Our Early Childhood Learning Center programs

AhaVa: Infants
(6-weeks to 18-months) — COMING FALL 2024!

Various Jewish texts refer to many kinds of love. Ahava serves as the basis for many of the commandments. As we love ourselves and others, we become more beloved. Ahava is the foundation of our infant program, providing love and nurturing to the youngest children we serve.

Our ECLC follows a primary care model that provides our infants with a consistent caregiver to maintain a sense of security that allows them to explore the world around them more freely. Our loving teachers spend a lot of time cuddling and talking to your baby to instill trust and provide a healthy balance of social, physical, and language learning experiences in a cozy, comfortable classroom.

We follow stringent state safety guidelines and you can be assured of a safe, secure, and positive environment, where your child can grow and develop a sense of identity and self-confidence.

Non-mobile infant-to-caregiver ratio = 1:3
Mobile infant-to-caregiver ratio = 1:4

Kavod: Toddlers
(18-months to 33-months)

Kavod comes from the fifth of the Ten Commandments. The basis of Kavod is showing respect to everyone we interact with. Our toddlers are moving from parallel play, to partner play, to group play. With this, the children are learning how to share, use their words to express their emotions, and be respectful to one another.

Our toddler program provides an affectionate, engaging, educational, and fun environment in which your child’s individual social, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs are met. Our toddler program includes many opportunities to venture outside of the classroom for swim lessons, art classes, and other experiences that only Jewish for Good can provide.

Our curriculum encourages self-growth and confidence though various hands-on learning experiences. Our low toddler-to-staff ratio ensures a high level of personal attention.

Toddler-to-caregiver ratio = 1:7

Shalom: Preschool
(33-months through 4-years-old)

Throughout history, the Jewish people have sought out peace and harmony, serenity, and security — not only for themselves, but for the whole world. Preschool children are the perfect age to be persuers of peace, whether it be helping bring a sense of calm to the classroom or learning to solve their own problems.

Preschool-age children are full of wonder, as they develop a sense of trust in their teachers, competence in themselves, and the ability to initiate activities with each other. Our preschool curriculum is specially designed to encourage self-growth and confidence through hands-on learning; and our staff are well-trained in understanding appropriate expectations at each age level.

Our developmentally appropriate curriculum encourages the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual development of your child in a nurturing environment. Story time, arts and crafts, games, science, cooking, free play, dramatic play, and group time are all important aspects of your child’s preschool experience. We know the importance of developing swimming skills in children, and are proud to be one of the only preschools in the state to include swim lessons in the price of tuition. (Swim lessons coming Fall 2024!)

Toddler-to-caregiver ratio = 1:8

Ruach: Prekindergarten
(age 4 by September 1, prior to going to Kindergarten)

Spirit is the positive energy that can be brought to everything a person does. When considering our pre-K kids, it could be the enthusiasm we hope to instill for to learning, an excitement for exploration, or a positive attitude when it’s time to clean up.

Our pre-K program develops your child’s individual skills and talents, while preparing children for kindergarten. We align our curriculum with the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development and Kindergarten Readiness, while providing a balance of teacher-directed actives and exploratory play. Our pre-K students also receive instruction in the Handwriting Without Tears and Letterland programs.

We know the importance of developing swimming skills in children, and are proud to be one of the only preschools in the state to include swim lessons in the price of tuition. (Swim lessons coming Fall 2024!)

Student-to-caregiver ratio = 1:9

Art activities are some of the best ways to promote literacy and brain development in early childhood. Early childhood is an especially important time for hands-on, self-directed learning. Art encourages children’s senses in open-ended play and develops cognitive, social-emotional, and multi-sensory skills.

At the ECLC, we believe these experiences are critical for setting a strong foundation. Each week, all children have the opportunity to work with our Art Specialist in our state-of-the-art studio, specifically designed for young children.

Through these experiences, children gain:

• Spatial relations related to visual literacy

• Eye/hand/brain coordination

• Verbal creativity

• Visual Creativity

• Aesthetics

• Self-esteem