The school opened in the fall of 1992 under the leadership of Director Emerita Perri Iger-Silversmith.
TSNS is licensed as a child development facility by the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education. We regularly undergo a rigorous year-long self-study process with NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and our most recent accreditation was in 2022. This prestigious recognition demonstrates that we meet the NAEYC’s national standards for excellence.
TSNS went through a similar accreditation process with the Partnership for Jewish Life & Learning called the “Community Program in Jewish Education for Early Childhood Centers.” We are proud to have been awarded a Certificate of Commendation in Jewish Education. This award is in recognition of the school’s compliance with the Partnership’s exacting standards for high quality Jewish early learning programs
You can read all about our mission and philosophy here.
TSNS welcomes families of all faiths and backgrounds! Our Jewish values and celebrations are woven throughout our program in ways that are warmly inclusive of families from all traditions. Children enjoy a simple weekly Shabbat observance in the classroom and a school-wide “Shabbat Sing.” Blessings are recited daily at snack and lunchtimes. We are proud of our fully developed curriculum that includes age-appropriate introductions to major Jewish holidays. Holiday celebrations are incorporated into language, cognitive activities, art, cooking, sensory experiences, dramatic play, and social interactions in the classroom. Jewish traditions and rituals are celebrated throughout the year by individual classes and in all-school gatherings with families.
In a typical year, average class sizes range from:
2’s: 8-10 children
3’s: 12-13 children
Pre-K: 13-15 children
There are at least two teachers in every classroom. Additionally, in-house floaters are available to provide extra coverage as needed. Our teacher-student ratio meets or exceeds the requirements of the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education and NAEYC.
Outdoor time is an integral part of our program, and in fact we have an outdoor classroom! Children enjoy outdoor play for extended periods every day except in very inclement weather.
Lead teachers have degrees in the field of Early Childhood Education or related fields like Psychology, Elementary Education, or Special Education. Assistant teachers have backgrounds of related education and experience, including the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification.
As a community of early childhood professionals, we place a strong emphasis on professional growth, providing regular in-service training for all of our faculty members. This includes attendance at early childhood workshops both locally and nationally as well as regular staff meetings.
Temple Sinai’s Early Birds Morning Drop-off (Before School Care) begins at 8:15 am. It is offered at no additional cost to families participating in the Extended Day program.
Afternoon Enrichment programming until 2:30 p.m. is available for all three-year-olds. This program includes Lunch Bunch and meets up to four afternoons per week. During Lunch Bunch, children enjoy further opportunities to socialize with their peers and teachers while eating lunch brought from home. The fun then continues with games, art, cooking, nature walks, and additional time on the playground!
Our Extended Day program offers flexible scheduling for TSNS children in every age group until 5:30 PM, with engaging activities that continue the learning and fun beyond the Core Morning program. Check out our Extended Day FAQ!
Admissions tours are available through the spring (and into the summer if requested), and applications for the 2025-2026 school year are now available. We are currently on a rolling admissions basis for next year. The date an application is received by the school is just one of many factors considered for a place in our program.
Every admission cycle, we begin mailing acceptance letters and contracts in mid-February and continue to accept children on a rolling basis as space is available in our program.