Temple Beth Ami Nursery School’s stellar reputation is due to our exceptional staff: 30 dedicated experts with a passion for helping each child reach his/her potential. Our teachers have worked here for an average of 15 years and they have a profound understanding of early childhood development and effective ways to promote each child’s progress. They carefully tailor activities to promote each child’s intellectual, emotional, social and  physical growth. When you visit our school you will witness the joy with which teachers interact with children as children explore their world, extend their skills, express their curiosity, and gain confidence.

We Prepare Children for Success

Local elementary schools tell us our graduates are extraordinarily well-prepared for the rigors of today’s kindergarten classrooms. We help each child advance their language skills to express their curiosity and their opinions, interact effectively with peers and adults, take advantage of learning opportunities, and participate appropriately in a group setting. Through our program, children gain the communication, pre-math and pre-literacy skills, in addition to the social and emotional skills, necessary to excel in elementary school.

We Teach Children Jewish Values

Our school is grounded in the ideals of Reform Judaism. We emphasize the values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Kavod (honoring elders and respecting peers), Hachnassat Orchim (welcoming guests), and Tzedakah (ensuring justice among all). We help our children understand the meaning of treating others kindly, creating a cooperative community, and controlling one’s impulses. Our sages taught that early childhood education provides the foundation for later life, for what is learned in early childhood is engrained firmly in one’s personality.  We strive to ensure that the lessons we teach are those that set children on a clear path toward social and academic success.

We Make Learning Fun

Each day includes time to create with blocks, puzzles, dramatic play props, and art mediums to encourage inventiveness and problem-solving skills; group meetings to practice communication and planning skills; large motor activities to develop strength and coordination; snack time to promote independence and socializing; and quiet time to work on pre-literacy skills. Our children get to sing with our own favorite rock star “Cantor Larry” and participate in a weekly class with an expert in children’s fitness. They get to play in the ride room and explore the outdoors. Through every activity, children further their knowledge of their surroundings and their role in the world.

Our parents attest to the unique environment in our school, and the genuine joy, love and concern with which each child is greeted every day.

We’ve Grown but Stayed True to our Roots

Temple Beth Ami Nursery School (TBANS) began in 1989 in the Temple’s old building on Hurley Avenue. We opened our doors with about 40 children and 12 teachers in 6 classes, sharing space with our religious school and using buckets instead of sinks for hand washing. Our first director, Karen Greenberg, was also a teacher for the three year olds.  Current staff members Karen Asman, Ellen Bortz, Marsha Diamond, Jill Finci, Laurie Galfond, Deena Klopman, Karen Kominsky, and Jody Rosenblum were parents of our first students. In fact, 18 of our current 24 staff members started working here because their children were TBANS graduates. This is the most reassuring, comforting place in the world, and no one ever wants to leave!

Our goal in our first years was to provide a safe, loving environment for our neighborhood toddlers to spend their nursery years and our families to get to know each other. As the years progressed, we maintained our commitment to safety and to creating a warm and welcoming environment. In addition, we have learned a lot about early childhood education, responded to the latest research on child development and implemented the best practices for facilitating the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of two to four year olds.

In 1998, we moved to our own wing in the Temple’s new building, and we have expanded to serve 120 children with 21 teachers in eleven classes. We have been honored with the commitment of the Temple’s lay and professional leadership to the importance of early childhood Jewish education. We have been blessed with the resources necessary to create the highest quality educational environment and to secure the most knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated staff.

Our first director retired after 20 years to spend time with her own grandchildren! Our second director, Paula Sayag, began on July 1, 2009. Our outstanding feature remains our incredible teachers. We pride ourselves on our keen awareness of each child’s development, our skills for helping each child progress, and our concern for each child’s utmost success. We feel lucky to continuously meet the needs of our community’s families. No one ever wants to leave Temple Beth Ami Nursery School!