San Diego Jewish Academy’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) started the school year by offering new ways for current parents and others to join their nurturing community and engage in meaningful learning, according to a news release. Under the leadership of ECC Director Shereen Ben Moshe, the preschool has introduced afterschool enrichments–open to SDJA and non-SDJA families too–such as cooking, Spanish, ballet, and soccer, as well as two new classes for parents to meet with their babies and toddlers to socialize, interact, and learn together. There is a great buzz of activity in the school’s “Maker’s Space,” a place where children can tinker, invent, and build using a variety of recycled materials.
“This is a dynamic space that is fostering creativity, open-ended play and hands-on learning,” said Ben-Moshe in the news release. “We love helping children build self-confidence as they approach new ideas, learning, and materials with curiosity.” The ECC is a nurturing, supportive, and safe environment that offers programming for children ages 0-5.
The new Maker Space provides endless opportunities for children to create. Making also provides many opportunities for children to learn to collaborate and communicate throughout creation. During that process of making and collaborating, creativity is fostered and developed. A sense of agency and leadership is developed as students offer suggestions, tinker and experiment with the suggestions of others.
The new afterschool enrichment offerings, known as Kayefet K’tana, enable young children to explore various interests in a structured and fun environment. Four classes running Sept. 30 – Dec. 12 cover cooking Spanish, soccer, and ballet.
The new Cub’s Den, SDJA Parenting Center offers both Toddler & Me and Baby & Me sessions, fostering parent-child bonding through fun, interactive experiences. Baby & Me focuses on postpartum wellness and is facilitated by a licensed professional clinical counselor. Classes run from Oct. 21 – Dec. 16. Toddler & Me focuses on sensory play, art, music, and movement activities, fostering early social skills, creativity and development. Classes run Oct. 9 – Dec. 11.
Visit sdja.com/schools/early-childhood-center for more information.