Our School
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A New Collaboration Between BHC and the JCC
The E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center at BHC has established a new collaboration with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore that will become effective July 1, 2021. The JCC will provide operational, marketing and professional development support. If you are interested in learning more call 410-764-7281 or stay tuned for updates on this exciting new collaboration.
For more details visit: Link
JCC Early Childhood Centers: Link
- E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center: Link
- Stoler Early Learning Center: Link
About 
The E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center promotes educational excellence for young children, utilizing a sensory-rich, warm, contemporary Jewish atmosphere that nurtures children in their formative years. Exploration and experimentation are encouraged through a dynamic and fun child-centered curriculum. We value the partnership between home and school and encourage parental involvement. Jewish identity is fostered by providing a love and understanding of our Jewish heritage, values, and practices.
Our program offers young children opportunities to grow intellectually, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially. Our vision is for children to develop to their optimum potential by providing a respectful and stimulating atmosphere to foster the growth of a positive self-image, a love of learning, and a strong Jewish identity.
We have spacious, bright rooms with movable cabinets that allow interest areas to grow larger and smaller as the play needs of the children change. We are particularly proud of our art areas, which give the children a wide variety of materials with which to express themselves creatively. Each room has a child-sized bathroom and direct access to the fenced-in playground. The playground serves as an outdoor classroom with a variety of equipment, as well as a garden that is tended by the children under the guidance of their teachers.
The E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center has the added benefit of being physically connected to Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s building. Children attend weekly Kabbalat Shabbat services in the Hoffberger Chapel and also have access to BHC’s gymnasium and library, with an area for child-centered books.
Coming Soon: 2022 Calendar.
Health and Safety
Health
• All teachers are certified in CPR and First Aid.
• The required number of teachers have earned certificates in Medication Administration. They are qualified to administer medications if the proper paperwork has been completed by the parent and a physician. All medications and immunization records are kept in a central location.
• Toys in the Infant rooms are cleaned and disinfected daily. Toys in the Toddlers and Twos rooms are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
• We are sensitive to the importance of making our school environment as safe as possible for children who have allergies. We maintain a nut-free environment. Posted in each room is a list of children and their food allergies and we work closely with our parents to keep all of our children safe.
Safety and Security
• All entrances to the E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center are locked at all times. Visitors must be buzzed in by a staff member. All children must be signed out each day before they leave the building.
• Only parents and those individuals designated by parents are allowed to pick up children and take them home.
• We conduct regular fire and evacuation drills throughout the year. Each room has an emergency evacuation route posted.
• The entire building is equipped with a sprinkler system.
Enrollment
For more information please contact jplatt@baltimorehebrew.org or 410-764-7281.
Note: Financial assistance available.
Forms
Below are the forms for 2021 Enrollment
For All Students:
• Health Forms
• Immunization
• Emergency Form
• Insurance 2020
For Infants:
All of the above plus.
• Crib 2020
• Introduce Us to Your Baby
For Toddlers:
All of the above plus.
• Introduce Us to Your Baby
For 2s, 3s and 4s:
All of the above plus.
• Mat Permission 2020-21
Testimonials
“I can’t tell you how much [my child] has learned and enjoyed school this year. It was a little bit of a transition, but I’m glad we finally made the jump to E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center. It was a caring environment and I know she learned so much more than she would have at her old school, and I feel she is well-prepared for Kindergarten and her next steps in life. I don’t claim to be an expert but the education [my child] received appears to be world-class!”
“We have heard amazing things about your school from many different people!”
“We love the caring environment and schedule flexibility.”
“Our daughter loves coming to E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center! We love the atmosphere and she is very happy at your school.”
“I really like the philosophy there; they create their curriculum around the child’s ideas. I had a very warm, welcoming feeling when I was there and so did my son.”
“We’ve been going to PJ Shabbat at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation for a few years. We wanted a more affordable Pre-K program and a place where our child will be exposed to more Hebrew. (Our child speaks Hebrew at home with dad.) That’s why we enrolled at E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center.”
FAQ
2021 New Policies and Procedures: Link
| Do I have to be a member of BHC to attend the E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center? |
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No, membership is not required. |
| Does enrollment include special rates for BHC membership? |
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Yes. You can become a full member of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation for $160 a year as long as your oldest child attends the E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center. |
| Do we have to be Jewish to attend? |
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No, you do not have to be Jewish. We have children of many different religions in our school. |
| Must my child be toilet trained by a specific age? |
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No. Children will be toilet trained when they are ready, not when we think they should be trained. Readiness for school is not measured by readiness to discard diapers. |
| What are your operating hours? |
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Our programs are open from 7 AM until 6 PM for all ages, with two, three and five day options. |
| Do I pack lunch and snacks? |
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We provide a morning and an afternoon snack for the children. You provide lunch. While lunches do not have to be kosher, we do not permit pork products or shellfish. Please note that we are a nut-free school. |
| What is the ratio of teachers to children? |
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In the Infant and Toddler classes the ratio is 1:3. In the Twos class the ratio is 1:6 and in the Threes and Fours classes it is 1:10. |
| Are parents welcome to visit during the day? |
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This is your school and you are always welcome to spend time with your child. |
| Must my child take a nap during the day? |
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According to regulations of the MSDE Office of Child Care, all children who are in school for six or more hours must have at least a 30-minute rest. We find that the majority of our children in the Infant, Toddler, Twos, and Threes sleep for at least one hour if not longer. Our Fours rest for 30 minutes. |
| Do you have a summer program? |
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We offer an eight-week summer program that begins a week after the school year ends. |
| Will my child be ready for Kindergarten after attending the E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center? |
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We prepare our children to be learners, curious and motivated to explore the world around them. The classrooms are rich in building skills in the areas of language, math, cognitive, social, and physical development. |
| Are you closed for all Jewish holidays? |
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We are closed for most major Jewish holidays. See our calendar for exact closings. |
Contact
Jen Brown Platt, Director, E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center
Phone: 410-764-7281
Email: jplatt@baltimorehebrew.org
Social Media: Facebook | Google+
