General Information

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah is a Jewish preschool affiliated with Temple Emunah of Lexington, a member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The Pre-School, open since 1990, serves children of Temple Emunah members and the larger community. A Board of Directors made up of Temple members and Pre-School parents run the preschool. Our teachers are professionals trained in early childhood education, special education, and related fields.

The Pre-School is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care to serve 57 children. We have two toddler classes that serve children between the ages of 2 and 3 years of age and four preschool classes that serve children between the ages of 3 and 5 years of age. The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah works cooperatively with the special education department of the Lexington Public Schools and other area schools to include children with special needs.

Parenting Through a Jewish Lens

PARENTING THROUGH A JEWISH LENS: A Ten Week Journey For Parents Of All Backgrounds

Who is it for? This highly successful program, co-sponsored by Combined Jewish Philanthropies and Hebrew College, is for parents of Jewish children between the ages of birth-ten years of age.

What is the program about? The ten week course enables participants to explore core values that can strengthen their families.

What does the course cost? $145 per person; $50 discount for couples; subsidy available on an as-needed basis

Why enroll? To meet w/ expert instructors who understand parental concerns and enjoy rich conversation w/ other parents on topics that matter.

When will this be offered? The course will meet ten times beginning the week of October 24, 2011

Where will the program be held? Temple Isaiah on Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:45.

How do I enroll? Register at www.hebrewcollege.edu/parenting

Free on-site babysitting is available. Pre-registration is required.

For more information contact Shelley Rossman @ 781 861-0708 or Elisha Gechter @ 617 559-8733

Torah Time Primers

Click on the title below to open the file

Non-Discrimination Policy

Enrollment is open to any child between the ages of 2.0 and 5 years. We do not discriminate in providing services to children and their families on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, national origin, political beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.

Philosophy, Goals & Program Objectives

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah is an inclusive Jewish developmental preschool committed to creating a sense of community. We provide a warm and caring environment that fosters a positive Jewish identity and respects the diversity of backgrounds and observances of our preschool families. The Pre-School is committed to creating a sense of community for our children, parents and staff. Our curriculum blends secular and Judaic programming, providing a wide range of "hands-on" learning experiences to enhance the social, physical and cognitive growth of each child. Developmentally appropriate individual and group experiences enable each of our students to grow and progress at his/her own individual rate. As an inclusive program, we welcome children with significant special needs as full participants in all of our classroom activities.

Our objectives are to:

• Provide for the physical and emotional well-being of each child, building self-esteem and self-confidence;

• Create a stimulating learning environment that will develop social, motor, language, and cognitive skills;

• Foster a positive Jewish identity by exploring our religious and cultural heritage in a joyous, creative, and nurturing environment;

• Provide a quality Jewish pre-school experience for children with a wide range of abilities, interests and needs; and

• Create a school environment that facilitates friendships among all children, regardless of ability, interests, religious/cultural background, or family observance.

Mission Statement

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah is an inclusive Jewish developmental preschool program that respects individual needs, interests and abilities in the context of a caring learning community. Our goal is to provide active learning opportunities in a warm and engaging environment that foster positive Jewish identity, value the diversity of background and observance of our Pre-School families and create a sense of “kehillah” (community) for our children, families and teachers.

CORE VALUES OF THE BILLY DALWIN PRE-SCHOOL OF TEMPLE EMUNAH

The defining values of our program are A RESPECT FOR:

OURSELVES
Physical Domain—שמירת הגוף Shmirat Haguf: care of our bodies
Cognitive Domain—תלמוד תורה Talmud Torah: love of Torah learning/value of study
Spiritual Domain—יראת השם Yirat Hashem: belief in and love of God; Development of self-esteem & a positive Jewish identity
Moral Domain—שמירת הלשון Shmirat Halashon: guarding our speech

OTHERS
בנײת קהלה Biniyat Kehillah: building community

-- שלום בית Shalom Bayit: creating a peaceful, respectful classroom
אהבת לרעך כמוך Ahavtah L'rayaḥa Kamoḥa: treating our friends as ourselves
-- כלל ישראל Klal Yisrael : pluralism and inclusivity

גמילות חסדים Gemilut Ḥasadim : demonstrating acts of loving kindness
הכנסת אורחים Hakhnasat Orḥim: hospitality
-- צדקה Tzedakah: giving those in need
-- דרך ארץ Dereḥ Eretz: being a mensch; sharing/using good manners/taking responsibility)

אהבת ישראל Ahavat Yisrael: love for the people and land of Israel

ENVIRONMENT
בעל תשחית Bal Tashḥit: caring for and conserving the environment
צער בעלי חײם Tzar Baalei Ḥayim: kindness to animals
יראת המקום Yirat Hamakom: respect for our space; classroom, Pre-School & Temple environment

The activities and goals of our curriculum respond to the varied interests, learning styles, and multiple intelligences of our students. We recognize their need as young learners to plan, play, reflect, revisit and connect as they experience all aspects of classroom and school-wide activity.

Staff

The staff of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah is comprised of caring, creative and highly qualified teachers who have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field. Each of our teachers brings her own special brand of warmth, enthusiasm, creativity, a profound respect for young children, and an enjoyment of teaching in a Jewish preschool setting. Our staff has worked closely with consultants from the Lexington public school and other local school systems to adapt curriculum and provide learning experiences that accommodate a broad range of abilities, learning styles, and needs. The Pre-School actively funds professional development opportunities for the staff.

Pre-School Director:

Shelley Rossman is the founding director of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah. She received a BSEd. with a double major in elementary and special education from the University of Michigan and attended Lesley University where she completed an MSEd. with a concentration in early childhood education and special education.

Shelley has worked with young children in secular and Jewish settings for more than thirty years. She served as an adjunct faculty member of the graduate school of education at Lesley University and is currently a faculty member of the Early Childhood Institute of Hebrew College. In 1996 Shelley was honored by the Boston Bureau of Jewish Education with a Keter Torah award in recognition of outstanding dedication and contributions to Jewish education in the Boston community. Under Shelley’s direction, the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah completed its Magen Hagan Judaic Early Childhood Accreditation in April 2008 and received a Solomon Schechter Gold Award from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism acknowledging the program as the gold award winning nursery school (in its size category) in North America in 1995 and 2009.

Administrative Assistant:

Ailsa Wu returns to the Billy Dalwin Pre-School as our administrative assistant, continuing her work in the office as well as helping out with special projects and in the classrooms as needed. Before joining us full-time in October 2008, Ailsa used her considerable skills in writing, organizational management, website and computer proficiency as a news producer at Boston.com and in freelance web development. Ailsa has a B.A. in History and Asian Studies.

Pre-School Teachers:

Kayleen Aardema returns for her fourth year as an assistant teacher with our four-year-old classes. She has several different types of experience with young children. She has worked as a toddler teacher, as a nanny for four years, and as a substitute in a kindergarten class. Kayleen has completed an Associate's degree in early education as well as her nanny certificate.

Laurie Caplan is beginning her fifth year at the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah and her fourth year as a Lead Teacher with our four-year-old classes. Throughout Laurie’s career at BDPS, she has collaborated with Rachel Schine to develop and implement a unified curriculum for the four- and five-year-olds in the Dubonim and Pilonim classes. Laurie has a B.A. and an MSW degree. In June ‘11 she completed a Masters degree in Jewish Education-Early Childhood Education at Hebrew College. Laurie enriches her coursework with experience as a nursery school teacher at Temple Emanuel in Newton and as a former chair of the board of directors of the Temple Reyim Nursery School. She has also served in a variety of volunteer capacities at the Rashi School where her children Matthew and Shira are enrolled.

Lucie Chag is our most senior staff member, enhancing the experience of our children for almost nineteen years. She began as an assistant teacher, co-taught for several years, and assumed the role of Lead Teacher in September ‘04. Lucie has a B.S. in education; she has completed several post-baccalaureate courses, participated in many workshops in early childhood education, and obtained EEC certification as a Toddler Teacher and Preschool Lead Teacher. Lucie serves as the lead teacher in the Kofefim room of three-year-olds and the lead teacher in the T'layim room of toddlers.

Linda Dinjian is entering her fifth year as the assistant teacher in the Barvazonim room for toddlers. She is an alumni parent who volunteered and substitute taught in our program during the time that her son Daniel was enrolled at the Pre-School. Linda has a B.A. in sociology and human services and an MSW degree. As a social worker, Linda has worked with adults and families; her work with children has included substitute teaching at our preschool as well organizing extra curricular programming and leading games for kindergarteners and older children at the Winbrook Elementary School in Belmont.

Linna Ettinger assists with our four-year-old classes. Linna has a B.S. in mathematics; she is an alumni parent who has extensive experience as a volunteer, as a substitute teacher, and as a part-time classroom teacher w/us for the past six years. She is currently enrolled in a Masters degree program at Hebrew College in Jewish Education-Early Childhood Education.

Kate Hermann returns as the Lead Teacher in the G’malim room for the ’11-’12 school year. Kate has more than twenty-one years of experience as an early childhood educator; eight years of experience as the Lead Teacher in the G’malim room, and 14+ years of experience in our program. In addition to Kate’s experience at the Billy Dalwin Pre-School, she has also served as a Co-Teacher of the Pre-Kindergarten class at the Kehillat Nursery School in Brookline and as a Lead Teacher for the after-school kindergarten program at Concord Children’s Center. Kate has a M.A. in education with a specialty in teaching English to speakers of other languages.In addition to this, Kate has completed many post-baccalaureate courses, participated in several workshops in early childhood education, and obtained EEC certification as a Preschool Lead Teacher.

Sara Miller is returning for her eighth year as the assistant teacher in the Kofefim room for three- and four-year-olds. She volunteered and substitute taught in our program during the seven years that her children Talya, Kayla, and Avi attended our preschool & she joined our staff in March ‘04. Sara has a MEd. in elementary education and a B.S. in speech pathology and audiology. In addition to Sara’s credentials, she brings a deep interest and much experience in planning outdoor recreation activities for children of all ages.

Lois Rohtstein assists in the T'layim room for toddlers. Lois is returning to our preschool staff for her eleventh year. This is her fifth year teaching with Lucie in the T’layim classroom. Before joining our staff Lois was a frequent volunteer in our classrooms while her daughter Marcy attended the Billy Dalwin Pre-School. Lois has a B.A. and an M.A. in human service management.

Raina Russo assists in the G'malim room for three- and four-year-olds. She has been an integral part of our Kaytana Summer program staff where she just completed her ninth year. Raina has enjoyed working with children of all ages in the summer program and school year program of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School. Kate and Raina have worked together for several seasons at Kaytana and now are entering their fourth year of partnership in the G’malim room as well as our Extended Day program.

Sarah Scully joined our staff seven years ago when her son Noah entered the Pilonim room. Sarah came to us with several years of preschool teaching experience at Another Place to Grow (Arlington) and The Open Center for Children (Somerville). She has a B.A. in English, an MEd. in elementary education, and EEC certification as a Preschool and Infant/Toddler Teacher. Sarah worked as part of the G’malim teaching team for two years before collaborating with Lucie to help us to open our first toddler class in 2006. This will be the fifth year that Sarah will serve as the Lead Teacher in the Barvazonim room.

Rachel Schine is a lead teacher with our four-year-old classes. She joined the staff of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah in September 2005. Prior to serving as the Lead Teacher in both the G’malim and Pilonim classrooms, Rachel had several years of Lead Teaching experience in Jewish early childhood classrooms in Temple-based and Jewish Community Center programs. Rachel has a B.A. in psychology, a post-baccalaureate certificate in early childhood education, an M.A. in school psychology, and EEC certification as a Preschool Lead Teacher.

Facilities

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah offers five well-equipped classrooms, a lovely common space for all-school activities, a nicely stocked kitchen, and a large indoor playground. The Pre-School has its own ground floor entrance that is accessed w/ a secure keypad system. Our spacious outdoor play area was redesigned in 2006 and it now includes state-of-the-art equipment for toddlers, younger preschoolers and pre-kindergarteners. The equipment meets the varied needs, abilities and interests of young children for "big muscle", sensory, and imaginative play. The outdoor play space is fenced, provides sunny and shaded areas, and a combination of soft-surfaced areas as well as a black-topped surface for riding toys and ball games. Our Pre-School offers ample parking as well as a free curbside drop-off option every morning.

Magen Hagan Jewish Early Childhood Accreditation

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah is an inclusive Jewish developmental preschool that respects individual needs and abilities in the context of a caring learning community. Our goal is to provide active learning opportunities in a warm and engaging environment that foster positive Jewish identity, value the diversity of background and observance of our Pre-School families, and create a sense of kehillah for our children, families and staff. Judaic and secular curriculum are thoughtfully developed and presented in a holistic manner that is supported by developmentally appropriate activities that encourage full participation from each child.

In the spring of 2005 the Billy Dalwin Pre-School began the Magen Hagan accreditation process and in April of 2008 we proudly received our Magen Hagan Jewish Early Childhood Accreditation. Eleven local Jewish preschool programs have received this special accreditation that is administered by the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston. In order to receive Magen Hagan accreditation, schools must meet the following six criteria:
- Written statement of Judaic philosophy
- Judaic curricular guidelines that are implemented and documented
- Integration of lay and professional leadership
- Involvement and education of parents
- Employ qualified staff and provide Judaic professional development opportunities
- Evaluation

Our program entered the Magen Hagan accreditation process for several reasons. It represented a new area of growth for our staff and our school. It provided a useful structure for reflective teaching and for reexamining our Jewish programming. It supported our commitment to developmentally appropriate practice. And it seemed to follow a natural progression from our previous staff work on multiple intelligences, Jewish values and other Jewish themes, and the integration of Massachusetts Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences and skills into daily curriculum. A previously developed set of core values derived from Jewish mitzvot and middot and existing curriculum that integrated Judaic and secular learning served as the foundation for our new learning.

We found that the Magen Hagan accreditation process enriched our preschool in so many ways. It proved to be an incredible vehicle for professional development and team-building. The staff worked together to apply our existing skills to create curriculum that addresses a broader set of Judaic topics and themes. As part of that process we added to the Magen Hagan curriculum grid to develop a document that reflected the educational style and priorities of our program. Through our learning and our work together, teachers increased their comfort level and made this process their own. We expanded on themes such as t'filot that we presented and increased the number of family education events in each calendar year. Our children have benefited directly from this, engaging in classroom and family activities that offer a greater variety of dynamic and meaningful Jewish experiences. We have included parents as partners in our evaluation process, soliciting their input as we reflect upon our current Judaic curriculum and set the agenda for the future.

Throughout the accreditation process we were mentored by Naomi Chernin and supported by Rabbi Lerner, Rabbi Jacobs, other members of the Temple Emunah Senior Staff, Marsha Mirkin and our incomparable Billy Dalwin Pre-School Board of Directors. Just as they say that it takes a village to raise a child, we found that it takes a kehillah to achieve Magen Hagan accreditation. We can wholeheartedly say that the process has been worthwhile and it has resulted in a richer experience for the children, parents and staff of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah.

Enrollment Information

INTAKE PROCEDURE AND POPULATION SERVED

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah begins to accept applications in September for enrollment in the following school year. The Pre-School is open to all residents of Lexington and other area communities. The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah works cooperatively with the special education department of the Lexington Public Schools and other area schools to include children with special needs. Membership in Temple Emunah is not required; however, priority acceptance is given to re-enrolling students, siblings of children who have already attended the Pre-School, Temple Emunah members, and children with special needs. A detailed description of the enrollment policy follows. Parents inquiring about the school may conference by phone (or in person, if so requested) with the Pre-School Director. Written materials including the school brochure, application form, statement of philosophy, and fee schedule are sent by mail. Parents may make appointments to visit the school beginning in November. Notification of acceptance is sent by the end of February and a $200 non-refundable deposit is required within 30 days of notification to reserve a space for the following September.

PRE-SCHOOL ENROLLMENT POLICY

The Pre-School has an established policy for priority acceptance. Each priority category has a specified closing date. Applications must be returned to the Pre-School by the closing date in order to maintain consideration within the priority category.

Within each priority category, top priority is given to applications for students who were waiting-listed the previous year in their current or higher priority category. In those cases the priority order from the previous year will carry over to the current year. All other applications will be treated equally within each priority category, if received by the indicated closing date. If space is not available for all applications in a given category, a lottery will be conducted (among the applications from such priority category) to randomly select applications for acceptance and to determine wait-list order, placing them below any applicants who were wait-listed the previous year.

Applications for a particular category received after the closing date will fall to the next lower applicable category, whose closing date has not passed. At least one space each year will be reserved until January 1st for children with special needs.

Please note: THE EARLIEST ACCEPTANCE DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS SEPTEMBER 1ST OF THE YEAR PRECEDING ENROLLMENT. Any applications received before September 1 will be returned. Acceptance letters & contracts will be mailed out after January 15.

The priority categories and closing date are in the following decreasing order:

1. Re-enrolling students. Applications must be received by October 15 for priority consideration.
2. Temple Emunah Member with a concurrently enrolled sibling. Applications must be received by October 15 for priority consideration.
3. Non-Emunah member with a concurrently enrolled sibling. Applications must be received by October 15 for priority consideration. (This is to avoid the inconvenience of enrolling preschool aged siblings in two different schools.)
4. Children of Pre-School staff, full-time Temple Emunah staff, or Rabbis of Temple Emunah or Temple Isaiah. Applications must be received by October 15 for priority consideration.
5. Temple Emunah Member with alumni sibling(s). Applications must be received by October 15 for priority consideration
6. Non-Emunah Member with alumni sibling(s). Applications must be received by October 15 for priority consideration.
7. Any Temple Emunah Member who does not fit into a prior category. Applications must be received by November 15 for priority consideration.
8. Any Temple Isaiah Member who does not fit into a prior category. Applications must be
received by November 15 for priority consideration.
9. Non-member of Temple Emunah or Temple Isaiah who is affiliated with any other local Jewish congregation. Applications must be received by November 15 for priority consideration.

*Any remaining spaces, once all students in priority categories are accepted, will be filled with students who do not fit into any prior categories. They will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Temple Emunah Members are granted priority status as listed above; however, membership does not guarantee enrollment. Applicant family must be a Temple Emunah Member in good standing by September 1 to be considered in priority categories 2, 5, or 7 above. Applicant family must be a Temple Isaiah Member in good standing by September 1 to be considered in priority category 8 above. Enrollment, among all priority categories, is accepted on a space-available basis. For more information, please call Shelley at the Pre-School Office at (781) 861-0708.

Application Procedure

The Pre-School begins to accept applications on September 1st of the year preceding enrollment in the school. Parent/guardian(s) inquiring about the school are encouraged to meet with the Pre-School Director. Parent/guardian(s) may make appointments to visit the school beginning in November. Notification of acceptance will be sent by early March and a $200 non-refundable deposit will be required within 30 days to reserve a space.

The Pre-School is open to all residents of Lexington and other nearby communities. Although membership in Temple Emunah is not required, priority acceptance is given to re-enrolling students, siblings of children who have already attended the Pre-School, Temple Emunah members, and children with special needs.

Download applications for the 2011-2012 school year:
Toddler application
Preschool application

Download applications for the 2012-2013 school year:
Toddler application
Preschool application

To be age-eligible for the toddler classes, a child must be at least 2 years old by September 1st of the year for which an application is being made.

To be age-eligible for the preschool classes, a child must be at least 3 years old by September 1st of the year for which an application is being made.

Tuition

Tuition for the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah has been established for the 2011-2012 school year is as follows:

2011 – 2012 TUITION (9AM – NOON)

2-day rate for Temple Emunah members $3475
2-day rate for non-members $3700

3-day rate for Temple Emunah members $3875
3-day rate for non-members $4135

5-day rate for Temple Emunah members $5460
5-day rate for non-members $5835

2011-2012 TUITION FOR EARLY BIRDS, LUNCH BUNCH & KESHET CLUB*

**Please note that Early Birds are open to children in our toddler classrooms; however, Lunch Bunch and Keshet Club programs are only open to children in our preschool classes. Extended Day rates are contracted for the full year. Because there are a different number of weekdays for our “Extra Hours” program during the calendar year (i.e. fewer Mondays than Tuesdays, etc.), the fees are rated accordingly. The fee schedule for the “Extra Hours” program for the 2011 - 2012 school year are as follows:

1/2 Early Birds: Daily, 8:30-9 a.m.
$150 for 30 Mondays, $175 for 35 Tuesdays, $170 for 34 Wednesdays, $155 for 31 Thursdays, $140 for 28 Fridays

Early Birds: Daily, 8-9 a.m.
$285 for 30 Mondays, $330 for 35 Tuesdays, $320 for 34 Wednesdays, $290 for 31 Thursdays, $265 for 28 Fridays

Lunch Bunch: Monday–Thursday, 12-1:30 p.m. (No Lunch Bunch on Friday)
$380 for 30 Mondays, $445 for 35 Tuesdays, $395 for 31 Wednesdays, $380 for 30 Thursdays

Keshet Club: Monday – Thursday, 12-3:30 p.m. (No Lunch Bunch on Friday)
$760 for 30 Mondays, $890 for 35 Tuesdays, $790 for 31 Wednesdays, $760 for 30 Thursdays

Please note that Lunch Bunch and Keshet Club are not offered on Fridays.

Drop-ins rates for 2010-2011:

1/2 Early Birds $5.50 per day (8:30-9 a.m.)
Early Birds $10.00 per day (8-9 a.m.)
Lunch Bunch $13.00 per day (12-1:30 p.m.)
Keshet Club $26.00 per day (12-3:30 p.m.)

For more information, please contact Shelley at the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah at (781) 861-0708.

For a printable file click here.

Calendar

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School begins in mid-September and ends in early June. It follows the public school calendar of vacation days. In addition, we are closed for all major Jewish holidays and one professional conference day.

For the 2011-2012 preschool calendar, click here. For the 2011-2012 toddler calendar, click here. (Please note: drop-in and transitional days for toddlers will take place later in September.)

Upcoming events that are open to the community are listed on our Google calendar.

Scholarship Fund

Since its founding, The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah has provided assistance to families with financial need through a scholarship program. Over the years the Pre-School has been able to grow the scope of its financial assistance through grants and donations, thereby expanding enrollment in the school and Kaytana programs for more and more children. However, the need for scholarship funds continues to outpace the Pre-School's available assistance budget.

The scholarship allocation process is conducted prior to enrollment contract deadlines to enable families to make informed decisions. Any family may apply for financial aid and acceptance into the Pre-School and is determined independently of scholarship status.

The Pre-School aims to distribute scholarship funds fairly while respecting the privacy of individuals throughout the scholarship process. The Scholarship Committee of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School is comprised of members not directly involved with the Pre-School. Before the Scholarship Committee receives applications for review, the candidates' names and identifying information is removed and kept completely confidential.

Extended Day Programming

Billy Dalwin Pre-School offers extended hours for preschoolers before and after our morning program. The Extended Day program provides the opportunity for children to spend time with friends from their class and from other classes. Our children enjoy extending their indoor and outdoor playtime, having lunch with their friends, listening to stories and participating in projects and dramatic play.

Early Birds, Lunch Bunch and Keshet Club are designed for mixed age groupings. Although children are generally grouped with some friends from their morning class, they also have the opportunity to spend time in other classrooms, playing with older and younger friends from different classes, and developing important bonds with various staff members. Our Extended Day program has helped to strengthen the sense of community that exists within the preschool, facilitating cross-class and cross-age friendships.

The contracted rates for the full year are as follows:
1/2 Early Birds: Monday – Friday, 8:30-9 a.m.
$150 for 30 Mondays, $175 for 35 Tuesdays, $170 for 34 Wednesdays, $155 for 31 Thursdays, $140 for 28 Fridays

Early Birds: Monday – Friday, 8-9 a.m.
$285 for 30 Mondays, $330 for 35 Tuesdays, $320 for 34 Wednesdays, $290 for 31 Thursdays, $265 for 28 Fridays

Lunch Bunch: Monday –Thursday, 12-1:30 p.m. (No Lunch Bunch on Friday)
$380 for 30 Mondays, $445 for 35 Tuesdays, $395 for 31 Wednesdays, $380 for 30 Thursdays

Keshet Club: Monday – Thursday, 12-3:30 p.m. (No Lunch Bunch on Friday)
$760 for 30 Mondays, $890 for 35 Tuesdays, $790 for 31 Wednesdays, $760 for 30 Thursdays

Lunch Bunch and Keshet Club are not offered on Fridays.

We accommodate drop-ins on a space-available basis. Drop-in rates for the upcoming school year are as follows:
1/2 Early Birds $5.50 per day (8:30-9 a.m.)
Early Birds $10.00 per day (8-9 a.m.)
Lunch Bunch $13.00 per day (12-1:30 p.m.)
Keshet Club $26.00 per day (12-3:30 p.m.)

EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMMING FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22th.

Kaytana Summer Program

The Billy Dalwin Pre-school of Temple Emunah offers a six week summer program called Kaytana. Kaytana Summer Program is open to all children, ages 2.9-5 years of age. Program hours are from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. day, Monday through Friday. Extended hours are offered on either end of the program day.

Kaytana Summer Program makes full use of our indoor and outdoor space in a relaxed and informal way. It is a time for outdoor play, water play, dramatic play, music, movement, big muscle games, nature exploration, arts & crafts, and making new friends. The program incorporates many enrichment specialists, visitors and special activities into enjoyable theme-based units. Preparing for Shabbat on Friday mornings is one of the highlights of each week.

For further information, please contact Shelley Rossman at (781) 861-0708.

Boston-Haifa Early Childhood Educators Exchange

The Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah is a proud participant of the Boston Ḥaifa Early Childhood Educators Exchange. Founded in 2001, the ECE Exchange is a collaborative effort sponsored by several local Jewish institutions including the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Boston Ḥaifa Steering Committee of Combined Jewish Philanthropies. The ECE Exchange has created a partnership between preschool teachers and directors in Ḥaifa and the Greater Boston area, enabling educators from Boston and Ḥaifa to visit and learn with counterparts in their sister cities.

Each year the ECE Exchange has grown in size and scope. In February 2001, Boston and Ḥaifa early childhood educators participated in their first mifgash (encounter) and began a professional dialogue in Ḥaifa. Subsequent exchanges included presentations by the Bostonians and Ḥafaim to each other on professional topics of mutual interest. This was followed by collaborative presentations and joint curriculum initiatives. In March 2004, when our Israeli colleagues visited, they taught in our classrooms for the first time and during the February 2005 and 2007 trips to Israel, we taught in theirs. Despite the obstacles of distance, and differences in language and setting, participants were eager to assume active teaching roles in their partner classroom and all experienced success.

With the support of the Pre-School board of directors, staff, and families, the director and several of our teachers have been fortunate enough to participate in ECE Exchange Missions to Israel. We have also served as a host site and model school for our Haifa colleagues in the spring of 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 during their week-long ECE Exchange Missions to Boston.

In 2009 with the support of our parent community and board of directors and with financial assistance from the Tenenbaum Family Executive Director Endowment Fund and the Bureau of Jewish Education staff development stipend, eight staff members of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah participated in the February 2009 Boston Ḥaifa ECE Exchange Mission to Israel! During this extraordinary ten day study mission our staff members engaged in an intensive professional workshop with our early childhood partners from Ḥaifa and with local colleagues as well. The ECE Exchange itinerary included in-depth visits to key sites in Jerusalem and Ḥaifa, classroom observations and interactive workshops. These workshops and round table discussions have enabled us to explore new techniques in special education, multi-ethnic/multi-cultural education, integrating arts into classroom curriculum and other topics relevant to early childhood educators so vital to the growth of our programs in Boston and Ḥaifa. With so many of our teachers participating in this year's Exchange, its impact will be felt in each of our classrooms this year and in the years to come.

The Boston Ḥaifa ECE has created a network of participating Jewish preschools and day care centers in the greater Boston area that are committed to working in partnership with each other and our Ḥaifa colleagues to instill a love for and connection to Israel, its land, and its people. Our local network, sponsored by CJP and Hebrew College and facilitated by Rachel Raz and Naomi Chernin, meets on a regular basis during the school year to exchange ideas, share materials, and develop curriculum that will enhance the relationship between our children and their counterparts in Ḥaifa.

As early childhood educators we recognize the values of cooperation and pluralism. At this critical time in Israel's history, the staff of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School is dedicated to a partnership that promotes cooperation and celebrates diversity and we renew our commitment to its participants, goals and projects.

We feel lucky to be partnered again with Gan Hamaniya and its talented teacher Anat Lion. We very much enjoyed joining her in her classroom, interacting with her students and collaborating to design classroom curriculum and projects that bring the communities of Ḥaifa and Boston closer together.

Class Schedule

Overview of Classes

Gan/Kindergarten:
Tefillah moment
Focus on the holidays and mitzvot
Creating a personal connection to God
Beginning Tefillot (prayers)
Classroom Hebrew

1st Grade:
Tefillah moment
Basic bible stories
Holidays
Focus on tzedakah (charity), gemilut hasadim (acts of loving kindness)and mitzvot
Beginning Tefillot (prayers)
Classroom Hebrew

2nd Grade:
Tefillah moment
Beginning Hebrew reading
Holidays
Parashat HaShavua (Weekly Torah Reading)
Jewish values
Beginning Tefillot (prayers)
Classroom Hebrew

3rd Grade:
Tefillah moment
Hebrew reading and writing
Friday night service
Our Connection to Israel
Book of Genesis
Holidays
Conversational Hebrew

4th Grade:
Tefillah moment
Exodus
Haggadah
Pesukei Dezimra (morning psalms)
Hallel
Torah Trope
10 Commandments
Cities in Israel
Conversational Hebrew
Holidays

5th Grade:
Tefillah moment
Megillot (Ruth, Esther, Jonah)
Jewish values (Being a Mensch)
Shabbat Shaharit (morning service)
Ancient Jewish History
The State of Israel
Conversational Hebrew
Holidays

6th Grade:
Tefillah moment
Lifecycle
Medieval Jewish history
Parashat Hashavua (Weekly Torah Reading)
Torah Service & Musaf
Holidays

7th Grade:
Tefillah moment
Mitzvot
Prophets

6th/7th Grade Sample Elective Offerings:
• Women in Judaism
• Jewish Ethics
• Jews Around the World
• Conversational Hebrew
• The Holocaust
• Israel
• American Jewish History
• Kosher Cooking
• Jewish Art

* These are the major topics covered in each grade. Subjects that appear in many grade levels such as holidays, conversational Hebrew, and Tefillot, build off one another from year to year.

Temple Emunah Religious School Committee

Our school committee consists of Temple Emunah congregants interested in helping to expand and improve the Temple Emunah Religious School. The School Committee meets once a month (usually 3rd Tuesday of the month from 8:00-9:00 PM, during the school year).

In addition to supporting our teaching staff, school committee members are liaisons to other Temple committees and the community at large. Its work includes reviewing and modifying school policy, providing curriculum oversight, fundraising, recruiting room parents and participating/coordinating special events within the community.

Our School Committee is always growing and changing. If you would like to consider joining our committee, please click here to contact our committee co-chairs, Amy Rosenstein and Judy Zola.

Darshan Mentor Program

Every Bar or Bat Mitzvah is expected to deliver a d'var torah, an exploration of some aspect of their parashah. Darshan Mentors are lay members of the Temple who volunteer to work with B'nai Mitzvah candidates on this exploration.

For most B'nai Mitzvah, the d'var is their first exposure to this twinned aspect of adult participation: first, serious study of a text, thinking about and arriving at an understanding of a text and then matching that understanding against the wisdom of our sages, and then the presentation of the result to the congregation as a whole. Mentors help the students approach the text in this way, acting as their ḥevruta partner....

For more information about the Darshan Mentor program, or if you're interested in becoming a Darshan Mentor, contact....