Federation Star - February 2018

26A Federation Star February 2018
Temple Shalom Preschool update
By Seyla Cohen, Preschool Director
“Todah Rabah” Jewish Federation!
The Jewish Federation of Greater
Naples has once again pledged its
generous support to Temple Shalom
Preschool. Through a very substantial
contribution, Temple Shalom Preschool
will be able to give financial aid to the
Jewish families that want to be part of
our Preschool family, but may need
some assistance. In addition to earmarking
funds for the regular school
year TSP Experience, the Federation
has once again, expanded its support
to our incredible summer programs,
Preschool of the Arts update
By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool Director
The new calendar year comes right
in the middle of our academic
year and serves as a welcome
pause to reflect on all we accomplished,
and how much more we hope to achieve
in the future. It is during this time that
we redouble our efforts to make sure that
the families in our preschool community
are truly getting the most they possibly
can from our quality programming.
Our comprehensive and developmentally
appropriate program is
designed to promote each child’s intellectual,
social, physical and emotional
growth. All of the games and activities
that our teachers plan in their lessons
are skill-based and goal-oriented, so
that the children grow with everything
that they do.
The curriculum at our school is
Camp Shalom and Camp Einstein. And
just to round out our already spectacular
program, it has granted funds for some
very special cultural programs. As the
director of Temple Shalom Preschool,
I would like to express a personal “Todah
Rabah” to the Federation for this
much-appreciated grant.
Mitzvah Day
One of the goals of Temple Shalom
Preschool is to teach the children, from
an early age, the importance of Mitzvah,
giving back to society. Mitzvah is
defined as a religious duty or obligation
and is one of the commandments of Jewish
religious law.
We are all getting ready for Mitzvah
Day on Sunday, February 11. This is
an annual event in which temple and
preschool families help give back to
based on age-appropriate developmentally
accepted practices. The classroom
setup is comprised of learning centers
which include blocks, art, dramatic play,
books, manipulatives and scientific discovery.
These centers allow the children
to have choices and to actively explore.
They learn by interacting with their
peers, teachers and the varying things
in their environment. Each center has
a specific aim and, with the teacher’s
guidance, helps the children’s emotional,
cognitive and physical growth.
Our preschool environment is
one that fosters questions, provokes
curiosity and stimulates intellectual
growth. The outdoor Garden of the Arts,
culinary arts and science programs all
encourage natural curiosities, while
our yoga, music and gym instructors
enhance our fine arts curriculum. We are
also proud to offer Spanish, technologically-advanced
parent communication
systems, and a one-of-a-kind dramatic
play Marketplace for real-life learning.
This January our Marketplace was
transformed into a makeshift Hardware
Store that rivals Home Depot. Through
the hands-on experience, the children
have been learning about a multitude of
topics including construction, mechanics,
math and counting, communication
and literacy. It is wonderful to observe
as the children delight in the wonders of
the world of construction, do-it-yourself
and tinkering.
Inspired by the Jewish holiday of
Tu B’Shvat, we hosted a Tea Party in
our beautiful Garden of the Arts.
FOCUS ON YOUTH
the Naples community. As in the past,
we will be helping homeless children of
Collier County by collecting toiletries
and providing them with much needed
necessities. Another favorite activity is
baking doggie biscuits for the Humane
Society. The children love to make the
biscuit dough, shape it and decorate it
for the adorable animals. Such deeds
give meaning to values so important
to instill in children at a tender age.
Mitzvah Day brings joy, satisfaction
and a sense of accomplishment to both
parents and children.
Little Cubs
January marked the beginning of our
Little Cubs program for our youngest
students who just turned two. Two of
our loving teachers, Ms. Christy and
Ms. Sam, welcomed 12 little ones to our
newest Tuesday - Thursday class. These
precious children are getting introduced
to the TSP experience in a caring and
nurturing environment.
Health-Safety Day/Open House
Once again, Temple Shalom Preschool
hosted its annual Health-Safety Day/
Open House on Sunday, January 14.
This very special activity-packed daylong
program, educating our young citizens
about health and safety within our
community, was a great success. Collier
County Fire Fighters, EMT personnel,
McGruff the Crime Dog, Domestic
Animal Services and Smokey the Bear
were all on hand and helped educate the
children and their families. The children
had a blast in the bounce house and on
the rock climbing wall, and parents were
able to tour our beautiful preschool and
meet our teachers.
For further information on any of
our wonderful programs, please call me
at 239.455.3227.
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The day of fun and connection was a
wonderful opportunity to experience
and celebrate this Jewish holiday both
within nature and as a community.
I would like to thank the Jewish
Federation of Greater Naples for its
continuous support of Preschool of the
Arts. Its care and generosity continue toT
allow us to improve our preschool with&
special programming and activities thatO
give the young children in our commu-nity
an immersive Jewish educationalr
experience.
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Enrollment is now open (and quick-ly
filling up!) for Preschool of the Artst
2018-2019, as well as our acclaimed T
Summer of the Arts programs. We areA
honored by the overwhelming responseh
and encourage prospective applicants toC
register before all our spaces are filled. a
To schedule a tour, call 239.263.2620 y
or visit www.naplespreschoolofthearts. i
com.
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Glow Chanukah hosted by Preschool of the Arts
F
Jewish Bedtime Stories & Songs for Families
The PJ Library program supports families
in their Jewish journey by sending Jewishrelated
books and music on a monthly basis
to children for free.
Sponsered by
Arthur & Susan Karp
The
Family
PJ
Charitable
Library
Foundation,
is
Inc
brought A Supporting to the Foundation Collier of
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
County community
by Visit JFCS the Federation of Southwest
website to sign up!
www.jfedsrq.org
Florida. For more
information, call
239.325.4444.
Follow us at facebook.com/pjlibraryofsarasota
For a continuously updated
community calendar,
visit www.jewishnaples.org.