Blog - Slater Torah Academy

Montessori Focus at JPA PD Week

Friday, August 25, 2023 - 12:46 PM

One of the things we love about our staff is their growth mindset that matches our commitment as a school to constantly improving and making it the best for our students. Each year, we spend a week on professional development, team building and classroom set-up.

This year, the focus on learning and in our classrooms was on the Montessori method. It began with a session with Charlotte Lin, an experienced Montessori educator who gave an overview on the method and why it works. She explained many of the important works that the children in a Montessori classroom learn how to do.

We are grateful to Morah Sara Chaya, a Montessori educator of many years and a long time teacher at JPA for almost 18 years who donated a tremendous amount of Montessori materials and then demonstrated them for all of our staff.

Our classrooms are looking beautiful with the natural colors and beautiful aesthetic that Montessori and the Reggio Emelia perspectives are known for.

We also had workshops on topics like emergency drills, Kosher, a procedure based classroom, and the lunch program.

Why a Goat and a Horse were at JPA

Friday, August 25, 2023 - 12:34 PM

Early Childhood aged children thrive on routine, so when a new school year comes along, it is important to help our students acclimate to prepare them for the changes that a new year brings, such as a new classroom, teacher, routines and for our new students, a new school or their first school experience.

Here's what we did to help with that process:

1) Two weeks before the school year began, we sent out to each family a package with two social stories. Social stories tell a story about what will happen and what the expectations are. The stories we sent home were about getting ready in the morning and going to preschool.

2) We held a parent orientation so parents would be familiar with the routines and expectations that we have at JPA.

3) Families were invited to a fun day at school on the Sunday before school began. We had an exciting petting zoo with a goat, horse, chickens, and a sheep. Families were able to spend time together while the children played on the bounce house, colored pictures and enjoyed an animal themed water table.

4) On Monday, children were assigned an hour time slot to come with their parents to drop off their supplies and spend time in their classroom with only one or two other children present.

5) On Tuesday, new students had half a day and left before nap time.

In another blog post, we'll talk about the routines and procedures that we have at drop off and throughout the day to provide predictability and a secure environment.

Back to school BBQ!

Friday, August 25, 2023 - 12:25 PM

It is back to school and STA elementary celebrated with our 6th annual Welcome Back BBQ. This year, we took it up a level with a hillarious parent and child game. Parents and children were asked questions like what is your mom's favorite snack? or what is your child's favorite school lunch? to see how well they know each other. This event was coordinated by Morah Lina Warshawski and Gittel Nemes along with the STA elementary admin team. The BBQ was deliciously prepared by Alex Casabat. Thank you to everyone volunteered and helped with the set up.

7 Days of Creation at JPA Camp

Friday, August 25, 2023 - 12:12 PM

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This summer, STA and JPA ran an array of camps that were engaging and provided entertainment for our students during the weeks that school was closed. Our STA elementary students enjoyed a STEM camp where they built catapults, their very own working bubble machine and so much more. JPA students ages 3-5 enjoyed a mini camp run by our very own JPA teachers during the week that Camp Gan Israel was not open. For the entirety of the summer, our 0-2 year olds had a blast with water play, gymnastics, music class and a curriculum that took them on a journey discovering the incredible world Hashem created. Each week took them on a journey to learn about things like light, birds, flowers and animals through art, sensory play, songs and stories.