At Kadima, the Ganon provides children with a quality educational program which inspires them to create, discover and achieve; fosters self-awareness and self-esteem; instills in them a sense of the sacred; teaches them to treat others with gentleness, respect, compassion and generosity; and prepares them for advancement to the next level of learning in the Gan (Kindergarten). We create a space that children feel belongs to them and that they belong to. Our room is set up to encourage free exploration, with a wide variety of games and materials, activities that are fun and interactive, and experiences that stimulate all of their senses.

In the Ganon, we recognize that children learn by doing, and learn best when what they are doing is meaningful. Our preschool program is based on developmentally appropriate practices for three and four year olds.  Play and learning go hand in hand in the Ganon, with our large space organized into several play/learning centers. In addition to providing children with opportunities to develop specific concepts and skills, these areas encourage free play, creativity and imaginative thinking.

Through thematic units, learning centers, group activities and field trips, children acquire skills to promote emotional/social growth, cognitive ability, fine and gross motor development, and spiritual awareness on a daily basis. The curriculum revolves around more than twenty thematic units, which gives both children and parents a specific framework to follow. Skills to be developed during the school year include but are not limited to:

Social/Emotional Growth
Language Development and Literacy
Mathematical and Scientific Thinking
Fine and Gross Motor Development
Art and Music
Physical Education
Judaics
Library

Social/Emotional Growth: Develop feelings of self-respect, positive thinking and learning; increase attention span, concentration, self-discipline and self-control; learn to recognize and express feelings appropriately; respect feelings of others; work and play independently or in small group settings; make independent choices; develop social skills (cooperation, helping, negotiating, planning, taking turns, sharing, etc); learn to take responsibility for actions and belongings; respect others' rights and property; acquire positive leadership skills and learn to appreciate others' uniqueness and individuality.

Language Development and Literacy: Strengthen speaking ability (clarity, recall, descriptive vocabulary); learn to ask relevant questions, stay on topic, follow directions, listen and exchange ideas; develop rhythmic sense and phonemic awareness; appreciate and interpret stories and poems; recognize letter names and sounds; experiment with writing, illustrating, copying, and forming one's name; improve auditory and visual discrimination and memory; begin to recognize that letters form words, words form sentences, and sentences make up thoughts and ideas.

Mathematical and Scientific Thinking: Begin to form concepts about self, others and the environment through observation, comparisons, predictions, interaction with people and real objects, and problem-solving; develop an understanding of quantity, size, shape, position in space; recognize numerals, basic shapes, attributes, basic sets; learn to match, sort and classify; identify and use one's senses; explore properties of different materials; experiment.

Fine and Gross Motor Development: Improve eye/hand coordination, manipulation of small objects; become independent in self-help and hygiene skills; learn to trace, cut, pour, write name; have success with various building materials; build strength, flexibility, agility, endurance; improve balance, posture, rhythm, self-control; participate in group games; learn to try new and difficult tasks; enjoy a sense of achievement.

Art and Music: Use and experiment with a wide variety of materials and techniques; explore his/her imagination, discover his/her creativity, create original work; participate in group singing, music, and moving creatively. Most of our academic learning contains an art and/or music component. In addition, the children have free access to abundant art materials, tapes, records and musical instruments throughout the day.

Physical Education: The physical education program at Kadima is held at the Haverhill YMCA. Certified instructors offer age based classes in swimming, rock climbing, gymnastics and floor games. In games and in formal instruction, children work on large motor skills at developmentally appropriate levels. As they play, students share space and equipment and learn the skill of working within a team. All game are chosen and managed in ways that enhance students' interpersonal skills.

Judaics: Learn about and celebrate Jewish holidays, ceremonies, traditions, symbols; hear, simulate and illustrate Bible stories; learn everyday blessings and the blessings and songs related to the holidays and Shabbat; learn about mitzvot, tzedakah; learn to recognize his/her Hebrew name, follow simple directions, count to ten, and sing children's songs in Hebrew.

Library: The Sifryah (library) program at Kadima supports the curriculum by fostering a love of reading, exposing children to a variety of topics and literary genres. Each week the librarian reads to the children in nursery - kindergarten and helps them choose books from the Kadima library to share at home.