TEC Education Debbie Blumenthal, Early Education Director

debbieb@templeetzchaim.org

We are counting down our last weeks of the 2023 school year! In the month of May our early childhood parents are spoiling our staff with a week-long Teacher Appreciation Event. The teachers are enjoying daily breakfast, a day of flowers, luncheon, and ending the week with gifts from the families. What a beautiful week and the teachers are feeling very appreciated.

We have a “touch-a-truck” event planned for the children. We are going to have a fire truck, garbage truck, city bus, and other emergency vehicles here for the children to explore. This is going to be exciting for the young ones. Our older students will take a field trip to the Thousand Oaks Public Works Open House to learn all about the jobs our Thousand Oaks Public Workers do around our hometown.

Our May Tot Shabbat is on Friday, May 19th at 6:00 p.m. We have a delicious dinner planned, Shabbat blessings, songs, and lots of family fun for all!

We are ending the month with a Family Shavuot Day! On Friday, May

26th all preschool parents are joining their children for a morning of activities, a Shavuot brunch and finally a school-wide Shabbat singalong! School will close at 12:30 p.m. that day.

The month of June will go by quickly as we prepare for the preschool and kindergarten graduations and the end of our 12-month school year. We look forward to the start of our 2023-24 school year on Wednesday, July 5th. Parents will be invited for a Parent Orientation before school begins.

We sadly say goodbye to Aliza Stokelman, a beloved Gesher teacher who is retiring from Temple Etz Chaim after 30 years of teaching. We have loved Aliza’s Judaica and Hebrew lessons and she has shared so much with so many children over the years. We wish her all the best in her retirement.

If you would like any information about our Infant Program or Preschool, please contact Debbie Blumenthal or Keri Loventhal at 805-497-6852. Have a great summer! Debbie Blumenthal