Welcome to Temple Shalom's Nursery School!
Temple Shalom Nursery School (TSNS) is an early childhood center for children ages 18 months through five years old. The learning experience at TSNS is informed by the fundamental Jewish values of community, kindness, respect, strive for knowledge, and justice. Our school also carries the honor of being the first school in Massachusetts certified as a Nature Explore Program.
WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES A THRIVING JEWISH LEARNING COMMUNITY, NATURE-RICH CURRICULUM, OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, CARING AND TALENTED EDUCATORS, AND FULL-DAY EXTENDED OPTIONS.
Interested in the 2024-2025 school year? We would love to meet you!
Applications will open on November 1st for the 25-26 School Year.
Please reach out to Becca Yudkoff at byudkoff@templeshalom.org to schedule a tour or scroll to the bottom of the screen to submit an interest form.
2024-2025 Calendar
(25-26 Calendar coming soon!)
FEATURES OF OUR SCHOOL
- Enrolling ages 18 Months through Pre-K
- Offering a rich Jewish curriculum, outdoor classrooms, and Nature Explorer certified program
- Featuring a nurturing learning environment & staff
- Our day runs from 9:00-1:00 offering extended day options (7:45 am-5:30 pm, except Friday closing at 3:30)
- Open to Temple Shalom members and non-members. A tuition discount is available for members.
- Priority registration available for the eight week Summer Program
A PEEK INSIDE OF TSNS!
SCHOOL STRUCTURE
Our school is divided into 5 Cohorts, all with their own outdoor classroom (and indoor space if necessary). We have three toddler cohorts and three preschool mixed-age groups. The main part of the day runs from 9:00-1:00 with extended day options. (see extended day)
RATIO & COHORT SIZE
Toddler Cohorts:
6 children with 2 teachers
Preschool Cohorts:
12-14 children with 2 teachers
These ratios support a warm and nurturing educational approach with close individualized attention to every child.
OUR APPROACH
Children develop their capacity to think through communication and dialogue. When children explore, pose questions, or solve problems in partnership with adults and peers, they recognize the “how” of their own thinking. This is the philosophy that guides our nursery school.
- Teachers carefully observe, listen, and interact with every child to understand the process of learning.
- Teachers engage children in meaningful activities that encourage investigation and expand children's interests, curiosity and inquiry.
- Teachers skillfully combine open-ended explorations with guiding instructions. Teachers encourage children to work together.
- Collaboration with others builds experience through collective learning. In a community of learners, children appreciate their own abilities, motivation, and grow to value the participation of others. They learn empathy.
- Teachers document children’s learning through pictures, notes, stories and portfolios.
2025-2026 TUITION
*A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $750 is required upon enrollment
ADMISSIONS & MEMBERSHIP
The admissions process for the 2025-2026 school year is as follows:
- Applications for new families will open on November 1st, and decisions will be made at the beginning of December and communicated to families who sent their application for enrollment. The decisions are based on availability and priority is given to members of the Temple.
- Your application will give you the option of being added to the waiting list for the 2025-2026 school year.
- A $50 non-refundable/non-
transferable application fee is due with each application. Children should be at least 18 months old by September 1st, 2025 to be considered for fall admission. - Member families will receive a discount on the cost of tuition by the amount of their Shalom Commitment minus $100, up to a maximum of $1800. Thus, if a family makes a Shalom Commitment of $1800, their TSNS discount would be $1700. The discount will be applied to the member’s account once the final payment for their Shalom Commitment is received.
- For multiple children in a family in the Nursery School, a $300 discount is applied for each child beyond the first one.
- Please reach out to Becca Yudkoff (byudkoff@templeshalom.org) to schedule a tour or with any questions!
Our Values & Beliefs
Jewish tradition emphasizes that each child is born with infinite potential and is an active learner. This belief is central in our practice.
We view education as a process of building thinking relationships with people, ideas, materials, and the self.
We respect children’s rights. We strive to build a school culture which centers on children’s needs, interests, and ideas.
Through play, children deepen their relationships with people, materials, and ideas. They deepen their understanding of the self.
Children benefit from trustful, collaborative relationships .Warm and respectful interactions at the school create a strong sense of community.
Play is a child's right, need, and a biological drive; it is as integral to healthy development as sleep and nutrition.
Lucy Banerji, Nursery School Director
Lucy has spent her career in the field of early childhood education in a variety of settings. Lucy studied psychology and sociology of childhood at Saratov State University, Russia and holds a doctorate in Sociology of Childhood. She is passionate about children's rights, equity, inclusion and anti-bias curriculum. Lucy's professional experience includes work with preschool children, academic research and teachers' training, including at Tufts University. She has more than 25 years of experience teaching in the classroom, mentoring and coaching teachers, supporting families, collaborating with therapists and directing early childhood programs. Lucy became director of the Temple Shalom Nursery School in 2017.
Connect with Us!
Interested in learning more about Temple Shalom Nursery School? Please complete the form below and we will be in touch to schedule an introductory conversation.
Join our Team!
We are hiring Preschool & Toddler Teachers 2023-2024 school year (with an option to work in the summer as well).
To apply, please email your resume to Becca Yudkoff: byudkoff@templeshalom.org
