Junior Kindergarten

Growing Gesher’s Youngest Students

Through play-based learning activities, we create opportunities for students to explore, collaborate with peers, share discoveries, and grow as inquisitive learners.

Gan Katan Pillars

Academics

Through play-based and hands-on learning, teachers guide students to develop skills as early emergent readers, critical thinkers, and creative problem solvers.

Hebrew Language Infusion

Hebrew is infused throughout every aspect of the day. The acquisition of a second language expands our children’s developing minds, deepens the capacity of our students to connect to Israel, elevates the study of core Jewish texts and values, and provides an anchor for developing an integrated Jewish identity.

Outdoor Exploration

Gesher’s outdoor discovery centers create opportunities for students to explore in the Gesher woods, dig in the garden, and journey through our wetland area and pond in their puddle boots. Teachers weave science, ecology, and the Jewish value of stewardship throughout the curriculum.

Jewish Life & Learning

Gesher students joyfully discover and celebrate Jewish Holidays, Shabbat, and other rituals. Using all of our senses, we touch, taste, listen, move and sing to connect deeply to our Jewish heritage.

Respect and Mindfulness

Throughout our school, students and teachers use Responsive Classroom to create safe and joyful learning communities in which students can grow and develop both socially and academically. Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to education that focuses on the strong relationship between academic success and social-emotional learning (SEL). The Responsive Classroom approach empowers educators to create safe, joyful, and engaging learning communities where all students have a sense of belonging and feel significant. By practicing the skills required to interact with peers and adults in healthy ways, students develop their own abilities to make kind, appropriate, and honest choices.

Movement and Creative Play

Stations and lessons are carefully designed to ensure that students have the opportunity to move their bodies and exercise their minds. Children are natural learners; the Gesher classroom and outdoor facilities ensure our learners grow through play and hands-on exploration.