Philosophy and Goals of Shaare Torah Nursery School
The Shaare Torah Nursery School is committed to maximizing each child’s learning potential by encouraging and nurturing each child to become a motivated, confident and independent learner. We are also committed to helping each child develop a sense of spirituality and understanding of their Jewish heritage, as they participate in the Jewish life of our community.

A creative and child-centered curriculum will help your child discover the world around him or her in a warm and safe classroom setting that promotes a love of learning. Our teaching staff strives to continually stimulate and challenge your child’s natural instincts. As early childhood professionals, our aim is to give each child the opportunity to learn, develop and play to their fullest potential.

The goals of our program are:

• To enhance the development of each child’s understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the Jewish holidays, customs, traditions, history, symbols, rituals and values, fostering a strong Jewish identity.
• To help each child develop a positive self-image and a view of him/herself as an individual who is competent and has worth.
  
• To help each child make a successful transition from school to home.
  
• To provide for all areas of the child’s development: physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional and spiritual through an integrated approach to learning that is real, concrete and relevant to each child.
• To provide for both age appropriate and individually appropriate activities based upon teacher observation of each child’s special interests and
  developmental progress.
• To provide an atmosphere that is warm, loving and accepting
• To prepare the environment for each child to learn through active exploration, play, and with adults and other children.
• To help each child to explore, observe, question and listen.
• To stimulate natural curiosity and encourage creative thinking.

History of Shaare Torah Nursery School
In 2002, a few members of Shaare Torah conceived the idea of creating a nurturing, loving, educational and fun Jewish nursery school for members of Shaare Torah and the surrounding community. By April, 2003, Shaare Torah had leased space at the Fairhaven Church in Darnestown, MD and had hired a Director, Leslie Scharf, to take their vision and make it a reality. In September 2003, Shaare Torah Nursery School opened its doors with 11 two year old students. By 2005, the school had grown and filled its classrooms with learning, laughter, and fun. The children played, learned about the Jewish holidays and heritage, enjoyed music and art activities, and participated in many activities that taught them to play and learn well together. In January 2007, the Nursery School was able to unite with the larger synagogue community when the new building in the Lakelands opened. There the school was able to expand exponentially and enjoyed its new classrooms, play area, and the new synagogue facilities.

Currently, Shaare Torah Nursery School has over 75 students with classes for two, three, and four year old students in
addition to the Mommy and Me program, for children from 12 to 18 months along with a parent. The School also offers diverse enrichment programs for its three and four year old children, as well as hosting many events in which parents may
participate. The School is licensed by the Offi ce of Child Care for the State of Maryland and is affi liated with the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning and the National Jewish Early Childhood Network.