Gan Teva Educational Philosophy
Gan Teva Tests Its Mettle
10/29/2021 11:16:03 AM
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About a month in, Gan Teva at Ner Shalom finally had its first real rainy day of outdoor early childhood education. It was an exciting opportunity for Ms. Sarah to test the limits of our outdoor play, and for the kids to learn about the world in a new light. And they LOVED...Read more...
Gan Teva: Milestones and Benchmarks, FAQs, and More
08/04/2021 07:49:25 PM
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Check out this presentation!
Mixed-Age Play Groups
07/22/2021 07:49:15 PM
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At Congregation Ner Shalom, we believe strongly in Mixed-Age play and learning. Our Tot Shabbat programs, Religious School classrooms, and Youth Group activities all invite a range of ages: 3-5, 5-12, and 13-18, respectively. There is almost nothing that is done by a single grade, and Gan Teva at Ner Shalom will be no exception.
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Creating an Outdoor Sacred Space
07/11/2021 02:22:10 PM
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Rabbi Lizz has talked about this before: the need for dedicated sacred space, and the importance of connecting spiritually in nature. While we don't want Gan Teva at Ner Shalom to feel alienating to non-Jewish families looking for a natural early childhood learning center, we do feel strongly about our Jewish values leading the education, including the values of protecting the environment and of cultivating healthy spirituality in our young...Read more...
Outdoor Education is the Future
07/05/2021 11:18:01 AM
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We've said it before and we'll say it again: Nature-based learning is the future. While we of course will not have children outside in dangerous weather, we intend to keep them outdoors as much as possible and to encourage their growth and learning by engage with the real world around them. Studies show that gross motor skills and sensory concerns are better served through outdoor play than what we have come to expect from classroom learning....Read more...
Kids Who Spend More Time Outside Are Happier Adults — Here's Why
06/26/2021 10:18:16 PM
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More and more, safe and free outdoor spaces are harder to find. More and more, technology takes over our lives. It is imperative for mental health to spend more time in nature, and it starts young!
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Outdoor schooling raises resilient children
06/20/2021 04:41:56 PM
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“It’s not just teaching outdoors but using the outdoors to teach in real, hands-on ways. It makes education more relevant to students’ lives. When they experience something, it’s more meaningful to them.” - Jeanne McCarty, CEO of Out Teach
Learn More here!
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Exploring the world and developing skills through play and nature
06/10/2021 01:25:13 PM
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Check out Gan Teva at Ner Shalom's Tiktok for great tips on early childhood learning, more info about our preschool, and the importance of nature and play-based learning!
We Encourage Jumping in Puddles
06/07/2021 10:54:46 AM
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The grounds at Ner Shalom invite so many types of gross motor skill development and ways to engage in the world, including a universally beloved pasttime for all children - playing in puddles!
Check out this article on the science behind Gan Teva's encouragement of such activities!
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Why Gardening is a Valuable Teaching Tool
06/01/2021 12:50:19 PM
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Gan Teva is so excited to utilize gardening in our teaching!
Check out this article for some bullet points on its importance.
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Reading Recommendation
05/20/2021 01:28:50 PM
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“The future will belong to the nature-smart—those individuals, families, businesses, and political leaders who develop a deeper understanding of the transformative power of the natural world and who balance the virtual with the real. The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.”
—Richard Louv
At Gan Teva, we are striving to prepare our students to be nature-smart and ready to...Read more...
Gan Teva at Ner Shalom
04/18/2021 02:09:09 PM
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Gan Teva at Ner Shalom is Prince William County’s first nature-based Jewish preschool. Opening in September 2021, Gan Teva is searching for an enthusiastic early childhood educator who understands, and is excited about, building an early childhood learning center from foundation to fruition.
We’re seeking someone...Read more...
What will we teach at Gan Teva?
04/12/2021 01:56:15 PM
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At Gan Teva at Ner Shalom students will learn that all living beings are unique creations. We celebrate every member of our community and individualize our approaches to learning to foster the growth of each child.
We guide our children to treat all members of our community with honor and respect.
We celebrate the unity of the Jewish people. We appreciate the diversity of approaches to Jewish life and...Read more...
Compulsory Nature Studies?
04/09/2021 02:33:40 PM
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Although we are not necessarily advocating for compulsory outdoor learning for every child in the country (or even the county), we strongly believe our sensory- and nature-based Jewish education will better set up our students to engage in meaningful acts of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).
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Gan Teva Educational Philosophy
04/09/2021 02:30:07 PM
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Curious what an outdoor classroom has to offer?
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Mon, September 25 2023
10 Tishrei 5784
Upcoming Events
-
Monday ,
SepSeptember 25 , 2023High Holidays 2023
Monday, Sep 25th 9:00a to 9:00p
Ner Shalom is gearing up for High Holy Days again! * We will require RSVPs for the Rosh HaShana Seder. More info will be available soon for registration and pricing. Masks are optional but encouraged when not eating together. We expect all who can be fully vaccinated to be. Doing so fulfills the mitzvah of pekuach nefesh (preserving life). * Here is the schedule: 9/9 Selichot @ 5:30 pm for a meditative Selichot Havdallah service, followed by a showing of the Wizard of Oz (you'll have to come to learn why this choice) 9/10 @ 2:00 pm Reverse Tashlich (Bull Run Occaquan Trail) 9/15 Rosh HaShanah Seder @ 6:00 pm 9/16 Traditional morning Rosh HaShana service @ 10:00 am (in the sanctuary), followed by a BYO picnic lunch outside on synagogue grounds 9/16 Tashlich @ 2 pm (Bull Run Marina) 9/24 Traditional Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre service @ 7:30 pm 9/25 Traditional Yom Kippur morning service @ 9:00 am 9/25 Youth Kippur @ 12:00 pm 9/25 Rabbi's Study 1:30 pm (outdoors on synagogue grounds) 9/25 Traditional Yom Kippur Afternoon service @ 3:30 (in the sanctuary) 9/25 Yiskor and Neilah @ 4:45 pm (in the sanctuary) Break-fast following services, approximately 7:00 pm. -
Wednesday ,
SepSeptember 27 , 2023
Wednesday, Sep 27th 12:00p to 1:00p
We meet the last Wednesday of every month, now at our new time of noon! Always on Zoom. Reach out for more details. -
Friday ,
SepSeptember 29 , 2023
Friday, Sep 29th 6:00p to 8:30p
Join us at 6 pm for a community potluck in the Sukkah, followed by services starting at 7 pm, led by our Religious School! Please bring a vegetarian dish, or desserts, or beverages, to share. -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 1 , 2023
Sunday, Oct 1st 9:30a to 12:00p
Hebrew and Judaics for grades K-7th -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 1 , 2023
Sunday, Oct 1st 1:00p to 2:00p
Join us as we discuss Judaism's long relationship with governmental structures, money and power. We will start out using Rabbi Avi Strausberg's guided lesson from Project Zug by Hadar, and expand to discuss the URJ's view and the establishment of the Religious Action Center. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 7 , 2023
Shabbat, Oct 7th 10:00a to 12:00p
Join us at 10 am for a combination brunch-Sukkot-Simchat Torah celebration. Includes Bagels, Mimosas, dancing, singing, and praying. -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 8 , 2023
Sunday, Oct 8th 11:00a to 12:00p
Join us as we discuss Judaism's long relationship with governmental structures, money and power. We will start out using Rabbi Avi Strausberg's guided lesson from Project Zug by Hadar, and expand to discuss the URJ's view and the establishment of the Religious Action Center. -
Friday ,
OctOctober 13 , 2023
Friday, Oct 13th 7:30p to 8:30p
Erev Shabbat Services most Friday nights at 7:30 in the sanctuary -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 15 , 2023
Sunday, Oct 15th 9:30a to 12:00p
Hebrew and Judaics for grades K-7th -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 15 , 2023
Sunday, Oct 15th 1:00p to 2:00p
Join us as we discuss Judaism's long relationship with governmental structures, money and power. We will start out using Rabbi Avi Strausberg's guided lesson from Project Zug by Hadar, and expand to discuss the URJ's view and the establishment of the Religious Action Center.
Ner Shalom in the News
- Washington Jewish Week - June 30, 2020
CNS Branded Masks Save Lives
- Prince WIlliam Living - September 20, 2019
Annual Patriot Day Shabbat
- Prince William Living - August 26, 2019
Learn About the Jewish High Holidays!
- Prince William Living - July 16, 2019
Synagogue in Summer
- Prince William Living - May 16, 2019
Seasons of Our Joy
- Prince William Living - March 20, 2019
- Learning About Jewish Traditions
- Building an Inclusive & Vibrant Community
- - Prince William Living - December 14, 2018
- The Future of the Community
- - Prince William Living - November 20, 2018
- Coming Together After a National Tragedy
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