Osher Marin Jewish Community Center

Ethical Start

Our award-winning 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.

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 2010-2011 Enrollment Brochure

Click here to Download the Preschool Tuition Schedule for 2009-2010

Click Here to Download the JCC 2010-2011 Enrollment Form

New Southern Marin Jewish Preschool

The Southern Marin Jewish Community Preschool is a collaboration between the Osher Marin JCC and Congregation Kol Shofar to provide a quality Jewish early childhood program in southern Marin county. Established in 2007 with a grant from the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, the preschool is located at Congregation Kol Shofar.

Due to renovations at Kol Shofar, our school will temporarily relocate, along with Kol Shofar’s staff, to an interim site in February 2008. We will remain there until the summer of 2010 when we move back to Tiburon. The interim site address is 150 Lovell, San Rafael, CA 94901.

With programs for children ages of two to three currently and adding a class per year to serve children up to five years of age, our preschool reflects the JCC’s commitment to excellence in Jewish early childhood education and Kol Shofar community’s spiritual, and social values. The curriculum merges the philosophy and practices of the Marin JCC Early Childhood Education Center with Kol Shofar’s open grounds and natural setting.

For more information please call (415) 444 8046 or (415) 388 1409.

California State Community Care Licensing Permit # 214005072

Click Here to Download the ECE 2009-2010 Enrollment Brochure

Click here to Download a 2009-2010 Southern Marin Preschool registration form

Side By Side Playgroups (Yad b'Yad)

NEW! - Baby Yad B' Yad
Birth-2 years with parent (siblings welcome)

Baby Yad B’Yad will provide an opportunity to meet other parents, learn about Jewish holidays and traditions, discuss parenting issues, and will include music, stories, puppets, bubbles, parachute and share a snack together.

Mimi Greisman M.A.Ed., is an Early childhood and family educator, and has over 20 years experience working with families and children.

Sausalito Rec. Center
420 Litho Street in Sausalito (see directions below)
Wednesdays,
Sept 9-Jan 14, 10-11:30am

Jan 19-June 2, 10-11:30am

Closed 11/25, 12/23, 12/30, 3/31, 5/19
$270/$324 (18 classes)

Ages 18 months-3 years (with parent)

This unique program introduces young ones to a preschool environment with their parent/caretaker at their side. Each class offers a balance of structured and unstructured activities as they learn to play cooperatively and independently.
Children encounter all the elements of a traditional preschool curriculum: art, language, music, movement, dramatic play, as well as Jewish holidays and traditions. A parenting book is included with registration for the Winter/Spring Session that provides topics for classroom discussions.

Three Convenient Locations:

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

Southern Marin Classes have been relocated while Congregation Kol Shofar is undergoing renovation.

MONDAY, TUESDAY & THURSDAY CLASSES are held at Sausalito Recreation Center located at 420 Litho Street in Sausalito.

Directions to Sausalito Recreation from Highway 101:

Exit @ Marin City/Sausalito
Turn LEFT onto Bridgeway Blvd
Turn RIGHT onto Bridgeway Blvd
Turn RIGHT onto Litho Street to 420 Litho Street

WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY CLASSES are held at the Davidson Middle School Annex located at 150 Lovell Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 until new Winter/Spring session begins in 2010.

Directions to the Davidson Middle School Annex from Highway 101:

From 101 S:
Take the exit to exit toward 580 E. RICHMOND BRIDGE/FRANCISCO BLVD. (make sure to take the 2nd exit toward the Richmond bridge, then turn right from the off-ramp onto Bellam — do not continue onto the 580/Richmond bridge.)

Take the I-580 exit toward Francisco Blvd.
Turn right at Bellam (signs for Francisco Blvd.)
Turn Right on ANDERSEN DR.
Turn Left on IRWIN ST.
Turn Right on LOVELL AVE.
We are located across from Pace Supply.

From 101 N:
Take the ANDERSEN DRIVE exit, EXIT 451A.
Turn RIGHT onto ANDERSEN DR.
Turn LEFT onto IRWIN ST.
Turn RIGHT onto LOVELL AVE.

Click here to download our Yad b'Yad schedule Winter/Spring 2010

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.