Welcome 2022/2023 PTS Preschool Families!

TOT'S AND TORAH IS BACK!

Register for a yummy meal and join us for singing, dancing, and a story!

PROSPECTIVE
​FAMILY INFORMATION

Interested in PTS Preschool?  Start here!

CURIOUS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM?
​GET THE FAQs!

WINTER CAMP 2022 SIGNUP IS COMING!


Winter Camp is being offered for two one-week sessions this year. 

​Registration opens on November 7, 2022.

MITZVAH CONNECTION

Do you need a helping hand or know someone who does? 

Had a new baby?  Dealing with an illness?  A death in the family?  Having a difficult time?  Have a simcha (happy event) to share?
​
Let us know so that we can activate our Mitzvah Team to help...

Interested in the Temple?

PTS is an inclusive Jewish community where everyone can find peace, inspiration, and their own connection to Judaism. Whether in the synagogue, each other’s homes, or the world beyond, Peninsula Temple Sholom creates a sacred space for those who are part of it.

2022 2023 Calendar is now available!

O U R   C O M M I T M E N T

A PLACE WHERE YOUR CHILDREN THRIVE

Our goal at PTS Preschool is to provide families with a warm, nurturing, and loving preschool experience.

​Since our Preschool opened its doors in 1982, our program has earned a reputation for excellence, and we have seen our preschool grow from one classroom to the full and vibrant 12 classes it is today. Our beautiful Rabbi Gerald and Helen Raiskin Torah Center facility provides an enhanced, developmentally appropriate environment where children are encouraged to explore and develop their curiosity through play and challenging experiences. Our classes are taught by educated teachers who far exceed the minimum licensing requirements and who are all trained in pediatric First Aid and CPR. Our teachers continue to participate in ongoing professional development and work in teams to provide quality experiences for children ​​​​
The most effective early childhood programs encourage parent participation and involvement in their children’s program. Communicating with parents through informal daily interactions and scheduled conferences provide greater opportunity for meaningful parent/child interactions and conversations involving parents in the happenings in their child(ren)’s day.

​Director of Early Childhood Education, Allison Steckley, is committed to teaching values, morals, customs, and traditions with a liberal Jewish approach. While we nurture a Jewish identity, we are open to students of all faiths. Our Preschool is fortunate to be a part of the Peninsula Temple Sholom community, and with this comes the nurturing guidance and support of our Clergy, Senior Staff Team and the Peninsula Temple Sholom Board of Trustees.
ABOUT US
Our development-through-play approach encourages children to explore and develop their curiosity through their interests and challenging experiences.  

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​LEARN MORE ABOUT US
OUR PROGRAMS
We are happy to offer our community part-day and full day options plus a special toddler program and
​trans-k programs. 


​LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
OUR STAFF
We have a low child/teacher ratio and a staff comprised of dedicated, loving educators who are carefully selected for their Early Childhood Education teaching experience.

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MEET OUR STAFF
PRESCHOOL & EXTENDED HOURS
Preschool Hours:
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Optional Programs  (Extended  Care):
 ​Early Drop Off:    8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Extended Enrichment:  1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Late Pick-up:   ​1:00 p.m.  -  6:00  p.m.

QUICK LINKS

VOLUNTEER WITH US
Learn about the PTO and
​volunteer opportunities!
OUR SHOPPING PARTNERS
You Shop, PTS Gets $$ Back!
CALENDAR
Stay Up to Date On All Events

S P O T L I G H T

SHABBAT

CELEBRATING SHABBAT IN THE PRESCHOOL
Our classes make challah on Thursday and Friday mornings and the hallways are filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread.

At 12:30pm on Fridays, the whole preschool comes together in our beautiful sanctuary to celebrate Shabbat with Rabbi Dan, Rabbi Lisa, Rabbi Alban, or Cantor Kliger.  Each week a different class is invited up to light the candles and from each class a challah helper and Kiddush cup helper are chosen.  We say the blessings, sing together, and wish each other a Shabbat Shalom - a peaceful Shabbat.  If you have not yet been to our weekly Shabbat Service, we hope you will come one Friday and experience that "Shabbat feeling" with your child  Your child would love having you there. 

On Monday mornings, we gather at 12:40pm in the classrooms to bid farewell to Shabbat and wish everyone a good week.  This service is called Havdalah - the separation between Shabbat and the rest of the week.  To hold on to Shabbat a little longer, we say a blessing over wine, smell sweet spices, and light and extinguish a braided candle.  Everyone is invited to join us.

Our preschool family dinner on January 13st will be a great opportunity for your children to practice with you what they have learned at school about the rituals of Shabbat.  They will also enjoy socializing with their friends, teachers, and other families.  Hospitality, sharing Shabbat with others, is a mitzvah and an integral part of the holiday.
WHAT IS MY CHILD LEARNING?

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Bunnies, Ducks, Bears, Lambs, Turtles (2's)
  • We celebrate Shabbat every week.
  • Shabbat is a very special day.
  • I celebrate Shabbat with my family.
  • We light candles on Shabbat, but we don't blow them out.
  • We drink wine (grape juice) on Shabbat in a Kiddush cup.
  • We eat challah on Shabbat and cover it with a challah cover.
  • We say a lot of blessings on Shabbat.
  • We say "Shabbat Shalom" to our friends and neighbors.
  • Havdalah is the way we say goodbye to Shabbat.
Owls, Zebras, Penguins, Kangaroos (3's)
    Above concepts and add: 
  • Shabbat is a day to rest and be with family.
  • We rest because God rested on Shabbat after he created the world.
  • We give tzedakah before Shabbat to help other people.
  • Shabbat begins Friday night and ends Saturday night when there are three stars in the sky.
Elephants, Giraffes & Monkeys  (pre-K & T-K's)
     Above concepts and add: 
  • We say the blessings to thank God for giving us such a special day.
  • I am God's partner in helping make the world a better place.
  • We celebrate Havdalah on Monday to say goodbye to Shabbat and to wish each other a good week.

T E S T I M O N I A L S

Happy Parents
Allison, the preschool director, is a dream. You can't imagine a more welcoming, warm, understanding and overall awesome leader. Her compassion runs deep; from knowing each and every preschooler and each of their personal strengths, to being so very relatable on a parent-level as well. And Kim, Allison's right hand lady, is amazing. She's incredibly warm, helpful, and a pleasure to chat with. 

We have loved all the teachers we have had over the course of the past three years. And especially love that this is a play-based school. They do a great job of indoor/outdoor play several times a day. And also set up unique art projects or special activities in each classroom each day for the kids to dabble in if they choose.
Davina Nazarian Chall, school parent since 2015.
PTS Preschool is part of the Peninsula Temple Sholom campus and community.   Learn more about Peninsula Temple Sholom.
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