Dear Parents,
As president of Central Synagogue it is a pleasure to welcome you to the congregation and to The May Family Nursery School.
The school year is off to a wonderful start and we look forward to a busy year, filled with exciting programming, wonderful school events and to the many opportunities for parental involvement.
You and your child are entering an important “first” in your lives. A preschool experience prepares you both for the formative years. You will learn about child development as your child grows in a setting that cushions and supports individual style while fostering exploration, creativity, Jewish identity and fun.
In these first weeks of school you will have noticed Susan Alpert and Ann Obsatz regularly in the lobby, greeting you and directing children to the stairs! The synagogue guards are a constant; they are there to screen visitors, observe lobby activity and to be a visible presence. We need to all work together to maintain a safe and inviting environment.
Strollers are not allowed on the nursery floors, they must be kept in the designated area in Stern Lobby. Children and adults use the stairs to access the Nursery School floors. Guards may question your identity or that of your caregiver, until everyone is recognized and familiar. ID’s are mandatory and required at all times. Please be friendly and compliant. Our young children observe everything even before they can speak and they mimic our behavior. Complying with the rules and being courteous to the synagogue staff are important values that we ask you to model. We would also appreciate you speaking to your caregiver about everything mentioned in this letter.
Caregivers may not wander the halls or wait in classrooms. During the formal phase-in period, Room 602 is the designated waiting area. After phase-in ends, Stern Lobby is the only permissible place for both parents and caregivers to wait until dismissal. Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities to offer a year-long waiting room. Food and drink are not permitted in the lobby. Arrangements for lunch or even breakfast must be made off premises.
In the event of an emergency or the need to vacate the Community House, where the Nursery School among other offices is housed, the following guidelines are in place:
1. For emergencies that require evacuation of Midtown, we will relocate to Temple Shaaray Tefila, 250 East 79th Street(corner of 2nd Avenue). Shaaray Tefila’s main number is (212) 535-8008.
2. For emergencies that require evacuation of the immediate 55th Street area, we will relocate to the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church at 7 West 55th Street and Fifth Avenue. The main number there is (212) 247-0490.
3. For emergencies that require us to evacuate the Community House building only, we will relocate to the Synagogue Pavilion located at the bottom level in the sanctuary building on the southwest corner of 55th Street and Lexington Avenue. The main number for Central Synagogue is (212) 838-5122.
4. For school closings involving weather or the closing of school for any other reason, the school calling chain, using class parents and/or teachers, will be put into use. For additional information about school closings, watch/listen to local news. A general rule of thumb is that if the public schools are closed, we will be as well.
All parents are invited to be an active part of life in the Nursery School, Parenting Center and the Synagogue. We encourage you to support the activities both in your child’s classroom, parent targeted programs, Tot Shabbats and Synagogue events. One of the greatest assets of an early childhood program is strong parental involvement. Parents bring fresh, untried points of view, friendship and support to the administration and teachers and most of all the message of the home-school connection.
We are off to a safe, happy and productive year. On behalf of Susan, Ann, the entire Nursery Staff, our clergy and synagogue staff, I extend a hearty shanah tovah.
Meet our wonderful staff of whom we are so proud. Their commitment and professionalism, not to mention their dedication to readying the classrooms this year, have been above reproach!
| COLOR (English) |
COLOR (Hebrew) | Object (translation) | HEBREW |
| Purple Room- Vivien Gordon Dalit Gurevich-Perpinal Susy Wrizar Elizabeth Greenbaum |
Cheder Segol | Anavim (grapes) | ענבים |
| Yellow Room- Sue Stiner Elva Card Sarah Sultan Jayney Wolfson |
Cheder Tzahov | Bananot (bananas) | בננות |
| Green Room- Karen Klibanoff Allison Erlichman Abby Morris |
Cheder Yarok | Tzefardim (frogs) | צפרדעים |
| Rainbow Room- Barbara Tanenbaum Elia Wolberger Sarah Merker |
Cheder Keshet | Keshetot (rainbows) | קשתות |
| Orange Room- Bonnie Zucker Amy Bodnick Rachele Bodner 3’s Floater- Arielle Mehraban |
Cheder Katom | Tapuzim (oranges) | תפוזים |
| Blue Room- Ethie Steinfeld Sarah Byer Nicki Fisher |
Cheder Kachol | Tzipporim (birds) |
צפורים |
| Red Room- Ashley Engelson Shuli Lubin Josie Taub 4/5’s Floater- Sarah Ruben |
Cheder Adom | Tutim (strawberries) | תותים |
