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We want children from a very young age to feel comfortable at Temple Sholom.
We provide a dynamic and enriching range of educational and Jewish engagement opportunities for children starting at birth. Our Itsy Bitsy Playgroup is a wonderful opportunity for parents and babies to connect in a unique "chat and play" format. These drop-in sessions are free and open to all regardless of Temple membership. For children older than a year who are ready for the next step, we offer Little Explorers and Little Tumblers. Little Explorers meets Thursdays from 9:00 am to 10:30 am during the school year and offers a non-separating introduction to pre-school through music, story time, arts and crafts, and free play. Little Tumblers meets Fridays from 9:15 am to 10:15 am during the school year and is a non-separating introduction to tumbling and other gross motor activities in the SMNS Gymnastics Studio. Both programs require advance registration with payment and are open to all regardless of Temple membership. Summer Little Explorers meets every Thursday from 9:15 am–10:45 am in June & July, and also requires advance registration with payment.
Our early childhood programs for Kindergarten and younger incorporate a wide variety of hands-on activities that stimulate curiosity and creative expression in a Jewish environment. Our Pajama Shabbats and Tot Holidays are designed to engage even the youngest child and helps them get excited through song and dance. These programs are free and open to the community.
The Temple Sholom Selma Maisel Nursery School (SMNS) offers an innovative and fun curriculum for children in the 2's, 3's and Pre-K. In the fall of 2017, SMNS added a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) Lab and a Gymnastics Studio to help take hands-on learning to the next level. The STEAM Lab will encourage children to explore woodworking, robotics, magnetism, wind resistance, sewing and much more, while the Gymnastics Studio will promote balance, strength, flexibility and coordination through the use of bars, beams and vaults. Children at SMNS also enjoy the wonderful richness of Shabbat, Jewish holidays and traditions through music, stories and creative activities. The school often draws on the resources of Temple Sholom’s clergy and professional staff, and families are encouraged to take part in a variety of Temple programming for young children. While guided by Jewish values, the Temple Sholom Selma Maisel Nursery School welcomes families of all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds.