Beth Sholom
Family Preschool

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Overview

The Congregation Beth Sholom Family Preschool enriches the lives of young children and their families by providing opportunities for learning, creativity, exploration, and curiosity. Our school is inspired by the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. It is our belief that all children are competent learners, ready to explore their environments, engage in social interactions, and construct their own learning. Play is essential to early learning because it offers opportunities for children to build relationships with other children, with materials, and with their environment. The strength of our preschool comes from the sense of community that is built through family engagement. Parent education workshops, ongoing teacher education, and individual counseling with families are also integral parts of our program.

Our preschool is infused with Judaic values and culture. Classroom experiences are guided by Jewish holidays and traditions, demonstrated especially by our weekly All School Shabbat and havdalah rituals. Children also learn about Judaica through stories, smells, tastes, sounds, and touch. By living our Jewish values, sharing stories, singing songs, cooking, and celebrating the Jewish holidays together, we help to make Judaism a meaningful part of each family’s life.

PROGRAM

Our program respects the developmental stages of young children, and seeks to enable children to:

  • Know that they are always competent, safe, and loved

  • Expand their ability to recognize and express feelings appropriately

  • Explore and discover their world through play

  • Increase their sense of independence and self-control through decision-making and problem-solving

  • Build strong relationships with their teachers and other adults in their lives

  • Develop creative and critical thinking skills

  • Increase language skills to express individual ideas and to ask questions

  • Explore the outdoors through trips around our neighborhood and to The Presidio

  • Take pride in mastering and completing multiple tasks

  • Build friendships with other children and gain maturity through the ability to resolve conflicts

  • Experiment with different materials

  • Develop a sense of pride and love for Judaism

  • Acquire a love of books, art, and music

  • Dale Kleisley

    Director of Early Childhood Education
    & Director of Family Engagement

    dkleisley@bethsholomsf.org
    415-940-7094

    Hi! I am the Director at Congregation Beth Sholom Family Preschool. I am a passionate believer in providing an unconditionally loving and nurturing environment for young children to grow and develop. I support the notion that we are each created in the image of God - B'tzelem Elohim and treat each other as unique individuals.

    Beth Sholom holds a special place in my heart - it is a community of inclusion, acceptance and love, a place to build connections to Jewish traditions, rituals, a place of belonging and a community where you will create lifelong friendships.

    My daughter Gabriella grew up at Congregation Beth Sholom and now attends our incredible Shabbat School program. I welcomed a sweet baby girl named Sydelle (Ellie) last summer who is blessed to grow up in this community as well.

    I began my journey as an early childhood educator over fourteen years ago. Prior to working at CBS Family Preschool, I attended San Francisco State University and received a degree in History and Jewish Studies. I had the privilege of participating in the Jewish Resource Specialist program and was a fellow at the Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute - William Davidson Graduate School of Education. It has been a joy and honor to be part of the Beth Sholom community for the past twelve years.

  • Talia Arnon

    Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education

    tarnon@bethsholomsf.org
    415-940-7094

    Originally from Florida, Talia moved to the Bay area 6 years ago. She started teaching upon graduating from college and has experience working with grades K-6.

    Once she found her niche working in a Kindergarten classroom for several years, she felt the need to make a change and work behind the scenes of the classroom as well with young families.

    This change led to starting here at Congregation Beth Sholom Family preschool, and she could not be happier to be a part of the CBS community!

  • Onny Hui

    Director of Admissions

    ohui@bethsholomsf.org
    415-940-7094

    Onny has been working with families and teaching early childhood education for over fifteen years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development with an emphasis in School Age Children from San Francisco State University. Since graduating college, she has worked in several preschools around the Bay Area as an Art Teacher and Program Director. Onny joined the Beth Sholom community in 2020 and looks forward to welcoming new families and children into the community.

Supported by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund