Board Of Jewish Education Of Metropolitan Chicago

TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND JEWISH EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

EARLY CHILD CENTER (ECC) - LEARNING THAT LEADS TO MEANINGFUL JEWISH LIVING STARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD. THE BJE'S TWO EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS (ECCS) - LOCATED IN WILMETTE AND NORTHBROOK, IL. - PROVIDE A RENOWNED EARLY CHILDHOOD AND CHILDCARE SCHOOL WHICH PROMOTES ALL ASPECTS OF A CHILD'S GROWTH - SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND PHYSICAL - IN A CONTINUALLY EVOLVING CURRICULUM AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHICH ALSO HELPS FOSTER A POSITIVE JEWISH IDENTITY AND AN APPRECIATION OF JEWISH VALUES AND TRADITIONS. RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS A SUPERB EDUCATIONAL MODEL, WITH HIGHLY EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF ALMOST 40 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS, THE BJE ECCS UNIQUE APPROACH INTEGRATES STATE OF THE ART SECULAR COMPONENTS OF EDUCATION INTO A JEWISH FRAMEWORK FOR APPROXIMATELY 140 CHILDREN. BJE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS DIRECTLY IMPACT THE FUTURE OF EACH CHILD, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. THEY REACH CHILDREN AT A CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL AGE WHERE LESSONS LEARNED LAST A LIFETIME AND PREPARE THE CHILD FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. PHILOSOPHYBJE-ECCS PROVIDE A RICH, WARM AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EACH CHILD, WITH THE GOALS TO HELP PARENTS LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL, AND ENJOYABLE FUTURE EDUCATION FOR THE CHILD:" PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A WELL-BALANCED PROGRAM BLENDING SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE, CREATIVE AND STRUCTURED, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES." TEACH CHILDREN TO DEVELOP A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE." ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO BE CURIOUS AND EXPLORE FREELY." GUIDE CHILDREN TO MASTER NEW LEARNING CONCEPTS GEARED TO THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL." HELP CHILDREN BECOME COMFORTABLE INTERACTING WITH PEERS AND ADULTS.FAMILIESBJE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS ARE FAMILY-ORIENTED PRESCHOOLS THAT WELCOME ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM A WIDE AND DIVERSE SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OUR FAMILY EVENTS. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR WE SPONSOR SHABBAT CELEBRATIONS, BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AND JEWISH HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE FAMILY.A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND TEACHERS IS IMPORTANT. PARENTS' VOICES IN THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY OF THEIR CHILD ARE ESSENTIAL TO THEIR SUCCESS AND TO THE EVOLVING CURRICULUM AT THE BJE-ECC. IN ADDITION TO REGULAR CONTACT WITH EACH CHILD'S FAMILY, WE SCHEDULE AT LEAST TWO FULL PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES AND A TELEPHONE CONFERENCE EARLY IN THE YEAR. ONGOING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND TEACHERS IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGED.CURRICULUMBJE-ECC HAS BEEN REVOLUTIONARY IN ITS APPROACH TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1972. A PRIME EXAMPLE IS THE ECCS PIONEERING INTEGRATION OF THE REGGIO EMILIA AND PLAY-BASED APPROACHES INTO THE JEWISH PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM IN THE CHICAGO AREA. THE REGGIO EMILIA PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON RECOGNIZING THAT THE YOUNG CHILD HAS MANY WAYS OF EXPRESSION. OUR TEACHERS TAP INTO THESE WAYS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE CHILD IN LEARNING. PROJECT WORK WHERE THE TEACHER AND CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED IN EXTENSIVE INTERACTIVE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING DISCUSSIONS, STIMULATE THE CHILDREN TO LEARN AND PROBLEM SOLVE IN A GROUP SETTING. THIS METHOD OF LEARNING RESPECTS EACH CHILD'S IDEAS AND IS KEY TO INVOLVING EACH CHILD IN THE LARGER GROUP EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IN- DEPTH APPROACH TO PROJECTS RESULTS IN A STRONGER SENSE OF POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM AND JEWISH IDENTITY IN CHILDREN. THE BJE ECCS COMBINE THIS APPROACH WITH JUDAIC CURRICULA AND DEEPEN ITS IMPACT WITH THEIR LONGSTANDING PRACTICE OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. WHAT MAKES OUR ECCS A NATIONAL MODEL, BESIDES OUR GROUNDBREAKING REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH? BJE MAINTAINS A RATIO OF NO MORE THAN 4 CHILDREN TO 1 TEACHER FOR INFANTS, 5:1 FOR TODDLERS AND 7:1 FOR OTHER CLASSES, OPTIMAL LEVELS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD'S PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND JUDAIC GROWTH. WE HIRE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, CARING TEACHERS WHO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN INTENSIVE, ONGOING IN-SERVICE EDUCATION. WE PROVIDE A FULLY INTEGRATED CURRICULUM THAT CONSISTENTLY INCLUDES JEWISH VALUES AND EXPERIENCES AND ONGOING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR YOUNG CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. COVID RESPONSEWHEN COVID RESTRICTIONS WERE MANDATED BY THE STATE OF IL IN MARCH 2020, ALL CLASSES WERE IMMEDIATELY TRANSITIONED TO REMOTE LEARNING. THE RENTED SCHOOL FACILITIES REMAINED UNAVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE 30. ALL TEACHERS WERE TRANSITIONED TO REMOTE TEACHING AND WERE EMPLOYED THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL. TUITION WAS REDUCED IN APRIL, MAY AND JUNE FOR FULL-DAY CHILDCARE STUDENTS IN WILMETTE AND 35-40 FAMILIES DECIDED TO WITHDRAW THEIR CHILDREN. THE BEGINNING OF CAMP IN WILMETTE WAS DELAYED UNTIL JUNE 29, 2020, SO ALL 2020 CAMP REVENUE OCCURRED IN FY21. TUITION COLLECTIONS WERE IMPACTED BY AT LEAST $250,000 COMPARED TO BUDGET. SOME RENT REDUCTIONS WERE ACHIEVED. CAMP OPERATED IN-PERSON IN WILMETTE IN JULY AND AUGUST 2020 (FY21) AND SCHOOL REOPENED IN-PERSON IN WILMETTE AND NORTHBROOK, WITH LIMITED ENROLLMENT DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS AND SUBSTANTIAL COVID-RELATED WITHDRAWALS. STAFFING WAS MAINTAINED FOR ALL CLASSES, AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLIANCE WITH ALL IDPH, DCFS AND CDC REQUIREMENTS. THERE WERE NO COVID CASES IN THE SCHOOL. ALL TEACHERS WERE VACCINATED WHEN AVAILABLE AND SAFE OPERATIONS WERE MAINTAINED FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.IN JUNE 2021 AT THE END OF SCHOOL, CAMP OPENED SUCCESSFULLY IN WILMETTE AND IN NORTHBROOK.THE CASH SHORTFALL IN FY20 AND FY21 WAS MADE UP BY THE PPP GRANTS RECEIVED IN APRIL 2020, WHICH WERE FULLY EXPENDED IN FY20 AND PPP2 GRANTS IN JANUARY 2021 FULLY EXPENDED IN FY21 BY YEAR END.IN ADDITION, BJE ECC WILMETTE WAS ELIGIBLE AND RECEIVED ILLINOIS CHILD CARE RESTORATION GRANTS FOR REOPENED FULL-DAY EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES BEGINNING JULY 2020 AND EACH MONTH IN FY21 (AT REDUCING AMOUNTS EACH QUARTER). THESE CCRG GRANTS COVERED SUBSTANTIAL OPERATING LOSSES DUE TO COVID REDUCED ENROLLMENT AND ADDITIONAL STAFFING AND OPERATING COSTS DURING COVID

JTEACH.ORG, FORMERLY THE MARSHALL CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN JEWISH EDUCATION AND THE FRANK G. MARSHALL JEWISH LEARNING CENTER (MJLC), WAS REBRANDED AS JTEACH.ORG IN FY21 AND CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN PROVIDING MODELS OF BEST PRACTICE, EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CURRICULUM AND CREATIVE MATERIALS TO ENHANCE JEWISH EDUCATION. JTEACH.ORG ENCOURAGES AND ENHANCES VIBRANT CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIVING THROUGH ORIGINAL AND INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGIC CONNECTIONS TO THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF JEWISH WISDOM.JTEACH.ORG IS AN ONLINE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE TO SUPPORT EDUCATORS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS. WE HELP EDUCATORS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO LEAD THEIR STUDENTS TO LIVE VIBRANT AND MEANINGFUL LIVES THROUGH CREATIVE AND INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.OUR ACTIVITIES PROVIDE IN-DEPTH JEWISH BACKGROUND ALONG WITH THE PEDAGOGIC BLUEPRINT TO MAKE JEWISH WISDOM PERSONAL FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. WE PROVIDE EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS WHO ARE NEW TO JEWISH EDUCATION WITH THE BACKGROUND THEY NEED TO TRANSMIT JEWISH WISDOM. WE PROVIDE NEW EDUCATORS WITH THE PLAN TO MAKE JEWISH WISDOM MEANINGFUL. AND, FOR THE EXPERIENCED JEWISH EDUCATOR, JTEACH.ORG PROVIDES ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES.OUR ACTIVITIES COVER MANY TRADITIONAL TOPICS LIKE SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYS AND ARE ALSO ABLE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN JEWISH WISDOM AND EVERYDAY LIVING IN CATEGORIES LIKE CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE AND DAILY LIFE AND SACRED MOMENTS. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EMPOWERS THOSE LOOKING FOR HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS AND THE BEST ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE LEARNER. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SUPPORTS ACADEMICS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND THE MEANS TO A POSITIVE JEWISH EXPERIENCE. OUR SUCCESS IS BASED ON USING RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND THE HOME. THE RESOURCES OF THE BJE'S JTEACH.ORG ARE AVAILABLE NATIONALLY AND WORLDWIDE. THE CUTTING-EDGE, MULTI-MEDIA JEWISH RESOURCE CENTER WAS INCORPORATED INTO JTEACH, AN ONLINE RESOURCE WEBSITE WITH OVER 475 ORIGINAL LESSONS. IT HAS BEEN ACCESSED INTERNATIONALLY BY OVER 105,000 VISITORS/EDUCATORS FROM 133 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES/TERRITORIES WHO HAVE DOWNLOADED OVER 475,000 LESSONS AND RESOURCES CUSTOM CRAFTED TO HELP STUDENTS AND FAMILIES MAKE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO JEWISH THOUGHT AND PRACTICE. DURING FY21 AN EXTENSIVE UPGRADE, REVISION AND ENHANCEMENT OF JTEACH WAS COMPLETED AND LAUNCHED IN EARLY FY22 SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE RELEVANT AND UNIQUE. MATERIALS ARE DESIGNED TO BE CURRENT AND OF INTEREST TO 21ST CENTURY LEARNERS. MATERIALS ARE DESIGNED TO BE OPEN, RELEVANT DISCUSSIONS ON CURRENT EVENTS THROUGH A JEWISH LENS. JTEACH ACTIVITIES AND LESSONS PROMOTE COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION AND CREATIVITY. VISUALLY COMPELLING POSTERS, WITH CORRESPONDING CURRICULA ARE AVAILABLE TO ENLIVEN CLASSROOM AND STUDENT WALLS AND ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.