HASF: Preschool

preschool children At the Hebrew Academy, students are given pride in their Jewish heritage so that this legacy and the practice of it is an important and natural part of their lives. Our youngest students learn by taking joyful part in holidays and customs. They learn to say simple prayers and blessings every day a practice which continues and develops throughout their school years.

The classrooms are set up with play stations providing a way of learning important socialization skills. There are field trips and art and music projects as well as dramatic play where even the youngest students learn to express themselves creatively. The kindergarten program offers reading and writing in both Hebrew and English and math readiness for those children who are ready. As the students continue through the program learning becomes as natural and valuable as breathing. There is an excellent after school program for the preschoolers whose parents need day care.

The following is a short summation of the programs offered in the preschool at the Hebrew Academy. All these programs offer a strong emphasis on Judaism, it's holidays, laws, language, songs, customs, and history, taught through story telling, creative art projects, music and dance. Children enjoy the traditional activities related to each Jewish holiday such as weekly Shabbat parties, eating in the succah and participating in a model seder.

NURSERY
The nursery's primary focus is on developing basic social skills (such as sharing, conflict resolution, self esteem and the importance of general hygiene), as well as verbal skills (such as the ability to communicate basic needs to peers as well as adults, vocabulary enhancement and beginning grammar development).

PRE-KINDERGARTEN
The pre-kindergarten builds on the social and verbal skills acquired in nursery and starts to emphasize beginning academics such as reading and math readiness. Concepts learned in nursery are expanded upon and new concepts are introduced. The development of fine motor skills necessary for printing and writing begun in nursery are a continuing focus through manipulative play and art projects.

KINDERGARTEN
The kindergarten continues to build upon skills acquired in nursery and pre-kindergarten, but has a stronger emphasis on academics including printing upper and lower case letters and numbers, math skills and reading Hebrew and English for those children who are ready to advance. Reading is taught with a strong emphasis on phonics.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We offer a twice weekly physical education program. We also have an art specialty teacher on staff.

In addition to two daily snacks we provide a hot snack for those staying late for day care.

Occasional field trips are part of the pre-school curriculum. These can include attractions in local parks, library visits and children's theater.

Our children have a wonderful opportunity to associate with and learn about people from various countries.

Each preschool classroom opens onto a play yard promoting safe development of gross motor skills (climbing structures, sandbox, tricycles, etc.) and lots of fun!