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Jewish Community Center

Early Childhood Center

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Educating the Whole Child

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The Early Childhood Center at the J is dedicated to educating the whole child. We offer both an academic and a social/emotional curriculum, and our program is licensed and accredited. In addition to our student-driven school day, we offer dozens of “extra-curricular” activities on site – swimming, yoga, dance, sports and more.

We believe that children are curious and capable, full of potential with unique perspectives to share. In partnership with families, we are committed to providing quality care and education that embraces the development of a child’s mind, body and spirit. We are committed to teaching children to feel good about themselves and the world around them. We teach Jewish values and observe Jewish holidays, but welcome families of all faiths at the J. Our Centers reflect the global community, with children of many countries, languages and faiths making up our school family.

The J’s ECC provides year-round care for children aged six weeks to five years, pre-kindergarten, at locations in Creve Coeur and Chesterfield. Our centers are open Monday – Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm.

The J’s Early Childhood Holiday Closures

Christmas Holiday
Closed on Monday, December 25, 2023

Diversity

We serve a diverse population, from infants and toddlers through preschool, including children with developmental disabilities, children who are at-risk and children from low-income families.

Benefits of Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education has been shown to have lasting impacts for both children and their families, including higher levels of school achievement, better social adjustment, reduced need for special education in the elementary grades, higher rates of high school graduation, and higher overall lifetime achievement. High-quality early education produces short- and long-term positive effects on children’s cognitive and social development. Children who experience this high-quality care engage in more complex play and demonstrate more secure attachments.

History of the J's Early Childhood Center

The J Early Childhood Center – one of the first accredited Early Childhood Centers in the state of Missouri – was created in 1940 when women entered the workforce in support of the war effort and were in need of childcare during the day.  Over time, as the needs and geography of the community changed, the center moved westward to its current location in Creve Coeur the 1960’s.  The Susan Jacobs Daycare building provided full-time, year-round care for infant, toddlers and preschoolers, while the neighboring JCCA Pre-School provided a part-time, school-year program. The two centers combined into the high-quality early childhood center we have today focused on both the academic and social success of children. The Chesterfield location opened in 1996 as the Jewish community continued to expand westward. Both centers are licensed by the State of Missouri and accredited by the Missouri Voluntary Accreditation Program.

Creve Coeur/Staenberg Family Complex

Melissa Burgess, 314-442-3224

Chesterfield/Marilyn Fox Building

Kathy Coldiron, 314-442-3450

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