Early Childhood

For information on scheduling a tour of our school please contact Rachel Huber at [email protected].
 

2025-26 Rates and Registration

Easy How-To Registration Video!

Early Childhood FAQs

What are the exact times of drop-off and pick-up (for the 2025-26 school year)?
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Programs: Arrival will be between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m. and dismissal between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Programs: Arrival will be between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m. and dismissal between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Annex Program at Congregation Beth Israel: Arrival is between 9:00 and 9:10 a.m. and dismissal is between 12:15 and 12:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Annex Program at Congregation Beth Israel: Arrival is between 9:00 and 9:10 a.m. and dismissal is between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m.

Our Early Arrival program begins at 7:30 a.m. This program is available to all Early Childhood families at the main site.

Our Late Stay program begins at 4:30 p.m. and families may pick up anytime between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. This program is available only to children in school 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily.

Is JCC membership required to enroll in school?
Yes, JCC membership is required for all families enrolled in our school. Please contact Jodi Hotra, Membership Director, at [email protected] or 908-889-8800 x235 for information or click here.

How will I know if my registration is confirmed?
You will be alerted during the registration process if your child has been added to a class and that a deposit is due, or if they have been added to our wait list.

What happens if my child gets wait listed?
If you register and the desired age group or schedule is full, you will see a wait list confirmation screen and you will automatically be put on our wait list in the order you registered. No deposit will be taken if your child is wait listed. If a spot becomes available for your child, you will be notified by phone, have the opportunity to accept the spot, and the deposit will be taken at that time.

What if I change my mind? Is there an opportunity to make changes to the registration?
If you change your mind about the class you have chosen, we can make a change ONLY if there is a space available in your desired class at the time you make the decision.  Any changes made to your child’s early arrival or and late stay registration must be made by May 5, 2025.  

How will classes be determined?
Classes will be determined by the age and schedule you choose as well as our designated capacity. (Our school is limited to a specific number of rooms and licensed capacity.) Only one reciprocal friend request will be considered (not guaranteed) due to a limited number of spaces in each class.

Will there be kindergarten classes for the 2025-26 school year?
Kindergarten will no longer be a part of our Early Childhood offerings. 

Questions? Contact Rachel Huber, Children's Services Operations Manager, at [email protected] or 908-889-8800 x227.

Financial Assistance at the JCC

Our JCC doors are always open to individuals and families of all financial positions.  If you are interested in any of our programs but are experiencing financial hardship, the JCC has an ongoing financial assistance program that helps offset some of the costs of JCC programs.  Our community is fortunate to have this financial assistance program readily available to those in need thanks to a generous endowment from the family of Isaac and Helaine Heller. And we are here to help those who can benefit from this assistance! 

There are many reasons why an individual or family might find themselves thinking about financial assistance, and we are committed to providing that assistance. It is one of our top priorities. Our JCC believes that everyone in our community should have the same opportunity to be a part of our warm, welcoming center.  

If you or someone you know could benefit from financial assistance, we strongly encourage you to apply – even if you are unsure about the process or the qualifications.  Our Membership Director is happy to discuss the process with you and answer any questions you may have.  The financial assistance process is confidential, and we are here to help you along the way because we know that being a part of our JCC provides unmatched connections, friendships and experiences. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION

2025-26 School Year Calendar

DOWNLOADABLE 2025-26 CALENDAR

2025-26 School Year Calendar - Annex at CBI

DOWNLOADABLE CALENDAR

2025-26 School Year Calendar - Annex at Sholom

Downloadable 2025-26 Annex at Sholom Calendar

2024-25 Early Childhood Guidebook 

EC Guidebook 2024:25 rev. 1:10.25

Downloadable Guidebook 

Inclusion and Support Services

Our staff participate in extensive training on understanding age-appropriate developmental milestones, and we collect data on a regular basis to inform our teaching practices and provide individualized accommodations for children in need. 

Our Early Childhood program uses a team approach called the Chesed process which means "loving care" in Hebrew.  Through the Chesed process, we identify children with a higher level of need, make referrals and provide accommodations.

For more information about supports available in Early Childhood programming, please contact Beth Mitchell, Director of Inclusion and Diversity, at [email protected] or 908-889-8800 x203.

Protecting Children from Child Abuse

At the JCC of Central NJ our Mission is to educate, enrich and empower our community- from generation to generation. The safety of children is the utmost priority at the JCC. Child Abuse Prevention takes an entire community and the JCC stands with our community, as our vision states. In our community, with our community, for our community.

The following is in place for all programs at our JCC that serve children. These protocols ensure that we protect your children while in our care, protect our staff and protect the JCC.

• Criminal background, sex offender registry and reference checks are conducted on all staff prior to hiring.
• Staff must agree and sign our Child Abuse Prevention Code of Conduct which remains in their employee file.
• Staff are required to complete online Child Abuse Prevention training prior to their 1st day of work.
• Staff are annually trained on Child Abuse Prevention.
• All guests and vendors are screened when visiting the JCC through the Nationwide Sex Offender Database.
• In order to protect the staff, volunteers, and program participants – at no time during a program may a staff person be alone with a single child where they cannot be observed by others. As staff supervise children, they should space themselves in a way that other staff can see them.
• As part of our Culture of Safety Engagement Plan, we have established protocols for screening volunteers at the JCC. As an agency that serves children, developmentally disabled, and the elderly, this is best practice as outlined by our Insurer.
• Volunteers are screened by the Program Director and referred to the Volunteer Coordinator to begin the volunteer screening process which includes, reference checks, national sex offender registry checks (ongoing), training, and supervision.
• Our Children’s Services programs adhere to all guidance (including staff supervision ratios) set forth by the Department of Children and Families (Early Childhood and Afterschool at the J) and the Youth Camp Safety Standards and American Camp Association Standards (Camp Yachad). The standards set forth by these guiding bodies inform our policies and procedures.

As designated mandated reporters, the director(s) of all Children’s Services programs are required to report any instance of suspected abuse whenever there is reasonable cause. 

Our Philosophy

The JCC’s Brody Family Early Learning Center is committed to excellence in education and to providing a safe nurturing environment for all of our children. We are inspired by the philosophy of Reggio Emilia which supports each participant in the learning process as a competent, capable learner. The program is designed to allow children to flourish as they interact with both their physical and social environments.

From our infant and toddler classes through transitional kindergarten, our curriculum for each age group provides experiences that are meaningful and authentic and respond to the interests and creativity of both the children and the staff. Our school celebrates many perspectives and integrates a Jewish expression of values into learning and living. We view the partnership between our families and our school as essential and important. An active, engaged parent committee provides opportunities for involvement in school events, classroom happenings, special projects and the giving of tzedakah (charity).

Our Staff

Our staff is comprised of certified and accomplished teachers and assistants who all share a progressive early learning philosophy. Continual professional development and learning keep their understanding of early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practices fresh. Our teachers inspire children to ask questions. On our team are qualified administrators and learning coordinators who provide support, direction and remediation for our staff, parents and students.

Our Environment

The spacious and bright Brody Family Early Learning Center is filled with welcoming and stimulating classrooms. Each room includes comprehensive areas that support exploratory learning and creative expression. Being in a JCC also affords our students unique opportunities not found in other schools, including swim lessons in our heated indoor pool, a full-sized gymnasium, a large outdoor playground and a working garden.

Our Community and Culture 

For information on scheduling a tour of our school please contact Rachel Huber at [email protected].

A Model Early Learning Center

The Brody Family Early Learning Center is recognized as a model for JCC early childhood centers by JCC Association. The success of early childhood education depends not only on the educator, but on the combined efforts of everyone involved in the program, including the children, families and the program directors.

At the Brody Family Early Learning Center, we subscribe to sheva (seven in Hebrew) principles. Sheva principles include seven core elements that are firmly rooted in the latest research on child development.

1. Children as Constructivist Learners 
2. Early Childhood Directors as Visionaries 
3. Early Childhood Educators as Professionals 
4. Families as Engaged Partners 
5. Environments as Inspiration for Inquiry 
6. Discover CATCH as Sh'mirat HaGuf (taking care of our bodies)
7. Israel as the Story of the Jewish People   

Contact Robin Brous, Early Childhood Director, at [email protected] or 908-889-8800 x204.