Gan Shalom Early Childhood Education Center
Gan Shalom 2009 / 2010 Forms
Please complete and return these forms for registered students before classes begin:
Upcoming Events
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Bagels & Schmooze with Rabbi Aaron M. Petuchowski,D.D.
(Jewish Parenting Part III)
Sunday, Mar 21, 9:45 a.m.
Do you have questions about raising a Jewish child? Interested in meeting other Temple parents? On Sunday, March 21st, drop your child and yourself off at Temple Sholom. Join us at the “Coffee Corner” in Bettie Port Hall for a relaxing Sunday morning with bagels, juice and words of wisdom from Rabbi Petuchowski. Rabbi Petuchowski will be speaking on the following topic:
Jewish Parenting (Part III)
Exploring the essence of Judaism and how we can impart our beliefs to our children
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Passover Mitzvah Bakers
Sunday, Mar 28, 11:30 a.m.
(at the Hallmark)
Bring your favorite macaroons to the Hallmark as we celebrate Passover and sing songs to the residents with Cantor Katzman.
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Temple Offices Closed
Tuesday, Mar 30, 8:00 a.m.
The Temple offices are closed today in celebration of the Passover holiday.
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Annual 2nd Night Temple Sholom Congregational Seder led by Rabbi Taron Tachman
Tuesday, Mar 30, 6:30 p.m.
Gather around the Passover table with members of the Temple Sholom family and friends. The cost is $36 for adult members, $45 for adult non-members, $20 for all children 12 and under. Seder will be kosher style with vegetarian options available by request. Register by March 22 with Lauren Mielziner at 773- 435-1559 or Lauren@sholomchicago.org.
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Temple Offices - Closed
Monday, Apr 5, 7:00 a.m.
Temple Offices are closed in observance of the Passover holiday.
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Last Morning of Passover Festival Service
Monday, Apr 5, 10:30 a.m.
(at Temple Emanuel, 5959 N. Sheridan Rd)
Once again this year, we will celebrate the Spring Festival Services (including Yizkor) with Emanuel Congregation.
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Gan Shalom Coffee Club
Wednesday, Apr 14, 9:00 a.m.
Drop off your child at school and join us for our lively discussion group.
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Israel Solidarity Day Pre-Walk with Israel Rally & Pizza Party
Wednesday, Apr 28, 5:30 p.m.
Attention Families with Children and Teens! Do you love Israel and pizza? on Wednesday, April 28, 5:30 p.m. in Bettie Port Hall we will have a "pre-walk" rally for Israel. Kids will be paired with a Temple Sholom little/big brother or sister with whom they will personalize their walk t-shirt. Those in attendance will have a chance to sign the Temple Sholom banner and, while eating pizza and having fun, we will make our plan to meet up at the Walk on May 2.
|
|
|
Details...
Hide Details...
Israel Solidarity Day
with Walk With Israel
Sunday, May 2, 9:30 a.m.
Our Temple Sholom community will participate in the annual city Walk With Israel.
|
More...
Less...
Download information about our Gan Shalom 2010 / 2011 year
Gan Shalom provides a Jewish education for preschool-age children based on a developmental approach to learning. The program is committed to strengthening family life through the transmission of Jewish values and traditions.
Geared for children ages four months through four years, the program includes parent-child classes, a two-and-a-half and three-year-old nursery school and junior kindergarten classes. Extended day programs are available for two to four-year-olds.
Gan Shalom uses a developmental approach in which children’s play activities are viewed as indispensable precursors to the academic activities of elementary school. A child learns through play. Through play, children learn to be part of a group, to share and to become friends. In play, children also feel the freedom to try new ideas, practice skills and imitate adult roles. All other learning is based on this fundamental ability. Therefore, our environment is carefully planned and fosters discovery, learning and exploration.
At
Gan Shalom we also use the Reggio Emilia approach to learning. The Reggio philosophy is based on the recognition that young children have many ways in which they can express themselves, and that we, as educators, must tap into those ways and engage the children in their learning. This means that projects begin with teachers observing and questioning children about the topic of interest. Based on children's responses, teachers introduce materials, questions, and opportunities that provoke children to further explore the topic. Concepts that we weave daily into our curriculum are: math, science, language development, creative arts, music, movement and drama. We also introduce Hebrew and Judaism by exploring and experiencing traditions, rituals and holiday celebrations. During free play time, children choose learning centers where they can explore and experiment for as long as they like.
The
Gan Shalom staff consists of professionals specializing in early childhood education. Our teachers have backgrounds in both early childhood education and Judaism.
There is a special 15% discount for all Temple Sholom of Chicago members in good standing.
Parent-Child Programs (Ages 4 - 36 Months)
Parent-Infant and Parent-Toddler classes are held once or twice weekly (depending upon age) during the school year as well as over the summer months.
More...
Less...
The goals of these classes are
- to enable parents and children to spend uninterrupted time together, fostering their enjoyment and mutual respect of each other,
- to provide a setting where parents and children may clarify their understanding of age-appropriate behavior and skills,
- to create an environment which will strengthen the family's identification with the Jewish community,
- to foster independence and socialization in a safe, accepting environment that provides appropriate opportunities for growth and development,
- to enable the child to gradually extend trust from parent to other significant adults, and
- to enable the child to practice and begin to master his/her ever growing skills of separation, socialization, and individuation.
Nursery School Programs (Ages 2 - 4 Years)
Nursery School classes are held 3 mornings a week for 2 year olds and 3 year olds, or 5 mornings a week for 3 year old and 4 year old children. Classes are two and one-half hours long, except the full day Junior Kindergarten which is six hours long, including rest and lunch.
More...
Less...
As with the Parent-Child Programs, goals include the continued development of socialization and independence in a nurturing environment, and integration of family and school within a Jewish context. Additionally the Nursery Programs help the children form a positive Jewish self-image and provide stimuli and opportunities for growth and development in social, cognitive, intellectual, and physical skills.
A typical morning would find the children
- engaged in free play,
- singing together and sharing their experiences during group time,
- trying a science experiment,
- enjoying snack time,
- following through on assigned classroom responsibilities for the day, and
- creating projects related to the unit of study or upcoming holiday.
Children receive all readiness skills to assure a successful transition to kindergarten. The Jewish calendar cycle and holidays play an important role in the classroom.
Shabbat is celebrated each Friday, with parents baking
challah on a rotating schedule, with the children. Special holiday celebrations with families are scheduled throughout the school year, both during class hours and at other times. Hebrew is introduced in the classroom informally through songs and games so that the children become thoroughly familiar and at ease with the language of their religion.
Summer Day Camp (Ages 2 - 4 Years)
The Summer Camp Program consists of two 4 week sessions. Sessions are 3 mornings a week for 2 year olds, and either 3 or 5 mornings a week for 3 and 4 year olds.
More...
Less...
The Summer Camp Program is a continuation of our Nursery School Program in which the natural outdoor setting will be utilized to stimulate children’s awareness and interest in the world around them. Weekly curricular themes revolve around nature and the community, and the children spend a great deal of time outdoors (weather permitting). Campers also enjoy in-house field trips such as storytellers, the traveling zoo and circus performers. Children in the oldest camp programs are given instructional swimming once per week. For our younger campers and parent-child campers we offer water play in our wading pools and on the playground.
Extended Day Program (Ages 2 - 4 Years)
The Extended Day Program begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. Children may attend a varying number of days per week depending upon the age of the child.
More...
Less...
The Extended Day Program has as its basis the recognition that families can combine positive parenting with the pursuit of careers and/or education. We offer a nurturing environment, in a safe, well-maintained physical space, where parents can be confident their children are receiving a program that is developmentally sound and rich in Judaism. The program is a combination of structured morning activities integrated into our Nursery School Programs, followed by a nutritious lunch, a monitored nap, and a full afternoon program that provides time for children to explore different enrichment activities and continue the weekly theme.
Enrichment Programs (Ages 3 - 5 Years)
Afternoon enrichment classes are held Monday through Thursday afternoons for our nursery children and Monday through Friday afternoons for our Junior Kindergarten children. Children may enroll in any number of days per week, as desired.
More...
Less...
A variety of classes are offered such as
- music,
- Hebrew & Jewish storytelling,
- cooking,
- creative arts,
- drama,
- science, and
- dancing.
For more information about the
Gan Shalom Early Childhood Education Center, contact the
Gan Shalom Office at 773-525-4867.
