• Early Childhood Center

    at Temple Kol Ami

2023–2024 REGISTRATION FORMS 2024–2025 REGISTRATION FORMS NOW AVAILABLE

Learning is a lifelong process.

It begins when children participate in an environment that offers a variety of activities that challenge and interest them. During these early years, learning experiences must be diverse, creative, carefully planned and based upon sound principles of child development.

Our philosophy is to foster each child’s intellectual, physical, emotional and language development in an environment which is safe, nurturing and challenging while being sensitive to the needs and preferences of families. The children learn to grow and develop a positive self-image and a strong sense of their Jewish identity using a multi-sensory approach and a developmentally age appropriate curriculum that integrates Judaic and secular materials.

Values are an important part of our Judaic and secular curriculum. We believe that Judaism is best taught by example and through an experiential process.

Early childhood is the most critical period in human growth and development. It is the time when the foundations and pathways for academic achievement are laid. Children learn that play is an important vehicle for their social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as a reflection of their growth. Children begin to develop communication and language skills while learning to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of themselves and others.

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

The Early Childhood Center offers enrichment opportunities to our students on a weekly basis. Here is a list of our current offerings:

Art Club

Art benefits children in many ways. It encourages self-expression, creativity, problem solving, and thinking outside the box, while strengthening their fine motor skills. This class, led by Miss Sel Shuster, M.F.A., will help your child build confidence and develop their socio-emotional skills. The classroom’s relaxing music and calm atmosphere provides the perfect setting to foster creativity (and fun)!

Jump Bunch

Always a favorite, this interactive sports and fitness class encourages a healthy lifestyle while building coordination and self-esteem. Your child will participate in age-appropriate activities including badminton, basketball, cricket, yoga, hockey, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, volleyball, and much more!

Pre-K Academy

Further prepare your child for kindergarten with this series of fun and engaging classes including Reading Rock Stars, Letter Engineers, ABC Chefs, and ABC Yoga! The Pre-K Academy program utilizes educational-learning toys and songs and a whole-body learning approach.

Science Club

In Science Club, Miss Betsy will encourage your child to inquire, explore, and discover in a small-group environment. (Class size limited to 5 students.)

Drama Stars

Drama Stars provides a creative and imaginative introduction to drama through songs, storytelling, improvisational games, role playing, rehearsals, and live performances. Your little actor will have the opportunity to sing, act, play, listen, move, and explore drama! In this class, your child will take on their own cool characters and experience the joy and art of acting through creative expression.

Yoga and Mindfulness

Tippi Toes Dance

This class incorporates ballet, tap, and jazz technique while also encouraging self-expression and creativity. High energy music is used through the class to get dancers moving and having fun. Students participate in dance recitals during the year.

Karate Zoo

MEET OUR STAFF

The Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center has a highly qualified, experienced and exceptionally talented staff, who are committed to ensuring that children will be cared for in a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment. All of our staff members are licensed and complete continuing education requirements every year.

Recently, a preschool parent wrote a thank you note and referred to our preschool as the “Disneyland of Daycares.” Our teachers provide an outstanding early childhood curriculum that enables children to receive the best quality education at this crucial time in their young lives. It is the gifted preschool staff that creates a “Magic Kingdom” in our “Small World.”

Nicole L. Stokes, Early Childhood Education Director

Nicole L. Stokes is the Early Childhood Director at Temple Kol Ami as of July 2022. She brings her firsthand experience to TKA as a master teacher with over 25-years of classroom experience in elementary & early childhood education.

Nicole earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from S.U.N.Y at Fredonia in New York. Her first teaching position was with the Head Start Program in NY prior to relocating to Phoenix in 1998. Upon arrival in Arizona, Nicole spent the next ten years of her career at Tesseract School where she taught Kindergarten, Fourth Grade, and Pre-K in a team-teaching model. She also served as the Early Childhood Coordinator of Tesseract’s ECC Program. In 2008, she went on to pursue her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Administration through Northern Arizona University. While doing so, she returned to the classroom at Pardes Jewish Day School for the next fifteen years teaching Kindergarten, First, and Third Grade.

In 2019, Nicole was selected as a Teacher Leadership Fellow, where she implemented a school-wide initiative focused on Responsive Classroom and the social-emotional needs of the students within the school. She continued on, and pursued a M.A. in Educational Leadership at Brandeis University and graduated in May of 2021. Nicole has held multiple positions and certificates throughout her professional career including but not limited to: Early Childhood Director, Pre-school Assistant to Lower School Head, NYS Teaching Certification, AZ Teaching Certification, Bullying Prevention Committee Chair, Dance & Pom Coach, Events Coordinator, Enrichment Teacher, Private Tutor, Enrichment Coordinator, Genius Coach, as well as Lower School Dean.

Nicole’s family, working with students, and serving in the community is what fuels her soul and keeps her continually inspired. When she is not working with children, she loves spending time with her husband Derek, their son Bryant, two older sons, extended family, and grandchildren. In her free time, Nicole loves utilizing the creative side of her brain decorating, organizing, and designing spaces for different venues and projects. She also enjoys reading, shopping, traveling, writing, relaxing with their rescue pup, and sinking her toes in the sand on any beach.

Nicole is excited for the next chapter in her professional career at Temple Kol Ami as the Early Childhood Director. She is ecstatic to work with the senior staff, teachers, and families to help make a difference in the lives of the community’s youngest children. Her motto of Teach, Love, Inspire, is sure to make an impact in evolving our ECC program to be one of the Valley’s best.

HAYDEN SMITH, EARLY CHILDHOOD EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Hayden’s dreams of sunshine and adventure brought her from her hometown of North Potomac, Maryland, to the vibrant Valley of the Sun! She joins TKA ECC as the Executive Assistant to the Director with passion, experience, and skills honed from her previous roles in childcare and executive assistance.

Hayden’s most recent journey was with Shaare Torah Early Childhood Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. From 2021 to 2023, she wore many hats: a dedicated paraeducator, a co-leader of the aftercare program, and a “floating” preschool teacher who brought her creative energy to different classrooms. Before her time at Shaare Torah, Hayden interned at LINQ Services in Baltimore, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This rapidly growing company in the telecommunications industry gave Hayden valuable experience in organization, communication, and problem-solving skills that she now brings to Temple Kol Ami.

Hayden’s energy and personality shines through in everything she does. She is most looking forward to exploring the wonders of the desert as she acclimates to Arizona life. Hayden would love to hear about all your recommendations for fun things to do and great places to eat in the area — she’s so excited to be part of the Temple Kol Ami family!

HISTORY

The Early Childhood Center of Temple Kol Ami opened its doors to a waiting community in 2001. The ECC opened that year with sixty six children on its first day, and has been successfully serving the Jewish community ever since. Under the loving guidance of ECC Director Nicole Stokes (and that of our former directors, Debbie Glassman and Roni Zeman ) the school continues to grow and thrive.

The future is as bright at the TKA Early Childhood Center. We take full advantage of the digital age by incorporating the use of daily classroom pictures and updates that only parents can view. The school welcomes infants through pre-kindergarten.

Early Childhood Center Forms

© 2024 Temple Kol Ami. All Rights Reserved.
"It's Where We Do Jewish"