Osher Marin Jewish Community Center

Ethical Start & National Accreditation

Our award-winning, nationally-accredited early childhood education center provides children with a safe, nurturing environment to grow and learn as unique individuals . More than just a preschool, we are a supportive community of families deeply influenced by the wisdom of Jewish tradition.

For more information, please contact Early Childhood Education Services at (415) 444-8042.

Our Philosophy
We believe that children learn best in a safe environment from caring staff who provide warmth and support. We employ highly qualified teachers, who design classroom environments with a wealth of opportunities for children to discover, investigate and explore. We ensure that children feel cared for and comfortable while challenging them to develop in their first formal learning experience. This is further enhanced by our low staff-to-child ratios in all of our programs, which allows us to provide close, personal attention to every child.

Accreditation
We're one of the select few schools in Marin County to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC accreditation is achieved by only 5% of all early childhood programs nationwide. Independent childhood professionals critique schools against national standards of excellence during a rigorously competitive process.

Our Values
Our school was one of a dozen in the U.S. chosen to pilot the Ethical Start® curriculum. Funded by Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation, this innovative approach to education teaches values at a young age and educates parents to create values-based traditions for their families. We weave universal values and Jewish traditions into all aspects of our program while welcoming children from all religious faiths and backgrounds.

Our exceptionally qualified and experienced teachers understand child development and have deep respect for each child's unique attributes. We take great pride in hiring early childhood education professionals who are warm and caring people, who nurture and inspire, and who appreciate that children have an insatiable desire to learn. We encourage our faculty to attend classes, workshops and conferences both locally and nationally to stay on the cutting edge of early childhood education. Teachers who are continually learning inspire children to love learning.

Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is based on a combination of approaches including Gardner's Multiple Intelligence theory, developmentally appropriate practices, emergent curriculum inspired from the Italian town of Reggio Emilia and the integration of Jewish values. We prepare children and help them achieve their full potential by focusing on developing necessary social, preceptual, motor language, pre-math and pre-writing skills. We provide a context for children to learn about themselves and their world. We teach them how to create positive and compassionate relationships with other people and to be contributing members in a group setting.

We believe in giving children firsthand, meaningful experiences, and in fostering a partnership among their children, teachers, and parents with project-based learning. Children reflect on experiences using their own descriptive language.

Gan Katan

Programs for Children ages 24 months to entering Preschool

Nitzanim, Toddler Play Group & Keshet
For a child's first experience in a group setting, our toddler programs offer a nurturingenvironment for children to grow and explore. Our goal is to expand children's horizons by providing developmentally appropriate, creative and social learning experiences that lay the foundation for each child's educational journey. There is a strong focus on developing independence skills. Children enrolled in the toddler program need not be out of diapers.

Activities include:

Dramatic and creative play
Celebration of Jewish holidays and traditions
Exploration of art and tactile materials
Music and storytelling
Language development
Indoor and outdoor playtime with gross motor play
Shabbat celebrations

Nitzanim (Full-Day)
Age 2 years- 3 1/2 years

Emphasis is on providing experiences closely related to home life with a positive introduction to beginning social interactions, Jewish customs and tradition. We create a safe, nurturing, yet stimulating environment for toddlers. Our professional teachers are chosen for their warmth and knowledge of child development. Full-day program; schedules are available from two to five days per week from 7:30am -6pm.

Toddler Play Group
Age 2 years by Sept. 1 of each school year
Tues. & Thurs. 9:15-11:45 am.

For the youngest children in our school, Toddler Play Group (TPG) provides an early introduction to a preschool environment. Language emerges during this critical year of development

Keshet
Age 2-1/2 years by Sept. 1 of each school year
Mon., Wed. & Fri. 9:15am-12:30 pm.

An expanded version of Toddler Play Group for children who will be at least 2-1/2 years of age by September. Designed for older toddlers/younger preschoolers who are ready for a longer program than Toddler Play Group – but not yet ready for preschool – Keshet has a play-based curriculum with age-tailored challenges.

Preschool Program

Children must be out of diapers and have turned 3-years-old by October 31 of each school year.

A comprehensive educational program for children who turn 3 before Oct. 31, as well as classes for 4- and 5-year-olds. We provide opportunities for children to develop as special and valued individuals and to acquire group skills.

Our curriculum provides a wide variety of opportunities for children to explore, discover and learn about Jewish traditions and culture in a child-centered setting.

We offer excellent teacher-child ratios, half-day, full-day and extended care options, and an award-winning Judaic curriculum designed by experienced staff. Enrichment includes storytelling, music, movement and gymnastics.

A camp program for preschoolers is offered during winter and spring breaks as well as during the summer months.

Registration

How to Apply
Full-time Toddler Program
(Nitzanim)

We accept applications to the waiting list througout the year for this year-round program. You may choose to enroll your child two to five days a week based on space available. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Preschool & Part-time Toddler Programs
(Toddler Play Group, Keshet, Aleph, Beyt & Gimel)

Enrollment for the school year is from September to June.
Applications are accepted beginning in January for the following school year:

Early January: Continuing students & legacy families
Mid-January: JCC members
Late January: General public

For new applicants, once you fill out an appliation, you may call within a week and we will let you know your enrollment status. The first enrollment contracts are sent in March and continue until all spaces are filled.

Please consider you child's needs carefully before submitting your tuition agreement as we require parents to be financially responsible for the schedule in the contract.

We require that parents pay in full or through a monthly automatic bank draft.

We require a minimum of 30 days written notice to change or withdraw from the program.

We require a JCC Family membership for the duration of the time your child is enrolled in our preschool and full-time programs.

Please call the ECE office at 415- 444-8042 for current information on enrollment and waiting lists.

license #213001117

Click Here to Download the ECE Enrollment Brochure

Click here to Download the current Preschool tuition schedule

Click here to download the Preschool Tuition Schedule for 2008-2009

Click Here to Download the JCC Enrollment Form

New Southern Marin Jewish Preschool

The Southern Marin Jewish Community Preschool, a collaborative partnership between the Osher Marin JCC and Congregation Kol Shofar, is currently located on the lovely campus of Kol Shofar in Tiburon.

This new program will relocate temporarily for the duration of Congregation Kol Shofar's renovation, returning to its original site upon completion. Please call 444-8046 for more information.

License # 214005072

Click here to Download a 2008-2009 Southern Marin Preschool registration form

Side By Side Playgroup (Yad b'Yad)

Ages 18 months-3 years (with parent)

These programs introduce young ones to group experience in a nursery school setting. With a parent or guardian at their side, kids learn to play both cooperatively and independently. Each day offers a balance of structured and unstructured play as children encounter all the elements of a traditional nursery school curriculum: art, language, music, movement and dramatic play, Jewish holidays and Jewish culture. Activities encourage positive interactions between parents and children and stimulate discussions between the adults.

Two Convenient Locations:

Osher Marin JCC early childhood education building
Monday - Friday, year-round

Congregation Kol Shofar
215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon
Monday-Friday: Spring, Winter, and Fall
Monday-Wednesday: Summer

Click here for our Yad b' Yad schedule

Summer Camp

We offer various summer camp programs in June through August. Applications for summer camp are available every year beginning in February. Click here for more information.