Gan Kavana Preschool

"Gan" is the Hebrew word for "garden" - it is also the word for a preschool-environment where children blossom. 

Kavana’s Gan is a fun, nurturing educational environment for preschoolers… a place where we put our community’s values into practice.  It also happens to be Seattle’s only Hebrew immersion preschool program!    

 Our Gan offers:

• A first-rate educational platform that will boost children's linguistic, sensory & cognitive abilities through early exposure to a second language. (Seriously - lots of scientific research demonstrates that learning a second language is great for kids’ brains!)
• A hands-on, play-based approach that encourages imagination & creativity.
• An opportunity for children to explore Jewish traditions and customs and build a sense of Jewish identity in a fun way.
• Respect for every child, and a commitment to provide activities that are appropriate & challenging for each child's developmental stage.
• Lots of personalized attention – we have a single classroom, with a small group of kids and a low student-teacher ratio (and 2 adults in the classroom at all times).
• “Ruach yisraelit” – an Israeli atmosphere.  It’s hard to put this into words, but it means you’ll experience the right blend of flexiblity and structure, approachable teachers, project-based learning, and exposure to Israeli & Jewish music and culture.
• Fun!

A typical day includes:

• Free play, with activity stations that vary from daily (i.e. magnets, puppets, puzzles or playdough).
• Circle time, with songs, movement, and games… conducted almost entirely in Hebrew!
• Family-style snacks and meals, where everyone eats at the table together.
• Outdoor playtime – with a great playground just a block away, the kids are outside every day!
• Arts activities – cutting and pasting, stickers, clay, painting, drawing, fabric art, dancing....
• Books and stories, including lots of Israeli children's classics
• Holiday and Shabbat celebrations

Ages:  2 - 4


Time:  9am - 1pm

Days:  Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday, Fridays (you pick which 2, 3 or 4 days work for you!)

Schedule:  First day is Mon. Sept. 13, 2010.  Last day is Fri. June 17, 2011.  Vacation days are in synch with the Seattle Public Schools calendar and the Jewish calendar.  Please see our website calendar for details.

Location:  Kavana Headquarters in Queen Anne (please contact us for address.)

Food:  We provide a nutritious, kid-friendly snack every morning (it always includes fresh fruit.)  You pack the lunches.


Teachers:  Einav Peretz & Yehudit Blume.  Both Einav and Yehudit are native Hebrew speakers.  Yehudit comes to us with many years of teaching experience under her belt.  Einav is the visionary behind the program and the founding director of the Gan; her background in occupational therapy makes her uniquely attuned to children’s developmental needs.  Truly, we couldn’t have a better pair of teachers!

Monthly Cost & Payment Information:

The Gan meets from Sept. - June (10 months).  This is the monthly cost, based on the number of days/week your child attends:

If you want to pay monthly, we request that you pay for one month at the time of registration in order to hold your spot.  We will consider this to be your payment for your "last month" in the Gan (June, for those who are here for the entire year.)  The remaining nine monthly installments can be paid at the beginning of each month, Sept. - May.  We would like to receive your payment by the fifth of the month.

You can pay online, through this web page (see the button at the top, right corner), or by check (many parents set up an automatic payment through their bank.)

Annual Cost & Payment Information:

For those who wish to pay for the entire year up-front, we'd like to thank you for streamlining our administrative operations by rewarding you with a 5% discount.  The chart below outlines these costs, based on the number of days/week your child attends.  Please pay by check.
 

 
Please contact us if you're interested.  We’re happy to answer questions or set up a visit for you and your child!

The dates of the Gan Kavana preschool are in our web calendar.  We are also listing them out here (below), for your convenience:

September
13, 14, 16, 17
20, 21 [no Gan 23, 24 because of Sukkot chag days]
27, 28 [no Gan 30, Oct 1 because of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah chag days]

October
4, 5, 7, 8
11, 12, 14, 15
18, 19, 21, 22
25, 26, 28, 29

November
1, 2, 4, 5
8, 9, 11, 12
15, 16, 18, 19
22, 23 [no Gan 25, 26 Thanksgiving break]
29, 30