What if I'm not Jewish? All families from all backgrounds are welcome! At TOSCEL we celebrate diversity and we promote an environment of acceptance and warmth.
What makes TOSCEL unique? Children enjoy our warm, nurturing atmosphere with a focus on discovery, diversity, and inclusivity. We are committed to keeping our parents involved through our Parent Ambassador Program, consistent communication with our educators, potlucks, and other community events. Our educators are dedicated to ongoing professional development and boast expansive teaching experience and backgrounds.
Are the classes small or large? Our small class sizes ensure that our educators establish a meaningful relationship with each child. It also means that teachers can tailor their approach to each child, focusing on their individual needs and strengths. What do we mean by small? Our Toddler classes have a 1:5 ratio so our littler kids get the individualized attention they need. Our Preschool classes have a 1:7 ratio to help foster their budding independence.
Will my child be ready for kindergarten? Of course! Our educators are focused on helping our students learn all of the necessary skills for Kindergarten and beyond. Our goal is to make learning fun with hands-on experiences, creative ways to learn new skills, and opportunities for social and emotional growth. Our educators know that each child is unique and are skilled at honing each child’s individual strengths to help them learn and grow.
What is your teaching style? Our curriculum is influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. In a nutshell, the Reggio Emilia approach creates a rich, engaging environment for young children while creating a curriculum built upon children’s interests, curiosities, and theories. Partnership and collaboration among parents, children, and our educators is considered essential to success. Our curriculum is also guided by Jewish teachings and values. We practice loving kindness and model respect for every individual and all aspects of our planet. Jewish and common human values are the core to our school, our practice, our relationships, and our environment. If you’re curious about the Reggio Emilia approach or want more information about the Jewish values that influence our teaching, keep an eye on our social media! We will be curating more content to help familiarize our families with this innovative and individualized approach.
What safety measures are in place? TOSCEL is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for all, and supporting the social-emotional needs of our school community. All of our staff are vaccinated. We follow all the latest guidance of the CDC and PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and will continue to update and revise, as guided. Temperature checks, screening questions, and wearing masks are just some of the protocols that we have in place to keep our students and staff healthy and safe. The physical safety of our staff and students is our number one priority. We have a BluePoint Security System which provides a direct link to local police and first responders. Doors to the building are equipped with cameras and key fobs are required for entry.
How do you manage difficult behavior? We understand that sometimes children have difficulty managing big feelings and might have difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings in prosocial ways. When these instances occur, we always work with children in developmentally appropriate ways to help them not only calm their minds and bodies but also to develop appropriate calming strategies to set them up for future success. Our educators use a variety of techniques including redirection, grounding techniques, diaphragmatic breathing, and other strategies to help our students understand what they are feeling, to refocus, and to develop and practice appropriate calming strategies. We do not use time-outs or other negative forms of punishment.
What is your policy on toilet learning? Children do not need to use the toilet to be enrolled at TOSCEL. However, we do ask that parents provide diapering supplies so that diapers can be changed as needed. Please let us know if you are working on transitioning from diapers, and we will encourage the use of the toilet at diaper changes or we will do our best to accommodate a toileting schedule that you request.
What if my child needs outside services? We want all children to strive at our school and we understand that sometimes children need help when it comes to meeting developmental or behavioral goals. We always work with families and gladly invite any support staff or therapists that may need to visit a child at our school.
What makes TOSCEL unique? Children enjoy our warm, nurturing atmosphere with a focus on discovery, diversity, and inclusivity. We are committed to keeping our parents involved through our Parent Ambassador Program, consistent communication with our educators, potlucks, and other community events. Our educators are dedicated to ongoing professional development and boast expansive teaching experience and backgrounds.
Are the classes small or large? Our small class sizes ensure that our educators establish a meaningful relationship with each child. It also means that teachers can tailor their approach to each child, focusing on their individual needs and strengths. What do we mean by small? Our Toddler classes have a 1:5 ratio so our littler kids get the individualized attention they need. Our Preschool classes have a 1:7 ratio to help foster their budding independence.
Will my child be ready for kindergarten? Of course! Our educators are focused on helping our students learn all of the necessary skills for Kindergarten and beyond. Our goal is to make learning fun with hands-on experiences, creative ways to learn new skills, and opportunities for social and emotional growth. Our educators know that each child is unique and are skilled at honing each child’s individual strengths to help them learn and grow.
What is your teaching style? Our curriculum is influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. In a nutshell, the Reggio Emilia approach creates a rich, engaging environment for young children while creating a curriculum built upon children’s interests, curiosities, and theories. Partnership and collaboration among parents, children, and our educators is considered essential to success. Our curriculum is also guided by Jewish teachings and values. We practice loving kindness and model respect for every individual and all aspects of our planet. Jewish and common human values are the core to our school, our practice, our relationships, and our environment. If you’re curious about the Reggio Emilia approach or want more information about the Jewish values that influence our teaching, keep an eye on our social media! We will be curating more content to help familiarize our families with this innovative and individualized approach.
What safety measures are in place? TOSCEL is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for all, and supporting the social-emotional needs of our school community. All of our staff are vaccinated. We follow all the latest guidance of the CDC and PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and will continue to update and revise, as guided. Temperature checks, screening questions, and wearing masks are just some of the protocols that we have in place to keep our students and staff healthy and safe. The physical safety of our staff and students is our number one priority. We have a BluePoint Security System which provides a direct link to local police and first responders. Doors to the building are equipped with cameras and key fobs are required for entry.
How do you manage difficult behavior? We understand that sometimes children have difficulty managing big feelings and might have difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings in prosocial ways. When these instances occur, we always work with children in developmentally appropriate ways to help them not only calm their minds and bodies but also to develop appropriate calming strategies to set them up for future success. Our educators use a variety of techniques including redirection, grounding techniques, diaphragmatic breathing, and other strategies to help our students understand what they are feeling, to refocus, and to develop and practice appropriate calming strategies. We do not use time-outs or other negative forms of punishment.
What is your policy on toilet learning? Children do not need to use the toilet to be enrolled at TOSCEL. However, we do ask that parents provide diapering supplies so that diapers can be changed as needed. Please let us know if you are working on transitioning from diapers, and we will encourage the use of the toilet at diaper changes or we will do our best to accommodate a toileting schedule that you request.
What if my child needs outside services? We want all children to strive at our school and we understand that sometimes children need help when it comes to meeting developmental or behavioral goals. We always work with families and gladly invite any support staff or therapists that may need to visit a child at our school.