Our classes are filled with age and developmentally appropriate activities. Our youngest students enter school at 2 years 4 months and our oldest graduate at 5, and in some cases 6. The experiences they gain build on those of prior years, changing and becoming increasingly complex to meet the needs of our children as they grow. To learn more about our 2s Program, 3s Program, 4/5s Program, Enrichment Program and Jewish Curriculum scroll down or click on the appropriate hyperlink.
At Central Synagogue the two-year-old classes meet the needs of both parent and child, by recognizing that separation and adjustment to school are the first steps in the formal learning process. Our sensitive, mature, and creative teachers have a deep understanding of this rapidly changing age. They support the emotional, social and language development of the children through predictable routines, art, music, movement and Jewish ritual.
The two’s program is separated into two sections: Building Bridges and the Purple Room. The Building Bridges class bridges the nursery school experience with a parenting component – children ease into separation by having an adult present during the fall months. Parents participate in weekly discussion groups through December. When separation has been achieved Building Bridges becomes a drop-off program. The program begins in the fall two days a week, adding a third day in January.
The Purple Room is a drop-off program from the start of school, but allows for children to separate at their own pace. There are two Purple Room classes, one meeting three days a week, the other twice a week.
| Building Bridges | 2.4-2.8 | MW(F) | 9:15 - 11:30 am |
| Purple Room | 2.7- 3.0 | MWF | 9:30 am - 12:00 pm |
| TTh | 9:30 am - 12:00 pm |
Our threes program continues the emphasis on play, social, emotional and language skills. Children learn to be respectful members of the community – in their class, in the school, and in the Synagogue. In addition, this is the year when we introduce conceptual learning, i.e. colors, shapes, ordinals, calendar, weather, job charts etc. Jewish ritual is raised to a higher level with the increased ability of the children who now participate in school-wide Shabbat services and holiday observances. There are three classes for three-year-olds, all on the same schedule.
| Monday - Thursday | 9:00 am - 12:15 pm | Sept.-Jan |
| Monday - Thursday | 9:00 am - 1:15 pm | Feb.-June |
| Friday | 9:00 am - 12:15 pm | Sept.-June |
At this age, children come to school full of enthusiasm for learning and excitement at seeing familiar friends. They now have a great capacity for processing information and for creative thinking, and they exhibit tremendous interest in books and games. They are full of ideas, eager to share stories and to tell jokes. The program builds on these budding life skills by engaging them in meaningful thematic units, “Hand-Writing Without Tears”, field trips and activities that capture the interest of this age group, before they are launched into kindergarten. This exciting year of graduation is also one focused on the on-going school “exmission” process for parents whether applying to private or public schools. There are two classes for this age group both on the same schedule.
| Monday - Thursday | 9:00 am - 2:15 pm |
| Friday | 9:00 ma - 12:15 pm |
All of our classes, at every age, participate in our enrichment program in movement, music and library. Through visits to the school’s lending library children share the joy of reading together. Singing and music are an important part of our curriculum and are enhanced by weekly classes with the music teacher. Every day our children run and play on our school’s rooftop playground and 2nd-floor patio. In addition, they attend weekly movement classes where running, dancing, jumping and yoga are all part of the experience. In short, our children are busy inside and outside the classroom.
At every age, Jewish ritual permeates the school experience. Our children celebrate Shabbat together every week in their classrooms with each family invited to join them once during the year. Our three, four and five-year-olds come together for a school-wide celebration each week. The Jewish calendar provides a rhythm to the school year with each Jewish holiday studied and celebrated. Music, storytelling and art projects all play a role in holiday observance.
Jewish values are at the core of our program. In addition to celebrating the holidays, children participate in tikkun olam (social justice) doing their part to repair the world through tzedakah (charity) donations and activities to help those in need. Through our rich Jewish curriculum, children embrace Judaism joyously and appropriately for their age, which eases the transition into Religious School.
