Sandler Family campus evolves
New Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center is a seamless option for children six weeks to five years
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f there were ever two programs destined to unite, they are Beginnings for babies and toddlers, which began in 2013 as a Mother’s Day Out initiative, and the Strelitz Preschool for children ages two to five. They share the same floor at the Sandler Family Campus and the same families in many cases, with the older child in Strelitz and the younger in Beginnings. And the two directors are very experienced former teachers who are devoted to the care and teaching of little boys and girls in a Jewish-oriented setting, employing modern techniques that focus on socialization, collaboration, emotional and academic growth.
The New Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center • Beginnings (infants and toddlers) and Preschool (ages 2-5) will be combined into the Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center. • Half day and full day options are available for toddlers through Pre-K.
• There will now be a single re-enrollment application.
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All children will be taught using a developmentally appropriate curriculum that focuses on social, emotional and academic success.
• Strelitz
families will enjoy a discount on Simon Family JCC membership, and there are special savings, as well for full care families who have their children in JCC summer camp.
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Rates for both half and full day programs have come down and are competitive with other preschools in the area. Call 757-424-4327 for details.
“Leadership decided that it made sense to have a seamless transition, not just for the children, but also for the parents,” says Lorna Orleans, who directs the Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center, the new umbrella name for what is now one of the region’s only programs that accepts children as early as six weeks of age and then guides and nurtures them right up until kindergarten, when they can graduate upstairs to the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater or any other kindergarten in the area. “Starting this fall, there will be one application to complete, one set of teachers and one coordinated curriculum,” says Becky Feld, who formally ran Beginnings, but is now Strelitz assistant director.
to start” because that’s what a quality early childhood education center should be. “This is where children start to separate from their parents, start to play together and acquire readiness skills in all areas of learning,” says Orleans. “Beyond opportunities for social growth, Strelitz offers a developmentally appropriate curriculum that includes language arts, math, science and social studies.” Youngest learners in the infant and toddler program are introduced to a curriculum designed to build emergent literacy through carefully planned literature experiences that are expanded upon through ages two and three. The Pre-K curriculum focuses on phonemic awareness and writing experiences that lay
Half day and full day options are available at Strelitz. “We know many moms and dads have to work long days,” says Becky Feld, who stays in constant contact with parents, easing their stress when the youngster cries and celebrating each stage of maturation. “We’re here to help.” the foundation for readIt has always been an ing and writing success in easy transition for those kindergarten. children who began in There are half day and Beginnings. “They move Application parents full day options at Strelitz. right into the two-year-old need to complete “We know many moms preschool program being to enroll and and dads have to work already familiar with the keep their child long days,” says Feld, who space and knowing the in the Strelitz stays in constant contact faces and voices of the Early Childhood with parents, easing their staff and even the friendly Education from stress when the youngster guard,” says Feld, “but we age six weeks cries and celebrating each were confusing the moms to five years. stage of maturation. “We’re and dads by making them here to help.” Shabbat singreapply when their child a-longs and other activities turned two. Now they expose children to Jewish will understand better culture and traditions, that we are a single school and because Strelitz is housed alongside under one umbrella.” And it’s a single school that as the new the Simon Family Jewish Community Strelitz tagline proclaims, is a “great place Center (which Strelitz families can join at
20 | Jewish News | June 8, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
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Lorna Orleans, director of SECEC and Becky Field, assistant director.
a discount), there are many opportunities for adults to form their own relationships. “Moms can work out while their children are in a crib or a classroom and have lunch in the Cardo,” says Feld. “Relationships form in the building that are positive and often long-lasting for the entire family.” So what were once two programs is now one, the Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center. “Enroll them at six weeks or later and just for a morning or the whole day,” says Feld. “We have the experienced staff, modern facility, consistent security and now single governance and educational philosophy to give children an excellent start on life.”