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Here’s where you can find the most recent articles, photos and videos of what’s happening in our Early Childhood Program. Many of our families are introduced to our special Schechter community through this wonderful division of our school. Opportunities for learning and growing extend beyond the classroom through family education and adult support as well as community involvement. Our Elementary and Middle School students also share in the development of our youngest students, which helps to foster a sense of community at this very impressionable age.
Enjoy this glimpse into some of what makes the Schechter educational experience so rewarding. More information about this program can be found below but the best way to truly understand the Schechter experience is to see it in action! Should you wish to schedule a visit to see our school in person, please feel free to contact Admissions at (860) 561-0700. We look forward to welcoming you!
Should you have pictures to share or testimonials to contribute, please contact us at feedback@ssds-hartford.org.
PHILOSOPHY
The Early Childhood Program at Solomon Schechter celebrates the uniqueness of each child. We respect individual differences in learning styles and growth patterns, and understand that children thrive socially, emotionally, and intellectually when they are provided with a developmentally appropriate environment. Teachers are available to support and facilitate children's interests and activities. Setting up an environment that is conducive to teaching responsibility, independence, and self-control is a main focus of our program along with conflict resolution and respecting the rights and values of others. As part of a Jewish day school, our children benefit from being able to see to see themselves as an integral part of the Jewish community and understand that Judaism is a way of life.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Our approach to learning is child-centered. We emphasize the learning process through carefully planned activities that invite children to make choices, to explore, to create and to develop a life-long love of learning. Our curriculum is a dynamic one, based on the Creative Curriculum with uniquely integrated religious and cultural components. This approach provides a basic framework that addresses all aspects of a child's development. This includes the physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills necessary to help children develop in to capable learners. Parents often ask us if we "teach the alphabet." Our answer focuses on the processes involved in learning to read. Instead of "teaching letters" we integrate literacy activities throughout the day. We accomplish this in a variety of ways.
Children learn to:
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Recognize their names and the names of their peers
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Create class experience charts
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Recite songs, finger plays, nursery rhymes, and poems
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Label objects in the classroom
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Follow picture recipes
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Participate in Circle Time games
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Sequence stories and events
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Dictate individual stories
Literacy activities can be found throughout all areas of the curriculum.
The schedule of the day is a balance of individual choice time, whole group, and small group activities. Opportunities for learning math readiness skills are also visible throughout the day. For example, during snack time children taste different apples and then graph the one they liked the best. During calendar time, children learn number recognition, patterning skills, and begin to understand the concept of time. In the block corner children learn about measurement, spatial relationships and physical properties like size and weight. We even make clean up time an opportunity for learning. When children put the blocks away on labeled shelves, they are learning to classify, match and sort.
For more information about our Early Childhood Curriculum, click here.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Our Early Childhood Center was renovated in 2001. We now have our own "wing" with new furniture and equipment catering to the specific needs of young children. Each classroom typically includes the following interest areas:
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Blocks
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Housekeeping/dramatic play
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Art
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Sand and water (sensory activities)
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Library corner
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Music and movement
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Writing center
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Table toys
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Computers
In addition to the individual classrooms we have the use of the entire school including:
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The Library/Media Center
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Beit Tefillah (chapel)
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Auditorium
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Music Room
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Multi-Purpose Room
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Gymnasium
One of the joys and benefits that occurs when an early childhood program is part of a larger school is the opportunity for integrating with the older students. There is nothing quite like watching "children teaching children". Whether they are reading a story they wrote on dinosaurs, teaching "The Four Questions", running a Purim Carnival, or reading fairy tales, both the older and younger children benefit in countless ways. By taking advantage of having students of different ages in one building, the opportunities for developing skills of compassion, responsibility and leadership are numerous. Our children enjoy going to the auditorium to see various performances throughout the year, not to mention the ruach (spirit) that is so evident during holiday celebrations.
The outdoor environment adds to our curriculum in so many ways. We have two beautiful playgrounds and the school itself is situated on a scenic two-acre campus. Our children at any given time can be found adopting a tree, going on a fall scavenger hunt, looking for signs of spring, painting snow or riding a tricycle on a bicycle path. We are located next to the Veterans Memorial Skating Rink and Cornerstone Aquatics Center. Many families take advantage of this close proximity and their children enjoy skating and swimming lessons after school. We offer a growing array of extracurricular activities for children of all ages including academic, athletic and artistic endeavors. We are excited to partner with the Hartt School of Music who will complement our own staff in offering private and ensemble lessons on site. Solomon Schechter also rents out space in the building for children's birthday parties and other events.
CLASS SIZE AND RATIOS
The Two-Year-Old classroom (EC2) has a maximum of 12 children with a 1-4 ratio. There is one lead teacher with two teacher assistants. In the Three (EC3) and Four-Year-Old (EC4) classrooms, there are a maximum of 16-18 children with either one teacher and a teacher assistant or two teachers.
OUR STAFF
Each Early Childhood classroom has at least one head teacher with a Bachelor and/or Master's degree in Education. Many of our teacher assistants also have degrees in Child Development. Each of our staff attends professional development seminars and workshops throughout the year. In addition to our highly qualified Early Childhood staff, we have a full comprehensive support system available to us. The administrative team includes:
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Head of School
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Principal
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Pupil Services Coordinator
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Early Childhood Coordinator
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School Counselor
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Nurse
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Librarian
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Physical and Music Education Specialists
In addition to on-site support services, we work closely with professionals that provide support services for our students whether they are hired privately or whether they receive services from the town in which they live.
HOURS OF OPERATION
The hours of the program are from 8:20 AM to 12:45 PM. We offer an early morning program that begins at 8:00 AM. There is also an after school program that is available to children on an as needed basis or full-time.
AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
The afternoon program is available every day until 5:30 in one of the Early Childhood classrooms. The children have playtime, rest time, music and story time, outside time (weather permitting) and a theme activity for each day. This program is offered to three and four-year-old children currently enrolled in the school.
Children are asked to bring a separate snack for the after school program. Mats are provided during rest time. Children may bring in a small stuffed animal or blanket for rest time.
LUNCH AND SNACK
The school provides snack and juice each morning. Each classroom has a Special Snack Sign-Up Sheet, which allows children to bring in healthy nutritious snacks once or twice each year. Children are required to bring a dairy lunch from home. All snacks and birthday celebrations must be store bought and Kosher. The staff is happy to assist in this area and provide parents with a list of kosher bakeries and symbols associated with the kashrut policies at Solomon Schechter.
JEWISH IDENTITY
As a Jewish early childhood program, we know that Jewish education today is often a stepping-stone that ultimately provides a pathway into Jewish life for young families. We strive for excellence in education, the foundation of a strong, Jewish identity, and providing a support system for parents.
At Schechter, we are committed to integrating Jewish education and values into every day life. No Jewish early childhood program would be complete without an extensive holiday curriculum. The holidays are presented in much the same way as the general studies curriculum. There are opportunities for children to experience math, science, music, art, sensory, cooking, and literacy activities whether we are learning about Purim or The Ocean. Children are exposed to Torah, Bible Stories, Hebrew Language, Israel and Mitzvot. We integrate Judaism as a way of life on a daily basis. For many families this is a first exposure to the customs and traditions associated with being Jewish. We understand this and offer family education in a joyful and non-threatening manner.
We view parents as key partners in their children’s development and there are many opportunities for parent involvement at Schechter. Parents are invited to participate in various school events including: Shabbat lunch, Chanukah celebrations, the Israeli Dance Festival, and many Family Education programs throughout the year.
"We are truly a community school, a family. In fact, Solomon Schechter is more than a school, it is a way of life."
Choosing the best school for your family can be a complicated decision. Determining which program is best suited for your entire family is important. At Schechter, we offer more than an individualized approach for our students, we strive to address to the diverse needs of our individual families. Our programs are rich with opportunities for personal and familial growth. We look forward to welcoming you as you explore becoming a part of our Schechter family.
Thank you for your interest in our school. Please feel free to call and arrange a tour of our Early Childhood Program and our school (860) 561-0700.
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