Shalom Children's Center Pre-K

Kate Donaldson, Director

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2012-13 Calendar

2013-14 Calendar

2012-13 Rates (Effective August 15, 2012)

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Experts agree that in order to build the social, emotional, language, cognitive, fine motor and gross motor skills necessary for kindergarten readiness, children need opportunities to use all of their senses to explore and question the world around them. Our brand new, expanded pre-k facility has been established to meet the specific needs of four and five year old children, with large, well-equipped classrooms and loads of outdoor space to exercise growing bodies and engage in hands-on nature and science exploration. Parents stay involved in their children's learning through semi-annual parent-teacher conferences, and children's work is organized into an end-of-year portfolio.

Project Based Learning

Our approach to learning consists of engaging the children in exciting explorations of themes and concepts to encourage learning across multiple disciplines. Children offer input, raise questions, and work together to solve problems. We immerse the children in a literacy rich environment, using books to reinforce the curriculum and offering numerous opportunities for written and verbal self-expression. Math skill development is a natural outgrowth of our daily activities with counting, measuring, sorting, calendaring, and a variety of games that are integrated throughout the children's classroom encounters.

Some of the unique offerings in our curriculum include:

• Indoor and outdoor hands-on science and nature experiences
• Numerous field trips to theatrical & musical performances, museums, the nature center, local farms, and more
• Trips on the city bus to downtown that offer a chance to learn about our community, using money, and protecting the environment
• Intergenerational activities with the JCC's Elder Day Club, and the "Bubbie Brigade" (visiting grandparents)
• Educational kinesiology & yoga
• Peaceful conflict resolution strategies and empathy training using the "First Step" curriculum
• Award-winning children's educational garden, including planting and harvesting activities, soil exploration, seed saving, environmental stewardship, and cooking what we've grown
• Hands-on, Jewish values based lessons teaching concepts of Tzedakah (justice/charity), K'vod (respect), Tikkun Olam (repair of the world), and more.
• In-class visits from music, science, arts, Judaics, dance & theater specialists
• Seasonal swimming lessons

At Shalom Children's Center, we build a foundation for long-term success in school by providing opportunities for children to explore new ideas through concrete experience. We encourage children to take risks, to find peaceful ways to mediate conflicts, and to approach learning with hearty enthusiasm. Children gain self-confidence in the classroom by learning to make decisions for themselves, understanding how to negotiate relationships, and communicating about their own ideas.

For more information about JCC early childhood programs, contact Kate Donaldson at ext. 109 or email kate@jcc-asheville.org

Times of Operation

Our school year runs from mid-August through May, with an additional summer program that runs from June into early August. Full-time hours are from 7:30 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Part-time options include half days (7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) Monday through Friday, and full days or half days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday. Shalom Children's Center and Hilde's House close for several holidays, a winter break, teacher training days and classroom set-up days at various time throughout the year.

Tour our programs

Are you interested in learning more about our Early Childhood programs? You are welcome to schedule a tour! We offer tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 9:00 am and 12:00 p.m. Please contact Kate Donaldson at kate@jcc-asheville.org or call (828) 253-0701.