Preschool
The Dora L . Lewis Family & Child Development Center offers fully licensed preschool and childcare programs serving children ages 2 – 5 . The preschool has been accredited by NAEYC since 1987 . Preschool classes meet 2 , 3 or 5 days per week for two-year-olds , and 5 days per week for children 3 – 5 years old . Childcare programs are available 1 – 5 days weekly .
For more information or to get involved , contact Donna Peters , Early Childhood Director , at 804-545-8617 or dpeters @ weinsteinjcc . org .
Open and Diverse Community
Though we follow Jewish tradition , families of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome in our preschool and community .
Parents Get Involved
Members of the Early Childhood Committee ( ECC ) are parents of preschoolers and help guide the school in making policy decisions and in planning special events . The Early Childhood Committee meets once a month in the evening . The Preschool ’ s Parent Group Association ( PGA ) is the branch of the ECC responsible for early childhood fundraising and community service projects that raise funds to enhance the preschool , the playground and programming . The ECC is comprised of parents of preschoolers and the Early Childhood Directors .
The Importance of Connecting Children to Nature :
The Weinstein JCC Early Childhood Department strives to create authentic outdoor spaces for children to interact with nature and to freely run , climb , dig , collect , pretend , take risks , create and safely explore the world around them . Exposure to nature enhances children ’ s observation and problem solving skills and will help them to value their relationship with each other , their communities and the world at large , while also fostering their own personal spiritual growth and sense of self .
An Ethical Start – Value Based Teaching
The preschool program provides a unique curriculum for the teaching of ethics to young children . An Ethical Start™ is based on the text of Pirkei Avot , Ethics of the Fathers , a tractate on the classic Jewish text on ethics . Through study of the text , teachers find ways to weave lessons on responsibility , dignity , kindness , community , tradition and respect throughout each child ’ s day .
Classrooms Alive with Investigation , Collaboration and Creativity
Inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach enhances the very heart of our programs , which provide an experience that shapes not only children ’ s knowledge and skill , but also their attitudes about learning and intellectual curiosity . This is a journey that the children and teachers take together , requiring the teachers to connect with their children ’ s interests and follow their lead as they explore the world around them indoors and outdoors .
Check out other fun recreation classes for your Preschooler in the activity-related sections in this guide !
The Weinstein JCC Early Childhood program is supported in part by : The Edward J . Becker Family Preschool Children ’ s Endowment Fund , the Margarete Hirsch & Suzanne Hirt Preschool Children ’ s Endowment Fund , and Dora L . Lewis Child Development Fund
6 Weinstein JCC | 2017 Fall Activity Guide