Sherith Israel Preschool is a community based
program that welcomes all families.
We embrace the richness and diversity that our unique city has to offer and encourage adult family members to participate and become active community members ensuring that all perspectives are considered. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion or national or ethnic origin. We encourage families of every background to apply, making our community richer for its diversity.
We spend the majority of our day outdoors. We have a beautiful historical building with natural classrooms, urban gardens, and classroom pets where we spend our mornings and take shelter during extreme weather conditions.
What we do
At Sherith Israel Preschool we spend much of our day outdoors (rain or shine) at local parks and other neighborhood locations fully immersed in the community around us. We have a building for extreme weather conditions. We also take family field trips and walking trips around the neighborhood.
We think of our preschool students as stewards of the planet, and citizens of our city.
We hope our little citizens will sustain lifelong engagement in education and learning, environmental stewardship, and social conscientiousness through a Jewish lens.
Curriculum
Our highly trained professional teachers develop curriculum using the Jewish calendar to examine the connection between humans and nature.
Our curriculum embraces children’s natural curiosity and innate affinity for the environment.
We believe that children flourish when their natural sense of wonder, awe and curiosity is encouraged through play and experimentation. We are an innovative nature based preschool with an earth based approach to early childhood education. Being outside, and forming an awareness of the earth's rhythms are an integral part of our philosophy that we are all keepers of the earth.
Rituals and Cycles of life
Rituals are powerful tools used in both Judaism and outdoor classrooms. They create distinction as a school culture and give children a sense of belonging and community. We celebrate both secular (Jewish) and nonsecular holidays and traditions that embrace the rhythms of life and changing of the seasons.
We celebrate the following Jewish holidays and routines:
- Shabbat (weekly on Fridays)
- Rosh Hashanah (the new year)
- Sukkot (the fall harvest festival)
- Hanukkah (festival of lights)
- Tu b’Shvat (new year of trees/ecological awareness day)
- Purim (spring)
- Passover (first harvest)
- Shavuot (first fruits)
