Congregation Ohav Shalom

Building Community Celebrating Tradition

113 New Krumkill Road, Albany, NY 12208 / (518) 489-4706 / Email Us /

Early Childhood Education Center

Early Childhood Education Center

Registration is available via “Playground” our online app used for all

Registration and communication between the school, teachers and parents.

2024 Ohav Shalom ECEC Summer Camp Registration click here

2024-2025 Ohav Shalom ECEC Fall Registration click here

Ohav Shalom’s Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) incorporates play–based learning, Jewish education and enrichment activities for children from 18 months to pre-kindergarten. Children of all faiths enjoy attending the ECEC’s warm, nurturing educational experience.

Our class sizes are small so that our teachers can devote the time and attention children require to grow and thrive. We place a strong emphasis on the process of your child’s development. Our teachers provide positive reinforcement to help each child reach their potential for intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and emotional growth.

Child-Centric Scheduling

To accommodate the needs of all families, Ohav Shalom’s Early Childhood Education Center provides parents with a tremendous amount of scheduling flexibility. Parents can enroll their children for mornings only, or for full days. Ohav Shalom’s Early Childhood Center can accommodate partial days or full days, 2-5 days per week, for children 18 months to pre-kindergarten.

Drop-ins are accepted if there is space available and must be pre-arranged with the Early Childhood Director. Drop ins are $20.00 an hour.

 

Inclusion

Ohav Shalom’s Early Childhood Education Center has three integrated classrooms providing special education opportunities for children with special needs. For many years the center has collaborated with Capital District Beginnings to provide quality education opportunities in small size classroom settings for all children.

Hours

Our Summer camp hours will be 8:00AM to 4:30PM.
Fall  school hours are 8:30AM to 1:30PM, with an early drop off program from 7:30AM to 8:30AM. 

Calendar

Ohav Shalom’s Early Childhood Education Center regular programming from early September through late June. Our Summer Camp is open during July and August. 

Enrichment

We offer enrichment classes for our three and four year olds. 

  • Amazing Athletes – The enrichment program is taught by instructors form the Amazing Athletes program. Children learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and goal setting in this weekly program. Movement is crucial to development of young minds and Amazing Athletes is a wonderful program designed to help children learn self confidence.
  • PJ Library – Weekly visits for stories and fun!

Information

To contact our Early Childhood Education Center for more information or to inquire about enrolling your child click here.

About our Director

Tricia Smith, Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) DirectorTricia has been part of Ohav’s ECEC family since 2006. Tricia loves being a part of our child-centric, inclusive school where every child is valued, heard and supported. Tricia believes in teaching each child in a way that he/she learns to the best of their own ability, it is that passion that drives her dedication to early childhood education.

Tricia has been working in early childhood for over 25 years where she got her start as a private nanny then joined the Ohav ECEC team as our head toddler teacher 15 years ago. Tricia went back to school in 2019 to earn Associate Degrees in Early Childhood Education and Administration and in Business as well. In May of 2020, Tricia stepped into the role of Assistant Director and together with the Director, managed to successfully put our school back into full swing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tricia is the proud mother Georgetown University senior, Isabella Smith. While not at work Tricia enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

About our Assistant Director/Judaic Coordinator

Beth Simon, Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) Assistant Director/Judaic Coordinator

Beth has been in the field of education for 19 years. She has been a lifelong resident of the capital region as well as an active participant in the Jewish community. Beth received her undergraduate degree in  Elementary Education/ Human Development from Wheelock College, Boston, MA in 2002. She also received her Masters Degree in Literacy Birth-Grade 6 from the College of Saint Rose in 2005.  After 5 years of working in the Albany School District Beth moved with her husband to Parkland, FL and taught at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, FL. Donna Klein truly strengthened Beth’s connection to the Jewish community as well as fostered a love for Jewish Education. For the past 8 years, Ohav Shalom has had the wonderful fortune of having Beth as a lead Integrated teacher in our Pre-K classroom. Beth has been married to her husband Michael for 14 years and together they have two incredible children, Jake and Mara.