Early Childhood Center
Balfour Brickner Early Childhood Center
At the Early Childhood Center, play is at the heart of the learning process. Through play, our children explore their surroundings to create, build and experiment.
The Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Balfour Brickner Early Childhood Center (ECC) was founded in 1949 to reach out to families within the congregation and in the broader community. Since that time, over one thousand families have enrolled. One of the most respected and desired pre–schools in Manhattan, the ECC maintains a close family tradition, providing children from eighteen months through four years with a nurturing, welcoming and stimulating environment.
The ECC is a member of the Independent Schools Administration Association of Greater New York and the Education Records Bureau, and is accredited by JECEI - Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative. Through an integrated approach, its highly regarded curriculum provides for all areas of a child’s development–physical, emotional, social, and cognitive. There is a strong Jewish component to the curriculum. Children begin to develop their Jewish identity by observing Sabbath with our Clergy, learning traditional holiday blessings, songs and rituals.
Parent involvement is welcomed. Parents are frequent participants during Shabbat and holiday activities. Additionally, parents are encouraged to take an active role in the Parent Association, which organizes events throughout the year, and the ECC Committee, which oversees school policies.
