Thank you for your interest in The Amy Gail Buchman Preschool at Congregation Schaarai Zedek. We are pleased to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your child’s early education.
We are a community school that prides ourselves on our diversity which reflects in our student body. We welcome families and staff from many different backgrounds which contributes to a culturally rich environment.
Our program options are available for children ages 1-year through Pre-Kindergarten. Our youngest children need to reach their first birthday by September 1st to start the school year. See the Enrollment Section for more information on programs by age.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Preschool at (813) 876-4867. We will be happy to speak with you about our program. Our office is available five days per week from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm to assist you. Our Preschool staff strives to accommodate all families interested in our school and will do our very best to respond to your questions in a timely manner.
The Amy Gail Buchman Preschool at Congregation Schaarai Zedek is a place for children to build a strong foundation for their academic future and is the reason why our school has earned its reputation for academic excellence.
Our mission is to provide an optimal learning environment that helps discover and develop the gift and talents of each and every child. Each child develops at their own rate and success must be measured in growth, not comparison.
Our school was founded on the belief that children develop a world of knowledge through creative purposeful play. This purposeful planning in the curriculum, provides children with hands-on learning experiences that help them grow developmentally, cognitively, emotionally and socially. Our Curriculum is integrated so that experiences are connected, and learning is meaningful. Children are exposed to a language-rich environment that encourages the early skills necessary for reading and writing. Along with academic readiness, our goal is to instill within children and their families a sense of belonging and community. Through an emphasis on morals and values and community service projects, this helps us move towards a goal of a greater good, to be productive and contributing citizens and human beings.
Our facilities meet and exceed all county and state requirements. Our classrooms are equipped with enriching manipulates and materials appropriate to each age level, that pique curiosity and stimulate the mind. Our newly renovated extensive outdoor play space allows for active play and an opportunity for exploration. Tending to our school garden is a wonderful, therapeutic, tactile and sensory-based way, for students to develop a love and appreciation for nature. It is here in our garden that our students also have a chance to explore musical instruments (our musical petting zoo).
Our high-quality developmental curriculum includes both planned and free-choice activities. Our child-centered curriculum begins with the understanding of your child’s social, intellectual, and physical needs. We provide teacher-directed instruction as well as the opportunity for children to initiate their own learning activities within a supportive, nurturing, and safe environment. Our goal is to prepare our children for academic learning by emphasizing decision making and problem-solving skills. We also provide our students with a basic knowledge of Reform Judaism and its holidays, customs, and traditions. We emphasize morals and values, kindness and caring, and being respectful of others.
Areas of development include: language development, pre-reading and pre-writing skills, math and science, art, music and movement, dramatic play, stories and finger-plays, development of gross and fine motor skills, sensory perception, nature awareness, and social and emotional growth.
There is an emphasis on STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math). Through a centers-based approach, teachers are able to integrate curriculum so that students make connections and learning is meaningful.
Our faculty meets and exceeds all county and state standards. Our lead teachers have as a minimum a Child Development Associate (CDA) degree or equivalent. Additionally, many of our assistant teachers hold a CDA as well. All staff members are required to complete course work in early childhood education. Staff members are certified in CPR and basic first aid for adults, children, and infants. Staff members are required to participate in several in-service training sessions throughout the school year which assures that our faculty continues to hone their skills and stay current in early childhood trends.
Our student to teacher ratio is optimal and allows teachers to individualize curriculum to meet children’s needs. Teachers plan together in a team approach to share ideas and maximize student learning. Teachers make parents a part of the process by sharing weekly curriculum reports and inviting parents in, to explore their child’s classroom.
HWT is a new enhancement to our curriculum that helps to develop and refine the skills necessary for writing. The Handwriting Without Tears program is used in all our classrooms, even with our youngest toddlers. The Handwriting Without Tears curriculum is implemented, as appropriate, to age level and builds on skills each year that will bear evident results in the handwriting abilities of our Pre-K graduates. Through in-depth staff training, teachers are knowledgeable about the latest research and techniques on fine motor development and pre-reading and pre-writing strategies.
Our program places a strong emphasis on the development of Jewish morals and values and focuses on how we turn them into real-life experiences that help make us better people. We encourage universal values such as respect, kindness, and giving to others. Our Judaic Specialists lay the foundation for an introduction to Jewish holidays, customs, learning about Israel, and the good that comes from doing mitzvot (good deeds).
Our music specialist enriches our curriculum through music and movement. Children enjoy learning new songs both secular and non-secular, rhythms, and language development through repetition and rhyming and self-expression. Music is a fun time for children to sing their favorite songs and move to music while developing their gross motor skills.
We offer a year-round program; our calendar year runs from June through May. Several options of days and times are available to meet your needs. The programs listed below are available based on your child’s age (your child must reach the qualifying age by September 1st of the school year).
(vary by age level, see program information below)
Toddlers will learn through active sensory exploration and interactions with peers, teachers and their environment. Emphasis will be placed on acquiring independence, self-confidence, motor and language skills and a sense of self. Program options: 2, 3, or 5-Days; Part-time, School Day or Extended Day.
Through dramatic play, hands-on games and activities, children will continue to develop and refine motor and communication skills. Emphasis will be placed on hands-on learning experiences, fine and gross motor development, expanding vocabulary, discovering senses and creative expression through music, cooperation, and self-help skills. At this age level, pre-reading and writing foundations are set. Program options: 2, 3, or 5-Days; Part-time, School Day or Extended Day.
The emphasis at this level will be on providing choices, challenges, and opportunities that promote intellectual, social and emotional growth. Children will learn problem-solving, cause and effect and math and science concepts using blocks, puzzles, manipulatives, and sensory exploration. Pre-reading and writing skills are emphasized through language-based activities and hands-on experiences through center-based and small group instruction. Program options: 3 or 5-Days; Part-time, School Day or Extended Day.
Through an integrated approach, centers and thematic units will connect all areas of the curriculum, build concepts and add meaning to real-life experiences. Reading and writing become an integral part of the classroom as students rotate through their “team” of teachers for the 4 Subject Areas of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Our curriculum is written to align with the state of Florida and Hillsborough County’s Common Core Curriculum. Our program meets and exceeds the county standards. Our focus on academic readiness skills is balanced by a strong values-based curriculum, an enrichment of music and the arts, active outdoor play and cooperative participation in the classroom and school community. This program is offered with these options: 5-Days; School Day or Extended Day.
Enrichment classes are offered on a rotating basis for children in our Two’s, Three’s and Pre-K Programs. Classes are offered at Noon or 12:30 pm for part-time children, 3:00 pm for school day children and from 3:30-5:00 pm for extended day children. Classes are offered by outside providers; they take place on our premises. Contact each enrichment provider directly for registration and payment of class fees. Participation in enrichment programing is optional.
ArtCycle is an innovative program that uses cycling to teach children teamwork, sportsmanship, social/emotional skills, physical competence and discipline. The primary purpose of a balance bike is to teach a child to balance while they are sitting, and are in motion. Balance bikes are one of the best tools out there for helping toddlers develop their gross motor skills, most balance bike riders can easy transition to ride a pedal bike without ever using training wheels.
5 Reason a Balance Bike is a good fit for your child:
For more information please visit ArtCycle’s website or contact Daiana and Eddy at (813) 538-6855.
Gigglebytes® is an innovative program that effectively teaches children as young as three years of age creative computing and a world of educational concepts. For more information click here, or contact Lisa Pistorino at or (813) 408-6632.
HappyFeet Soccer has been in the Tampa Area for over 12 Years. We offer our programming in 150+ Schools in the Greater Tampa Area! Our Curriculum is based on the idea of “Story time with a Soccer Ball” We use familiar songs, stories, nursery rhymes, and fun games to introduce soccer to children as young as two years old. Our unique curriculum triggers your child’s imagination by taking their soccer ball, Bob the Bobcat, on adventures to the zoo, the movies, and even an enchanted castle! Our philosophy and curriculum encourage children to tame their bobcats with their learned deceptive dribbling and ball striking skills. We leverage creative play and the important developmental skills it provides to make fitness and soccer their favorite weekly activity! By progressing through our age-appropriate curriculum your little one is ensured to have built a solid foundation we hope will lead to lifelong involvement in sports and fitness and hopefully soccer! Please click here for more information.
Wow Lego Engineering classes use LEGO education and other materials to teach specialized science, technology, engineering, and math concepts. Kids will build 2- and 3-dimension models. They will test and evaluate designs to make sure they meet design constraints. They will conduct investigations, use tools to gather data, and use that data to improve the design. Kids are engaged in the engineering design process as they ask, imagine, plan, create, improve, and learn important STEM concepts. Classes for children 3-years-old and up. For more information click here, or contact Lisa Pistorino at or (813) 408-6632.
Tumble in the Bus is a specialized gymnastics program developed for beginning gymnasts. Our goal is to bring fitness to your children for proper physical and motor development. For ages 2 and up. Click here for online registration. For general information, contact Shirley Pope at (813) 759-2375.
Classes for 3-year-olds and up incorporate music, singing, puppets, games, and equipment to stimulate your child’s interest and imagination. Social skills such as sharing, taking turns, following directions and sportsmanship are a part of every class. Each class also includes a health topic to encourage the development of lifelong healthy habits. For more information click here, or contact Lisa Pistorino at or (813) 408-6632.
Admissions & Tours
Due to the high demand for admission to the Amy Gail Buchman Preschool at Congregation Schaarai Zedek, families are encouraged to apply for admission as early as possible. Families may apply as soon as pregnancy is confirmed, or any time after.
We encourage families to tour our facility to learn about our program and our admissions process. Tours are typically conducted Monday through Thursday, between 9:30 and 11 a.m. However, if needed, we work hard to accommodate working families at other times.
Feel free to submit a waitlist application along with the non-refundable application fee before or after a tour. This application will place your child on our waitlist. For questions regarding admissions, to request an application, or to schedule a tour, contact our school office at (813) 876-4867, or contact Stephanie Ramsay. Please include your name, cell phone number, your child’s first name, date of birth/due date, and desired start date.
Our Waitlist
There are several factors taken into consideration during the admissions process. Length of time on the waitlist as well as the number of classes offered in an age group each year, help to determine availability. Priority on the waitlist is taken into consideration for Schaarai Zedek congregants, siblings of currently enrolled preschool families, and alumni who have graduated from our Pre-K program.
The Preschool Parents Association (PPA) supports the Amy Gail Buchman Preschool through volunteer service, community events, classroom assistance, and special projects. Getting involved is an easy way to build relationships, support teachers, and enrich your child’s school experience.
Even one hour can have a meaningful impact. Volunteering helps you:
Parent volunteers provide valuable support throughout the school year, helping with classroom communication, special programs, teacher appreciation, fundraising, and more.
There are a variety of committees and volunteer roles available – some require help just a few times a year, while others can be done from home in an hour or two each month. Whether you want to assist with events, contribute creatively, or take on a leadership role, there is a place for you.
Each year we invited interested parents to sign up for PPA volunteer opportunities. Please click the link below to view the committees and choose the ones that interest you.
If you have any questions about volunteering with the PPA, please contact: Cindy Sershen, PPA Liason, at (813) 876-4867 ext. 209 or by email.
