Mishkan Tefila Welcomes New Nursery School Director

Congregation Mishkan Tefi la is pleased to welcome ELLEN AGULNICK as the new Director of our Nursery School.

Ms. Agulnick has worked in the fi eld of education for over 20 years. She currently serves
as Assistant Preschool Director and lead teacher in the transitional kindergarten class at
Temple Beth Avodah in Newton. Ms. Agulnick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
from Brandeis University, as well as a certifi cate in Elementary Education. She is
pursuing a Masters Degree at Hebrew College in Jewish Early Childhood Education and a
Certifi cate in Jewish Early Childhood Education.

Ms. Agulnick taught at the Zervas School in Newton and preschool at the JCC in Newton.
She has also worked at Solomon Schechter Day School in Newton and as an assistant editor at Parents’ Choice Magazine. She actively participates in many professional organizations including the Boston-Haifa connection, and the URJ-ECE. During a visit to Israel last winter with the Boston-Haifa connection, Ellen was able to explore a wide variety of schools.

Ellen formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors at Temple Beth Avodah, and as Sisterhood president, membership
chairperson, and preschool chairperson. Ellen looks forward to her new role as Nursery School Director at Mishkan Tefi la.

Ellen was chosen after an extensive search conducted by the Nursery School Search Committee, which among others, included several Nursery School parents. Rabbi Haber and Congregation President Abe Zimelman also served as active committee members. A number of excellent qualifi ed candidates applied for the position. The search process included two rounds of in-depth, personal interviews to assess the candidates’ history, views on early childhood education issues, Judaic matters, leadership and management skills, problem solving, and other important matters. In addition to reference checks (both formal and informal) and site visits to the present location of the top candidates, the Committee developed a set of thought-provoking written questions for the candidates to determine their writing skills both in terms of substance and style. CMT Nursery School parents participated in a focus group sharing their opinions on the school’s future direction, as well as the attributes and priorities they were seeking in a new Nursery School Director.

Ellen assumes the directorship as new and exciting things are happening in our Nursery School. Thanks to the diligent fundraising efforts and generosity of many committed Nursery School families and CMT congregants, our young Nursery School students will have the benefi t of a new state-of-the-art playground/recreational area. The Nursery School program is expanding to include extended hours from 8:30am to 2:30pm; a fi ve-day toddler program, enhanced curriculum and much more.

Nursery School Matters

This year has just fl own by; it’s hard to believe that I am writing my fi nal bulletin article. As I write this, our children are preparing for our yearly Special Person Breakfast (male only!). Each year the children proudly invite their daddies, grandpas, zaydes, brothers, uncles or other special male friends to feast on our homemade muffins, banana breads and other delicious breakfast goodies. The children love to “show–off” their “work” displayed in the classrooms on this special day. If you have a child, grandchild or special friend in the nursery school and would like to join us, please stop by on Tuesday, May 20th at 9:00am to say hello!

While our Special People are enjoying their breakfast, the Sunfl ower, Rainbow, Gumdrop

and Teddy Bear classrooms will entertain them by “singing” a favorite song, “Old Shoes, New Shoes.” The amazing thing about this particular version of the song is that it cannot be heard. The children have been working with Nicole Crossman, an interpreter of American Sign Language, throughout the year. She is teaching them about sign language, why people sign, how to sign several words and ultimately to sign an entire song. It is very exciting to watch the children learn a new skill.

Parent conferences will be held during May. This is a fun time for parents (and for us) because it is our opportunity to tell parents how much their children have grown throughout the year.

Once again, we will be holding our Extended Year Program from June 5th – June 20th. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please call the Nursery School offi ce. Also, the Nursery School still has some openings for the 2008-2009 academic year. Please let me know if you or someone you know would like an application or further information about theschool.

I would like to thank the Nursery School staff for making this year run as smoothly as it has. The teachers are very dedicated professionals and CMT’s new Nursery School Director Ellen Agulnick is very fortunate to be “inheriting” such a wonderful group. I wish Ellen much luck in the years to come.

Have a wonderful and safe summer.

Fondly,

Rosanne Greenstein
Nursery School Director