At Temple Sinai Nursery School (TSNS), we believe in nurturing the individuality of each child. We see children as competent individuals who flourish in a joyful early childhood setting that encourages freedom of expression, focuses on building strong social-emotional skills, and promotes self-confidence through active hands-on learning. The philosophy of TSNS is based on the theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, Gardner, the Bank Street Model, and constructivist education. We are also inspired by the philosophy of the Reggio Emilia Schools in Italy. Our program is imbued with Jewish values that emphasize and promote kindness (g’milut chasadim), doing good deeds (mitzvot) and taking care of our world (tikkun olam).
We believe that play is the primary vehicle through which learning progresses in the early years. Sensitivity to the needs of parents of young children always underpins our efforts. In addition to providing an excellent, developmentally- appropriate early childhood curriculum, we take pride in being a part of the larger Temple Sinai community and helping parents foster a positive sense of Jewish identity in their children. A warm and welcoming parent community is at the heart of our program; parents are involved in the daily life of the program and take leadership roles at the Nursery School. The Parents’ Association plans and supports family and school-wide events throughout the year, including summer playground playdates, Fall Festival, Chanukah Celebration, Special Visitors’ Day and Art Show, Passover Seder Singalong, and Spring Soirée and Auction.
Our program maintains the highest standards of early childhood education. We have achieved accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for over 20 years and we are a Partnership for Jewish Life & Learning Commended School. Small classes and a physical environment that includes sunlit classroom spaces, dedicated Nursery School kitchen, Book Nook, Movement Room, Outdoor Classroom, and Investigation Room where children have hands-on experiences with science and art, complement our core program.
Every day, we welcome children into our extended playground that sets the stage for imaginative play and physical development, with its bike path, sand area, climbing equipment, embankment slides, and water feature.