Noreen Cook Center for Early Childhood Education

Click here to register for the Noreen Cook Center for Early Childhood Education for the 2024-2025 school year

Click here For more information and to register for Stay and Play

Click Here to register for Roots With Ruark Music Class

MISSION STATEMENT

The Noreen Cook Center for Early Childhood Education of Har Zion Temple provides excellence in Jewish early childhood education.  We ensure a safe and nurturing environment that promotes the Judaic, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of young children.  At the same time, we respond to the needs of their families.  A developmentally appropriate program for our young learners and their families is the foundation for the ongoing development of a curriculum, for our Rose and Joseph Schimmel Preschool and our Har Zion Temple Kindergarten that integrates Judaic values into everyday life experiences.

The Noreen Cook Center is committed to meeting nationally set standards of excellence in early childhood education.  

The keys to the success of our program are promoting discovery, encouraging imagination, and fostering self-esteem. 

 

The Noreen Cook Center provides:

• Individualized attention creating good self image and love of learning

• A carefully formulated, flexible curriculum tailored to the needs and interest of each group of students. 

• An outstanding staff dedicated to motivating and encouraging every child

• Experiences that enable children to explore, experiment, and use all their senses, while engaging their imagination to the fullest. 

• Opportunities for child-initiated, child-directed, teacher-supported play that allows children to take risks, think independently and make their own choices. 

• Individual guidance that allows each child to reach his/her fullest potential, cognitively, socially, physically, creatively and spiritually. 

• An atmosphere in which each child can grow spiritually by experiencing the joys and values of Jewish living; children can learn the importance of Torah, tzedakah, and mitzvot; the appreciation of their Jewish heritage; and the celebration of Shabbat. 

• A supportive partnership where our teacher, parents, clergy and congregation work together to achieve and sustain shared goals for our children.

The Noreen Cook Center is a comfortable place where our children and families feel a sense of belonging.

Shalom Chai: A fabulous experiential program without parents for children 15-24 months as of September 15th. We have a choice of a three or five half-day program with or without staying for lunch as well as five full days available. This class is designed to promote toddlers physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. Through many hands-on experiences such as art, cooking, music and creative movement, little ones are helped to feel good about themselves and the world we live in. In the most important area of social development, we hope children will gain skills in sharing, interacting with other children and adults and cooperating. Our curriculum includes units in areas closest to the children, for example, Jewish holidays, seasons, family, feelings.

Garinim (Seeds): Your child must be two years old by September 15th. We have a choice of a three or five half-day program with or without staying for lunch as well as five full days available.  For our youngest children, we provide a warm, nurturing Jewish environment where children learn to discover the magic of the world around them and take pride in their accomplishments. Children enjoy adjusting to the routines of school.

Children explore areas closest to them, for example, Jewish holidays and values, seasons, family, food and nutrition, and feelings.  We encourage children to gain skills in sharing, interacting with other children and adults, cooperating and toilet training. We emphasize development of fine motor skills through coloring, tearing, gluing, using playdough and building with blocks. Gross motor skills like jumping, dancing and balancing are developed, as well as verbal language skills. 

Shorashim (Roots): Your child must be three years old by September 15th. Classes meet five half days with or without staying for lunch, five full days, or three half and two full days. This program is designed to help children master the essential skills they need to develop a positive self-image and exhibit continued emotional, social, and academic growth. Our children are guided to participate in hands-on craft experiences, cooking, creative movement, and music. Language becomes an exciting means for communicating ideas and feelings as written language becomes more important in the life of the classroom. 

Our child-centered curriculum includes learning about Jewish holidays and values, Shabbat and Havdalah, the seasons, shapes, colors, the senses, animals, weather, under the sea, transportation and community helpers, to name a few!

Prachim (Flowers): Your child must be four years old by September 15th. Classes meet five full days, or two half and three full days. Children are encouraged on an individual basis to grow and develop in the variety of ways. It is a year filled with personal growth, curiosity, and independence. This program offers a wealth of reading and math readiness, as well as bi-cultural education. Language becomes an exciting means for communicating ideas and feelings. Our child-centered curriculum includes learning about Jewish holidays, mitzvot, Israel, the seasons, shapes, artists, colors, the senses, nutrition, the community, nature, and much more!

 

Weekly Programming:

Science          Zoom Dance

Yoga              Music

Shabbat         Havdalah

 

Program Hours:

Morning Session               8:45 – 12:00

Lunch Care                         12:00 – 1:00

Afternoon Session             1:00 – 3:05

Full Day Session                 8:45 – 3:05

 

Extended Care: Early care (7:30 – 8:45am) and/or late care (3:15 – 5:30pm Monday through Thursday) are available yearly or as needed. 

Kids’ Knowledge College:  An after school enrichment program geared to children enrolled in our preschool and kindergarten programs. 

Stay and Play: Led by our experienced teacher Karen Davis, this weekly class is designed for our youngest learners to explore and discover the world around them in a Jewish-enriched environment. Through sensory activities, art, gross motor play, and music, your child will begin their journey of lifelong learning. A caregiver must stay with the child for the entire class, ensuring a fun and engaging experience for both of you!

For more information and to register for Stay and Play:
https://forms.gle/sxq21ZHUiavHyMhy9

Roots with Ruark Music Class: Get ready to sing, shake, and dance! Roots With Ruark offers a 45-minute sing-along style music class filled with energy and excitement. You and your little one will enjoy shaking egg shakers, dancing with scarves, and rocking out with little instruments. The class features a lively mix of Ruark’s original music, kids’ classics, Disney hits, and fun rock/pop tunes.

To register for Roots With Ruark Music Class:
https://forms.gle/61BFogDFvQirLzzR6

 

EXCITING SCHOLARSHIP NEWS FOR PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES: Har Zion has scholarship funds available for families that meet the following requirements:

• approx. maximum household income of $127,532 with one dependent; $146,620 with two dependents at home, with an increase of $19,088 for each additional dependent (as defined by the IRS) living within the same household.
• for Pre-K, student must turn 3 years old by December 31, 2024

There is an application parents must complete to determine eligible by a third party vendor. (you can either share the link here or have them reach out to your office for it)

These scholarships are made possible through Har Zion’s relationship with the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools and its facilitation of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.

Scholarship Eligibility Application DUE MONDAY JULY 15