Gan Shalom Preschool

2230 Jefferson Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 848-3298

Gan Shalom Preschool is dedicated to providing a warm, nurturing environment where children may feel secure to explore and learn. Our goals are to foster each child’s emotional, social and cognitive development, build positive self-esteem, and promote a strong Jewish identity. Our curriculum is purposely designed to offer a balanced diversity of activities in music, dramatic play, arts and crafts, movement, science and language arts. We believe that children learn best through concrete, hands-on experiences by testing concepts, manipulating materials, and engaging their natural curiosity and creativity to explore the world around them. Children’s interactions with their peers provide them with an opportunity to learn cooperation, problem-solving skills, and appropriate ways of expressing feelings.

Our Jewish identification enriches our curriculum with the study and celebration of the Jewish holidays, Shabbat, readings from the Bible, daily prayers and blessings. Hebrew is introduced through songs, stories and creative dramatics. Jewish values such as Tzedakah (charity), Mitzvot (good deeds) and Refuah Shlema (healing) are explored through stories, art, rituals, discussions and special projects.

Religious Observance

Gan Shalom is the preschool of Congregation Beth Israel, though we happily welcome families who are not members of CBI. We observe Shabbat and all Jewish holidays. The kitchen is kosher and children are expected to bring dairy or parve lunches. Boys wear kippot or caps.

Family Participation

Gan Shalom functions as a community for its children and families. Parent participation is encouraged in holiday celebrations, fundraising and special projects. Each family is asked to contribute 25 hours of parent participation per enrolled child per school year.

Gan Shalom Staff

Gan Shalom's staff functions as a team to create a positive, warm and nurturing learning environment. Staff works closely with parents to ensure that each child’s unique needs are met. Gan Shalom prides itself on providing a supportive work environment to our staff which results in low staff turnover.

Hours

Gan Shalom is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The hours are as follows:

Morning program (five days a week)	9:00-1:00
Afternoon program (per parent choice)	1:00-4:00
Early care (per parent choice)	8:00-9:00

Parents have the option of enrolling their children in the afternoon program and in early care either on a full-time or part-time basis. Drop-in is permitted on a space-available basis.

Admissions

Gan Shalom accepts children who are 2 years, 9 months of age and older as of September 1st of the enrolling year. Enrollment applications, together with a $50.00 application fee, are accepted as of mid-November. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in February. Preference in admission is given as follows:

• Children of Congregation Beth Israel members who have been members in good standing for one full year prior to application;
• Siblings of previously enrolled Gan Shalom children;
• Residents of the immediate neighborhood;
• All other applicants.

Enrollment is also based upon the readiness of the child, and on the need to balance age and gender in the class. Gan Shalom does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.

For more information, please call Laura Lipman, director at (510) 848-3298.