Since 2009, the Rosen JCC Learning Center has offered infant, toddlers and preschoolers with STEAM-based, social, physical, emotional and intellectual programs to prepare them for kindergarten.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, the JCC also will offer a kindergarten program starting in August \u2014 something the community center has been wanting to do for a while.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already have the preschool here,\u201d said Sarah Ratliff, senior director of youth programs. \u201cWe have families who have been with us for years and would love to stay an extra year because they know the JCC, they know we provide a really great education for the kids, but there is also now a really big demand for alternative schooling options.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ratliff said the demand is because of Orange County Public Schools closing and consolidating schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe classes that still exist are now going to grow in size, there\u2019s going to be less resources, and more demand on the teachers, which is crazy,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re already overloaded as it is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the kindergarten program flourishes, Ratliff said the goal is maintain small class sizes. She said the program will cap classes once it reaches 16 students, allowing for more teacher-student interactions, personalized lessons and increased engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ratliff said kindergartners will have two teachers \u2014 a lead teacher and an assistant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The lead teacher has not been hired yet as Ratliff is looking for someone who is certified and experienced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A pre-K assistant teacher will be promoted to kindergarten assistant teacher.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have someone new coming in but we\u2019ll still have someone that\u2019s been here for a long time and knows the way we do things,\u201d Ratliff said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Rosen JCC is looking to meet the state standards but also exceed them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a STEAM Lab here in the preschool that (kindergartners) will also have access to,\u201d Ratliff said. \u201cIt\u2019s one of my favorite things that we have here. We have a whole hydroponics system in there. We also have the room set up so that (students) can have different station areas with different themes each week.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Involving children in science, technology, engineering, arts and math is key. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have weekly Spanish lessons (and) weekly piano lessons,\u201d Ratliff said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On top of that, kindergartners will go through social and emotional learning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA big part of the curriculum is to not only teach the kids how to regulate their own emotions, but to learn how they fit into a community, how they relate to their friends, parents and teachers,\u201d she said. \u201cWe also are going to have a values class. This is something we already do for our pre-K students. \u2026 They learn about things we want them to adopt to become good people. They\u2019ll learn about kindness, charity, friendship. It\u2019s really good character development for them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ratliff also is coordinating an annual field trip to the Orlando Science Center for the kindergartners.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited to get to see the same kids who have been here for pre-K that we know and love, and just get to have them for another year,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be so excited to have another year with their friends, too. \u2026 There\u2019s definitely the aspect of belonging to a community. Some of these kids have been here since they were babies and they\u2019ve had the same friends in the same class for years now. \u2026 There\u2019s a foundation of trust and belonging there. I think it\u2019s just a very natural way for them to continue their education here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because many of the students stay for after-school care, the program also will facilitate the transition into it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ratliff also is excited to welcome new students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to be able to have as many kids as possible access the best education as possible,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Families don\u2019t need to be Jewish or a member of the Rosen JCC to join. The only requirement to be able to sign up for the program is the child must be 5 years old by Tuesday, Sept. 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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