Meet Our Specialists

Shannon Small – OTR

A Registered Occupational Therapist, graduated from Tufts University with a Masters of Science in OT. Shannon will collaborate with the 3’s, 4’s and 5’s classroom teachers in various activities to assess and improve student’s fine motor development and visual motor skills

Susan Kohn Arovas was one of the parent founders of our Community Gardens. She is now an ECP staff specialist as our head garden educator. Our 2’s, and 3’s learn to garden planting peas, and pumpkins in the late Spring along with flowers and corn. Our 4’s and 5’s tend their garden all year long learning about the life cycle of a plant., the difference between perennials (bulbs) and annuals, composting, and how to care for and harvest a variety of vegetables. Susan connects Jewish values to the land they’re working in by, for example, collecting flowers for Shabbat, and caring for the earth on Tu B’Shevat. Susan’s expertise comes from her years of gardening with her own children, as well as her attendance at the conference Jewish Early Childhood Education and the Outdoor Classroom: Connecting Children with Creation.

Soccer Shots

Soccer Shots is a national program that teaches the beautiful game of soccer and focuses on character development by incorporating a word of the day into each session and discussing it meaning and relevance on the soccer field. Through creativity, positivity and fun we encourage new challenges and increased confidence with ball control and basic soccer moves. Soccer Shots will be working with us monthly in a pilot program for the 2’s, 3′,s 4’s and 5’s.

As nature surrounds the ECP at Kol Ami from every direction, our Teva Program specialist Candice Moscoe-Polner will be taking the

the 3′,s 4’s and 5’s children out to explore the wonder of our beautiful grounds. Using their five senses the children will observe, collect and discover things that inspire creativity in every shape and form. Candice loves combining nature, art and Jewish learning with children of all ages and has been doing it for many years. As one of the parent founders of our ECP Gardens, and a Green Team creator at her son’s elementary school, Candice will guide the children to create art from nature. She has learned that when children have the opportunity to experience all that the natural world has to offer they have a greater sense of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).

Budding Buddah’s Yoga

Budding Buddah’s Kids Yoga and Mindfulness programs are designed to build focus, confidence and body awareness as well as teaching age appropriate regulation and calming techniques that children can use in their everyday lives

torahalive

Our Torah Alive! program is led by Julie Rabinowitz, a longtime teacher in our ECP. Through storytelling, puppetry and costumed acting, Julie brings stories from the book of Genesis – from Creation through The Ten Commandments – to life for our 3s and 4s. Each week, our children are introduced to the characters and stories and values that are central to our Jewish tradition. Julie shares her love of Torah and community with our children and inspires the youngest members of our community as they begin their own spiritual and Jewish journeys.

Shannon Small – OTR

Music

Israeli Dance & Movement

Community Garden

Soccer Shots

Teva Program

Budding Buddah’s Yoga

Torah Alive