The philosophy at Temple Kol Ami’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) is to foster each child’s intellectual, physical, emotional and language development in an environment that’s safe, nurturing and challenging while being sensitive to the needs and preferences of families. Infants through pre-Kindergarten learn to grow and develop a positive self-image and strong sense of Jewish identity using a developmentally age appropriate curriculum that integrates Judaic and secular materials.
The ECC is a play-based school where children learn by engaging in a variety of hands-on, multi-sensory experiences that interest and challenge them. Children begin to develop communication and language skills while learning to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of themselves and others.
The core curriculum includes Art, Body Movement, Hebrew, Music, Literacy Links, Science and Spanish. The campus includes a dedicated science classroom where students get up-close-and-personal with insects, two beautiful playgrounds, and a one-of-a-kind splashpad. Convenient before and aftercare programs are also available with elective enrichment classes like Drama, Language Lovers, Science Club, Tennis and more.
Classes are taught by highly-qualified educators, and student-to-teacher ratios are small. There are typically 2 teachers to 12 students in each classroom. In infant rooms, the ratio is even smaller: 9 students to 2 teachers.
The ECC also offers a weekly Mommy & Me program for moms and children ages Infant to 24 months. This teacher-led class is a great first step to help children socialize and prepare for preschool.
“I want all of our students to develop healthy self-esteem, critical independent thinking skills and, most of all, a lifelong love of learning—because when they have that, they go on to do extraordinary things,” says Debbie Glassman, ECC Director.
