Gold  Coast Jewish Community Preschool

    An atmosphere where children Blossom and Shine.

 

General Overview

            A high teacher/ student ration enables our staff to tailor the program to meet each child's emotional and intellectual needs. Music classes, art sessions, gym, math and science centers are part of our weekly curriculum. Our academic units focus on exploring the four seasons and the world around us, as well as Jewish holidays and Shabbat celebrations. Our small motor "learning centers" are devoted to developing reading/ writing readiness skills. Drama, visual aids, manipulative and puppets make learning exciting!

 Goals

•  Foster a learning environment that promotes healthy growth emotionally and academically.  

 • Prepare children for kindergarten and elementary school. 

• Our school fosters the love of the Land of Israel as well as the love of our fellow Jew, through appropriate units through out the year including Shabbat and Holiday celebrations. 

 Topics

Our curriculum integrates and intertwines Jewish and secular topics. Each week the Jewish and secular topics relate to one another. Here are some examples.

·        Rosh Hashanah/ Fall Season

·        Yom Kippur/ Happy vs. Sad emotions

·        Creation of the World/ Light vs. Dark and Land vs. Water

·        Noach and The Ark/ Animals, animals habitats and Weather

·        Avraham, Sarah and Yitzhak/ Families

·        Yitzhak and Rivka/ Weddings

·        Chanukah/ Counting and Colors, and Winter season

·        Chunukah/ Fire Safety

·        Yakov and his children/ respect for parents

·        Baby Moshe/ Heavy vs. Light and Floating vs. Sinking

·        Tu B'Shevat/ Planting, things that grow, trees

Skills

    •     Fine and gross motor skills

    •     Physical coordination and balance

    •     Eye/ Hand coordination

    •     Collaboration and teamwork skills

    •     Classroom responsibility

    •     Respect of peers and adults

 

 Activities

Different activities connect to the weekly topic as well, in order to reinforce concepts in different settings.

            Art

·        Art projects  are designed to develop creativity and various motor skills.

        Music

·        Music time is once a week. It is a great medium for children to integrate rhythm and dance coupled with discovering and experimenting with different musical instruments.

 Gym

·        Children develop coordination and balance with our age appropriate program, indoors and outdoors

·        When weather permits,  we visit the children's park around the corner.

·        In the winter children have indoor gym time with weekly themed exercises.

 Math and Science

     ·     Math and science concepts are part of our weekly curriculum and centers. 

 Shabbat Party

·        Every Friday our preschool has a Shabbat experience.

·        In the morning, children start the day rolling and pounding Challah dough into the shape of their choice. By lunch time, the aroma of  baked challah fills the classroom, "announcing" the Shabbat Party .

·        Children practice brachot over candles and wine for Kiddush.

·        We take a short field trip  to the shul (located in the building) to welcome Shabbat by singing Lecha Dodi holding our Siddurs.

·         This field trip is an occasion to learn the proper way to act in Shul.