8000 Main Street , Voorhees, NJ 08043
(856) 675-1166 FAX (856) 489-3280

Roselee Redelheim, Early Childhood Director

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Click Here to View 2007-2008 Calendar

SEE BELOW FOR MONTHLY NEWS

The Early Childhood Center features the following:

• Camp 'N' Kids
• Full Day Child Care
• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• Kindergarten Enrichment
  
  Registration Packet for the Early Childhood Center are available as WORD or PDF document. Click on your choice for more information.
  (Pre School, Full Day Care, Kindergarten and Kindergarten Enrichment)

UNIQUE TO BETH EL:Click here to download the Registration Packet for the Early Childhood Center.

Hebrew Immersion Class for 3 & 4 year olds, 11:45 to 3:15, 5 days a week. Children learn to understand and begin speaking Hebrew through play, songs and stories. No prior knowledge necessary.

Continue to find out about the philosophy, Jewish content and staffing at Beth El’s ECC!

PHILOSOPHY
The Early Childhood Center of Congregation Beth El believes in the development of the whole child as an individual. By providing a secure, warm atmosphere, the child feels safe to explore, experiment, create, share and learn at his or her own pace. Through recognition of his or her feelings and needs, the child develops a positive self-image and learns to love and respect others. Our state-of-the-art classrooms and playground equipment provide an atmosphere that nurtures each child’s unique abilities.

JEWISH CONTENT
Being a part of Congregation Beth El, the Early Childhood Center provides an opportunity for the child to learn about his/her Jewish heritage and culture in a developmentally appropriate manner. Included in this aspect of our program is the daily usage of Hebrew words and expressions, prayer before eating and the celebration of Shabbat and other Jewish holidays.

STAFFING
Each class is staffed by at least one teacher plus assistants chosen because of their qualifications and experience in working with young children. Their warmth and caring provide the foundation necessary to encourage the social, emotional and academic development in each individual child.

PROGRAMS & SCHEDULING
FULL DAY CHILD CARE 3 Months through KindergartenYear round care is provided from 7 am - 6 pm. We offer 3, 4 or 5 day options for children 3 months through 3 years of age. Our 4 year olds may come as little as 3 full days and 1 or 2 half days or as many as 5 full days. The Kindergarteners attend 5 days with combinations of full day and preschool hours available.

PRESCHOOL
Terrific Two's meet 2 or 3 mornings per week from 9:15 am - 11:30 am.
Three's - have a choice of 3 (M/W/F) or 5 mornings a week, 9:00 am - 11:45 am.
Four's - a choice of M/W/F, 9:00 am - 3:15 pm and T/Th 9:00 am - 11:45 am or 5 mornings a week, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm.

• All 2's, 3's and 4's may extend their morning by bringing a dairy lunch and join us until 12:30 pm.
• 3's and 4's may stay until 3:15 pm any 1 - 5 days a week.

KINDERGARTEN
Our Kindergarten Program provides a complete secular and Judaic/Hebrew curriculum. It meets 9:00 am - 3:15 pm with day care available from 7:00 am - 6:00 pm 3, 4 or 5 days a week.

KINDERGARTEN ENRICHMENT
Kindergarten Enrichment is designed to enhance and extend the public school Kindergarten to make a full day of fun and excitement. Join us before or after school. Three days (M/W/F) or 5 days a week 9:00 am - 11:30 am or 12:30 am - 3:15 pm.

Before and after school care available from 7:00 am - 9:00 am and 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm. All classes, except full day care, close at 3:00 pm on Friday.

Early Childhood Center News--May 2008

Israel 60 at the ECC

On May 8, 2008 Jews throughout the world will be celebrating Yom Ha”Atzmaut- Israel’s Independence Day. At the ECC the children will be experiencing the many facets of Israel, including but not limited to the following: Israeli food, music and dance; a “visit” to Jerusalem plus a chance to build the walls surrounding the city; and climbing Masada and playing in the Dead Sea.

We may take our relationship with Israel for granted, but we need to think through ways to welcome children into a relationship with the Jewish state. The following ideas were by Maxine Handelman, Consultant for Early Childhood Education, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism:

“Children have the ability to connect to Israel in different ways at different ages. The youngest children, infants to under two years old, are very concrete. They can listen to Israeli music, play with the colors and shapes of the Israeli flag (no need to “get it right,” just play), and they can learn to identify the Magen David (Jewish Star) on the Israeli flag. Two-years-olds can begin to understand that they live in a certain town, and that other people live in other places. With two-year-olds, name recognition can begin. A typical conversation might go like this: We live in Teaneck. Where does Grandma live? That’s right, Grandma lives in Chicago! And where does David (if you have a personal friend or relative living in Israel) / Kippi ben Kippod (if you watch Shalom Sesame, the Israeli version of Sesame Street) live? He lives in Israel! Three-year- olds will really enjoy learning words and songs in Hebrew, and will be able to understand that people in Israel speak Hebrew. Three-year-olds who have been on an airplane trip can understand that Israel is a long plane ride away. Four-year-olds can begin to connect to Israel as their Jewish homeland, a place where Jews from all over the world go to live. Four-year-olds can compare the weather in their own town to the weather in Israel. Four-year-olds can recognize the flag of Israel and the shape of Israel on a map. And four-year-olds can pray for peace in Israel.”

As Israel is turning 60, you can find new ways to connect your child to Israel – at home as well as in school.

Camp ‘N Kids 2008

Plans are underway for an exciting and fun-filled summer at Beth El’s summer camp. Children ages 2-3 will enjoy weekly themed activities, Arts &Crafts, water play, sports and special entertainment. Anyone interested in having their child participate in this excellent, age-appropriate camp experience, whether half or full day, please call Ellie Burstein at 675-1166.