The JCC offers quality preschool and kindergarten programs licensed by the City of Allentown, Department of Public Welfare and the PA Private Academic Schools for children ages eight weeks to five years
The ECE program is designed to nurture the inquisitive, outgoing, spirit in children, helping them to be happy with themselves and others, to discover, to grow and to progress at their own rate. Your children will engage in many experiences that assure them success. They are guided by experienced teachers, who know when to actively supervise and when to inconspicuously watch, always providing warmth and affection to your children in their home away from home.
MAZEL TOTS
7:30 AM to 6 PM with flexible daily enrollment to meet your needs.
INFANT PROGRAM
We welcome infants into our Kelfi program when they are 8 weeks of age. A variety of learning activities are offered including floor time, belly time, and crawling. Each child is respected for his/her own schedule. We are sensitive to the transitioning process, to Aleph, the Pre-Toddler class. Teachers carefully watch for signs of readiness such as becoming mobile, some self feeding and eating solid foods, and are ready to adjust to one nap a day.
PRE-TODDLER PROGRAM
Children in this room are generally 13 to 24 months. The program offers many opportunities for each child to develop new skills through meaningful play, active exploration of hands on materials, concrete sensory activities, and self discovery. The teachers support each child’s multiple learning opportunities by providing meaningful experiences that engage and stimulate their interests, abilities and culture.
Both programs provide:
- The appropriate stimulation in social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.
- Mothers are welcome to nurse their children during the day.
- A music and creative development program with a music specialist from “Music Together” is offered weekly.
- Families receive a daily log.
TWOS
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM
Two, three or five days a week
Optional Extended Hours: 7:30 to 9 AM and/or 12 to 6 PM
Toddlers learn about the world around them through creative play, art, music, gym, cooking and outdoor play. Imagination builders through song, puppets and age-appropriate creative arts and movement activities are offered. Early literacy is promoted by developing an interest in children’s books and authors.
Learning centers are designed to meet the needs of the children’s different interests. - Development of social skills through the interaction with their peers, guided by the teachers.
- Development of life skills such as sharing, following directions and cooperating.
- Weekly Music and Gym Class
- This positive experience translates into a feeling of loving school!
THREES
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 1 PM
Two, three or five day options
Optional Extended Hours: 7:30 to 9 AM and/or 1 to 6 PM
The threes program is geared to the growing skill level of this age group. The classroom organization is very deliberate and meaningful. Carefully chosen materials are placed at the learning centers around the room in order to allow the child to naturally discover connections and be creative at their own pace. The teachers guide the learning with open-ended questions, and individual guidance.
- Learning Centers are designed to meet the needs of the children’s different interests.
- Development of social skills through the interaction with their peers, guided by the teachers.
- Individual guidance is given to the children so they progress at their own individual rate.
- Weekly Music and Gym Class.
FOURS
Option 1: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 1 PM
Two, three or five day options
Optional Extended Hours: 7:30 to 9 AM and/or 1 to 6 PM
Our Daled class is designed for the child that will be turning four by February 28. In addition to age being the determining factor to enroll your child in this class, there is a choice of a three or five day option. This class provides a gentle transition to our traditional Pre-K class. The children in this class benefit from a class that fosters learning through an emergent curriculum, so the interests and experiences of the children are explored in a four year old curriculum.
Option 2: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 2 PM
Two, three or five day options
Optional Extended Hours: 7:30 to 9 AM and/or 2 to 6 PM
Our Hey Pre-K class is designed for the child that has turned four by September 30. It is a five day a week class. Children enrolled in this class benefit from the consistency of going to school each day. This class prepares them with the readiness skills for Kindergarten. The curriculum includes units in Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies. Pre-K is a place of learning, growth, and fun!
Both classes have weekly Music and Gym classes
KINDERGARTEN
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM
Optional Extended Hours: 7:30 to 9 AM and/or 3 to 6 PM
Kindergarteners at the JCC follow the ages of your School District.
Allentown: 5 by 9/1
East Penn: 5 by 9/12
Parkland: 5 by 9/30
Salisbury 5 by 9/1
Local school districts that bus their kindergarten children will transport your child from home to the JCC. School Districts should be contacted by the parents.
Our Full day licensed Kindergarten is a six-hour program. Each week there is music, gym and instructional swim in our Olympic-sized pool. Our specially designed library program is held at the Jewish Day School. Each day is filled with many literacy activities, an in-depth science, math, and social studies curriculum. Field trips to such places as the planetarium, the ballet, the DaVinci Center and the Wildlands Conservancy compliment the curriculum. Our program offers a creative child-centered curriculum dedicated to providing a superior educational experience.