Falk Playground Garden Project

Falk Playground Garden Project The Alpert JCC ECE Honors Tu Bishvat

Dani Reynozo | Family Engagement Coordinator

Every day in our preschool, the children explore the Sheva* Lens Tikkun Olam (Repair the world). The children learn of generosity and partnership within the community and help to make a difference in their world. The month of February is the perfect time to reconnect with nature, as we celebrate Tu Bishvat, a Jewish holiday that honors plants and trees. Tu Bishvat is often referred to as “The New Year of the Trees.” We are all in need of a bit of fresh air and outdoor time, and what better way to do that than working in our very own garden! The 2022/2023 school year has been full of so many fun and exciting activities for the children in our program, and there has been a lot of interest in the critters in our garden.

Mrs. Zwillinger’s class has been learning about worms and how they help bring nutrients to the soil, they even have their very own worm composting bin! Our ECE playground garden is in need of an upgrade to designate an enclosed space outside of classrooms one and two. We are raising funds to build a fence, add rocks and mulch, replace planter boxes, purchase a gardening curriculum, and much more!

To raise funds, the children in our preschool created beautiful art. Their art was then available for purchase at our fall Shabbat dinner. At this event, we raised $1,500. We also had a silent auction and raised $4,546 for our garden. We have raised more than $8,00 so far and Fundraising is still going on. We hope to continue our garden beyond the designated space and beautify the rest of the Falk Playground. When a child squishes their fingers in the dirt, smells the fresh herbs in their hands, sees the vibrant colors of the flowers, fruits, and vegetables; they are exploring the world around them with all their senses! The children learn the concept of patience and responsibility as well as the importance of regularly checking on their plants. Many math concepts, such as counting seeds, and science concepts, such as learning what plants need to grow will develop along the way.

We look forward to continuing our learning of Tikkun Olam and global sustainability in our world. To support the ECE Garden project, please contact Kevin Giser at kgiser@jewishlongbeach.org. Thank you for your support, and Chag Sameach!

*Sheva, which means seven in Hebrew, is a powerful number in Jewish thought and practice. The Sheva framework employs seven core principles of early care and education and contemporary and ancient texts, using seven Jewish lenses to reveal universal values. Alpert JCC ECE classrooms weave these values throughout their educational day.