. Each parent/guardian will use the key pad and code, which changes annually. to open the exterior doors. All other visitors, including adults authorized for pick-up, will need to ring the buzzer to enter.
All of our classrooms provide environments that are both print rich and number rich. Our children are exposed to developmentally appropriate opportunities for exposure to literature, language and number experiences. Whether children are counting the number of chairs around their snack table, the number of plants that are growing in their classroom or the number of “noses” in the room on any given day, there are ample opportunities for counting. Children are also exposed to the letters that appear in their names, in their books on our library shelves and of course in our vast variety of puzzles and games. “Book-Look” time is cherished by all.
Absolutely! All of our children are encouraged to ask questions and together with their teachers, formulate answers that address the questions. Often children find they have the answers within themselves. Other times, teachers will help children do the research to find the answers. And, other times, the answers will become apparent over time.
Morning enrichment opportunities such as music, sports, and Israeli dance are a part of our regular schedule with specialists visiting our school on a monthly basis. Additionally, ELC offers between 3-5 classes given in the 1:00 p.m. -- 2:00 p.m. time period that students can register for (at an additional charge). Current afternoon enrichment classes include: cooking, stories and crafts, nature, and sports.
There is no question that our children are our greatest source of joy. We call this a joyful school for a reason. Our children are joyfully engaged with each other and their environment from the moment they enter the school until the moment they go home at the end of their day. We are blessed to be housed in a lovely facility with great indoor and outdoor space. Our teachers are joyful in their approach to early childhood development and our PSAC (advisory committee) is joyful in its support of our school and our ongoing programming. We embrace our multicultural families and everyone is welcome to share the gifts of their family of origin.
ELC is a welcoming community. The school culture is proudly Jewish though our students and their families identify with a host of religious and cultural traditions. Throughout the year and in sync with the cycle of Jewish holidays, students learn stories and songs, with a special focus on civil rights and freedom. In the morning and at mid-day, all students share snack and lunch together in their classrooms with some Kosher guidelines in place – and the recited blessing becomes a spirited tradition for all of the kids.
Parents and other relatives are welcome to visit our classrooms and are encouraged to set up times with their child’s teacher. There are also many opportunities to volunteer with planning ELC-wide events and through participation in the Preschool Advisory Council.
We like to bring our indoor classroom routines outside whenever possible by eating snack outdoors, reading stories and singing in the grass, taking hikes, cooking in the mud kitchen, and exploring all the elements of the natural and gated playgrounds. Teachers are encouraged to be outdoors in sunny, warm weather but even in the snowy, winter months -- all three classrooms of children can often be found climbing snow dunes and shoveling their own paths
The ELC respects our home at Congrgation Beth Elohim and also our nut aware policy asks that all snacks and lunches brought into the school must be “nut-free” and limited to dairy products and pareve foods (pareve food is neither meat nor milk—grains, eggs, veggies, fruits, beans, fish).
- Seafood: fish (tuna, salmon, haddock, etc.) is permitted but shellfish, i.e., lobster, shrimp, crab, is not kosher.
- All bread and baked goods must be made with vegetable shortening only (i.e. not animal shortening).
Our staff is trained to proactively manage the health and safety of all the children at the school. Parents of children with allergies are encouraged to meet with their children’s teacher to go over all medical paperwork and to create a Food Action Plan in coordination with the family’s pediatrician. It should be noted that our school strives to provide a peanut and tree nut free environment for all children.
