Our Curriculum
Kehillah's curriculum is inspired by the principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, interwoven with Jewish values. We believe every child is naturally curious and capable, and our approach centers on empowering them to be active participants in their learning. This means an immersive and evolving play & project-based curriculum that sparks creativity, critical thinking, and a deep sense of wonder. We also prioritize the development of essential skills such as self-regulation, social-emotional competencies, and perseverance, providing a foundation that prepares them for success in kindergarten and fosters a genuine love for discovery that extends far beyond the classroom, all within our inclusive kehillah (community).
Typical Daily
Schedule
7:30 am - 9:00 am Morning Care:
Activity Exploration, Breakfast, Art
This is a time when transitions from home to school can be challenging. The tempo of this time is more child-led activities with opportunities to explore sensory materials, the reading nook, art area, and construction spaces. We serve a healthy breakfast each day that consists of whole wheat, fruits, proteins, and diary. Children have the opportunity to also help prepare and serve their own meals.
9:00 am - 3:00 pm Morning Learning:
Indoor and Outdoor Exploration, Snack, Enrichment Activities
This is a time when transitions from home to school can also be challenging. The classrooms are set up to help ease children from home to school with engaging materials that extend learning from the previous day. Classes will rotate in the outdoor space, where teachers have set up provocations to extend in class learning to the outdoor classroom. On certain days there are enrichment activities like gardening, cooking, Havdalah, yoga, Shabbat, or taking a walk around our kehillah (community). We serve a healthy snack each day that consists of whole wheat, fruits or veggies, proteins, and diary. Children often have the opportunity to help prepare and serve their own snacks.
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11:30 am - 12:00 pm Lunch provided by Kehillah
We serve a healthy lunch each day that consists of whole wheat, fruits or veggies, proteins, and diary. Lunch is not just a time to eat, there is intentionality behind each step. Meals are served family style, providing children with the opportunity to build skills in physical development and self-help by using tools to grasp food, pour from a pitcher into their cup, counting servings on their plates, and cleaning up their dishes, culminating in wiping their tables clean and washing their hands.
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12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Indoor/Outdoor Activities
Following lunch and clean up, classes alternate between indoor and outdoor activity time. This provides them with additional opportunities to socialize, explore, and create before winding down for some much needed rest.
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1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Nap/Rest Time & Snack
Licensing requires that we provide an opportunity for children to rest or nap during the day. Classrooms provide a sleeping space for each child, parents provide a blanket, sheet, and comfort item (optional) to support their child in relaxing and give their body & brain a rest. Children who are still awake after 45 minutes will have the opportunity to participate in quiet enrichment activities led by our teachers. As children wake up from their naps, they will be able to explore quiet activities before getting ready for snack time.
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2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Closing Circle Time
The last 30 minutes of the day children join together with their classroom kehillah to share what they learned and hope to work on during the next school day. The teacher takes notes so they can prepare their classroom environment and materials for the next learning day.
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm AfterCare:
Activity Exploration and Snack
During aftercare, children will continue their projects from the previous day. We serve a healthy afternoon snack each day that consists of whole wheat, fruits, proteins, and diary. Children have the opportunity to also help prepare and serve their own meals.
Children with Disabilities
At Kehillah, our commitment to an inclusive kehillah (community) extends to every child and family. We deeply understand that some children thrive with additional support, and we are dedicated partners in their journey. We work hand-in-hand with your child's entire support team, including Occupational, Speech, Physical, and Behavioral Therapists, Regional Center Service Coordinators, school districts, and pediatricians, to ensure a holistic approach that aligns with your family's goals. Our collaborative spirit means we actively craft an individualized plan that works best for your child, including the unique benefit of allowing your child's specialists and therapists to provide services throughout the day, right here at Kehillah. This ensures your child has full and seamless access to their community and learning environment, just like their peers, fostering their growth and sense of belonging every step of the way.
