Temple Solel
Early Childhood Center
Our Mission
Temple Solel’s Early Childhood Center provides a nurturing, stimulating, and safe environment in which our children can grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, and spiritually every day. Within a framework rich in Jewish values, we strive to nurture, guide, and encourage each child according to his or her stage of development and individual learning style. We adhere to an integrated and hands-on approach aimed at fostering self-esteem, creative expression, and a lifelong love of learning.
Philosophy & Values
Our school is based on the belief that the first six years of a child’s life are crucial. The foundations for all later development are formed during these early years and the building blocks of self-concept, social and cognitive development, and motor skills are established. Our program respects and safeguards the needs of our children, addressing the development of the whole child. An enriching child-centered Jewish environment designed to enhance creativity and curiosity also provides the opportunity for choices made on the part of the child. The building of self-esteem and freedom of expression are encouraged by creating opportunities for exploration in all sensory areas. An individualized developmental approach supports the ways in which young children learn and respects each child’s own unique rhythm of readiness for tasks and individual learning styles.
Curriculum
Our Preschool follows a play-based/constructivist approach. The constructivist approach views children as active participants in their own learning. Education is then much more than rote memorization; instead, it is integrating and assimilating knowledge to be further used and explored. Constructivist strategies seek to ignite a child’s curiosity and love of learning. The emphasis is on the “whole child.”
The Temple Solel ECC provides an inclusive nurturing environment where children feel safe to try new things, discover their own potential, and explore decision-making and problem solving. Our child centered, play based program places equal emphasis upon cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
The curriculum is based on the understanding that children learn best by doing. The Talmud tells us that, “Only the lesson which is enjoyed, can be well learned.” Playing is how children learn. During their time here, we engage students’ senses to stimulate creative learning through touching, listening, smelling, looking, tasting, and feeling. Young children learn when they are active. Our student are always engaging in hands-on activities that excite and evoke questions, stimulate their intellectual curiosity, and help them to become independent thinkers and problem solvers.
Our educational environment incorporates the above mentioned Jewish values, as well as Jewish beliefs and integrates these with secular content during the course of each day. Our Rabbi and Cantor are actively involved in our holiday celebrations with our children.
Kehillah | Community
Kavod | Respect
Chesed | Kindness
Tikkun | Social & Environmental Action
Tzedakah | Justice
ECC Programs
Click to learn more
Our Infant Center is now open for students ages 2-17 months. This program is designed to expose our students to a variety of experiences in a safe, loving and nurturing environment. Our highly trained and experienced teachers customize the curriculum to meet the diverse interests and needs of each group of children. Age appropriate activities and materials are offered daily that allow children the ability to meet milestones. Through warm and nurturing encouragement, we help children build their self-confidence and self-help skills. The classroom environment focuses on building cognitive, emotional, social and physical skills.
Enrollment in the Infant Center is 5 day, full time only.
This program is built upon themed units to so as to engage and expose young children to a progression of learning. Our highly trained and experienced teachers customize the curriculum to meet the diverse interests and needs of each group of children. Age appropriate activities and materials are offered daily that allow children the ability to master important learning concepts. Through warm and nurturing encouragement, we help children build their self-confidence and self-help skills. The classroom environment focuses on building cognitive, emotional, social and physical skills. Opportunities are provided for each child to express him or herself creatively everyday through music, arts, dance and drama.
Children do not need to be using a toilet and may attend school 3 or 5 days a week.
As our preschoolers progress through our program they gain more self-esteem and confidence as they attempt new challenges and skills. This class enhances that confidence by providing daily activities to help children become problem solvers and develop a love of learning. Through both independent and group exploration, structured and non-structured activities and hands on learning, children develop a variety of skills and knowledge in areas like early literacy, mathematics, science, and social skills. We provide numerous opportunities to problem solve and investigate and give many choices to participate in activities that interest and challenge. Throughout the day children are given the opportunity to express themselves through art, dictation, storytelling, dance, drama and independent thinking and expression. At this age the basics of shape making to prepare students for our handwriting program are introduced is first introduced. We also start to introduce letters and letter sounds in a fun and engaging way.
Children do not need to be using a toilet and may attend school 3 or 5 days a week.
Our Pre-K program focuses on activities and lessons that help prepare your child for kindergarten and future school success. Focus on fine motor skills, phonics, social and emotional development are at the core of the curriculum. The children in Pre-K are exposed to journal writing (or drawing) to further develop their fine motor skills and the Hand Writing Without Tears curriculum as they advance in learning to write. We prepare your child to reason and analyze using different materials and create opportunities to ask and answer open ended questions, experiment with spatial relationships and promote an understanding of sequencing. We incorporate character building activities specifically designed to help children identify emotions, have group discussions, practice sharing ideas, thoughts and feelings. These activities provide multiple opportunities to cooperate, negotiate, problem solve and make independent choices.
Our Pre-K program is a 5 day only schedule.
Designed using the California mandated core-curriculum, teacher-directed lessons and child inspired projects balance the core subjects of language arts, math, science and social skills with other important life skills such as inquiry, creativity, confidence, critical thinking, risk-taking and self-discovery. Direct instruction of core subjects is balanced with unstructured playtimes in order to construct a developmentally appropriate private Kindergarten program.
We recognize that each child enters the Kindergarten program at their own place along the developmental continuum. Through a variety of small group instruction times and individual assessments, we are able to meet each child where s/he is, and then nurture and support them as they move forward on their educational experience.
Each week, core curricular components are incorporated into the day; including social-emotional, language arts, handwriting, mathematical, and scientific concepts. During the afternoons, children make choices to play and work in many areas within the classroom. These areas are designed to be open-ended and promote a platform for imaginative play and discovery.
We also know that the outdoors is vital for healthy development, so children are offered time to play outside on a daily basis. Themes and projects, which are ever evolving and changing develop and grow from the interests of students and teachers. These projects and themes integrate math, science, art and language arts, allowing the children to learn while engaged in compelling activities that are interesting and exciting to them.
Cooperation, collaboration, leadership, responsibility among other skills are developed and fostered throughout the year. It is our hope to nurture and inspire self-confidence. We want each child to take responsibility in his or her own learning. And we seek to empower children to understand their place in our class as well as in our school community.
Kindergarten program is five days a week for full days.
Additional Programs
Temple Tots - Parent & Child Classes
This community of young families comes together weekly throughout the fall and spring for art, science, Jewish songs and ritual, playtime, relationship building, and much more.
For children 2 and under + their adult, Temple Tots is a great way to connect with other parents while giving your little one an opportunity to socialize, learn, and play.
Email Leslie, ECE Director, at leslie@templesolel.net for dates and more info.
Tot Shabbat - Family Shabbat Service
Join Leslie Scheck and Cantor Tiep for monthly interactive Shabbat services perfect for kids age 7 and under. Through songs, stories, blessings, musical instruments, and themed Shabbat services, families will connect with Jewish ritual and make new young family friends.
Tot Shabbats are held either on Friday evenings or Saturday mornings. Join us for a nosh or dinner as well.
Email Leslie, ECE Director, at leslie@templesolel.net for dates and more info.
Camp Solel - ECC Summer camp
Camp Solel is an 8 week summer program for students 2 months – entering Kindergarten. Camp Solel is staffed by our amazing ECC staff members who provide a fun, enriching environment for our students. Activities include stories, songs, art, gross motor play, music, water play, and special theme days. Register for a two week session, or the whole summer. Campers may attend 3 or 5 days a week.
Leadership Team
Leslie
Enid
Tatiana
tatiana@templesolel.net
For additional information and to schedule a tour contact us at
info@templesolel.net or 760-436-0654
Parent Forms & Resources
For additional information contact our School Director Ellen Fox, efox@templesolel.net
Temple Solel Members can register their children online for Religious School by clicking on the Register Now button above.