Mickey Fried Nursery School
General Information The Mickey Fried Nursery School offers programs for children ages two to
five years old. The Nursery School offers seven morning classes, extended day classes 5 afternoons, and a My Buddy & Me playgroup for pre-nursery school age children. During the 2009-2010 school year, we are serving 75 children. During the summer, the Nursery School offers a six or
seven-week camp program, serving approximately 50-60 children. For the past eight years, the Nursery School has operated under the capable and dedicated direction of Iris Ehrlich.
Program Philosophy & Goals Our philosophy is based on the concept that children
learn as they play. Our school offers a warm, creative environment where each child's own unique style of
living and learning is valued and nurtured. The foundation of personality, self-image and the motivation to
learn are all firmly established in the first five years of a child's life. Our school gives the tools, space and
support for the kinds of experiences children need to learn and grow. The school's rich and meaningful program of Jewish
content is offered at the children's level, encouraging a positive identification with our religion, culture and people.
In Memory of Mickey Fried
Please read this flyer to learn about Mickey Fried.
Registration Information
Calendar of Events
"What makes our school different?"
- Teacher tenure - our teachers love what they do and so they continue on each year. The average tenure of our lead teachers is 15 years.
- No drop off or pick up lines means more communication with your child's teacher and other parents.
- Accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. We are the only Synagogue nursery school in South Orange/Maplewood that is
accredited by NAEYC.
The PJ Library
Free Jewish content books every month for your child.
Click on the image below to visit The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life - then click on the "Sign Up" link
Play/Learning Centers Throughout the school year, the children are involved in the
following activities: art, block play, use of manipulative toys, science, sand and water play, gardening, cooking,
music and creative movement, dramatic play and story time. On sunny days we enjoy some fresh air on our beautiful
outdoor playground, and on rainy days we have a well-equipped indoor playroom.
Enrichment Activities In addition to the everyday activities in the
classroom, the Nursery School offers weekly music sessions with our wonderful music teacher, Ronnie, and
weekly creative movement through the Fit-2-Go program. A special Kabbalat Shabbat program is held each
Friday morning. The Rabbi tells a Bible story in the sanctuary with our own illustrated Torah scroll, the
children participate in a school-wide sing-a-long with the Cantor, and conclude in their classrooms with a
special "Shabbat meal" and story time. We have an Extended Day program for 3 and 4 year olds each day from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. Monday - cooking,
Tuesday - science, Wednesday - Yoga, Thursday - Art 101, and Friday - Fun with Literature.
 Rabbi Cooper shares time in the Sukkah with children in the Mickey Fried Nursery School.
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School Trips School trips are planned throughout the year. For the three-year-old classes, this means
a walk to the library or the nearby duck pond to scout for nature's treasures.Our four-year-old classes visit places
such as NJPAC, Overlook Hospital, and the Montclair Art Museum.
Tzedakah Tzedakah is a Hebrew word translated as charity. In Judaism, tzedakah refers to the religious
obligation to perform charity and philanthropic acts, which Jadaism emphasizes are important parts of living a spiritual life. Tzedakah is an
important school-wide activity. Our projects include: - Bringing food items for Oheb Shalom's food pantry
- Collecting coins to donate to various charities
- Purchasing trees in Israel for Tu B-Shevat
- Collecting and delivering toys and clothing to various local charities
Through the Nursery School's participation in these Tzedakah projects, not only do we assist
others, but we also increase the sensitivity of our own students to the needs of others and help them
to realize that they can make a difference.
Our Staff Our staff consists of
dedicated people who enjoy working with children. The staff brings to the school warmth, creativity,
enthusiasm and years of experience in providing a positive environment for young children. Each classroom
has a lead teacher and an assistant, with student/teacher ratios of 5:1 in our 2-year-old classes up to 8:1 in our
4-year-old classes. Most of our teachers have been with the school for 15 years or longer. We are a fully licensed
preschool with credentialed teachers and administrators.
Parental Involvement Parental involvement is an integral part of the education process. A Preschool
Board oversees the operation of the Mickey Fried Nursery School and provides a forum for parents to give input on
policies and planning for the school. Parents have individual face-to-face meetings with teachers twice each
year to discuss their child's needs and development. Ongoing informal communication between parents and staff is
encouraged. The entire preschool family gathers together twice a year to share age appropriate Shabbat
services followed by a luncheon and program. A family picnic in early June concludes each school year.
Parents are involved throughout the school year through committees that plan special programs, such as Parent Education
workshops, our Annual Book Fair, the Nursery Yearbook, and as "Shabbat Parents" in their children's classrooms.
A family carnival/picnic in early June concludes each school year.
Enrollment Information Registration begins in early January, with priority given to
synagogue members and existing nursery school students. For more information or to arrange a
visit, please e-mail nurserydir@ohebshalom.org or call Iris Ehrlich at (973) 762-7069. | 
