While our schools were “closed” for Passover Break, our Early Childhood Centers provided a variety of virtual programming for families to tune in and participate. Children joined teacher Morgan Kaczor each morning for Fun and Fitness with Morgan to move their bodies and dance, incorporating gross- and fine-motor skills as well as breathing and mindfulness. Administrators led interactive story-time sessions and cooking demos through Zoom. Songleader Jason Mesches continued his live daily Power Hour on YouTube and Facebook. Rabbis Eshel and Nickerson led Torah Talk on Wednesdays and Shabbat Stories on Fridays. Our ECC offered Passover curriculum as well as a child-friendly Haggadah and a Passover-seder video created by our clergy, music specialists, and administrators. Additionally, classroom teachers sent out a variety of activities for parents to do with their children over the break.
Parents shared feedback on the virtual programming and reflected on this time in their lives: “We just wanted to thank you for the thoughtful programming for spring break,” wrote an ECC parent. “Today was great, and the activities were especially nice given the rain. We’re so thankful—we know of no other preschool community that is doing anything approaching what you have put together. It’s amazing. It’s also funny that we have this intense appreciation of the community at a time when we haven’t seen any of you for weeks!”
While we are unable to be together physically, we are proud of the connection our school community is able to maintain with our families. “The kids are probably going to remember this for the rest of their lives, and that’s actually been a really comforting and inspiring outlook for us. I think/hope it’s going to be warm and cozy memories of all of us at home, our home school routine of circle time, morning centers at the kitchen table, all these wonderful new school memories—pen pals, science videos, story-time videos. It’s great, and thank you!!”