News

COME ABOARD THE STRAUSS ECE SUMMER CRUISE

Summer 2013

June 3rd – 7th Boats and other transportation

This week we will explore boats (and other modes of transportation). Children will experiment with sink and float, learn about the many different kinds of boats, as well as trains, planes and automobiles. This will be the start of our amazing cruise journey.

June 10th – 14th Bedtime

During this time we will have a pajama party. We will read lots of favorite bedtime stories as well as create our own. Children will learn about nighttime; and the stars and moon. We will listen to, and learn the Shema as well as other bedtime rituals.

June 17th – 21st Fitness Center

This week, we will have fun in the fitness center by running, jumping and hopping. We will explore movement and exercise. Children will play games utilizing their locomotor skills as well participating in yoga and Zumba!

June 24th – July 5th Shore Excursion to the Beach

We will be exploring the ocean during this session. Children will learn about fish and other underwater creatures. We will use our scientific skills to experiment with salt water and taste seaweed. We will build sand castles and sort sea shells. Children will also enjoy listening to the sounds of the oceans and make their own sensory ocean bottle.

July 8th – 12th Strauss ECE Spa

Children will discover the benefits of relaxing at the spa. They will explore meditation and breathing as well as yoga positions. They will test their senses with aromatherapy, stones in warm water and mud wraps. Children will create their own bath salts and soaps to take home.

July 15th – 19th Cooking Demonstration

Children will learn the art of appreciating food. They will learn about the different food groups and about a balanced plate. They will also get to use their sense of taste to explore new foods as well as use their fine motor skills to assist in preparing foods. They will make wonderful art presentations with food and create some amazingly yummy edible art.

July 22nd – 26th Entertainment

Children will have a great time with entertainment on the ship. We will play games like twister, freeze dance, bingo and more. We will also explore the world of musical entertainment by experimenting with different instruments and listening to a variety of music. We will experiment with theater puppets and acting.

July 29th – 31st Art Gallery

We will create our own deck art gallery. Children will use a variety of materials such as clay, paint, chalk and canvas to create amazing art pieces.

Be on the lookout for information on our Formal night. This will be a family fun event with dinner, entertainment, prizes, art auction and more!

SUMMER CAMP RECAP AND FALL BEGINS

August 1st, 2012

Our summer camp program was excellent! More than 110 children have enjoyed our enrichment activities including "a trip" to Israel, visiting China and our ongoing sign language and Spanish programs. There was, of course, lots of waterplay during these very warm summer months.

Classes for the fall session begin on August 1st. There are some limited openings in the 3 and 4-year old classes. Sign language, creative movement, Hebrew, physical education, dance, Judaics and Spanish will be offered on a regular basis. In addition, we are beginning our new Spanish Immersion program with 8 children currently enrolled!

At the Strauss ECE there are many opportunities for children to develop long-lasting emotional connections with Shabbat, Torah and the land of Israel and ways to joyfully celebrate and explore holiday traditions and rituals.

Please stop by and visit all of our 12 classrooms! You will enjoy the warmth, caring and dedication put into each learning environment by our outstanding teaching staff. And our children will amaze you!

I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to Chava Gal-Or, our new Youth Education Director. I know she'd love to meet all of you!

B'shalom,
Lyn Henry
Director, Strauss ECE and Kindergarten

APRIL 23, 2012 - CELEBRATING EARTH DAY

There was no better way to celebrate Earth Day then by having the children take the reigns and learn from one another. Not only were our older children involved in the creative process for the special day, but the 2's and 3's in Egooanot, Geerafot, and Tukim also took part in setting up their own "environmental station." The Tukim class set up a multi-colored water station that allowed all who visited to use the green and blue water to create their own version of the Earth - on a coffee filter. The Geerafot class taught us about compost and how plants grow from soil using orange peels and stawberries as examples. The Egooanot class demonstrated what was happening in the Artic, by utilizing paint dropped on blocks off ice that further melted with the addition of salt. The Soosim class took a recycling route and turned used water bottles into beautiful flowers. The Arayot class set up several additional sensory tables that allowed children to play with earth worms and live butterflies. And as a special bonus, Jesse Micander (father of Ethan and Mason) used his knowledge of solar and thermal energy with a solar panel and infared camera that were both fantastic and an exciting way of educating our children. It was a wonderful Earth Day experience!

MARCH 9, 2012 - PURIM PARADE

A Parade...a Purim Parade! With our children wearing costumes ranging from princesses to action heroes, we celebrated Purim, one of the most festive and enjoyable Jewish holidays. As Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon told the story of Purim, we sang songs and proudly showed off our costumes for everyone at Temple Emanu-El to appreciate! 

FEBRUARY 14, 2012 - KINDERGARTEN "GEM & MINERAL SHOW"

Our Kindergarten (Arayot) prepared the first "Gem & Mineral Show" for all parents and children at the Strauss ECE. In similar fashion to the "Gem & Mineral Show" held annually in Tucson, the Arayot children transformed the Religious School Auditorium into an amazing spectacle for everyone. The children created signs and pictures advertising their knowledge and observations of their specific gem or mineral. Such topics included fossils, gold, crystals, moonstones, polished rocks, and volcanic rocks. It was an incredible experience for the children to act as teachers for the younger children.

FEBRUARY 8, 2012 - SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

We are pleased to announce that the Strauss ECE and Kindergarten earned over $1,200 in free books and other educational resources from the Scholastic Book Fair, as well as all the wonderful books donated from our teacher wish lists. The Book Fair ran for the past three days and we cannot thank our parents enough for volunteering to make this event a success. We would also like to specifically acknowledge Allison Diehl (mother of Eric Diehl in Peelim) for her tremendous effort in ensuring the Scholastic Book Fair would run smoothly. Several of our parents purchased new books for all of the classrooms and the teachers are thrilled to be able to read these books with their children.