DAY SCHOOLS
Yeshiva High School of Arizona (YHSA) 602-266-1213 | azyeshiva.com
Head of School Rabbi Gavriel Goetz announces the addition of Rabbi Yonah Wohlgelernter to the staff of YHSA. Rabbi Wohlgelernter, who is currently a member of the rabbinic faculty at the Phoenix Community Kollel and holds a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University, will serve as the 12th- grade Judaic Studies teacher for the upcoming first 12th-grade class of the yeshiva. The senior class also will be able to take online college courses through Rio Salado College and in 2014 will be the first graduating class for YHSA.
Pardes Jewish Day School 480-991-9141 | pardesschool.org
Pardes Jewish Day School is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since 1993 Pardes has been preparing students to become outstanding members of society through a rigorous secular and Jewish education while recognizing the importance of personalized learning. This year, the school welcomes Rabbi Meir Goldstein as director of Jewish life. In addition to leading the Jewish studies and Hebrew departments, Rabbi Goldstein will develop and implement programming to enhance all aspects of Jewish life on campus. Lezlie Strolle, who previously taught fifth grade at Pardes, has been named the new technology integration specialist. This move recognizes the importance of incorporating technology into all aspects of education. Strolle will be working directly with members of the faculty to ensure they are integrating SMART Board and laptop technology in the most innovative ways. Additionally, Bethany Spector, who taught at Pardes for the past eight years, is the school’s new director of admissions. She looks forward to meeting with families and sharing the benefits of a Pardes education with them.
Tesseract School 480-991-1770 | tesseractschool.org
Tesseract School constantly researches ways to enhance learning. Tesseract’s primary initiative for 2013-14 is procuring and enhancing its already successful project-based learning (PBL) initiative. This methodology has been highly successful in the upper school, and the plan is to incorporate it into the lower school and integrate it further into the middle school and high school curricula.
Project-based learning is centered around students constructing their own learning, within certain parameters, under the guidance of the educators. They actively participate in the learning process while remaining emotionally connected and engaged in the project. Significant content is taught by asking a driving question to initiate critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. Students determine their own need-to- know essential content and skills to create an original and authentic project whereby they gain deeper understanding of the content. This culminates in a public presentation of the material demonstrating confidence in the knowledge gained and mastery of the topic. Tesseract’s leaders and staff constantly embrace unique and innovative learning methodologies and integrate them into their collaborative philosophy as the school has done successfully for 25 years. Tesseract is focused on providing each student with a thirst for knowledge, and, through the project-based learning initiative, a way to quench this thirst.
PRESCHOOLS
Aleph Bet Preschool at Chabad 602-944-2580 | alephbetaz.com
The Aleph Bet Preschool opens its new educational organization, The Aleph Bet Institute, this year. In partnership with Aleinu of Jewish Family & Children’s Services, this new organization will provide educational opportunities for parents Valley-wide to learn and grow in their vital role of parenting. The Aleph Bet Institute will offer exciting lectures, parenting workshops and training sessions throughout the school year, geared specifically to parents of young children and early childhood educators. “The early childhood years are so crucial in the growth and development of a child,” says Rabbi Moshe Levertov, executive director of Aleph Bet. “Children are born without a manual or instruction book, and most parents learn on the job. The Aleph Bet Institute was founded to offer support and share valuable resources with practical and hands-on courses to parents who look to improve and develop that important role.”
Beth El Preschool 602-944-2464 | bethelpreschoolphx.com
Beth El Preschool is adding a new infant room, “Snuggle Bugs,” a state-of-the-art spacious room for 6-week-olds through beginner crawlers. The other infant room, the “Mazel Tots,” will be for babies who are crawling and/or taking their first steps. The goal is to make an easy transition from the home environment to school, focusing on self-discovery and exploration, and to help them through the key brain development in the areas of cognitive, fine- and gross-motor, social, emotional and language development. The school is also proud of its status as the first certified Outdoor Classroom in Phoenix through the Nature Explore Program and the Arbor Day Foundation. The program highlights the value of education for the children and encourages them to learn and grow through an innate sense of wonder, Cadie Arnold has her hands full as she takes a very hands-on approach to exploring the worm garden at Beth El.
Esther B. Feldman Preschool at Congregation Anshei Israel 520-745-5550, ext. 229 | caiaz.org
Congregation Anshei Israel’s Esther B. Feldman Preschool/Kindergarten offers a free weekly Parent- Tot class on Thursdays from 9 to 11 am. Open to the public and led by educator Heather Gordon, this class for children 9 to 24 months old and their parent(s) is fun and educational. Participants sing songs, make art projects, read stories, have a snack and share parenting advice with each other. Occasional guest speakers help tackle specific issues such as food allergies, sun safety, baby sign language and Love & Logic. Water play is included in May and September. The school has twice received the “Solomon Schechter Award for Excellence” from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and three of its teachers have been selected as “Educator of the Year” from the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona.
Congregation Beth Israel’s Chanen Preschool 480-951-3398 | cbiaz.org
Brand new state-of-the art playgrounds were installed at CBI this summer to maximize outdoor play and exercise. The preschool program is open to those 6 weeks through Pre-K, with all 3-year-olds and pre-K lead teachers holding certification and degrees in education. Each week, every class visits the unique Art Studio with a full-time art specialist. Additional activities include Spanish, Hebrew, PE, Music and school-wide Shabbat in the Chapel with CBI clergy. The school is open from 7:30 am-6 pm (5 pm on Fridays) and offers a Free Shabbat Club program every Friday morning with a music specialist and CBI clergy for infants through 21⁄2 with a parent.
Valley of the Sun JCC Early Childhood Center 480-659-7769 | vosjcc.org
There are several new and exciting programs coming for the 2013-14 school year at the JCC ECC. There’s a new Mom & Tot program for children 12 to 24 months of age and their parents, which includes swimming, yoga, art, cooking and much more. An additional 3-year-old classroom has been opened due to high demand. The ECC staff is also very excited about the new Accelerated Learner Program. This Ready to Read program is available to children who are developmentally ready to learn to read and show a strong desire to engage in the process.
Sholom Preschool 480-897-3636 | sholompreschool.org
Sholom Preschool at Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley is combining efforts with the TBS-EV Youth in a new program affectionately referred to as Kiddie Minyan. Parents may attend regular adult services and bring their children to participate in a Shabbat-friendly program for 1- to 6-year-olds. The program is designed to engage the kids in music, art, stories and other activities that will allow them to experience and explore Judaism in a fun and friendly way. The program is also designed to allow the parents who wish to participate with their children to stay for the program and enjoy the parent/kid friendly atmosphere. Kiddie Minyan will be held every second Saturday of the month (excluding February), 10-11:45 am, at which time the children will join the traditional services and stay for Kiddush.
Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center 480-951-5825 | templekolami.org/early-childhood-center
This fall Temple Kol Ami’s preschool will offer a new reading readiness program called Literacy Links in its two pre-K classes. This academic literacy program will help prepare students for the current standards of kindergarten. Highly trained literacy coaches will teach fun, multi-sensory lessons twice per week in the Pre-K classes. The Kol Ami preschool welcomes infants through pre- kindergarten.
Syndi Scheck Yad B’Yad Preschool of Temple Emanuel 480-838-1414, ext. 20 | emanueloftempe.org
Yad B’Yad is opening a new toddler class this year for ages 12 months and walking to 2 years (potty training not necessary). The program is being offered both part-time and full-time. They will also be continuing their popular Temple Tots, which is a free playgroup for infants through 36 months with an adult. The school is open from 7 am to 6 pm to accommodate all.
Temple Chai Early Childhood Center 602-923-3619 | templechai.com
Temple Chai ECE has added some new and exciting programs for this fall. A new program piloted last year is the Jolly Sounds phonics program with 3-year-old through Pre-K children, which proved to be a great success in strengthening early literacy skills. Lois Peterson has been hired to enrich the Pre-K afternoon program. Lois worked for many years at the Har Zion preschool and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience to enhance the kindergarten-readiness program. Her lessons will also connect with the phonics program to further emphasize and reinforce learning throughout the day. Laura Slayton is also joining the Chai ECE community as the new music coordinator and cooking/nutrition specialist. Laura is highly qualified and her enthusiasm for music, nutrition
