Temple Emanu-El Early Childhood Education Center

💦 The first day of camp came with a splash!

New friends, old friends, and familiar faces reunited for a day filled with water play, laughter, and big smiles.

One of our favorite parts of camp is seeing how much our children have grown. Infants are now exploring the toddler playscape, Mini-Tots and Toddlers are taking on the big playscape, and our oldest campers are proudly stepping into their role as the big kids of camp.

The waves of fun are already rolling in, and we're ready for an unforgettable summer!

Behind every unforgettable camp summer is a team getting ready with heart, energy, and excitement ☀️💙

Camp Staff Development has been filled with meaningful preparation as our team gets ready to welcome Session 1 campers on Monday! From setting up rooms and exploring the temple campus to building connections as a staff, the energy around camp is unforgettable.

Some of our staff are returning for another summer after many years at Camp Emanu-El. Some once walked these halls as campers themselves and are now back creating magic for the next generation. Alongside new staff bringing fresh enthusiasm and ideas, this team is ready for an incredible summer together.

We can’t wait for the laughter, friendships, memories, and magical moments ahead

On Monday we celebrated the magic of milestones, memories, and meaningful growth of our oldest learners. Our Pre-K Celebration and Kindergarten Graduation moments were filled with pride, joy, and hearts bursting with love. Watching these children grow into confident, curious learners has been one of the greatest gifts we could imagine.

Though many may be moving on to new adventures, they will always have a home at ECEC. 💙

Once part of our school family, always part of our magic.

To say our educators feel appreciated is an understatement. 💛 “Thank you” hardly feels big enough for how loved and celebrated our team feels.

Helping children learn and grow is at the heart of who we are, and it means the world to us that our parents recognize the passion and care our educators bring each day.

This week, our Parents Association went far beyond anything we could have imagined — from breakfast treats and incredible lunches to flowers, gift cards, and today’s grand finale: a pamper party with Regina Merson’s cosmetic line, Reina Rebelde! 💄✨ Our staff had so much fun being treated to makeovers with amazing products.

A very special shoutout to our Educator Appreciation Committee — Julianna Ward, Caroline Birdwell, Torie Waxler, Taylor Brook, and Natalie Benefield — and our PA Presidents, Taylor Silverman and Maddie Wolf, for creating such a meaningful week for our educators. We are endlessly grateful.

Our Threes, Pre-K, and Kindergarten engineers have been exploring the exciting world of pulleys as part of their final study of simple machines in STEM!

Students began with a hands-on challenge: how can we move objects from the first floor to the second floor using a pulley system? Working together, they discovered how pulleys help make lifting and moving objects easier.

In the STEM lab, our Threes children continued manipulating various pulleys while our Pre-K and Kinder children designed and built their own working pulley systems using cardboard, wooden dowels, spools, string, and small buckets. Through trial and error, they tested their ideas, made adjustments, and problem-solved together to improve their designs.

As they explored different pulley systems around the classroom, students deepened their understanding of how simple machines help us in everyday life — all while building perseverance, collaboration, and confidence as young engineers.

Today we celebrate National Nurse’s Day and the heart of our school’s care — Nurse Natalia 💙

From bumps and bruises to fevers, hugs, and even the occasional lost tooth, she is there for it all…and so much more. She brings calm to chaos, comfort to tears, and reassurance to both children and grown-ups alike.

Thank you, Nurse Natalia, for the care, compassion, and magic you bring every single day. We are so grateful for you!

As we enter the final days of the school year, our educators are thoughtfully guiding children through the important transition to their next age clusters. Classrooms are opening their doors for visits, helping children build familiarity and confidence for what’s ahead.

Our Matanot children joined the Mishpacha class for a special story time—offering a warm and gentle glimpse into the experiences that await them next year. These moments help turn uncertainty into excitement as our children continue to grow.

A huge thank you to our incredible Parents' Association for making the first day of Educator Appreciation Week so special! 💙

From the warm welcome of balloons and beautifully decorated classroom doors to a morning coffee cart + delicious pastries—and even a take-home pasta kit—our teachers are truly feeling the love (and very spoiled!).

This outpouring of appreciation is a powerful reminder of just how meaningful and important the work of our educators is each and every day.

We hope your Shabbat is filled with love, warmth, and sweet moments like these. Shabbat Shalom!

With a simple overhead projector, Esther and Bayli’s threes children became researchers—testing ideas, noticing changes, and collaborating as they explored how shadows move, stretch, and transform.

In the dance between light and shadow, learning comes to life.