ECE Newsletter

February 26, 2021 ECE at a Glance Tzedakah February Winter 2/15—2/19 Break: Vacation Day Each month, we designate a different Programming charity or organization for our Shabbat Tzedakah collection. We encourage parents “Celebrating 100 to tell us about organizations that are close years” —see flyer for to your hearts. Tzedakah is collected in the schedule of events classrooms on Fridays during Shabbat, but feel free to bring coins in earlier in the week if it is more convenient. Donations will be held until Fridays so the children will contribute as a group. In our newsletters, we will include as many specifics about each organization as possible so that you will understand the importance of the charity.

For the months of January & February, we will donate all tzedakah collected to the Miracle Ryker Foundation, a non-profit organization that gives grants to parent who have children who are in need of prolonged hospital stays, funds for traveling to specialty hospitals, or other needs while their child is need of medical care. For more information, please visit: https://www.miracleryker.org

Andrea’s Article It is with very mixed emotions that I have some news to I am still extremely passionate about everything share with all of you. After 13 years at the JCC, I have Early Childhood. I strongly believe in our play-based decided to retire. Don’t worry I won’t be leaving too philosophy where we learn through play. Through soon. I know the importance of the Early Childhood play, children are able to create, imagine, count, Education Director at our JCC and I want to give the JCC as compare, measure, problem solve and become much time as possible to find a tremendous new curious, self-confident individuals who will be director. I will be here through the end of the school year, lifelong learners. I love that children learn about this summer and at least the start of next school year. My cultures while becoming knowledgeable about timeline is flexible, as I look forward to spending some Jewish values, holidays and traditions. Shabbat (the time working with the new director when they first begin Jewish Sabbath) is my favorite day of the week their position. because I was able to be with the children to read Being the Early Childhood director is not just a job for me, stories and sing songs together. On Shabbat and it is my passion. For any of you who know me a little, I am other holidays, we really came together as a whole just crazy about children. I have always worked with school community. Of course this year is challenging children, first as a babysitter, then a camp counselor, then and different, but I still tape myself reading Shabbat a teacher and of course as a mother of 3 and now a stories so the children will not miss out. grandmother. I started my teaching career as a third It has been such an honor and a privilege to serve grade teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After taking the JCC community in my role as ECE Director. I will off a few years to have my children, I got right back to miss all the community events and talking to fami- teaching small reading and math groups after our move to lies, so many of whom I have built relationships with Connecticut. After moving to Niskayuna, I taught Hebrew over the years. I will miss the other directors at the School at Congregation Gates of Heaven and also had a JCC, especially Rachel Csakany, Lynn Capobianco few long term substitute positions in area schools. and of course Andy Katz, with who I work with very In the summer of 2008, Rabbi Matt’s wife -Sharon Cutler closely each day. I will greatly miss all our ECE said to me, “there’s an opening for an assistant director of teachers who put their heart and soul into early childhood at the Schenectady JCC and I think you everything they do. I really can’t imagine my life should apply”. each day without Seema Arora or Sarah Mandel, my “work wives”. As you can imagine, we spend many I was nervous because I had never been a supervisor and hours each day at work and also at home making my experience was mostly with Kindergarten age and up. sure we are staffed appropriately, following OCFS I was however, very excited about the opportunity to regulations, planning for special events, teacher merge my love of children with the opportunity to work in trainings and much, much more. I am so very a Jewish Organization. Under the direction of former ECE thankful for these two special women. Director Ellen Carpenter, I rolled up my sleeves to learn about the world of Early Childhood and found that I really Like I mentioned earlier, I will still be here for a loved it! I was tasked with teaching Toddler Playgroup, while. I am excited for the Spring weather and for sort of a “pre-Preschool” program that met twice a week. all the opportunities being outdoors will bring, like I also taught a popular program called “Tot-Spot”, where holding our Imaginary trip to Israel outside! The parents and children 14months to 24months came for a Hebrew word “Tikvah” means hope and I am half hour of storytelling and art (led by me), followed by a hopeful for a more “normalized” 2021-22 school half hour in the gym and a half hour of swimming. At one year where we swim, use the gym, and especially point it was so popular that we ran a double session. I still see parents in the building again! As always, please see people around town or at the J who remember me as feel free to reach out to me with any questions. the “Tot-Spot Lady”. I was fortunate enough to attend With Gratitude, many seminars and conferences over the years to hone Andrea my skills as an early childhood educator and supervisor. In the summer of 2012, Ellen announced her retirement after close to 30 years at the JCC. Truth be told, I was very scared because those were big shoes to fill, however I applied for the position and started my role as ECE Director in September 2012. I had so much to learn but I was uplifted by the support of the teachers, families and administration including now JCC Site Director, Andy Katz. With celebrations including costumes, skits and songs, noisemakers, and gifts of food, Purim is definitely full of fun! Purim is a joyous holiday that affirms and celebrates Jewish survival and continuity throughout history. The main communal celebration involves a public reading—usually in the synagogue—of the Book of Esther (M'gillat Esther), which tells the story of the holiday: Under the rule of King Ahashverosh, Haman, the king's adviser, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of Persia from destruction. The reading of the m'gillah typically is a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman's name is read aloud.

Purim is an unusual holiday in many respects. First, Esther is the only biblical book in which God is not mentioned. Second, Purim, like Hanukkah, is viewed as a minor festival according to Jewish custom, but has been elevated to a major holiday as a result of the Jewish historical experience. Over the centuries, Haman has come to symbolize every anti-Semite in every land where Jews were oppressed. The significance of Purim lies not so much in how it began, but in what it has become: a thankful and joyous affirmation of Jewish survival.

Green Room Nirmala & Hannah

Since our last newsletter, the Green Room little friends were busy learning about Tu B’shevat and Friendship. The children had fun working on different activities for Tu B’shevat like gluing beans on their names, decorating birdhouses, making leaves wreath and coloring tree pots with colored sand. We also planted cilantro and green peas in our classroom. We discussed the importance of trees and its benefits. After listening to Rabbi Raifi explain the importance of the holiday through zoom, the children enjoyed tasting different dry fruits and juices. We discussed Friendship and the qualities of a friend and how following the classroom rules help us to be a great friend. The children enjoyed making a necklace/bracelet for their friends. We also did science experiments with balloons as part of our little friends’ birthday. We also worked on our alphabets and numbers in our salt tray. The children are becoming more proficient in their letters, numbers and sign language. The children enjoyed sledding. They looked forward to it everyday. So kindly send in their snow gears everyday. Please feel free to email or Bright wheel us with any questions or concerns.

Yellow Room Amy & Kim

February just flew by! The boys had a blast learning about authors and illustrators. We used the favorite book, Go Away Big Green Monster, by Ed Emberly to help us. The boys became authors and created their own monster story. They then became illustrators to help bring their monster story to life. We now have a purple monster named Diamond with 100 eyes hanging on our door. After we came back from break, we learned about the holiday of Purim. We created groggers using paper plates and popcorn kernels. We had fun shaking them whenever we heard the name “Hamen”. Friday the 26th, we had fun dressing up in costumes, exchanging gifts with our friends, eating hamentaschen and parading around the halls of ECE. This month, the boys also have been working hard on number recognition by counting out objects, as well as, letter recognition and writing using their fingers to make letters in a salt tray. We continue to work on strengthening those little fingers and this month, the boys enjoyed oobleck sensory fun to help those fingers. We enjoy getting outside as much as possible. There were a few days that it was just too cold to go out, but we enjoyed some cosmic kids yoga as well as some freeze dance and other movement songs to help get the wiggles out. We are all looking forward to spring weather and warmer temperatures—think spring! To register for the Zoom Event, please visit: https://operations.daxko.com/programs/redirector.aspx?cid=3111&pid=99358&sid=2708091 Your child could win the chance to be the Pilot on our plane ride during our Imaginary Trip to Israel! Visit the link below: https://www.biddingowl.com/schenectadyjcc Click here to sign up for the Community Build https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e054aaca828a1fb6-jccplayground

If your child is currently in Preschool, or will be eligible for Preschool in fall of 2021 (must be three by Dec. 1), then camp is a great option for your family while Preschool isn’t in session! SPACES FILL QUICKLY! Registration Dates:

February 8th- SJCC Members* Must be an active member February 22nd- Kid's Time Families March 1st- Open to the Public

Visit this link to view the camp brochure: http://www.schenectadyjcc.org/clientuploads/Camp/2021/2021_Camp_Brochure.pdf

E-mail Rachel Csakany, Camp Director, with any questions [email protected] Schenectady Jewish Community Center 2565 Balltown Rd Schenectady, NY 12309

Phone: 518-377-8803 Fax: 518-377-5530 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

SCHENECTADY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Early Childhood Education