Our Program

As children learn how to make choices for themselves, they develop the capacity for independent learning. Guided by encouraging adults, children learn to discover and create. In doing so, children see their impact on the world around them and develop their own constructive, positive, and vibrant sense of self-identity. We view our parents as partners, and we enroll the whole family, not just the child. We encourage parents to take an active role in their child’s preschool experience through classroom participation, parent/teacher conferences, special family activities, and committee involvement.
 
Our program holds as its fundamental goal to provide quality education in an atmosphere of security and love. We believe in the competency of children. By providing a positive, engaging, and secure setting, we allow every child to discover their whole self in relation to the world around them.

Our Curriculum

The Louise Hayem Manheim Gates Preschool at Congregation Gates of Prayer provides children ages three months through five years with a stimulating, developmentally appropriate, and emotionally supportive learning environment informed by Jewish wisdom and the best progressive educational practice. 

Gates Preschool is a Type III center with a Tier 1 Curriculum that, per the Louisiana Department of Education, scores highest on all possible indicators of superior quality. Specifically, our Frog Street Curriculum for Infants through Pre-K is the highest-rated and most sought-after program available. 

Frog Street integrates with our whole-child education and conscious discipline principles, which emphasize:

• Cognitive, physical, social, and emotional growth and development
• Respecting and responding to each child’s unique needs
• Embracing each other’s differences 
• Gain independence and decision-making skills
• Socialization through cooperative play, problem-solving, and negotiating
• Develop phonemic awareness, rhyming, and word sounds
• Experiment and practice pre-writing skills and drawing
• Develop language and literacy through listening to stories
• Develop large and small motor development

All of our lead teachers are certified in early childhood or are working on their CDA credentials or have a bachelor’s degree. Our teachers have access to continuing education and are coached and observed by the state to ensure techniques learned are retained and each has what they need to succeed in the classroom. 

Judaic Curriculum

Our Jewish programming is introduced in a manner meaningful to young children and respectful to those children of other faiths and traditions. We celebrate Shabbat and all Jewish holidays through songs and festive events. Our creative celebrations — many of which we share with our preschool families — help children recognize, appreciate, and enjoy their Jewish heritage. We celebrate Shabbat each Friday, and children have the opportunity to participate in age-appropriate Shabbat programs led by our Rabbis and Cantorial Soloist. The Shabbat celebration features prayers for the candles, wine, challah, and songs to welcome Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, and the new week. We observe ceremonies with our clergy, family, and community.