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
jccnsparentcommittee@gmail.com

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.

Amanda Sleison , Erica Donnelly & Anita Morandi

Email: aleph@jccns.com

Age: 2.6 to 3.5 years

In our Aleph classroom we experience activities that strengthen language, social, and emotional development as well as listening skills, play skills, and gross motor skills. A typical day includes snacks, meals, free play, circle time, outside play, arts/sensory, and naps. During circle time, we typically will go over the calendar, sing songs, and read stories. We have weekly themes and incorporate books, activities, and fun around each theme. We participate in special weekly activities like Wiggles & Giggles, musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and a biweekly kid’s yoga class. By January this classroom transitions to more of a Preschool Classroom which will include adapting our schedule and curriculum age-appropriately. The Preschool curriculum includes colors, shapes, and letters.

Abby Walsh & Allie Kuperman

Email: bet@jccns.com

Age: 2.9-4 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 & Annie Rudelitch

Email: gimmel@jccns.com

Age: 2.9-4 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, & Shea Ryan

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 , Melissa Silva, & Thais Asaiante

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 & 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, Cheryl Menkello  & Erin Foley

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, Lexi Zimman & Mica Sherf

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:

Amanda Sleison & Erica Donnelly

Email: aleph@jccns.com

Age: 2.6 to 3.5 years

In our Aleph classroom we experience activities that strengthen language, social, and emotional development as well as listening skills, play skills, and gross motor skills. A typical day includes snacks, meals, free play, circle time, outside play, arts/sensory, and naps. During circle time, we typically will go over the calendar, sing songs, and read stories. We have weekly themes and incorporate books, activities, and fun around each theme. We participate in special weekly activities like Wiggles & Giggles, musical Shabbat celebration on Fridays, and a biweekly kid’s yoga class. By January this classroom transitions to more of a Preschool Classroom which will include adapting our schedule and curriculum age-appropriately. The Preschool curriculum includes colors, shapes, and letters.

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.

  • Days: Mondays – Friday
  • Times: Before School (7:30am-8:30am) & After School (12pm-5pm)