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As a parent, we know that it can be a struggle. Parenting can go from joyful to overwhelming within seconds. We want you to know that we’re here, below you will find a resources, events, and programs for parents like you.  Our hope is to bring together parents to connect, build friendships, and provide resources for each other.

Parent Handbook and Forms

Everything you need as a parent in one place. Download our parent handbook, fill out all of the enrollment forms and check out our parent information.

Packing a lunch for your child can be daunting even without Kosher rules. Here are some things to remember: Please avoid sending pork products and shellfish. Also, please avoid mixing lunch items that include dairy and meat in the same meal. For example, packing a turkey sandwich or chicken nuggets with cheese or yogurt is not a Kosher-style lunch. If you decide to send meat, there are good options to send as sides: fruit and veggies.

Many parents find it easier to send all vegetarian lunches, so we have compiled a list of popular lunch items (though there are many, many more out there!). Please call or email with any questions or if you have a new idea to add to the list!

  • Applesauce, sliced fruit, or a fruit cup
  • Bagel with cream cheese/spread
  • Bean or vegetable burrito
  • Breadsticks
  • Cereal with milk in a separate container
  • Cheese and crackers or cheese sticks/string cheese
  • Cheese quesadillas
  • Egg or tuna salad
  • Eggs – scrambled, hard-boiled, or in an omelet
  • Fish sticks
  • Fresh fruit/fruit salad
  • Hummus and pita
  • Mac-and-cheese (or another pasta item brought in a thermos, such as spaghetti)
  • Muffins
  • Pasta – with sauce or as a salad with cheese, egg, tuna, and/or veggies
  • Peaches or bananas in sour cream, yogurt, or cottage cheese
  • Pizza or pizza bagels
  • Raisins
  • Sandwiches: cheese, almond/cashew/nut/sunflower, peanut butter & jelly (or bananas or celery), hummus, tuna, egg salad, cream cheese (with cucumber or jelly)
  • Tofu
  • Tofu dogs (“not dogs”) or tofu “chicken nuggets”
  • Vegetable soup
  • Vegetarian lasagna
  • Veggies & dip
  • Yogurt

Personal Items

  • Full change of clothing LABELED inside a Ziploc bag (including top, bottom, underwear, socks, shoes)
  • Jacket or sweater to stay in the cubby for the year
  • Family photo (5 x 7 in unbreakable frame)
  • Reusable water bottle (sippy cup for toddlers)
  • Toothbrush with cover (please, no toothpaste); this is an NAEYC requirement

Other Supplies

  • 2 boxes of tissues
  • Diapers (if needed)
  • 1 box baby wipes plus one refill
  • 1 box sandwich size and 1 box gallon size Ziploc bags
  • 1 box fun band-aids

For ECP Students

  • Nap mat or bedding for cot
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The mission of the GECC Parent Association (PA) is to support the students, teachers, and staff of the Goldberg Early Childhood Center. The Parent Association encourages participation among families in learning and social engagements. Through time and resources, we will help to make the GECC a great place to learn and work. We are a part of the best school family ever!

NAEYC Accredited
NAEYC strives to raise the quality of education for all children from birth through age eight. Accreditation systems are major part of NAEYC’s efforts to improve early childhood education.  Our commitment to NAEYC and their accreditation criteria allow the GFECC program to provide the best learning experiences for young children and our educators by meeting national standards of quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Class Time
Infant
Toddlers, Twos, & Threes 8:45 am – 12:45 pm
Pre-K 8:45 am – 1:45 pm

Children in the full-day program can attend from 7:30 am – 6:00 pm. There are a variety of full-time and part time options depending on your family’s needs.

We ask that you pack a Kosher-style lunch. We are peanut-friendly, but we are also diligent about working with families with restricted diets or allergy concerns.

Kosher Style:

Here are some things to remember: Please avoid sending pork products and shellfish. Also, please avoid mixing lunch items that include dairy and meat in the same meal. For example, packing a turkey sandwich or chicken nuggets with cheese or yogurt is not a Kosher-style lunch. If you send meat, there are good options to send as sides: fruit and veggies.

Many parents find it easier to send all vegetarian lunches, so we have compiled a list of popular lunch items (though there are many, many more out there!). Please call or email with any questions or if you have a new idea to add to the list!

  • Applesauce, sliced fruit, or a fruit cup
  • Bagel with cream cheese/spread
  • Bean or vegetable burrito
  • Breadsticks
  • Cereal with milk in a separate container
  • Cheese and crackers or cheese sticks/string cheese
  • Cheese quesadillas
  • Egg or tuna salad
  • Eggs – scrambled, hard-boiled, or in an omelet
  • Fish sticks
  • Fresh fruit/fruit salad
  • Hummus and pita
  • Mac-and-cheese (or another pasta item brought in a thermos, such as spaghetti)
  • Muffins
  • Pasta – with sauce or as a salad with cheese, egg, tuna, and/or veggies
  • Peaches or bananas in sour cream, yogurt, or cottage cheese
  • Pizza or pizza bagels
  • Raisins
  • Sandwiches: cheese, almond/cashew/nut/sunflower, peanut butter & jelly (or bananas or celery), hummus, tuna, egg salad, cream cheese (with cucumber or jelly)
  • Tofu
  • Tofu dogs (“not dogs”) or tofu “chicken nuggets”
  • Vegetable soup
  • Vegetarian lasagna
  • Veggies & dip
  • Yogurt

All snacks served at the GECC are kosher and nut free. Children are offered milk to drink with each snack.

One of the best things about being part of the GECC is the access to the enrichment class at the J. We have offerings including dance, gymnastics, swimming, cooking, sports classes, and various rotating enrichment classes.

While all of these are part of our activities in the classroom, children also have the opportunities to work with specialist teachers in music, gym, Torah, science, and cooking. Our 3s and Pre-K children also participate in weekly group swimming lessons at our indoor pool.

We are vigilant about our sick policy. Children must be symptom-free for 24 hours to return to school. If your child gets sick at school, we will call you and keep them comfortable and well cared for. If a particular illness is diagnosed in your class, we tell parents to look out for it. We are constantly cleaning and disinfecting to ensure a healthy environment.

Safety is always the number one priority in our school; it is on the top of our minds daily. According to our state licensing regulations, teachers and staff are prepared to handle emergencies and practice safety drills with the children.

Our teachers use an app called StoryPark to send daily pictures and communications about the children’s day. We also use a mixture of emails and written orange notes to update parents about information ranging from school events to how your child ate, slept, and used the bathroom during the day.

Yes. Our school year is generally from the middle of August to the middle of May. If you are signed up for the year-round program, you also have coverage during winter break, spring break, and the break weeks between the end of school and camp. If you would like care in the summer, you can enroll your child in Camp Simchah, which is open at the same hours as our school program.

Early enrollment opens for returning families in December. In January, enrollment opens to the public. Please try to enroll early to ensure your space! It is not uncommon for wait lists for the following school year to be started in March. Our families also have priority registration for summer camps, which opens in January.

As a school we learn about and celebrate many of the Jewish holidays, including Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukkah, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, Passover, Yom Ha;atzmaut, and Shavuot. We also celebrate Thanksgiving and have class (Toddlers and Twos) and age level (Threes and Pre-K) feasts we would love for you to attend.

We know many families celebrate Halloween and Valentine’s Day at home, but we do not celebrate or do anything for those days at school. Make sure to save those costumes for Purim in the spring though!

On our school calendar you will see some days designated as School Closed/HBP Open and some as School Closed/ECP Open. The Holiday Break Program (HBP) is open on many of the days the school is closed for Jewish holidays and parents of full-time students are eligible to sign-up for an additional charge. The Extended Care Program (ECP) is included in full-time tuition and is offered for weeks school is closed such as spring break, winter break, and before and after summer camp.

When you are seeing signs that your child is interested and ready to potty train, our teachers will be happy to work with you to set up a consistent potty training plan to use at home and at school.

If you are interested in seeing a sample weekly schedule from one of our previous year’s classes, click here for ToddlersTwosThreesPre-K.

OnlineResources

Online Resouces

The Goldberg Early Childhood Center is committed to providing our families with new opportunities and resources as we navigate through these unprecedented circumstances together. The GECC staff is working hard to quickly create new content; as each day goes by more content will be added.

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Our Blog

Our school year is split into seven different periods that are centered around Jewish Values that each class uses to develop its curriculum framework and weekly lesson plans. The seven values are: Chesed, Hachnasat Orchim, Hoda’ah, Kavod, Ometz, Kehillah and Achrayut. See English translations below.