REGISTRATION

Welcome

Welcome to the I.J. and Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center Early Childhood Center. Since its inception in the 1950s, our JCC has been home to one of the premier early childhood centers in Utah. Our program is one of a select group of local preschools accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a standard of excellence recognized nationally. We are committed to providing a quality environment where young children grow and learn through play and discovery. We strive to offer a balance of child-initiated and teacher-directed experiences to help children become successful learners.

PHILOSOPHY
We believe children learn by doing. Cognitive and emotional development is enhanced when children make discoveries on their own. Our teachers help children become independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners while aiding in their social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development. We maintain a low child-to-teacher ratio with talented, credentialed, professional educators who foster self-reliance, independence, and self-discipline.

Our programs are designed to help each child:
• Develop a positive self-concept and confidence
• Inspire curiosity and the ability to inquire and explore
• Strengthen verbal expression
• Increase self-regulation and independence
• Enjoy creative pursuits
• Develop trust in others
• Learn lifelong cognitive, physical, and language skills
• Identify positively with Jewish traditions

JEWISH CULTURE
Jewish culture and tradition are essential aspects of all our classrooms. We celebrate many Jewish holidays as part of our curriculum. Our celebrations and observances include stories, music, art, and cooking. We also observe Shabbat every Friday in individual classrooms and as a group with the Shabbat specialist who celebrates almost every week with our older children. In a diverse world often filled with religious strife, the JCC offers a place where Jewish traditions are taught and celebrated in a healthy, inclusive, and non-proselytizing manner.

Most importantly, our values-based curriculum teaches children how to interact in respectful ways with peers, nature, and their community. Our curriculum includes various learning experiences to explore universal human values through a Jewish lens.

Although we do not celebrate non-Jewish holidays in our classrooms with activities or lesson plans, we respect everyone’s holidays and allow children to share the excitement and dialogue surrounding each holiday observed in their homes. There is no requirement that families, children, or even teachers, be Jewish. In fact, the majority of our ECC families come from other religious, or non-religious backgrounds. Everyone is welcome!

Early Childhood Center Programs

All the classrooms in our Early Childhood Center use The Creative Curriculum®, a research-based framework, as a guide in setting up our environment, developing daily activities, planning our schedule and interactions, and directing our assessments. As part of a developmentally appropriate practice, we believe in the importance of play. Play is essential for developing self-regulation as well as promoting language, cognition, and social competence. Children of all ages love to play, and it gives the opportunities to explore the world, interact with others, express and control emotions, develop their symbolic and problem-solving abilities, and practice emerging skills. Research shows the links between play and foundational capacities such as memory, self-regulation, oral language abilities, social skills, and success in school.

18-MONTH-OLD PROGRAM
During this period, toddlers become more physically coordinated, their language increases rapidly, they develop an interest in other children, and they become interested in pretend play.

A toddler classroom encourages children to explore many different aspects of a well-rounded curriculum. Classrooms are set up for both active and quiet play to allow different opportunities to engage throughout the day. Classrooms centers include library, art, science, sensory, math and manipulatives, blocks and building, gross motor, and dramatic play.

This group maintains a classroom ratio of four children to one teacher.

2/3-YEAR-OLD PROGRAM
During this time, two-year olds become more independent and love practicing the new skills that they are learning. They want to do things all by themselves and we encourage this. Our 2/3-year-old classrooms help your child build his/her emotional, physical, language, and cognitive skills while integrating critical social skills.

A 2/3-year-old classroom encourages children to explore many different aspects of a well-rounded curriculum. Classrooms are set up for both active and quiet play to allow different opportunities to engage throughout the day. Classroom centers include library, art, science, sensory, math and manipulatives, blocks and building, and dramatic play.

This group maintains a classroom ratio of six children to one teacher.

3/4-YEAR-OLD PROGRAM
Our preschool is a place where children expand their world, learn, grow, and most importantly, have fun and build relationships. As they become older, preschoolers strengthen their physical skills, extend cooperative play, and enjoy activities that involve exploring, investigating, and stretching their imaginations. Our teachers encourage young children to experiment with materials in a nurturing environment while making discoveries and developing new cognitive, physical, language, literacy, and social-emotional skills.

This group maintains a classroom ratio of seven or eight children to one teacher. A typical class size is 14-16 children with two teachers.

4/5-YEAR-OLD PROGRAM
As children continue in our ECC, their classrooms provide opportunities to build on the learning of previous years by delving more deeply into studies or project-based learning and expanding social relationships in peer groups. During this stage of development, children’s imaginations are continuously sparked. Socialization brings new friendships, along with related challenges, as they learn to navigate the expanding world around them. We continue an emphasis on social-emotional learning while stimulating intellectual development through shared decision making, social problem solving, and self-regulation of emotions.

This group maintains a ratio of eight or nine children to one teacher and a class size of about 16-18 children with two teachers.

Experiences

ECC BACK-TO-SCHOOL SOCIAL
Each fall, the ECC hosts a back-to-school night for parents. This is a perfect opportunity to meet other families and get to know our ECC community.

PARENTING CLASSES
Throughout the school year, there will be several parenting classes scheduled. We invite guest speakers to share their knowledge and experience about how young children navigate each stage of development.

ECC ART STROLL
Each spring, the ECC holds an art stroll. Our philosophy embraces the process of art as an extremely valuable skill. This event showcases every child through a unique piece of art that is created by the child over an extended period of time. We invite families and relatives to enjoy an adult evening together and stroll through the art.

CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT
Using Creative Curriculum® as a foundation, our teachers create lesson plans based upon the developmental needs as well as the interests of the children in their classroom. Teachers create plans for learning weekly which include read-a-louds, songs and finger plays, literacy experiences, creative expression experiences, math, science and technology experiences, physical, health and safety experiences, and social-emotional and social studies experiences. Using the Teaching Strategies GOLD® assessment tool as the base of our checkpoints, teachers observe and document children’s growth three times per year. The areas of growth observed are social-emotional, physical, cognitive, mathematics, language and literacy, science and technology, social studies, and creative expression. Educators will share information at Fall and Spring Family Conferences, and additional updates as needed or requested.

EXTENDED CARE (7:30 - 8:30 AM and 3:30 - 6:00 PM)
We offer options for morning and afternoon extended care. See specific tuition rates for separate AM and PM Extended times or both combined as part of the Monday – Friday, Full Day, AM & PM Extended option.

CAMP K’TON TON
Summer camp is that time of year when children have the chance just to be children. We provide an enriching, safe, and active summer experience that ensures every camper has the best summer of their life. Camp K’Ton Ton (“little one” in Hebrew) is more than fun and games; we also focus on building friendships by learning social and emotional skills. Registration for summer camp is separate from enrollment for the school year. We give the first consideration to children enrolled in the school year program.

Calendar

HOLIDAYS AND CLOSURES
The Early Childhood Center operates on a nine month school calendar. We will be closed to observe several Jewish holidays (see below) and all national holidays. Please go to our Calendar Page for a full list of Important Dates and School Closures.

Calendar

Registration Process

PROCESS FOR REGISTRATION
Enrollment availability in part-time programs may be limited. Our ECC Administrative Team carefully determines classroom placements with consideration given to child development, continuity of relationships, and group dynamics. We do not accept placement requests for teachers or friends although families are welcome to contact our team at eccadmin@slcjcc.org to share feedback and concerns.

TOUR Attend ECC Open House or schedule an ECC tour.

JCC MEMBERSHIP A JCC membership is required for your child to attend the ECC. Please note, your JCC membership does not guarantee ECC enrollment. You can sign up for a membership on the same day you sign your contract. An active membership is required throughout your child’s enrollment.

APPLICATION & FEES $100 application fee + $100 supply fee along with completed registration form and deposit for May 2026 tuition.

ACCEPTANCE You are accepted once you have provided the registration and supply fees, May 2026 tuition deposit, JCC membership, and signed contract.

FINAL ENROLLMENT To finalize your child’s enrollment in the program all required forms need to be turned in before August 1, 2025.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS Due by Friday, April 25, 2025. Contact scholarships@slcjcc.org

SCHOLARSHIPS Awarded by the end of May 2025.

Link to sign up for ECC registration goes live on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

If enrollment appointment spots are full, please add your name to the waitlist or contact the ECC at ecc@slcjcc.org.

Bring the following with you to your enrollment appointment:

• Completed registration form
  • Payment method for registration fee, supply fee, and deposit for May 2026 tuition
  • Immunization Record

ENROLLMENT CONTRACT
At the time of registration, you will receive an ECC school year enrollment contract that is specific to the options you select on the registration form. Please note that if you withdraw your child from the ECC for any reason, at any time, you are responsible for paying tuition for subsequent months after your child no longer attends our center. The deposit for May 2026 is non-refundable and non-transferable.

JCC Membership

JCC MEMBERSHIP
A JCC Family Membership is required in order to enroll in the Early Childhood Center. Aside from the preschool, the JCC offers a first-class fitness facility that includes two swimming pools, weight room, group fitness classes, summer camps, after-school programs, and community programs - all of which will be available to you as a member.

For a tour and to fill out your membership application, please contact:
Michelle Oelsner
Membership Director
801.581.0098, ext. 115 // moelsner@slcjcc.org 

Or register online:
Join Now

2025-26 Tuition Grid

Please Contact the ECC Office for information