The Judy Gordon Nursery School

This section is intended to acquaint you with our philosophy program and procedures relating to the education of the pre-school child.

MISSION STATEMENT

Developments in education and psychology have increased our awareness of the specific needs of the young child. Our school strives to meet these needs by offering a developmentally appropriate, bi-cultural curriculum which provides a warm and supportive foundation in Jewish and American cultural experiences. Under no circumstances is a child discriminated against because of race, creed, national origin, disability or parent’s marital status or sexual orientation.

PHILOSOPHY

Our program is based on the needs of the individual child. We believe that children learn best through play and experimentation. Therefore, we provide a variety of experiences through which the children develop new skills and build self-confidence as they grow and mature.

STAFF

The staff consists of dedicated professionals certified by the Office of Child Care Services. All teachers are CPR certified and have had first-aid training. Our warm and enthusiastic teachers work as a team to provide the best pre-school experience for the children.

SCHEDULE

In order to meet the needs of today’s family while maintaining our commitment to a quality program, we have designed the following schedule:

Pre-school Hours:

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

CURRICULUM

Our pre-school curriculum consists of a warm interweaving of secular and Judaic values which help to promote a positive self-image and enhance social skills. Developmentally appropriate experiences stimulate intellectual curiosity and promote physical development. Jewish holidays, celebrations and weekly Shabbat activities instill pride in our Jewish heritage.

Art
Experimenting with paints, clay, scissors, glue and other craft materials encourage a child’s creativity while promoting large and fine motor skills.

Social Studies
Community helpers, the family, the neighborhood, and holidays are explored through stories, songs, games and discussions.

Language Arts
Through reading and discussions, the children are encouraged to talk informally and to listen. Pre-reading skills are stimulated.

Mathematics
Children are introduced to the basic ideas of numbers in a variety of ways including cooking projects, morning meetings and calendar time and at the sand or water table. They measure, count, build, match, graph and compare.

Music and Movement
An appreciation for music is developed through listening, singing, playing instruments, and creative movement. Simple directive and non-directive exercises help to develop body awareness. A creative movement specialist enhances our program.

Sensory Perception
Developing our senses is encouraged through various experiences such as tasting different foods, smelling different aromas, and feeling different textures.

JUDAICA

Shabbat
A highlight of our Judaic curriculum is Shabbat. The older children join with the Rabbi in the sanctuary to participate in preparation for Shabbat. The rabbi leads us in blessings, songs, and stories. The Cantor meets with the younger children to sing songs. The Shabbat table is set in each classroom and the children take turns being the mother and father. Challah is one of the featured snacks.

Holidays
We expose the children to all of the Jewish holidays as well as most of the American celebrations. Each holiday is observed with appropriate songs, stories, arts and crafts, food and games.

RESOURCES AND SETTING

Organization of classroom Each classroom is arranged in interest centers with the children moving freely about the room. The following areas are designed to motivate play and exploration:

housekeeping area	science
book corner	dress-up clothes
water/sand box	hands-on activities
manipulatives

Large motor room

building materials	balance beam
tunnels	games

Outdoor fenced-in playground and separate toddler area

swings	sandbox
gym	slides
riding toys	playhouse
natural setting	exercise specialist

PARENT ASSOCIATION

The Parent Association is a group of volunteer parents who work cooperatively with the school director to provide the best pre-school experience for the children. All parents are automatically members of this organization which encourages parents to become involved in school activities. They strive to support the school and each other. For more information, please visit their web site.

CAMP PROGRAM

Our pre-school camp is specifically designed for children aged 2 to 5 years. This camp features a relaxed atmosphere of fun in the sun. We offer developmentally appropriate arts and crafts, games, music, nature, and water play (no swimming as such).

TEMPLE ISRAEL FAMILY PROGRAMS

Nursery school families are invited to participate in all Temple programs. Of particular interest to young families are the holiday workshops, celebrations, family services, and Shabbat dinners. In addition, the family educator is available for workshops and consultations. Please call the Temple office (508) 650-3521 for further information.

Temple Israel Religious School

Temple Israel prides itself in providing a comprehensive, multi-faceted education program for its youth. The Religious School including Hebrew High School, under the leadership of Karen Hayett, our Education Director, provides a well-rounded Jewish Curriculum using a variety of resources. Religious School begins during the kindergarten year and continues through grade 12. Kindergarten and grade one students attend once a week. They are delighted to come on Sunday mornings where they learn about Jewish holidays, sing songs, discover Hebrew Letters, and begin learning prayers. They often do creative projects and participate with the older students in school-wide celebrations. Starting in second grade, our students attend classes on Sundays plus one weekday afternoon and, periodically throughout the year, participate in our new Shabbat morning program. They now are reading Hebrew, leading prayers, and developing classroom communities. There are lively discussions on the weekly Torah portion and opportunities to learn about Jewish life throughout the world today. Our education strongly prepares students for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and well beyond. Students develop a strong Jewish identity and connection with the Temple community.

The components of our curriculum include Hebrew literacy, Torah study, mitzvot, holidays and prayer. Jewish values and principles of Jewish life are interwoven into all of these components. The skills that are taught remain with the students and are used throughout their lives. Many students become proficient Torah readers and participate regularly in Shabbat services as part of our volunteer Torah readers.

For the past two decades, Temple Israel's Religious School has been in the forefront of Special Education. We provide support services for students with learning disabilities and diverse learning styles. We are very proud of our commitment to provide a high quality education to all Jewish children. At the Religious School, there are many resources available to assist the students with their learning. Our well-qualified, dedicated faculty is assisted by involvement from the Rabbi and Cantor. Opportunities exist for parents to learn with their children in family-focused programming, at all grade levels, during our Religious School Shabbat sessions and our Sunday special events.

Through the foresight and efforts of Mrs. Hayett, during the last several years, Prozdor of Hebrew College now administers our high school program. Prozdor offers courses in a variety of Jewish subjects, including Hebrew, Midrash, and The Arts, in addition to Shabbat retreats and teen-age trips. Students may elect to study 2, 4 or 6 hours per week. Prozdor instructors are creative and engaging, with much experience. The Wednesday night segment, at Temple Israel, offers a myriad of subjects for students to choose from as well as a social aspect that allows them to interact with their peers for a fun and interesting evening. Once a month there is an optional dinner that also encourages camaraderie and new friendships.

For further information about the religious school, please contact: Karen R. Hayett, Director either at (508) 650-3521 x 113 or school@tiofnatick.org