Early Childhood Learning Center

To contact the Early Childhood Learning Center for information or to schedule a tour for the Fairfax location, contact Amit Hickman, Director at AmitH@jccnv.org• (703) 537-3051

Mission Statement

The JCCNV’s Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) seeks to create a safe and loving environment for children, emphasizing joyful Jewish experiences and values and a connection to the community.  We focus on meeting the early learning and childcare needs of families and helping children transition successfully between home and school.  We strive to empower children to develop social competence and empathy, self-respect and self-control, problem solving and decision making skills, as well as physical awareness and coordination. Our nurturing teachers use a developmental approach to understanding children’s abilities and enabling them to gain confidence and independence.

 

Our Philosophy of Learning

The Early Childhood Learning Center strives to help each child grow as an individual.  We emphasize the development of self-confidence and a positive self-image. Our activities provide experiences to foster social skills and emotional maturity and to strengthen cognitive and physical growth. Play is a child’s work.  Play provides the opportunity for children to explore their world, find out how to get along with others, strengthen their muscles, try new activities, build self-confidence and enhance self-esteem. Play is how the young child develops the necessary skills and social competencies that will be needed as he/she grows and matures.

The primary goal of our Infant/Toddler Program is to provide each child with the best of care in a clean and nurturing environment. Our staff works to encourage the children in every stage of his or her social and emotional growth, as well as support and strengthen language and cognitive development. The daily routine is set up to provide stimulating experiences for children to learn and explore their environment through their own curiosity.

 

Our teaching philosophy follows a Reggio-Emilia inspired philosophy that is based on the following ideas:

• Children have a say over the direction of their learning
• Children are able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing and hearing
• Children have a relationship with other children and material items to explore
• Children have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves
• Our philosophy involves an emergent curriculum that builds on the interests of the children.  Topics of study are chosen through discussion/observations of children, community or family events, interests of the children, and teacher-directed provocations.  The curriculum provides hands-on learning experiences, areas for children to experiment with the natural world, and real life problem-solving with opportunities for creative thinking and exploration.

 

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2012-2013 Registration

Fall 2012 Registration begins January 2
Priority registration for members with children currently enrolled in the program and their siblings: Monday, January 2–Sunday, January 15.
Registration opens to the public: Monday, January 16 (first come, first served)

Click here to download the 2012-2013 ECLC Registration Booklet

Click here to download the 2012-2013 Automatic Payment Form

Note: JCCNV family membership is required for attendance. “Chaverim” (nonmembers) should submit membership applications along with preschool applications.

 

Infant/ Toddler Program
For children ages 6 weeks–24 months
Full-time only

Two-Year-Old Program
For children 24-36 months old by 9/30/12
Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm

Parents may choose from the following options:

• 2-day: Tuesday/Thursday
• 3-day: Monday/Wednesday/Friday
• 5-day: Monday–Friday

Three- and Four-Year-Old Program
For children three years old (by 9/30/12)
For children four years old (by 9/30/12)

Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm

Three-year-olds: three days per week

(Mon./Wed./Fri. or Mon.-Fri.)

Four-year-olds:  Mon.-Fri.

Full- and Part-Time Extended Day Options
Ages 2-5

The Extended Day Program complements the morning preschool program and provides children with a warm, caring and safe atmosphere. Children participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities in a positive setting, orchestrated by a creative and qualified staff.

Extended Day Options*

Monday–Friday

Early Morning Extended Day: 7:30am–9am

Early Afternoon Extended Day: 1pm–4pm

Late Afternoon Extended Day: 1pm–6pm

*Child must be enrolled in a 9am–1pm program. Two-day minimum required.

 

Satellite Program

The JCCNV continues its partnership with Beth El Hebrew Congregation (3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA)

For more information, contact Dina Backer, Director, Early Childhood Learning Center– Alexandria at DinaB@jccnv.org, (703) 537-3084.

Click here for more information

 

An Ethical Start^®

The JCCNV Early Childhood Learning Center is proud to be An Ethical Start® school. This curriculum for early childhood is based on Pirkei Avot: Ethics of the Fathers. This classic text has been studied for almost 2,000 years because it contains practical advice for daily living. Using a comprehensive approach, An Ethical Start® helps teachers and parents support children’s emotional and social development and raise children with the timeless values of Jewish tradition. And it’s all a lot of fun because An Ethical Start® makes the ethical dimensions of Judaism accessible with Peer K. Explorer® and his study partner Dafna®—the irresistible, adventurous characters who appear in the program’s music, books and more.