ORR JACOBSON leads preschoolers around the track on the preschool playground. From front: Orr, Miles Ward, Miles Greenberg, Felix Men, and Ian MacLean.

Preschool helps drive enrollment at PJA

By Deborah Moon

article created on: 2008-09-15T00:00:00

When the waiting list for Portland Jewish Academy’s childcare and preschool programs topped 50 last year, the staff started brainstorming ways to expand space.

The 2008-09 school year began with a new infant room separate from the toddler area, which means room for eight more toddlers. And an additional class for 3-year-olds expanded openings at that age by 12. With the extra space and some parents turning to other options, the school now has some openings for all ages.

“Children were engaging in activities on day one,” said PJA Director of Early Childhood Education Erika Saiers. “And the teaching staff is the strongest I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I’m really excited about having a successful year.”

Saiers has worked with children on the same campus for nearly nine years. She worked in youth services for Mittleman Jewish Community Center before shifting to PJA when the school took over the center’s early childhood programming in 2004.

With the shift to PJA, the preschool became more of a feeder program into PJA’s elementary program, said Saiers.

“This year, we saw a record number of children enter PJA kindergarten from preschool,” she said, noting there has been a steady increase over the past couple years.

In addition to providing room for more children, the recent expansion also has developmental advantages, said Saiers.

“A separate pod for infants only makes it easier to maintain infant schedules,” she said. “It’s also easier to maintain appropriate schedules for the toddlers in their own self-contained classroom.”

The infant program serves up to eight infants ages 6 weeks to 1 year. Toddlers, ages 1 year to 30 months, not only have their own classroom, they also continue to have their own developmentally appropriate playground.

The playground for the preschool was updated over the summer.

“The new playground is very developmentally appropriate for preschoolers with new state-of-the-art play structures to challenge children’s gross motor skills,” said Saiers.

Another addition was the creation of an art studio under the direction of arts specialist Sandi Anslow. Additionally, Ronni Malka provides a mini-Hebrew immersion program in the preschool and Kim Palumbis creates musical experiences for PJA children from the toddler class through second grade.

The preschool offers a two-day program for 2-year-olds, three- and five-day programs for 3-year-olds and a five-day program for 4- and 5-year-olds. Before and after care are available.

For more information on PJA’s early childhood programs, call Saiers at 503-535-3536.