CONTACT: Sherrie Rose Maleson (650) 493-4665 ext 256 srmaleson@betham.org

Garinim-Shorashim Enrollment Form

Perachim Enrollment Form

Etzim Enrollment Form

Gan Ami Brochure

2008-2009 Gan Ami Calendar

Program Information

Gan Ami Staff Bios

 

Parent Testimonial, June 2009

Sherrie Rose Maleson, Director of Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program at Congregation Beth Am has a unique ability to inspire her community - preschoolers and their families, her colleagues and every life she touches.  She inspires us with her youthful exuberance, her inclusiveness and her innovativeness.  It is remarkable what Sherrie Rose has accomplished at the age of 28. 

Sherrie Rose was destined to be involved with early childhood education.  She worked with preschoolers as a teenage counselor at the JCC T’enna Preschool’s summer camp in Palo Alto.  After majoring in psychology in college she returned to T’enna to work and to obtain a graduate degree in Human Development with a focus on early childhood development. After experiencing much success at T’enna, she was selected by Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills to launch Gan Ami in September of 2007 at the age of 26.    

Gan Ami, in a short period of time, has become a success and Sherrie Rose cares about the community, parents, and students.  She makes each of us feel special and welcome.  Both our children look forward to each day they will be in the classroom (and outside exploring) with her! 

Sherrie Rose is inclusive to a diverse group of people- Jewish, non-Jewish (Tamara is Buddhist and Lisa is Catholic), interfaith (we are both from interfaith families), American born or foreign (our class has family from Israel , Egypt ,  Japan , Thailand , France , Switzerland , and Trinidad ), parents who work, parents who do not work, people who are members of the congregation and not.  We are inspired by her generosity of time, advice and openness to learn more about Jewish culture, religion and language as well as her help in raising our children to become curious, playful citizens while fostering emotional development. 

She is creative and resourceful in building and fostering communication with parents in the classroom community.  She turns to local online technology resources to make the Gan Ami pre-school community into a thriving virtual community.  This online technology enables even the busiest parent to check in and view pictures of their preschooler participating in various school activities. We hope that more preschools look at what she has done to create such a rich, rewarding and inclusive educational environment in such a short period of time.    

In closing, she is a delightful person--instantly likeable with a twinkle in her eye and a smile that makes you want to be around her.  

Thank you, 

Tamara Fagin (mother of former Gan Ami preschooler Zachary Fagin)

Lisa Gani (mother of former Gan Ami preschooler Alexander Gani)

Congregation Beth Am’s
Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program Enters Second Year
In Collaboration with ALSJCC

Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program enters its second year at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, offering parent-toddler groups and morning classes for two- and three-year-olds in collaboration with the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center (ALSJCC).  Enrollment is currently open in the Tuesday/Thursday three-year-old class and in the 2-year-old transition class.  The 2-year-old transition class is a unique program in which parents participate with their children in the fall and begin dropping them off twice a week in January.

Under the direction of Sherrie Rose Maleson , Gan Ami utilizes the congregation’s resources to help children and families develop a sense of familiarity and comfort in a Reform Jewish setting. The early childhood experience includes spending time in the sanctuary and interacting with the rabbis, educators and cantor.

“One of our goals is for children at Gan Ami to be comfortable in sacred space and with clergy,” Maleson said. “We provide opportunities to visit the sanctuary and to engage with rabbis inside and outside the classroom so that children can learn to count on rabbis as well as their teachers and parents.  We invite the clergy to come to the classroom when parents are present as well in hopes that parents will come to count on the clergy too.”

Jewish themes are infused in art, dramatic play, music and other age-appropriate activities and curricula.

Maleson herself grew up at Congregation Beth Am, attended the ALSJCC’s T’enna preschool, and has years of experience in early childhood education. She previously coordinated the Shabbatots childcare program at Beth Am and coordinated the Camp Rimon afternoon care program at the JCC preschool. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Scripps College and a master’s degree from Pacific Oaks College in human development with an emphasis in early childhood education.

"The collaboration with the talented team of professionals at the ALSJCC's T'enna Preschool was an important part of the successful launch of Gan Ami last year. We are pleased to continue working together for the benefit of the entire community," said Rachel Tasch , President Elect of Congregation Beth Am. Randi Brenowitz, Director of Community Outreach at the ALSJCC, said, "Based on our experience in the area of early childhood education, we were able to help Gan Ami focus on strategic issues.  As we enter our second year of the collaboration, I remain confident that Congregation Beth Am is providing a high-quality option for families on the mid-Peninsula seeking to enrich their connection to Judaism." Membership at Congregation Beth Am is not a requirement for participation in Gan Ami.

For more information, call Sherrie Rose Maleson at Congregation Beth Am, (650) 493-4665 ext 256, or email her at srmaleson@betham.org.

About Congregation Beth Am

Congregation Beth Am is a vibrant Reform Jewish community committed to meaningful worship and spiritual growth; lifelong study; and acts of gemilut chasadim (lovingkindness), tzedaka (righteous giving) and tikkun olam (repairing the world.) Beth Am strives to integrate Jewish practice into home and family life, and offers communal support and pastoral guidance for individuals and families throughout their lifetimes and in all their diversity.

Gan Ami Staff Bios

Sherrie Rose Maleson - Gan Ami Director and Perachim Teacher

Sherrie Rose Maleson grew up in the Beth Am community and is very glad to be on the Beth Am staff as Gan Ami Director and Perachim Teacher.  She has worked at the Palo Alto Jewish Community Center’s T’enna Preschool (where she attended as a young child) as Afternoon Program Coordinator and Early Childhood Teacher from 2002 through 2008.  She received a BA in Psychology in 2002 from Scripps College where she was very active in student life.  In 2005, she earned an MA in Human Development, specializing in Early Childhood Education, from Pacific Oaks College.  Sherrie Rose loves spending time with her dog, taking yoga classes, and working for the benefit of young children!

  

 

Uriela Ben-Yaacov - Garinim and Shorashim Teacher

Uriela Ben-Yaacov grew up in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), studied for a Bachelor's Degree in Hebrew University, Jerusalem, spent 10 years in South Africa and moved to California in 1980 with her husband and 2 children. Her third child was born in California (the only one born in the USA). She is also the grandmother of three young ones.  She is a certified teacher in Early Childhood Education, and has previously taught in the T'enna preschool and in Thacher Preschool, and has just completed her first year of teaching in the Gan Ami program.  She plays the guitar and the piano and enjoys teaching Jewish curriculum and Hebrew through music, dance and rhythm. She is also a parent leader in a non-profit organization that supports parents in the important job of parenting.  Uriela enjoys swimming, walking, participating in Torah Study at Beth Am, and spending special time with her children and grandchildren.

Kim Bulger - Etzim Teacher

 Kim Bulger grew up in the suburbs of New York City and moved to Los Altos, California in September 2007 with her husband, Brian, and her cat, Muffin. She worked at The International Preschools in New York City for 10 years as a site director, older threes/four year old teacher, mentor, and NAEYC Accreditation Coordinator.  She received a BS in Business Management in 1994 from the University of Hartford and an MA in early childhood/elementary education in 1996 from New York University.  In the spring of 2005, Kim completed 21 credits in school supervision and administration from Hunter College. Since moving to California, she has worked at Anthropologie in Palo Alto and in a preschool special education class in Menlo Park. Kim enjoys traveling, reading, and listening to the Dave Matthews Band.  

 

Leah Strauss - Garinim and Shorashim Teacher

Leah Strauss, a California certified master teacher of early childhood education, loves engaging very young children in Jewish tradition, practices and values.  She began teaching parent-toddler classes at the Palo Alto Jewish Community Center's T’enna Preschool when her children enrolled in 1998, and most recently taught in the programs for two- and three-year-olds.  She has interests in supporting young children with special needs and their families.  Before she began teaching, Leah was an editorial and public relations executive at Silicon Valley technology companies.  She has a BA in political science (UC Davis) and an MA in journalism (University of Wisconsin). She is a recent graduate of the Florence Melton Jewish Adult School, and participates in Beth Am's Torah and Talmud study groups. Leah also tries to find time to paint, write and read, and spend time with her husband, two teenage boys and the family's dog, Jupiter. 

Janie Taylor - Perachim Teacher

Janie Taylor is entering her third year at Gan Ami this school year and will be teaching in the Perachim classroom.  She started teaching in Early Childhood in 1996 and since that time has worked with children from ages 12 months to Young Fives.  She holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Memphis.  Janie completed her California Early Childhood Site Supervisor courses at DeAnza College and is pursuing a Masters degree in Developmental Education at Pacific Oaks College. She is a certified Red Cross Instructor, is trained in advanced First Aid, and is a Disaster Service Worker.  Janie has lived in the mid-Peninsula area for the last twenty years, currently residing in Mountain View with her husband, Andy Rose, her two children, Laurel and Jacob Detkin, and her two dogs.

 

 

Sushmita Verma - Etzim Teacher

Sushmita Verma moved from India to the USA in 1996. She lived in Michigan for two years and then moved to California with her family. She has a BA degree in Geography and is pursuing an AA degree in Child Development. She taught Pre K’s and Preschool-aged children at the Palo Alto JCC for six years (2002-2008). Apart from teaching young children, Sushmita loves reading spiritual books, doing yoga, meditation and cooking. She has two sons who are in high school and college. Sushmita likes to travel and see different parts of the world and different cultures.