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Important pool announcement: The pool will close at 6pm this Friday, 3/28, for our Sensory Swim program—please plan your swim accordingly. If you'd like to join us, register here.

Check out our Group Exercise Classes!

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Play Pickleball

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Hours:

Aquatics Center Hours

Sunday7:00 am - 5:30 pm

Monday5:15 am - 4:00 pm
6:45 pm - 8:30 pm

Tuesday5:15 am - 4:00 pm
6:45 pm - 8:30 pm

Wednesday5:15 am - 4:00 pm
6:45 pm - 8:30 pm

Thursday5:15 am - 4:00 pm
6:45 pm - 8:30 pm

Friday5:15 am - 4:00 pm
6:45 pm - 7:30 pm

Saturday7:00 am - 5:30 pm

Fitness Center Hours

Sunday7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Monday5:15 am - 9:00 pm

Tuesday5:15 am - 9:00 pm

Wednesday5:15 am - 9:00 pm

Thursday5:15 am - 9:00 pm

Friday5:15 am - 8:00 pm

Saturday7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Holiday Hours:

Saturday, April 12

Erev Passover

7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday, April 13

Passover (CLOSED)

Closed
Monday, May 26

Memorial Day (CLOSED)

Closed
Friday, July 4

Independence Day (CLOSED)

Closed
Monday, September 1

Labor Day (CLOSED)

Closed
Monday, September 22

Erev Rosh Hashanah

5:15 am - 3:00 pm
Tuesday, September 23

Rosh Hashanah (CLOSED)

Closed
Wednesday, September 24

Rosh Hashanah (CLOSED)

Closed
Wednesday, October 1

Erev Yom Kippur

5:15 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday, October 2

Yom Kippur (CLOSED)

Closed
Thursday, November 27

Thanksgiving

6:00 am - 2:00 pm
Friday, November 28

Thanksgiving (day after)

6:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wednesday, December 24

Christmas Eve

5:15 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday, December 25

Christmas Day (CLOSED)

Early Childhood Center

 

“The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.”

 

 —Loris Malaguzzi

Girl with Bubbles
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OUR MISSION

The Early Childhood Center (ECC), as part of the Shames JCC on the Hudson, is located in the heart of the Rivertowns in Tarrytown, NY. Our school offers programming for 2’s, 3’s and 4’s. Our deeply engaged staff works closely with families to stimulate and nurture children as they make the transition from home to school. Our families and educators create a strong sense of community and our ECC has always been a responsive and flexible place, open to new innovations in early childhood education and the always-changing needs of families.

Our mission is to:

  • Provide a warm and caring environment that welcomes children from diverse backgrounds.
  • Guide children’s play as they experiment, explore, create and pursue challenging projects.
  • Encourage children as they negotiate new relationships and form friendships.
  • Foster an appreciation of differences in both cultures and personalities.
  • Gently prepare children for a more formal education in the years to come.
Menorah
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

We believe that children find meaning and joy through their play. Our strong commitment to this essential truth can be witnessed in our rich, developmentally appropriate play-based curriculum. Through play, children construct their understanding of the world and acquire the physical, intellectual, and social skills that will be the foundation of their successes throughout their lives.

The work we do in our ECC is inspired by the progressive tradition of Reggio Emilia. We do not view children as empty vessels waiting to be filled with adult-given knowledge, but as constructors of their own learning and experiences in school. The teacher’s role in this environment is to guide and facilitate, observe and document, support, and inspire.

Our philosophy for children’s programming is deeply influenced by the work of John Dewey, Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Lev Vygotsky and is characterized by a deep engagement with the child at every level. Classroom schedules, space, mesmerizing materials, and the quality of a child’s relationships are carefully considered and intentional. Our learning spaces are designed to create a sense of wonder, inquiry, and human connection. We believe that the environment can act as an additional teacher.

Meet the Directors

Ann Zarider

Director of Early Childhood Program

(914) 366-7898 x1112

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Ann Zarider and Ronnie Brockman came together eleven years ago after many years teaching young children. They both share a deep understanding of early childhood education and curriculum development, capacity to hire, supervise, train and inspire great teachers, and their abiding commitment to raising safe, confident, and curious children.

Ronnie Brockman

Assistant Director of Early Childhood Program

(914) 366-7898 x1136

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Our Team

At the Shames JCC Early Childhood Center, our experienced educators are dedicated to:

  • Providing a warm and caring environment that welcomes children from diverse backgrounds.
  • Guiding children’s play as they experiment, explore, create, and pursue challenging projects.
  • Encouraging children as they negotiate new relationships and form friendships.
  • Partnering with parents and families to raise healthy and confident children.
    Gently preparing children for a more formal education in the years to come.
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”

 —Rachel Carson

Parent Community

Parenting Programs & Community

A school program is as much about creating community with parents as it is about excellent education for children.

Our offerings for parents include:

  • Parenting workshops with leading experts
  • Project SEED Social worker
  • Parent committees
  • Social programming

We want your child’s and your family’s experience in our Early Childhood Center to be warm and wonderful. Please contact us to hear more about our programs and meet our wonderful staff first-hand.

Parents
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