Cardonick Preschool and Kindergarten

Program Details

This program may be your child’s first experience being separated from their home environment for an extended period of time.  Our entire staff is sensitive to and committed to making this a positive “first” experience for both child and their parents. Our youngest students will participate in circle time, storytelling, singing songs, making music, creating works of art, while exploring the world around them in a safe, loving, and nurturing environment.  The children will participate in our holiday celebrations, weekly Shabbat program, aerobics class and music class. They will utilize our large indoor bike room, toddler playroom, and beautiful fenced outdoor playground. They will learn very quickly that school is a fun place to be everyday!

Toddler Program

Our developmentally appropriate program for this engaging age group stresses “learning through doing”.  Our staff employs a “hands on approach “to learning. We understand that children learn in different ways.  Our teachers utilize a multitude of approaches to engage the children as we promote early literacy skills and the development of early math concepts.  The children will discover the wonder of the world around us as they participate in our science, social studies, and creative arts programs.  Computers are utilized to enhance the program via weekly trips to the computer lab. We are encouraging the desire to interact more independently and applaud all accomplishments while new skills are acquired. Children will learn appropriate behaviors as they develop more social skills and embrace friendships.  Music class, aerobics class, and Israeli dance class enhance our school programs.   Our children look forward to each day of new experiences!

 

 

Shape Recognition      Community Helpers

Numbers                      Spatial Concepts

Letter Recognition        Music

Health & Safety             Aerobics

Judaic & Jewish Holidays 

Secular Holidays          Computers

Cooking                       Arts & Crafts

Motor Skill Development

Social Interaction         Color Differentiation

Indoor/Outdoor Play    Conflict Resolution

Trips                             Science Units

3 Year Old Program

The Pre-K program is designed to encourage the children to acquire the skills necessary to ensure a successful transition to kindergarten.  They are encouraged to take initiative, increase their independence, and to try new things within the confines of a supportive learning environment. The children will acquire a strong sense of self and personal responsibility. A solid foundation in language and literacy development is evident throughout the day and is an integral part of the total curriculum.  The ability to recognize letters, learn new writing skills, and develop phonemic awareness allows children to acquire the reading and writing skills necessary to progress to kindergarten successfully. Our students understand the joy of reading!  Our engaging, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate math program, science, creative arts, and social studies themes encourage our students to ask questions and work together to seek their own answers with the guidance of our professional teaching staff.  Israeli music and dance, aerobics, and music time with Mr. Pete enhance all of our classes.  Numerous field trips are planned.  As in all of our programs, the celebration of Shabbat, the day of rest, participation in our holiday celebrations, and the development of strong Jewish values is encouraged.  Our students are taught that they can help to heal the world {Tikkin Olam} by doing one good deed at a time!

Pre-Kindergarten Program

A kindergarten program must be designed to accommodate a wide diversity of developmental levels and to provide for each student’s growth academically, cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically for the duration of the school year.  A supportive, safe, and nurturing environment is essential for the kindergarten classroom.   Our Kindergarten program has been able to provide a stimulating and developmentally appropriate curriculum with the opportunity to learn in a small class setting.  Our teachers are able to assess the individual needs of our kindergarten students and respond with an individualized approach to meeting those needs.  This results in the development of a stronger sense of self-confidence necessary for the successful transition to elementary school.  Children learn in large and small groups, partner settings, and work on an individual basis. Multitudes of teaching approaches are utilized acknowledging that children do not all learn the same way.  The individually designed reading program allows each and every student to progress at his or her own pace, with the benefit of the special one-to-one guidance of the kindergarten teacher and her assistant.  Our highly regarded certified kindergarten teacher also earned a master’s degree as a reading specialist.

Our kindergarten adheres to the Pennsylvania Learning Standards and provides a comprehensive academic curriculum rich in literacy and numeracy throughout the curriculum.

Some of the components of our kindergarten program include: A comprehensive literacy program that incorporates listening skills, language development, reading and writing skills, math, social studies, science, arts and humanities, social skill development, proper school behavior, individual responsibility, health and safety issues, and technology education.  Israeli dance class, aerobics class, and music class with Mr. Pete are program enhancements.  Several trips are planned throughout the school year and special guests and presentations are always eagerly awaited. We are also proud to provide a primary prevention program which is designed to assist our children with the development of a positive self image, issues involving conflict resolution, decision making, coping skills, stranger awareness, bullying, personal safety, and peer pressure.

Our kindergarten students are always “show-stoppers” during our holiday shows and celebrations.  They are active participants in our weekly Shabbat program and eagerly present their song/poem of the week to share with all in attendance.  They learn strong Jewish values such as Mitzvot (performing good deeds,) tzdakah (charity,) and Tikkun Olam (heal the world.)

 

Kindergarten

Children have a natural enthusiasm for music and movement.  We provide a wonderful opportunity for families with young children, who have not yet enrolled in a preschool class, to participate in a fun and activity filled hour.  The hour is spent in a small group setting with other children and their parents or caregivers, learning songs, engaging in parachute play, musical activities, and acquiring balance and coordination skills.  The activities change weekly and are facilitated by one of our preschool teachers who is a specialist with this active age group!  The Stay and Play class provides an exciting time for toddlers and a time for their parents/caregivers to connect with each other.

Stay and Play

Our children have so many activities that they enjoy throughout their day.  Sometimes they would love to have more time enjoying a specific favorite activity.  We provide after-school classes to address these issues for our children.  The cooking experience with Mrs. Reiff and Mrs. Goldbloom is one of the children’s favorite after school activities.  The children love to cook and then eat what they have created!  We have had yoga classes here and have watched the most active child bend their body into shapes that made everyone giggle! Our after school science class will be starting shortly.  We will be conducting experiments!  Maybe a future scientist will find that their passion for science began right here!

After School Programs

Congregations of Shaare Shamayim

Monday to Friday (3, 4 or 5 days per week)

 

Morning Program           9:00 A.M. to 11:45 A.M.

After Lunch Dismissal   9:00 A.M. to 12:45 P.M.

Full Day Program           9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

 

Early Care                      7:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.

Late Stay                        3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Extended Late Stay        4:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M

   *except Friday - 4:30 dismissal for Shabbat

Free bus transportation is available to our suburban kindergarten students!

Our kindergarten program is highly regarded in the educational community and provides an excellent foundation to build upon as our students enter elementary school.