Vision Statement
PRESCHOOL
The Dora L. Lewis Family & Child Development Center offers a fully licensed preschool program 5 days a week serving children ages 2-5 with various options for families; half-day( 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM) and full-day( 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM), as well as early morning care( 8:00 AM- 9:00 AM) and extended day( 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM). The preschool has been accredited by NAEYC since 1987.
Vision Statement
Guided by Jewish values, we aspire to create a joyful community where we honor the sacred relationships among children, educators, families and the natural world. In this community we are all deserving of love and respect. We all have amazing potential for growth and learning. We connect to our sense of wonder and gratitude through the enduring relationships cultivated here. May we inspire one another to make the world better for this and future generations.
Innovative Program
The Early Childhood department is excited to offer an innovative Preschool program for the 2025-2026 school year. We consistently rethink and reimagine our program to meet the needs, health, and safety of our families, children, and faculty. We have the honor and responsibility to nurture each child’ s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth through meaningful interactions and experiences that foster a zest for life and a love of learning.
Open and Diverse Community
The children, families, and faculty members in our early childhood program belong to many different cultures, ethnicities, family structures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Though we follow Jewish tradition, families of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome in our preschool and community!
Connecting Children to Nature
By making nature an enriching part of the daily lives of children, we are inspiring the next generation of tree planters and environmental stewards. We encourage our children to explore the world with a sense of wonder and to help them see that they too have a responsibility to care for the world around them! We encourage and value time spent outdoors enjoying and exploring the wonder of the natural world.
Classrooms Alive with Investigation, Collaboration and Creativity
Inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach enhances the very heart of our programs, which provide an experience that shapes not only children’ s knowledge and skill, but also their attitudes about learning and intellectual curiosity. This is a journey the children and teachers take together, requiring the teachers to connect with their children’ s interests and follow their lead as they explore the world around them indoors and outdoors.
The Weinstein JCC Early Childhood program is supported in part by: The Edward J. Becker Family Preschool Children’ s Endowment Fund, Margarete Hirsch & Suzanne Hirt Preschool Children’ s Endowment Fund, and Dora L. Lewis Child Development Fund
Contact Donna Peters, Early Childhood Director, at 804-545-8617 or dpeters @ weinsteinjcc. org for more information.
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