| Family Participation
 We want to encourage as much family participation as possible in our school. We welcome any contribution parents can make to benefit and enrich our programs. If you have ideas about what would make the best learning environment for your child we want you to tell us. If you are willing to share a hobby, a talent or a pet that may be of interest to two, three or four year olds, let us know. By driving on field trips, you will not only enjoy seeing the outside world with us, you will also have an opportunity to be with the teachers and other children and parents in your child's class. Every Friday parents and caregivers are encouraged to come early for Shabbat Sing - a favorite time for our families. You are also invited to join us for our Kabbalat Shabbat and simcha celebrations. Coming into the classroom to share yourself with the children benefits everyone. Check with your child's teacher to see how you can help. Adas Israel's Gan HaYeled is your school too!
The Gan Parents Association (GPA)
We are delighted with the involvement of our exceptional parent organization (known as the Gan Parents' Association, or GPA) here at Gan HaYeled. Thanks to this enthusiastic and energetic group of parents, we are able to successfully run more than 30 programs each school year. These programs range from the purely social, to those more focused on religious holidays. They also include community outreach events. Our parent community is truly unmatched when it comes to spirit, dedication and creativity. Countless, lasting friendships are made each year due to the incredible involvement and devotion of parents. Everyone is encouraged to join the GPA. We have fun alongside our children, as they thrive and grow! Please be sure to review our calendar of upcoming GPA events.
For additional information, please contact the GPA president at Nursery.School@adasisrael.org.
Gan HaYeled Nursery School Steering Committee
The Gan HaYeled Nursery School Steering Committee is an advisory board that recommends policies and standards. It acts as liaison between the school and the synagogue Board of Directors and advocates the cause of Jewish education to the membership of the Congregation. The chairperson of the Gan HaYeled Steering Committee reports to Adas Israel’s Vice President of Education and is a member of the Adas Israel Board of Managers. Membership to the Gan HaYeled Steering Committee is open to anyone who is a member of Adas Israel, has had a child in the Gan for at least one year, and commits to being on the committee for an entire year.
School Day and Curriculum
We are a developmental school with an emergent curriculum using the Reggio Emilia approach and Creative Curriculum as a basis for our curriculum. The day is designed to provide a variety of positive and enriching experiences.
Play: Our children have plenty of time to play with each other and experiment with the many creative and manipulative materials available in each room and on the playground.
Socialization: We help children learn to cooperate within a group, to problem solve and to accept guidance from their teachers. We help build their self-esteem by empowering them to do tasks at which they can succeed, and we help them to be accepted by their peers and feel part of a group. We provide a free-flowing, relaxed atmosphere, within carefully defined limits, balancing structured and unstructured activities.
Judaic Program: Early Jewish identity is an important part of our program. We are sensitive to the various levels of observance of our families. Through song, art and cooking our children learn about the Jewish holidays and traditions and our homeland, Israel. We also offer a number of special Judaic programs for our families throughout the year. Our Gan Hayeled Judaic curriculum, Madrih L’Gan, A Guide to Jewish Learning, includes the study of Jewish holidays and Jewish values.
Art: Every day the children have an exposure to a variety of materials to create their own artwork. Emphasis is on the learning process of creating rather than the finished product.
Movement: Weather permitting, the children play outdoors every day. Our playground equipment affords the children the ability to utilize both physical and social skills. Large muscle coordination is developed through running, jumping, balancing, climbing and cycling activities that are available.
When weather conditions do not permit outside play, the children are able to ride bikes and use other special indoor equipment in the Cohen-Wolpe Ganspace. We also have an indoor playroom equipped with mats, slides, a rocking horse and a mini-trampoline.
Our movement teacher meets weekly with each class to enhance motor skills and spatial relationships.
Music: Music is an important part of our program. Musical instruments are in every room and the children engage in a number of musical activities including singing, dancing and dramatics. In addition to our monthly resource music class, the entire school enjoys singing together during our weekly Friday Kabbalat Shabbat celebration.
Literature: Each room has a center with a variety of quality children’s literature and a soft place to sit and read books. There are numerous times throughout the day when children can read a book or be read to by one of their teachers.
Science: Taking walks, learning about animals and plants and observing our environment are just a few examples of the many ways we teach science concepts. Children are innately curious and learn best by doing. We follow their interests, expand upon them, and provide as many relevant first-hand experiences as possible. There is also a special science resource teacher and program for our three and four year old children.
Readiness: Our children develop and improve their language, reading and math readiness skills, foundations for future learning, by using a variety of materials including flannel boards, pictures, puppets, blocks and manipulatives.
Snack and/or Lunch: A nutritious snack is served each morning and afternoon. From setting the table to serving foods to cleaning up, our children are actively involved in the process. They socialize, discuss table manners and nutrition, and develop good eating habits.
Children are grouped into small classes according to age. We provide classes for children two to five years as well as Parent-Toddler and Nanny-Toddler classes for children starting at 18 months.
| Hours
Mornings: 8:50 – 11:50 a.m.
Afternoons: 11:50 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Full Day: 8:50 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Early Bird: 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Lunch Only: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch Bunch: 12:00 – 2:50 p.m.
Fridays, November – March:
Dismissal is 2:20 p.m.
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Kangaroos: [1x/wk] 1.5-hour Parent/Toddler and Nanny/Toddler classes for children 18-24 months old and an adult. Offered multiple times throughout the week.
Kittens: [2x/wk] T/Th mornings beginning January 2010 for children who will be two by December 31.
Butterflies, Chicks, Puppies: [2x/wk] T/Th mornings for children who will be two by August 31.
Butterflies, Chicks, Puppies: (3x/wk) M/W/F mornings for children who will be two by May 31.
Rainbows, Sunflowers: [3-4-5 transition] M/W/F mornings, adding Tuesday in January and Thursday in April for children who will be three by December 31.
Circles, Rectangles, Triangles: [5x/wk] M-F mornings for children who will be three by August 31 and children who will be four by December 31.
Ovals, Squares: [5x/wk] 5 mornings and 2 afternoons (W/Th) for children who will be three by Feb 28.
Moonbeams, Seashells: [5x/wk] 5 mornings and 3 afternoons (T/W/Th) for children who will be four by July 31.
Olives, Stars: [5x/wk] 5 mornings and 4 afternoons (M-Th) for children who will be four by March 31.
Open Houses for 2011-2012
Open Houses are on: Nov. 10 and 30, Dec. 14, Jan. 12
Come meet our Director, Shelley Remer, a member of the Adas Israel clergy, and current Gan parents. Learn about our exciting program and tour the school!
 Accreditation & Commendation
Gan HaYeled has completed the rigorous accreditation program by the NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Early childhood programs accredited by NAEYC's National Academy of Early Childhood Programs have voluntarily participated in a comprehensive process of internal self-study, invited external professional review to verify compliance with the Criteria for High-Quality Early Childhood Programs, and been found to be in substantial compliance with the Criteria. Gan HaYeled has been accredited since 1994. A copy of the Criteria can be obtained from NAEYC (www.naeyc.org).
In addition, Gan HaYeled has also received commendation for its Jewish curriculum by the Greater Washington Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning and as a School of Excellence by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Teachers incorporate Jewish values and traditions into the children’s daily lives by including Bible stories, the practice of mitzvot, exposure to Hebrew, and learning about Israel.
With the generous support of both synagogue members and Gan families, the B'Yachad Special Needs Endowment Fund was established and enables us to meet the needs of all our children, typically developing and children with special needs. In addition to our experienced and trained teaching staff, a number of educational specialists are part of our Gan team. All specialists are available to observe children and consult with teachers and parents when appropriate. Our early childhood special needs facilitator is also available to work in classrooms facilitating social development. She observes children in our classes and meets with parents and staff to discuss, when necessary, various suggestions and referrals. We also have a speech pathologist and an occupational therapist available on site to our families and staff. The speech pathologist and occupational therapist observe and screen children who have been referred by parents. We look forward to continuing our social skills group facilitated by our special needs facilitator and speech pathologist.
We are also fortunate to have the services of Natalie Merkur Rose, LCSW-C, Director of Outreach at the Jewish Social Service Agency, who visits the Gan to meet with parents on issues of concern such as parenting, addition of a new baby, adoption, divorce, and aging grandparents. The Gan is also affiliated with the Greater Washington Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning (PJLL). With this affiliation, various services such as workshops, educational courses and a resource center are offered to both our parents and faculty. One such program is our yearly parenting class.
 Along with summer comes Sweet Summertime, the summer camp of the Gan. Open to enrolled Gan students, Sweet Summertime camp begins mid-June and runs through the end of July. Throughout the six weeks of Sweet Summertime you will see smiles and hear laughter from our campers and staff alike. Our many activities range from cooling off in wading pools to creating special art projects to field trips to places such as the Puppet Company at Glen Echo and the National Aquarium. Most importantly, Sweet Summertime is a time to meet new people and form new friendships. Our very special Gan teachers work in the summer and make Sweet Summertime a wonderful experience. We are very fortunate to have a number of terrific teenagers, many of whom are Adas Israel members and even Gan graduates, join our summer staff. They add energy and excitement to the camp. Sweet Summertime registration begins in February with priority registration for Adas Israel members and Gan families . For more information or registration call the Gan office at 202-362-4491
 Snow Policy
1. If Montgomery County Public Schools, D.C. Public Schools or the Federal Government are closed, we are closed.
2. If D.C. schools have a delay, we will open at 10:00AM.
3. If Montgomery County schools have a delay, we will open on time.
4. If Montgomery County or D.C. schools announce early dismissal, please come to the school ASAP to get your child.
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Membership
About Gan HaYeled...
