JCC’s Nierman Preschool is a play-based, nurturing environment that utilizes emergent curriculum and focuses on children’s interests and learning needs. Our primary goal is creating community through building trusting relationships with children, teachers, and families. We celebrate the joy of learning, intertwined with lasting friendships.
At Nierman Preschool, our vision is rooted in the belief that every child, family, and educator plays a vital role in shaping a vibrant, inclusive Jewish community. As part of the Lawrence Family JCC, we are dedicated to connecting people with Jewish heritage, values, and experiences to ensure the continuity of our traditions—and the promise of a thriving future.
We strive to develop curiosity, imagination, the pleasure of discovery, self-esteem, caring for others, and the ability to play both cooperatively and independently. With attention to developmental stages, educators offer an integrated approach to education, combining learning and play, skillfully building on what children can already do, and challenging them to try new things. Music and physical education are additional components, and our strong Judaic curriculum is woven throughout.
Jewish culture, traditions, holidays, and heritage are studied and celebrated with songs, stories, dance, cooking, and crafts. Shabbat is celebrated at school each week in an atmosphere of joyful togetherness and sharing, and cultural diversity is promoted and respected as children and families share their traditions from around the globe.
Experiences are multi-sensory and encourage growth in Fine and Gross Motor Coordination, Sensory Integration, Cognitive and Adaptive Skills, Brain Development, Socio-emotional Development, Language Development, Moral Development, Spanish as a Second Language
“Through the LFJCC and Nierman Preschool I was able to find people that to this day, almost six years later, are people that I would consider my best friends.“
“Through the LFJCC and Nierman Preschool I was able to find people that to this day, almost six years later, are people that I would consider my best friends.“
“Through the LFJCC and Nierman Preschool I was able to find people that to this day, almost six years later, are people that I would consider my best friends.“
Extended Care is available at an additional cost. Before care is available from 7:30am for all children enrolled on an as needed basis. Aftercare is available after 3:30pm for children enrolled in the full day options.
Hours
Monday – Thursday from 7:30 – 9:00 am
Monday – Thursday from 3:30 – 5:30 pm
Friday from 7:30 – 9:00 am
Friday from 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Exclusively for children enrolled in Nierman Preschool. Throughout the school year, Nierman Preschool will be closed for various holidays. On most of those holidays, we offer special camp programming for an additional cost. Unlike our Extended Care program, parents need to register for Holiday Camp in advance. Spaces are limited, and registration secures your space.
Preschool Holiday Camp Options:
Full Day: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm - Extended care available with reservations 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm and 5:00pm on Friday
Half Day: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - No extended care offered for half day students
Extended Care available with reservations for an additional fee of $14.00/Hour
7:30am - 9:00am and *3:30pm - 5:30p, (5:00 pm Fridays)
*No afternoon extended care offered for half day campers
Toddlers offers one of the best toddler programs available in San Diego County.
School activities and programs are greatly enhanced by the enthusiastic support of our active Nierman Preschool All School Committee. Room Parents help bridge the classrooms to the families.
We believe strongly in the importance of providing an inclusive environment for our children and their families. We are fortunate to have an Inclusion Director on staff to help support children’s individual needs and to assist parents and teachers with appropriate resources to maximize their children’s potential.
By enrolling in one of our Spanish Immersion classes, Nierman Preschoolers are offered a unique opportunity to build pathways needed to acquire a new language while also enhancing cognitive and creative abilities. Learning a second language is a 21st-century skill that will prepare our students to live and work in a global society. Cutting-edge research in brain development emphasizes the benefits of learning a foreign language at a very early age. In addition, younger learners have the capacity to develop near native-like pronunciation and intonation in a new language.
Shalom Baby - Shalom Baby is designed to help San Diego families (affiliated, non-affiliated, and interfaith) celebrate the arrival of their Jewish newborns and welcome them to the San Diego Jewish Community through gift baskets, playgroups, social events, holiday celebrations, and resource guides.
PJ Library - Looking for a way to nurture the parent-child bond and strengthen your child's Jewish identity? Read them a book! Brought to San Diego by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the PJ Library (yes, for pajama) provides children from birth to eight years sent monthly at no cost!
Little Menches - Little Mensches aims to provide fun, engaging, and enriching opportunities for children between the ages of 4 and 8 to give back to their community. The goal is to Make the World Better One Mitzvah at a Time by allowing "giving back" to become a regular part of these children's lives.
Shalom Baby Together You & Me Music Classes - This brand new program is for toddlers and their adults to enjoy music, stories and movement together, taught by Jennifer Meltzer. Two time slots on Wednesdays and Fridays will accommodate our crawlers and walkers. Fridays will focus on celebrating Shabbat.
A member of our administrative team will be in touch within 2–3 business days to guide you through the next steps in the enrollment process—we’re so excited to welcome you!
Enrollment in Nierman Preschool now includes full LFJCC membership benefits! Enjoy access to our fitness center, cultural arts programs, and exclusive savings on members-only events and programs all year long.
A limited number of scholarships are available to JCC Members. Requests for financial assistance must be submitted no later than [updated deadline]. Requests received after that date will be considered only if funds are available.
Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) provides child care fee assistance for active military families. Please connect with a member of the Nierman Preschool’s administrative staff for more information. To learn more about CCAoa, Click Here.
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & PROGRAMS
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & PROGRAMS
HEALTHY LIVING MANAGER
Fran Forman, Senior Director of Early Childhood Education & Programs
858.362.1171
fran.forman@lfjcc.org
Nataliya Telerman, Associate Director of ECE & Programs
858.362.1134
nataliya.tlerman@lfjcc.org
Full-Day: Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Half-Day: Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Extended care is available at an additional cost. Before care is available from 7:30am for all children enrolled on an as needed basis. After care is available after 3:30pm for children enrolled in the full day option.
Extended Care Hours:
Note: Aftercare is only available with full-day schedule
The beautiful Glickman-Galinson Early Childhood Education Complex houses sixteen state-of-the-art classrooms, specially-designed bathrooms, a central outdoor playground, a special toddler/two-year-old play yard, an outdoor amphitheater, a kitchen, and a STEAM lab.
Security and safety are our top priorities. Our security remains vigilant in maintaining and updating security enhancements to keep the JCC and all in attendance safe. We are also very fortunate to have the San Diego Police and Fire Department next door as our neighbors with whom we share a close and supportive working relationship.
