Stephanie Walsh, Early Childhood Director
swalsh@jccns.com | 857-285-7924
Brianna Lapointe, Assistant Director
blapointe@jccns.com | 857-285-7926
Administrative Assistant
857-285-7919
Parent Committee
Preschool Program
Our Preschool Program welcomes children ages 2 years & 9 months to 5 years of age. Children enjoy language arts, math, social studies, music and creative movement. Our dedicated teachers arrange classrooms in a series of exciting learning centers. Children also spend time every day moving on our new playground and in the gymnasium.
Preschool summer PROGRAM
Our Preschool Summer Program is designed for children who are 3 years old but are not quite ready for our outdoor summer camp. Our PS Summer daily schedule includes lots of time on our outdoor playground structure, splashing around our water tables, and running through sprinklers. We’ll enjoy engaging specialty classes including Fit Kidz, Sports, Yoga, Art and Science and, of course, we will have fun at circle time each day with stories and songs along with creative art activities like painting, music and dramatic play.
For more information about our Preschool Summer Program, please email Early Childhood Director Stephanie Walsh at swalsh@jccns.com.
Rhona Maple, Nicole Levy & Cheryl Ventola
Email: bet@jccns.com
Age: 2.9-3.9 years
In our Bet classroom we explore a variety of learning centers daily and learn through playing with peers. Focused centers include art, science, a train table, a kitchen area, and inviting spaces for pre-literacy learning. Our teaching philosophy focuses on using open-ended materials to encourage creativity. In addition, we learn about Jewish holidays through literature, song, science, math, and art. We enjoy Hebrew class with Rachel and participate in a weekly Shabbat celebration on Fridays. We love incorporating Jewish values and teachings into our everyday curriculum. We work on gross motor skills with daily playground/or gym time. This year we are excited to introduce a kid’s yoga class. Many of our classroom friends stay for science and art enrichment programs and starting in January we also have a swim enrichment.
Robyn Bartram & Allie Kuperman
Email: gimmel@jccns.com
Age: 2.9-3.9 years
Our Gimmel classroom provides a safe, warm, and loving environment for learning, playing, and growing. We offer experiences designed to stimulate curiosity and encourage children to follow their own initiative. We focus on providing opportunity for cognitive, physical, social/emotional, language and self-help development. Our theme-based curriculum varies week to week and allows for creativity and individual thinking. Coordinating projects extend our unique learning and we keep our focus on the process over the product. We participate in specialty activities including Hebrew, puppets, a musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and daily playground and gym time and, beginning in January, we also have a swim enrichment.
Joan Tomlins, MaryJane Hunter, & Lexi Zimman
Email: dalet@jccns.com
Age: 3-4 years
In our Dalet classroom we provide a learning environment that is nurturing and safe in which we grow, learn, and play. We focus on acclimating to new routines, creating friendships, and stressing the theme of community and teamwork which plays an important role in personal development. We work on strengthening and developing age-appropriate skills like self-help, literacy, math, science, art, physical play and fine motor development. We participate in specialty activities including Hebrew, puppets, a musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and daily playground and gym time, and beginning in January, we also have a swim enrichment.
Mary Clain & Cheryl Menkello
Email: hay@jccns.com
Age: 3.9-5.5 years
In our Hay classroom we experience and participate in activities that strengthen language, social and emotional development, listening skills, play skills, fine and gross motor, writing, reading, math, and self-help skills. We follow a daily schedule which includes snack, lunch, choice time, circle, reading, writing and math exploration time and our weekly themes allow us to further develop all these skills. We participate in specialty activities including Hebrew, puppets, a musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and daily playground and gym time. Our enrichment class offerings include swim, cooking, art, and dance.
Heather Greenberg, Bonnie Dudley, & Kara Scivetti
Email: masoret@jccns.com
Age: 3.9-5.5 years
Our Masoret classroom environment and curriculum are based on developmentally appropriate philosophy and practices. Through “play” children gain knowledge and understanding of the world while developing and strengthening their skills. We stay very busy exploring the different learning centers in our room, gaining independence and self-confidence through the process of discovery, problem solving and hands-on participation in small and large groups. We use themes and implement them by using all developmental areas to ensure we are utilizing everyone’s individual strengths. We work toward strengthening and developing readiness skills in writing, reading, math, science, art, physical play, as well as social skills. We participate in specialty activities including Hebrew, puppets, a musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and daily playground and gym time. Our enrichment class offerings include swim, cooking, art, and dance and Tae Kwon Do.
Robin Mannion & Melissa Silva
Email: chet@jccns.com
Age: 3.9-5.5 years
Our Chet classroom environment and curriculum are based on developmentally appropriate philosophy and practices. Through “play” children gain knowledge and understanding of the world while developing and strengthening their skills. We stay very busy exploring the different learning centers in our room, gaining independence and self-confidence through the process of discovery, problem solving and hands-on participation in small and large groups. We use themes and implement them by using all developmental areas to ensure we are utilizing everyone’s individual strengths. We work toward strengthening and developing readiness skills in writing, reading, math, science, art, physical play, as well as social skills. We participate in specialty activities including Hebrew, puppets, a musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and daily playground and gym time. Our enrichment class offerings include swim, cooking, art, and dance and Tae Kwon Do.
Sheri Schapiro, Sue Cool, & Stacey Speziale
Email: transition@jccns.com
Age: 4.9-5.9 years
In our Transition classroom, we provide an educational, nurturing, safe, and fun environment to learn, play, and grow. We strengthen readiness skills in reading, writing, math, science, and art, while also laying the foundation for future success. Each day we offer different centers for exploration allowing for growth in knowledge, independence, and self-confidence through the process of discovery, problem solving, and hands-on exploration. We touch on a wide range of themes based on the core curriculum as well as our collective interests. We participate in specialty activities including Hebrew, puppets, a musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and daily playground and gym time. Our enrichment class offerings include swim, cooking, art, and dance and Tae Kwon Do.
In addition to our core Preschool program, we offer special classes, including:
The JCCNS offers wonderful Preschool Enrichment Programs (PEPs) every afternoon. Led by your child's teachers, offerings vary from session to session. Classes may include Tumbling, Swimming, Art, Spanish, Dance, and Tae Kwon Do!
Preschool Plus provides childcare before and after the regular Preschool hours. This special time helps children create long-lasting friendships. The afternoon begins with a relaxing lunch with their friends – a time to wind down after a busy morning and to chat about the day’s accomplishments. The young preschoolers will then take a nap/rest on mats, having their backs rubbed while listening to quiet music. Once rest time is over, snack is served. We also make time to either play outside or in the gym. Age-appropriate activities are offered at various stations, allowing children to explore and discover areas such as art, writing and math tables. We also bring out games and puzzles.
