Gan Ami serves families with children ages 6 weeks through 4 years of age.
Beginnings: 6 weeks- 24 months
(half day options available 12 months and older)
Preschool: 2 - 4 years old
Kindergarten: 4-5 years old
(Half & full day options available)
Our teachers are involved with your child every moment of the school day; instructing, interacting, guiding, observing and assessing. They also take the time to discover what's unique and special about each and every child, because we believe children need to feel accepted and appreciated in order to thrive.
Our classrooms are communities for children of all backgrounds set within the context of the Jewish calendar. Teachers establish a structure for each day, including a daily schedule, because young children depend upon routines to help them organize and master a world full of new ideas, sensations and challenges.
As children begin to understand the rhythms of Jewish life at the JCC, they take to the pleasures of Jewish routines as effortlessly as they take to the taste of sweet grape juice and challah each Friday when preparing for Shabbat in class. Addressing the whole child means using trained specialists for:
- music
- creative movement
- physical education
- hebrew
- swim
In fact, the Jewish calendar is full of ways to teach children how to stay in touch with their natural sense of wonder. We say a blessing, point out the beauty of the holidays, or acknowledge the first falling leaves of autumn, to help your child frame a spiritual moment.
The Learning Environment
The classroom itself is well-organized with labeled materials that invite children to explore and discover. We know preschoolers learn best when they are having a good time, so we've designed the physical space of the classroom with clearly defined interest areas where children can do what they like to do most-have fun!
Dramatic Play / Sand & Water / Computers
Blocks / Music & Movement / Library / Art
Toys, Puzzles & Games / Discovery / Outdoors
The interest areas subdivide the classroom into spaces that accommodate a few children at a time where they can best concentrate in a small-group setting. Children also have several opportunities to work in large groups and independently. In addition, preschoolers spend time outdoors every day running, jumping, climbing, and playing on the playground because outdoor play is just as important as time spent in the classroom.
Reasons Why Families Trust JCC
A Team of Experts Behind Every Teacher
Your classroom teachers are part of a multi-disciplinary team of Jewish and secular education experts and social service specialists who contribute to your child? successful preschool experience. This support team provides ongoing professional development for teachers and regularly reviews the curriculum to ensure that all facets of our program reflect the most state-of-the-art approaches to early childhood education. Our psychologists, social workers and speech and language therapists work with families so that we are able to meet the needs of children with differing abilities.
Parents as Partners
At JCC, parents are welcome, informed and involved! To keep you up to date about your child's progress, we distribute e-mails, newsletters and notes about your child? preschool day and we schedule regular parent-teacher conferences. In addition, our teachers and Directors are always available to discuss questions about your child or the classroom.
Cleanliness, Safety and Security
In addition to secure buildings and classrooms, we provide a learning environment where children can be safe and healthy, yet free to move around, explore and experiment both inside and outside the classroom. Our staff continually assesses conditions to prevent children from injuring themselves and others while following hygienic procedures to prevent illness.
We follow state of Wisconsin guidelines for classroom ratios.
- Infants classrooms follow a 1:3 ratio (lower than State guidelines)
- Toddler 1:4
- Two's 1:6
- Three's 1:8
- Four's 1:13
Transitions into the next classroom are handled in the following manner. Infants and Toddlers transition when thay are developmentally ready, using a planned method of transition anfter commincation with classoom teachers, parents and Directors has been established. A september 1st cut off is used to determine the correct preschool and kindegarten classroom. Preschool children move at two times a year, June or September, while Toddler may move January, June and September.
We provide breakfast for the children until 8:15 a.m each morning. Two snack per day are provided, consisting of fruit three times a week with a cup of milk, and challah, freshly bakied each Friday for Shabbat. At our Whitefish Bay Campus, bringing lunches is allowed-dairy or vegetarian only. Or you may choose to purchase our Kosher lunch program. Our Mequon camps does provide Kosher lunches daily, no outside food is allowed into the building.
