Early Childhood Community

SJCC Early Childhood Education programs are enhanced by parent volunteers who spend countless hours in support of our children and teachers directly in our classrooms and on other community projects. In addition, each class has room parents who help teachers organize field trips and events throughout the school year. other parents volunteer to organize fundraisers, Shabbat celebrations, and more. Over-arching Early Childhood Education Parent Committees, one for Mercer Island and one for Seattle, oversee all these tremendous endeavors.

Participation and Partnerships
The education of young children involves the children, their family, their educational institution, and their community. Participation is not just "taking part" in the classroom or a schoolwide event, but rather being a part of the learning process, part of its educational essence. Parents are invited to be truly involved in our program through meetings with teachers, attending classroom events (Hanukkah parties, birthday parties, Shabbat celebrations), volunteering in the classroom (leading an art or cooking project), attending schoolwide events (curriculum nights, annual fundraiser, pancake breakfast), and being an active member of the larger SJCC community (Purim Carnival, Hanukkah celebration, Passover Seder Dinner, and more).

Participation is an educational strategy that describes us and our school.

Thank you to the following businesses for supporting our school:

Dodi Nov, DDS (Bellevue Smiles) www.bellevuesmiles.com
Sandra Levin, John L. Scott Real Estate www.sandralevin.com
Schwartz Brothers Restaurants www.schwartzbros.com
Warren Libman DDS www.libmandds.com  
Dawn Bova, DDS www.drbova.com  
Iron Mountain  www.ironmountain.com 
MI Eyeworks www.mieyeworks.com  
AlphaGraphics www.us297alphagraphics.com   
Lice Knowing You www.liceknowingyou.com 
Spruce Street School  www.sprucestreetschool.org 
Katan www.katanchildren.com  
Parent Map www.parentmap.com 
QFC www.QFC.com 
Island Dermatology  www.island-derm.com 
New Vision Eyecare www.newvisioneyecare.com  
Mercer Island Pediatrics www.mipediatrics.com 
Laura Smith (Talk SLP) www.talkslp.com 
King Construction www.king-construction.net 
Plantscapes www.plantscapes.com 
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle www.JewishInSeattle.org 
Lisi Wolf Photography www.lisiwolf.com 
Pinnacle Real Estate Management Company www.prmc.com 
Mimy Hilchie, John L. Scott www.JohnLScott.com/MimyHilchie 
Blazing Bagels www.blazingbagels.com 

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Winter Storm Information
Please keep this information handy this winter!

If you are worried about winter weather closures, call the Mercer Island Early Childhood Education Inclement Weather hotline at 206-232-2099, extension 423, or the Seattle Early Childhood Education Inclement Weather hotline at 206-526-8073, extension 403, (you may also choose option 1) for a recorded message.

In case of inclement weather, the Mercer Island ECS department will use, as a guide, the Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Lake Washington School Districts' decisions to open, close or operate on emergency (late start/early release) schedule. Final determination will be made by SJCC senior executive staff members.

If we open on emergency schedule, hours will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for full-day students only. No infant (18 months or younger) care will be provided due to difficulty in mixing this age group with an older age group.

If power outages do not occur in conjunction with a storm, administrators will also email ECS parents closure/late start updates.

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For information on Mercer Island Early Childhood Education, contact Director Darci Lewis by e-mail or at 206-388-1993.

For information on Seattle Early Childhood Education, contact Seattle Office Manager Nicci Burrell by e-mail or at 206-526-8073.