Social Action

Ganon Gil (Hebrew for “Happy Nursery”) was created in 1955 with the idea that while children are learning to socialize and adjust to a group situation they are also learning to relate to Jewish traditions, Hebrew language, ceremonies and holidays which are an integral part of the American Jewish identity.

Ganon Gil has a comprehensive and developmental program designed to help children reach their full potential socially and emotionally and provides them with the educational components necessary for future school success.

Ganon Gil is more than just a preschool, it is a family. Each staff member takes the time to not only get to know the children they teach but also the student’s parents and siblings. The bonds that are created in the classroom, the hallways and the social functions at Ganon Gil allow the families to all feel connected and give the sense of a community of Jewish tradition.

Building strong minds and a sense of self is a goal of our teachers here at Ganon Gil. We offer a wide range of activities both in and out of the classroom to help our kids learn to be independent thinkers.

Ganon Gil’s mission is to provide children with love and a caring atmosphere so that they can learn the social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills that they will need now and in the future.

Come and see why Ganon Gil Preschool is one of Cleveland’s most innovative Jewish preschools and the place “Where love and caring are the building blocks of the future.”

Voted in the top 3 best Jewish Preschools in Cleveland by The Source Magazine

Ganon Gil preschool is housed in the beautiful Temple, Beachwood. Rabbis Jonathan Cohen, Roger C. Klein and Stacy Schlein, and Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo participate in programming, along with The Temple’s outstanding Judaic education team.

The students have access to The Temple’s state-of-the-art library and resource center, the sanctuary, and a brand new playground. The Temple’s renowned Museum of Religious Art and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, adjacent to The Temple, will also be available to the students and their families as unique educational resources. Tuition discounts and priority registration are available to Temple members.

Ganon Gil offers high quality care and education for children ages, 6 weeks to 5 years old. We operate 50 weeks a year and our hours of operation are 7:00am-6:00pm Monday-Thursday and 7:00-5:30 on Fridays.

Read All About Us In The CJN!

Want to know more about us? Follow this link, fill out an inquiry form, and we will contact you!

CURRICULUM & PLANNING

Each staff member takes the time to not only get to know the children they teach but also the student’s parents and siblings. The bonds that are created in the classroom, the hallways and the social functions at Ganon Gil allow the families to all feel connected and give the sense of a community of Jewish tradition.

• Ganon Gil’s mission is to provide children with love and a caring atmosphere so that they can learn the social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills that they will need now and in the future.
• We have adopted The Creative Curriculum Gold by: Diane Trister Dodge, Laura Colker, Cate Heroman and our teacher’s use it to guide them in planning and implementing the themes/studies. The Creative Curriculum Gold balances both teacher-directed and child-initiated learning, with an emphasis on responding to children’s learning styles and building on their strengths and interests. The Creative Curriculum Gold is in line with Ohio’s State Early Learning and Development Standards and NAEYC’s (National Association for the Education of Young Children) curriculum standards.
• Teachers use assessment/screening outcomes, ongoing observing, parent goals, child works samples and documentation when planning the classroom curriculum. Individual learning goals are set for each child to ensure sustaining and scaffolding of each child’s growth and development.
• Through the ongoing observations the teachers learn the interest of the children. The teachers plan their curriculum according to tangible learning, developmentally age appropriate, individual need of the children and what is happening in the world around the children. “Developmentally appropriate practice, often shortened to DAP, is an approach to teaching grounded both in the research on how young children develop and learn and in what is known about effective early education. Its framework is designed to promote young children’s optimal learning and development. DAP involves teachers meeting young children where they are (by stage of development), both as individuals and as part of a group; and helping each child meet challenging and achievable learning goals (www.naeyc.org)”.
• The teachers ensure that the curriculum is culturally diverse as well as Jewish content rich.
• The teachers and director use the environmental rating scale systems ECER/ITERS to ensure that the learning environment meet the needs of the children. A CIP (continuous improvement plan) is then devised to improve areas of need.

The curriculum is research based and well diverse it encompasses language arts, phonemic awareness, music, gross motor, art appreciation, science, fine motor and more.

COMMUNICATION

We pride ourselves on open communication. We feel that it is extremely important to be in close contact with parents in regard to your child’s day. There are a variety of ways that we communicate with parents:

• Annual School Calendar: The calendar contains important information about events, holidays, programs and school day closings.
• Parents’ Bulletin Board: Notices are posted on a designated board in the Preschool Hallway or outside your child’s classroom which changes frequently and contains valuable notes, curriculum information, center information, child development articles and other materials. Please keep an eye on it.
• Monthly Newsletters: These are emailed monthly from the Director.
• Class Weekly Newsletter: These are emailed weekly from the classroom teachers.
• Open Door Policy: We have an open door policy for parents. You may drop in any day, at any time, to observe your child or join in our activities. Please remember that during the school day, the teachers must focus on the children, so please do not use this as a time for a conference.
• Curriculum Night: This occurs in September and is for parents/guardians and staff only. It provides a chance for parents/guardians to hear about the school’s objectives, goals and purposes. It is an excellent opportunity to meet other parents in your child’s classroom.
• Family Programs: Please check the Ganon Gil annual calendar for all upcoming Family and Temple events.

Because preschool children learn by doing, activities will focus on “experiential learning.” For example, rather than talking to a group of children about the concept of measurement … we might bake a cake! For young children, meaningful and long-lasting learning requires active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work. This is best accomplished through purposeful play facilitated by highly intentional teaching practices.

Want to know more about us? Follow this link, fill out an inquiry form, and we will contact you!