Special events created to articulate and support our
play-based, emergent curriculum continue: Science
Sunday, Curriculum Night, and Manic Mondays.
Science Sunday set the stage for early childhood science-
based experiences with our own faculty and local
professionals. Curriculum Night returned giving an
opportunity for families to visit their children’s class and
participate in the curriculum. Manic Mondays happens
the first Monday of each month, and it is a time for the
parents and caregivers to have a quick bite to eat before
beginning their busy week. ECE directors are present
for conversation and support.
The integration of discover: CATCH (Coordinated
Approach to Child Health) program, a JCCA
initiative to fight childhood obesity and promote
healthy eating, is a strong part of everyday learning.
Our program has kept children and faculty moving
and eating in fun and healthy ways. Enrichment
classes for members and non-members support our
philosophy of wellness. These classes include children
creating their own healthy lunches in Lunch Bunch
twice a week, the Gardening Crew partnered with
Children & Youth, and multiple fitness r elated classes.
Our teachers have taken the chance to involve families
with creating healthy lunches. Every month The
Lunch Box Committee meets, plans, researches, and
provides a display for the families of easy and healthy
lunch options for their children.
Our School Twinning program with Israel has
continued and grown with many international
friendships. Our preschool children communicate
with their friends in Israel with videos and mail. Gifts
are shared between our schools and knowledge of
being under the same moon is shared. We have had the
great pleasure and honor to have one of our teachers
chosen for the Teaching Fellowship Program. This is
an introductory year with community collaborations
headed toward strengthening the connections
between our communities and partnerships in Israel.
They are developing a guidebook to support other
JCCs with the School Twinning program. Through
this new program we have welcomed teachers from
Israel to Arizona and will be sending off Crystal for
her Israel experience in May.
In 2017 we rolled out our unique teacher-developed
art curriculum and a new Spanish Immersion Pre-K
class. The faculty have collaborated, written, and
implemented their own art curriculum specific to
our JCC Early Childhood Education school. This
included receiving a grant to have a nationally known
early childhood art specialist provide an engaging
workshop last May. Native Spanish speaking teachers
using emergent and process-based curriculum have
successfully produced our first class of Spanish
Immersion children! The year was so successful that
we will be adding a Spanish Immersion three-year old
class in the fall of 2018.