Early Childhood Education

Congregation Beth El has something to offer for all ages, including our youngest members!  Our Early Childhood Education Department helps to link families with young children to the Beth El community as a whole.  We offer a playgroup for tots and their parents or caretakers. Every Monday morning at 9:30 we meet in our Children's Library to play together.  This forum offers a casual environment for parents to share advice and tips, while orienting their child to the Beth El campus and preschool. We end each gathering with Havdallah- the ritual that separates Shabbat from the rest of the week.  Playgroup is free to all Beth El members, and welcomes guests for $5/session.

Beth El Nursery School (lovingly known as BENS) is a comprehensive preschool program for children 2 to 5 years.  Each class is instructed by three talented early childhood educators, who skillfully weave Jewish culture and tradition into the daily schedule.  Our new facility boasts big, bright classrooms with easy access to our "Oak Tree" playground and children's vegetable garden.  BENS provides our Beth El tots with a warm and loving community within which they can learn and grow.

Throughout the year, we offer Tot Shabbat services (both Friday night and Saturday morning) as well as Hebrew Story Time hours.  These programs invite the parents and siblings of our 2-5 year olds to participate side-by-side in Shabbat celebration.  Our Tot Shabbat services are musical, active and engaging for all.  Many of our day-time services are held outside under the oak trees at Beth El, and everything is always followed by an oneg or dinner.  Through these significant experiences, our youngest members connect to the tradition and their Beth El community.

Nursery School

At Beth El Nursery School we provide an atmosphere where children, through the medium of play, art, music, drama, movement and conversation, can develop as independent, caring people. As a Jewish nursery school we emphasize the richness and joy of Judaism within a diverse and multicultural world. Please contact our Nursery School Director, Barbara Kanter at 510-848-9428 ext. 219 or email barbara@bethelberkeley.org for more information.

Philosophy

Beth El Nursery School is a Jewish developmental, play-based program focusing on the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of each child. In both our philosophy and our daily practice, we respect each child as an individual. We seek to provide a warm, safe environment and encourage each child to actively participate, explore and discover. Our faculty of highly skilled early childhood educators brings a special kind of enthusiasm and devotion to the task of playing and learning with children.

Beth El Nursery School hopes to become your partner in nurturing and teaching your young child. During the morning, the children participate in a variety of individual, small group and whole group activities both inside and outside the classrooms. The classrooms and outdoor yard are set up with age appropriate interest areas and activities that include art, cooking, literacy, dramatic play, block play, active play, tactile experiences, science and puzzles. Our play-based developmental curriculum actively engages the children and promotes development in all areas. Jewish curriculum is an integral part of our program. Every Friday after lunch, we celebrate Shabbat in each classroom or as a school community. Throughout the year, much of our curriculum revolves around the Jewish calendar. The children experience the holidays through stories, rituals, music, art and food. We celebrate all holidays with the goal of building a rich sense of Jewish identity and community.

Beth El Nursery School also seeks to foster a strong sense of community, and we welcome your family as a valued member of this community. Throughout the year, the school, synagogue and parents organize many events. We encourage you to participate in as many activities and events as you can.

The purpose of Beth El Nursery School is to foster the growth of a well-rounded child. We provide an environment where children, through the medium of play, in art, music, drama, movement and conversation, and with rich experiences and materials for exploration, can develop as independent, responsible, thinking, loving human beings. Our unique contribution is to create an atmosphere in which children can experience themselves as Jews and discover the richness and joy of a Jewish heritage.

The Beth El Nursery School staff respects each child's individuality and provides a warm, safe environment in which children can fully express who they are. In addition, we support and assist parents by creating a community that will enhance and foster the well-being of their families. Enrollment priority is given to congregation members.

Daily Schedule

The Beth El Nursery School serves more than 60 children in 3 classrooms, ages 2 - 5 years, in a morning preschool program from 9:00 am -1:00 pm, with full extended day options available from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm.

Application Process

Interested parents will fill out an application form and return it with a $25 application fee for non-members only, payable to Beth El Nursery School. This will place you in our waitpool. In January, all applicant families will be contacted to attend an informational meeting and to schedule a tour to observe the Nursery School and meet with the Director. Observations will take place in February.

Admission Priorities

Admission priority is given to members, according to our enrollment priority policy. Please see the Beth El Nursery School Enrollment Policy.

Class Requirements

The Nursery School program consists of three classes, grouped according to age. Children must be the minimum age for each class before the month of September. Each class has three teachers. The adult to child ratio ranges from 1:5 to 1:8 depending on the class.
Gan Katan: 2 years
Alef: 3 years
Bet: 4 years

Baby Group

Monday mornings, 9:30 - 11:00 am at Beth El Children’s Library

Start your week off right on Monday morning at Beth El!

Newborns through 2.5 year olds are invited to meet us in the Children's Library for music, stories, Havdalah and an opportunity to share advice about parenting.

During the summer months we meet at a local park; please call us to find out where we are meeting for that week.

This playgroup is free to all Beth El members, $5 for non-members. We also have a playgroup email list, to keep you updated on all Beth El activities that are geared to children ages 0-5.

This is a drop-in group, so there is no need to sign up in advance.  Our start time is flexible; come whenever you can! We know how hard it is to get out of the house on time with a little one…just come join us! For more information, please contact Debra Massey at debra@bethelberkeley.org or call 510-848-2122 ext. 213

Tot Shabbat

Celebrate Shabbat with our youngest members!  Gather as a community to welcome Shabbat and make Shabbat special.  Our Tot Shabbats (Friday nights) and Shabba-tot services (Saturday morning) welcome young children and their family to celebrate Shabbat together.  Specified Friday nights, we gather at 5:30 pm for a brief tot service, followed by a potluck dinner at 6:00 pm and playtime.

Shabba-tot

Specified Shabbat mornings at 11:00 am, followed by snack and play time.  Join us on a Saturday each month for a morning of music, Torah and prayer geared toward our littlest students.