Ursula P. Block Infant & Toddler Program
Ages: 2 months – 2 years & 9 months
When: Monday through Friday from 7:30am-5:00pm
Our infant/Toddler Program offers the best care on Boston’s North Shore. Your baby will grow with our nurturing caregivers, who create an environment filled with wonder and curiosity. Our Infant/Toddler professionals encourage language development with daily singing and reading activities.
A special dimension of our program at the JCCNS is the opportunity to grow here. Many children who begin in our Infant/Toddler move on to our Preschool Program, summer camps and then to our J Adventure after-school programs. All of our programs at the JCCNS instill a sense of belonging which we believe is fundamental to a child’s sense of well being.
Our Staff
Our experienced professional teachers are responsive, caring and knowledgeable. All of our teachers are highly qualified professionals who have the interests of your child at heart. All staff are certified in First Aid, CPR and participate in ongoing staff meetings, staff development and staff training. Our low child-to-teacher ratio ensures that each child receives optimum care and attention.
To Parents
Our open-door policy welcomes parents to visit any time. Our teachers are happy to let you know the highlights of your child’s day or talk to you about their progress. Lead Teachers are always available for individual conferences.
For more information and a tour, please contact our Early Childhood Program Director, Stephanie Walsh at swalsh@jccns.com or (857) 285-7924.
Mary Ellen Munroe & Kerri Wein
Email: room1@jccns.com
Age: 3 months-1 year
For our youngest infants, we offer a play-based program that provides a full range of activities including gross motor play, stories, music, sensory play, as well as basic daily scheduling (feeding, sleeping, changing, etc.). As infant care providers our goal is to create a safe and nurturing environment for even our children that stimulates their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth at each child’s own pace. We offer individualized care for our babies, and in doing so, we foster both self-esteem and emotional security. Our goal is to partner with parents to ensure that the babies and their families feel like valued members of not only the classroom, but the whole JCCNS community.
Beth Joly, Linda Gjeta & Averi Carroll
Email: room2@jccns.com
Age: 7 months-15 months
In Room 2 we cater to each child’s individual daily schedule and needs while initially helping them transition into their new room. Our typical day includes free play, sensory activities, and a short circle time with songs, beginner baby sign language, and books. We also introduce self-help skills including transitioning to finger food, sippy cups, and eventually sleeping on a mat (for those who are at least 12 months old.) Children engage in a theme-based curriculum incorporating sensory, art, colors, language, and motor development.
Stacey Wise & Caroline Phelan
Email: room3@jccns.com
Age: 9 mos-18 months
In Room 3 we continue to accommodate each child’s individual schedule with meals and naps. Our typical day includes free play, sensory activities, and a short circle time with songs, beginner baby sign language, and books. Children engage in theme-based curriculum incorporating sensory, art, colors, language, and motor development. Once the children in our room become toddlers, we slowly adapt our schedule to a more structured day with just one nap (eventually.) We also love to take nature walks in the buggies as a class so that we can explore things outside like trees, and colors, and weather. Once more children adjust to walking confidently and independently, we begin taking them to the playground and gym on a more regular basis.
Erolynn Phelan & Beth Thibault
Email: room4@jccns.com
Age: 12 months to 2 years
In Room 4 we slowly transition to a more toddler-friendly schedule, which includes eating meals together and taking one nap (usually after lunch.) Our typical day includes free play, sensory, and a short circle time with songs, beginner baby sign language, and books. Children engage in theme-based curriculum incorporating sensory, art, colors, language, and motor development. We work on gross motor skills on the playground daily and enjoy Wiggles & Giggles/music 2x a week, as well as a community Shabbat celebration every Friday. And, of course, there’s a focus on friendship and fun!
Robyn Goldberg, Lola Sjoberg & Emily Kulevich
Email: room5@jccns.com
Age: 12 mos 2 years
Our Room 5 classroom provides a safe and nurturing environment designed to help every child grow and become independent. Children experience and participate in activities that strengthen their social skills as well as their school-based skills. We follow a weekly theme-based schedule incorporating books, activities, and fun, all while we learn and play together. Our typical day includes circle time, snack breaks, meals, free play, playtime outside, art, and sensory and gross motor skill activities. We love to participate in a musical Shabbat celebration every Friday, as well as Music and Movement 2x a week!
Danielle Ganczuk, Ella Bromberg, & Sasha Diachemko
Email: room6@jccns.com
Age: 2 to 3 years
Our Room 6 curriculum is based on weekly themes incorporating social, language, cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, and self-help skills. Our room 6 children learn colors, shapes, and some letters and numbers through play. They participate in a variety of sensory activities including sand table, water table, painting, and gluing projects. We have special weekly activities like Wiggles & Giggles, musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays and a biweekly kid’s yoga class.
Kayla Ragucci &Lydiana Vasquez
Email: room7@jccns.com
Age: 20 mos to 2.6 years
Our Room 7 classroom provides a safe and nurturing environment where we enjoy friendship, learning, and fun. We learn through play and our daily schedule is centered on a weekly theme, incorporating movement, art, sensory, and gross motor activities. In addition, we focus on age-appropriate social skills like learning to share, using words to communicate, and being a kind friend. We have special weekly activities like Wiggles & Giggles, musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and a biweekly kid’s yoga class.
Sue Garry & Jennifer Foley
Email: room8@jccns.com
Age: 2 to 3 years
Our Room 8 classroom offers a safe and nurturing environment for children while we create a fun, happy, and healthy environment for learning. Our curriculum is theme-based and incorporates caring for the whole child. We work hard to meet their individual needs and have a strong focus on social skills like learning to share, using words to communicate, and being a good friend. A typical day incudes free pay, circle and story time, snack, meals, nap and art/sensory activities. We go to the gym or playground daily where the children can run and play. We have special weekly activities like Wiggles & Giggles, musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and a biweekly kid’s yoga class.
Kailee Andrews, Stephanie Gangemi & Alia Matthais
Email: primetime@jccns.com
Age: 18 mos to 2.6 years
Our Primetime classroom is all about learning, playing, making great memories, and having lots of fun. We base our weekly curriculum on themes including respect, “Super Manners,” “Sharing is Caring,” and kindness. Our main goal is to make sure we are always smiling, getting extremely messy, engaging appropriately, and staying safe. We work on developing cognitive, motor, language, social, and sensory skills, as well as learning about the seasonal calendar, ABC’s, counting, our body, shapes, and colors. A typical day includes free play, outside/gym, circle, snack, story, art projects, singing, and a goodbye circle. We have special weekly activities like Wiggles & Giggles, musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and a biweekly kid’s yoga class.
