Preschool Patter

BY LAURAN PANCOAST SUSAN BERNSTEIN Director of Early Childhood, Preschool Programming & Operations Director of Early Childhood, Education & Curriculum

The beginning of the school year is well underway and after two long years of restrictions and active construction we are all back in the building experiencing the joy and community of TCS Preschool. As parents escort their children to the classroom each morning, we observe teachers, children, and families making connections, looking at artwork on the classroom walls, and making sense of their child’s learning process through documentation and photographs highlighting the curriculum happening during the preschool day. The hallways are abuzz again with parents arranging after-school playdates, sharing weekend plans, and children making their way from one part of the school to another.

Rabbi and Cantor have fun with preschool children

When our children walk into TCS Preschool, the feeling of warmth and love is immediate. We believe that children learn best through play and offer a balanced preschool day filled with free play, guided play, and direct instruction. Each day our teachers prepare different invitations for play and observe and listen closely to the children so they can plan for ways to extend their learning together. Jewish traditions remain an integral part of our curriculum and are carefully woven into the fabric

Children creating Friends sliding around

of daily preschool life, focusing on the cycle of Jewish holidays, Shabbat observances, and an understanding of Jewish values.

Community, family, and shared traditions are at the core of what makes TCS Preschool so special. What better way to experience l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) than to see parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles celebrating with us at our all-school Shabbat or arriving together for morning dropoff? We welcome all of you to come see us here at the preschool. Share your talents, see our youngest TCS members, help us in the preschool garden, or tell a story! We look forward to seeing you.

Daniel and Meghan Cleiman (Sam, 2022 graduate, Benjamin, 3s & Emma, Tiny 2s) “After two long and turbulent years of our children attending preschool amidst COVID lockdowns and protocols that limited family participation, we are thrilled to be at TCS as the school returns to normal life post-Covid. In fact, our experience now is even better as our community has become stronger and more supportive through the pandemic. The challenges during the pandemic have helped us appreciate the leadership at TCS, especially from the preschool and its staff. We cannot wait for the synagogue renovations to be completed, in particular the social hall/cafe which will allow young Jewish parents to interact, socialize and form an even tighter community.”