EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
EARLY CHILDHOOD
J Garden Crew | Ages 3-12 ECE children are paired up with J-care children to help take care of the garden together . The J Garden Crew will spend time maintaining and harvesting ECE & J-Care plots in the Shay Shay Garden and participate in this mitzvah ( commandment ) through crafts , recipes , and a variety of other projects . Teachers : Marian Schiltz & Matt Meyer . Thursdays 4-5 pm Session 1 : January 9- February 13 Session 2 : February 20-March 27 Session 3 : April 10-May 8 $ 42 /$ 34 members Shay Shay Garden
SPECIAL EVENTS
Lunch Five for Five Sunday , January 29 , 6 - 7:30 pm Parents can come prepare and pack five nutrient enriched lunches covering the five basic food group categories - a dairy , a grain , a fruit , a vegetable and a protein . Share and receive fantastic ideas for making healthy eating fun for everyone in your own homes ! The ideas will center on fresh , simple , yet popular lunch favorites . You ’ ll have a head star t on the week with a healthy , well-rounded meal your child will love ! $ 35 members Demo Kitchen
ECE Curriculum Day Wednesday , February 22nd , 7 am – 6 pm Here at The J we are working on creating a foundation of learning from the very beginning . Building
18 | TUCSON J children ’ s social and emotional qualities are just as impor tant as the early understanding of physics and literature appreciation . Experience our curriculum with us during our annual curriculum day . ECE Classrooms
ECE discover CATCH Field Day Wednesday , March 8 , 9 am – Noon Each age group will have a selected time slot to demonstrate discover CATCH activities . The classrooms collaborate , plan and carry out ageappropriate physical activities such as games , obstacle courses , or music and movement with the children . All of the parents are invited to join in the play and see what their child does relating to health and wellness in our program . At the end of each classrooms time slot , they will receive a healthy snack to take back and share together . Grassy Area
ECE Purim Parade Friday , March 10 , 10 am The children wear costumes , the classrooms decorate signs and parents are welcome to participate in this longstanding tradition . The parade begins at 10 am in the Fine Art Gallery , continues outside through the Sculpture Garden and ends in the Ballroom , where we sing a few celebratory songs !
Science Sunday | Ages 2 – 8 April 2 , Noon – 3 pm Join us for a day of science fun ! Through play , children and families will experience the science of space , earth , life , physics and more ! We will spend the afternoon with local professionals and Early Childhood experts to explore the phenomenon of our world and beyond . Free and open to the public
Passover Walk Wednesday , April 5 , 10 am Classrooms walk through The J ’ s beautiful Sculpture Garden listening to the story of Passover and looking at popular scenes acted out . This is a wonderful , collaborative effor t between many of our depar tments including Special Needs Services and Children and Youth playing critical roles in telling the story of Passover .
Family Shabbat Picnic Friday , May 19 , 6 – 7 pm A fiesta potluck where families are invited to bring a dish to share and celebrate the culmination of the end of the school year . We will have a picnic-style event which includes a salsa contest !
MONTHLY SPECIAL EVENTS
Manic Mondays - Muffins on the Run 1st Monday of Each Month ! 7 – 9 am Monday mornings can be busy . Don ’ t skip your breakfast ! Star t your week off right with a bite to eat with the ECE directors on the 1st Monday of the month star ting January 9th . We will be located in the ECE Mini Museum with muffins , fruit , and coffee to go .
Very Important Produce ( VIP ) Exposition 2nd Friday of each month , 4 - 5:30 pm Each month the classrooms vote on what they want the VIP to be next month . This is a cooking demonstration which parents and children are invited to attend . A fun way to connect home and school , grab a snack and open up dialogue surrounding colorful foods . The recipe is usually simple and available to take home and try in your own kitchens ! Remember it sometimes takes 10 tries before a child decides they like a new food . Let ’ s encourage them to try ! ECE