- Preschool/Religious School Roundup
Fall is the season when thoughts turn to school.
Preschool is a wonderful time to introduce children to Jewish traditions in a joyful way. Our roundup includes many options for families to consider in the Phoenix area.
For many Jewish families of children in elementary and middle school, a new school year often means deciding on both an academic program and a religious school program. Jewish students who do not attend one of the state’s Jewish day schools often enroll in a Sunday school and/or afterschool Hebrew program to supplement their regular school program.
The preschool and religious school programs covered in this month’s Arizona Jewish Life are those in the Greater Phoenix area. Next month will focus on preschools and religious schools in other parts of the state. To be included in this education roundup, please email the following information editor1@azjewishlife.com:
• Name of Preschool, address, ages served, days and hours open, mission statement or goals, and contact information.
• Name of Religious School and/or Congregation, address, grades served, days/times classes meet, mission statement or goals, and contact information.
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- PRESCHOOLS
Beth El Center for Early Childhood Education
1118 W. Glendale Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85021
Preschool follows the guidelines of the National Association for Education of Young People.
School philosophy: Beth El Center for Early Childhood Education provides a happy, stimulating and nurturing environment in which young children can grow and learn. The school emphasizes the creation of a positive self-image and the fostering of Jewish identity within each child. The curriculum is based upon developmentally appropriate academic learning so that each student can become an independent, problem solving and caring child.
Programs are offered for infants through pre-kindergarten.
Center Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7 am-6 pm; Friday: 7 am-4:30 pm
Half Day Program: 9 am-1 pm; Full Day Program: 9 am-3:30 pm; AM and PM care options are available during center hours.
Contact: Preschool Director Sari Topper-Romberg, 602-944-2464 or visit www.bethelpreschoolphx.com.
Kirshner-Schoenholtz Early Childhood Center
Har Zion Congregation
6140 E. Thunderbird Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
The primary goal of the Kirshner-Shoenholtz Early Childhood Center at Har Zion is to provide a quality Jewish program through a happy stimulating environment. With the firm belief that each youngster is unique, possessing certain abilities and having particular needs, it is our goal to encourage the growth of the “whole child” through physical, social, and spiritual development. Organized daily schedules will allow for “hands on” exploration to further creative thinking, independence and problem solving.
Programs are offered for children 6 weeks through pre-K.
Open to non members. Scholarships available.
Open Monday-Thursday 7:30 am-6 pm; Friday 7:30 am-5 pm
Contact: Director of Education Nanci Siegel Manson
480-948-kids (5437)
Sholom Preschool
Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley
3400 N. Dobson Road
Chandler, AZ 85224
Programs for children 12 months through pre-kindergarten.
Open: Monday-Friday 8:30 am–3:30 pm (before or after care may be available)
Mission statement: Sholom Preschool is committed to providing an outstanding early childhood program in a safe, clean, and nurturing environment.
Open to non-members.
Contact: Preschool Director Michele Millman, 480-897-3636 or preschool@tbsev.org
Solel Preschool
Temple Solel
6805 E McDonald Dr.
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
The Solel Preschool provides a structured learning environment based on the goals of Reform Judaism, child development and early childhood education. We encourage children to explore the world while developing small and large muscle coordination, eye-hand coordination, language skills, a strong sense of self-esteem, and foster a positive Jewish identity. We want children to experience a wide variety of activities including art, music, movement, water play, sensory play, manipulative play, stories, and quiet time. Our Jewish heritage is an essential part of our program since is provides a source of identity, a framework for interpreting the world, the basis for a feeling of belonging and our sense of values.
The Solel Preschool has classrooms for infants through Pre-Kindergarten
Scholarships are available.
Contact: 480-991-4545 or visit www.solelpreschool.org
The Syndi Scheck Yad D’Yad Preschool
Temple Emanuel Preschool
5801 S. Rural Road
Tempe, AZ 85283
Temple Emanuel, a Reform congregation, offers Hebrew and Jewish learning opportunities for 3-years-old to pre-K in daily programs. Optional extended care is available.
The 3-year-old class provides a rich variety of experiences. Interactive activities – including movement, songs, art, dramatic play and hands-on exploration – help them develop physical and cognitive readiness skills in a playful, fun way.
The pre-kindergarten class provides a strong foundation of Jewish learning and prepares children to enter kindergarten the following school year with a print-rich environment and math, language, science and social studies activities. Ongoing Jewish activities, including music, stories, Hebrew games, ritual crafts and Kabbalat Shabbat strengthen their love of Judaism.
Contact: 480-838-1414
Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center
15030 N. 64th St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
“I feel that the childhood center is more than just a preschool,” says Early Childhood Director Debbie Glassman. “It is a family made up of children, parents and staff who really care about one another. The result is a meaningful experience where our students build a foundation for lifelong learning.”
The school’s philosophy is to foster each child’s intellectual, physical, emotional and language development in an environment which is safe, nurturing and challenging while being sensitive to the needs and preferences of families. Values and play are important parts of the lifelong learning experience.
Classes are available for infants through pre-kindergarten with 2-, 3- and 5-day options.
Contact: Early Childhood Director Debbie Glassman,
480-951-5825 or eccdirector@templekolami.org
- RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS
Beth El Congregation
Talmud Torah
1118 W. Glendale Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85016
602-944-3359, ext. 122
Classes are offered for children in pre-K through eighth grade.
Led by Education and Youth Director Janette Silverman, Beth El’s Talmud Torah program strives to teach children a love for Judaism and commitment to the Jewish community. Beth El Congregation is an egalitarian congregation affiliated with The United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism. Details of the Beth El Talmud Torah, including the curriculum, calendar and registration materials are available online at http://bethelphoenixed.wordpress.com.
Har Zion Religious School
6140 E. Thunderbird Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
It is the mission of the Education Center to inspire our students to become life-long learners, joyful and proud Jews, and active participants in their community. We cultivate a caring child-centered, structured learning environment that builds on a student’s knowledge, while recognizing individual learning styles. We challenge each child to reach his/her potential. We encourage our students to seize every opportunity to perform Mitzvot, thereby strengthening their community, their sense of kinship, and their bond with the Jewish People and Eretz Yisrael. In our family education programs, we work to create authentic, Jewish family experiences for the entire family.
Enrolling children K-7th grade B’nai Mitzvah training
Open to nonmembers
Hebrew School Wednesdays 4:30-6:15 pm;
Sundays 9 am-12:15 pm
Contact: Director of Education Nanci Siegel Manson,
480-948-kids (5437)
Religious School of Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley
3400 N. Dobson Road
Chandler, AZ 85224
Programs for students in Pre-K through 7th grade; and Hebrew High on campus available through BJE for 8th grade through high school Classes meet: 3rd-7th grade meets 4:30-6:15 pm, Wednesdays
Pre-K-7th grade meets 9 am-12:15 pm, Sundays
Religious school at the Conservative congregation Temple Beth Sholom offers a student-centered, experiential and values-based curriculum for grades K-7, study of Torah, Tefilah, Hebrew, Jewish history and Israel studies; Hebrew High for grades 8-12.
Open to nonmembers
Contact: Religious School Director Marc Krell, Ph.D., M.A.Ed., 480-897-3636 or rsdirector@tbsev.org
Sunlight School
Or Adam Congregation
Meets on the campus of
Phoenix Country Day School
3901 E. Stanford Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Or Adam Congregation is the Phoenix affiliate of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. The religious school mission is to provide a loving and caring environment in which to teach our children humanistic values within the context of our collective Jewish identity.
Or Adam Sunlight School meets one time per month from 9:30 am to noon. Children’s Services for holidays 11 am to noon: Children’s Sukkot service Sept. 30; Purim Carnival March 17, 2013. The whole congregation meets to celebrate Hanukkah and Passover.
Pre-K through seventh-grade plus.
Contact: Principal Dara Fonseth, 480-663-7788 or
visit www.oradam.org
