Preschool Director - Michelle Jaycoff

Hi, I’m Michelle Jaycoff, and I’m so excited to be the new Director of the David Joshua Berg Early Learning Center at Temple Beth Torah in Melville. I’ve been working in education for 18 years and hold a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education.

Teaching and nurturing young children has always been my passion. I truly believe in creating a warm, supportive environment where every child can grow, learn, and feel loved. As both an educator and a proud member of the Temple Beth Torah community, I feel deeply connected to the values we teach and live by each day. Jewish values have always been a guiding force in my life, and I’m honored to help instill them in the next generation.

                                              Any questions please contact Michelle:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                                                or Jennifer Spielman: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Philosophy: David Joshua Berg Early Learning Center

To each family enrolled in The David Joshua Berg Early Learning Center at Temple Beth Torah, we make a commitment to provide your child with a safe, secure and loving environment. We believe that the early childhood years should be a time of fun, discovery, and encouragement.

Our program includes experiences in early literacy, creative arts, science, math, social studies, cooking, literature, Jewish culture and tradition, games and large muscle activity. The activities we plan are designed to enhance each child’s social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth and to build self-esteem. It is our hope that each child will leave us with a feeling of great self-worth and confidence, and that each family will always remain a part of our temple family.

We have a new outdoor playground and an indoor gym designed specifically for preschoolers. Each class participates in both a weekly movement and music class. In addition, we also offer a lunch program, early drop off, stay and play, and an after-school enrichment program. We offer programs for Pre-Twos, Toddlers, Threes, and Pre-K children.

For more information about registration, please reach out to Michelle Jaycoff in the Early Learning Center office at 631-643-1200 Ext. 4

	Stay and Play Information & Payment

GROWN-UP & ME PROGRAMS
A special opportunity for a caregiver and toddler to develop new relationships with others. 
      First Friends (12-24 months) 

STEP-UP TWOS (must be 18 months by January to enroll and separate)
Step-Up Twos is designed as a "stepping stone" into our Early Childhood Program. Classes will begin in the fall (September/October) dependent on the Jewish holidays and continue through June (follows the ELC School calendar of closings). The group will meet Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday from 9:30 -11:00 AM. From September through December an adult is required to stay in class. From January through June, we will “step-up” to a full separation and the class will meet for 2 hours: 9:30 am – 11:30 am. The children will have a morning filled with art, music, stories, gym/playground time, free play, and snack. 

PRE-TWOS (18-24 months)
This is a full separation class, a perfect class for those who just miss the cut-off to our toddler program and are ready to separate.

TODDLER (must be two by Dec 31)
Our two-year-old program is designed to ease a child into separation and to learn self-help skills. Children will experience the importance of social and emotional learning and how to be a part of a community. They will learn structure and routine as well as develop their language skills through music, books and flannel board stories. Each day they will enjoy a class morning meeting, craft, snack and lunch with their friends.

THREE-YEAR-OLD
The three-year-old child explores the world around themselves and learns to socialize through planned activities and creative play. The first steps are taken in understanding number concepts and reading readiness. Throughout each day children work on fine and gross motor skills using manipulatives and participating in a movement class. Jewish holidays are celebrated through arts and crafts, songs and stories.

PRE-K
Our Pre-K curriculum is designed to maximize the infinite creativity of this age group. Four-year-olds are encouraged to explore and develop their own ideas, as we provide them with the materials and resources in our school environment. We explore the community we live in and learn how to be apart of it.  We use Handwriting without Tears and Fundations to enhance our handwriting and literacy programs. Math, science, and art are also a part of our daily schedule.

All students enrolled are entitled to Free PJ Library books*

Click on this link to get to the PJ Library