South Orange Temple Extends Preschool Enrichment Program

From TSTI: The Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI) has opened its extended aftercare program to the wider community, enabling local children ages 2 and up to attend with enrolled preschool students. The program, which runs now through June 5, is available immediately after regular school hours at 432 Scotland Road in South Orange.

“Our preschool team has been rethinking ways in which the school can meet the changing needs of area families,” said Carol Paster, early childhood education director. “In addition to our play-based program, specialty classes will be held each day and will include woodworking, nature school, drumming class, mindfulness and meditation, and STEM activities.”

Lauren Byers, young family coordinator for the preschool, added that, “In line with this year’s program theme of ‘planting seeds,’ January is the month of planting seeds of new beginnings. Opening up our wonderful program to more youngsters will give families and our preschool a fresh start in 2020 in so many ways.”

The flexible aftercare program offers up to three hours of coverage any weekday or multiple weekdays. Parents may register their children at any time with registration capped at 10 children per day. There will be a preschool open house on Sunday, January 26 at 2:00 p.m. featuring resident song leader, Shawn Fogel, during which parents will tour the school, and meet Paster and faculty. To register a child for extended aftercare or for the open house, contact Carol Paster at cpaster@tstinj.org.

TSTI’s “planting seeds” preschool programming, which began in September, features monthly theme-centered activities and events. In addition to January’s “planting seeds of new beginnings” are:

• February: Community partnerships – volunteering at the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges
• March: Appreciation – a 30th anniversary celebration for Paster as well as an appreciation of preschool families, teachers, clergy, support staff and the TSTI community
• May: Presence – a focus on mindfulness, with exercises led in the classrooms by Bela Barbosa, the school’s social and emotional learning consultant
• June: Learning – a moving-on celebration and end-of-year show of gratitude to the preschool faculty and staff, Paster and TSTI clergy

Information and registration forms for the Iris Family Early Childhood Education Center are at https://www.tsti.org/early-childhood-center.

The press release was produced by TSTI . The views are the author's own.