- 177 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
- 973-538-9292
- office@mjcby.org
Jump to: Curriculum | Lunch Bunch & Afternoon Enrichment | Before & After Care | Shalom Babies | Summer Fun! Program | Vacation Days & Bridges | PJ Library
Shalom Yeladim — The Judie Gerstein Early Learning Center is a program from MJCBY:
Teaching values is an important part of our program:
We offer:
[For more information, please email WHO?
Our teachers are State Certified. Our comprehensive and developmentally appropriate program is designed to promote each child’s intellectual, social, physical and emotional growth. All games and activities are skill- based and goal oriented. Our age and developmentally-appropriate curriculum combines a celebration of Judaism with the children’s daily experiences and observations, plus critical learning and developmental concepts.
The classrooms are comprised of learning centers which include blocks, art, music, toys and puzzles, dramatic play, books, manipulatives, sensory, discovery and scientific awareness. These centers allow the children to have choices to actively explore. They learn by interacting with their peers, teachers and the varying things in their environment. Each center is designed to help the children’s emotional, cognitive and physical growth.
The daily schedule is planned to include active and quiet times, gross and fine motor activities and child-initiated as well as staff-initiated activities. Outdoor (weather permitting) or indoor play is scheduled each day. Planning for the classroom involves consideration of age and skill level. Our teachers use a variety of mediums to teach a concept, reinforcing and respecting each child’s learning style. Assessment is also an important part of the curriculum. Our goal is to make sure that each child reaches their individual potential.
Intellectual: Through play and staff directed activities, we facilitate the development of skills such as self motivation, active investigation, thinking and problem solving needed to thrive in a world of challenge and competition. Pre-reading, pre-writing, and pre-math skills are part of our daily routines and activities.
Social: We encourage each child to work and play with others, to develop language and communication skills, to respect the rights and privacy of their peers and most of all, to develop feelings of kindness, courtesy, helpfulness and acceptance.
Physical: Children are provided constant opportunities to develop their gross and fine motor skills, to develop finger strength and dexterity, and arm-eye and body coordination.
Emotional: We strongly believe that a positive self image is key to navigate through life. By recognizing and accepting children’s differences, by encouraging children to differentiate between right and wrong, and by promoting responsibility, children believe in themselves and are willing to take risks that promote learning.
Our afternoon programs are available to all our students. Students are grouped in age appropriate levels for lunch and enrichment classes.
The Lunch Bunch
Days available – Monday through Friday, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
This lunch hour offers the opportunity for socialization over lunch along with outdoor and indoor playtime. Lunches must be dairy, peanut/nut free and packaged foods must have a K or OU marking. You may choose to have your child participate in our hot lunch program. The options consist of breakfast for lunch, grilled cheese, macaroni & cheese, soy nuggets, bagels, fish sticks, tater tots, yogurt, string cheese, fruit, and veggies. We also offer Shabbat Slices on Fridays, which includes pizza, fruit and dessert.
Enrichment Classes
Days available – Monday-Friday, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm includes Lunch Bunch)
The goal of our Enrichment Classes is to have an afternoon of learning disguised as FUN!
We offer science, art, stories around the world, engineering and math, and yoga. From year-to-year, the topics change. Afternoon sessions include a lunch hour (12:00 pm – 1:00 pm) and a 30-minute rest period (mandated by the State of New Jersey).
Programs include (Days are subject to change):
These wonderful learning experiences will make your children want to come back every week!
To accommodate working families, Shalom Yeladim – The Judie Gerstein Early Learning Center is pleased to offer before and after care for children enrolled in our preschool.
Before Care will begin at 7:30 am and care for the children until classroom instruction begins.
After Care begins at 2:30 pm and runs until 6 pm on Mondays – Thursdays and until 4:30 pm on Fridays.
It is our observation, supported by anecdotal evidence, that many families move to Morris County without the benefit of support – people, family or friends who can help familiarize them with our community. Very often parents with young children feel isolated and without opportunities to meet and share the challenges young children provide. To answer these needs, we’ve created a program to bring together Jewish children and their parents with others who are similarly suited.
Shalom Babies meets on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-10:30 when school is in session. It is a teacher led, informal program that uses a circle time format with activities including music, puppet play and songs to promote child based interactions. Following our circle activities, there is an opportunity for parents to schmooze while the children move around freely, exploring our age appropriate toys and develop basic social skills. The children experience a very smooth natural progression from this class to our new 2’s or 2’s program. This FREE program open to MJCBY and non-MJCBY members.
Designed for children ages 18-months — 5-years, our program takes children back to summers-past fun. Organized theme weeks give way to hands-on exploration. Whether we are paleontologists searching for dino footsteps or medieval prince and princesses, every day brings a world of excitement. We offer water play, sandbox, playground, and lots of outdoor fun. Included is a hot lunch every day. The program aims to socialize the children through a warm, nurturing, creative and playful day. Join us for a summer of fun!
For more information, please email WHO?
Vacation Come and Play Days
Throughout the year, there may be times that the area public schools and/or Shalom Yeladim are closed. We are pleased to offer Come and Play Days, during which activities supervised by teachers allow children to attend our facility from 7:30 am – 6 pm. Preregistration is required and is open to the community, even if not attending an SY program. Minimum enrollment is required to run this program.
Bridges Mini-Camp Experience
Mini camp is designed to bridge the break between the end of the school year and the start of our Summer Fun Program. Led by our experienced staff, the Mini Camp is designed for children 18 months to age 5. Built upon thematic units, the mini camp will expose children to ideas in a fun and hands-on way. Through art, play, music, cooking, and more, children will go in-depth on topics of great interest to early learners. From nature to heroes, the Bridges Mini Camp themes change each year. The program meets from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm with before care starting at 7:30 am and after care ending at 6 pm. You may register for as many days as you need. You need only register for one week at a time. Minimum enrollment is required to run this program.
FREE Jewish Books and Music mailed to your child every month!
A gift from your local Jewish community. For newborns through age 5 1/2. For any family making Jewish choices.