Activity Guides | Page 6

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 [email protected]. Mark Your Calendar for these fun winter/spring Preschool Family events!  Preschool Family Model Shabbat Dinner, Thursday, February 23  The Hamataschen Café, March 2 – March 12 (closed 3/4, 3/5, & 3/11) (see page 31 for details) 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. 6 Classrooms Alive with Investigation, Collaboration and Creativity Inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach enhances the very heart of our programs, which provides 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. Open and Diverse Community Even though we follow Jewish tradition, families of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome in our preschool and community. 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. 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 Margarete Hirsch & Suzanne Hirt Preschool Children’s Endowment Fund Dora L. Lewis Child Development Fund Weinstein JCC | 2017 Winter - Spring Activity Guide