Parent Involvement

Parents Association Committees

Fall Fling

The Annual Fall Fling is an adults-only evening social event held at the beginning of the school year. It is a fun opportunity for parents to get to know each other better. This year’s Fall Fling will be held at SWFS immediately following Curriculum Night.

Dreidel Day

Dreidel Day is the Synagogue’s largest family party. It is run completely by ECC parents and is a fun-filled Chanukah celebration that includes food and refreshments, games, arts and crafts, music, book sales and other activities for the whole family.

Winter Auction

The Winter Auction is the ECC’s largest fundraising event of the year. It is a fantastic opportunity for ECC parents and the entire SWFS community to spend a night out with friends enjoying delicious food and drinks and bidding on a wide variety of items through silent and live auctions. The money raised at past auctions has funded exciting projects, including computers in each classroom, ECC website, the ECC rooftop mural, classroom renovations, JECEI, teacher tuition reimbursement and trips for teachers and the Director to study at the world-renowned schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Auction is an adults-only event. There are many ways to get involved, including by soliciting donations, helping to plan the evening’s festivities, and preparing the auction catalogue. The Annual Auction will be held in January or February.

JECEI Group

The Early Childhood Center is proud to work in partnership with the Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative (JECEI). JECEI is an organization that seeks to engage young children and their families into a rich and meaningful Jewish life. It has worked with schools across the country, to infuse early childhood centers with Jewish values, utilizing the Reggio Emilia approach to education as its vehicle. The JECEI group is made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and a synagogue staff member. The group meets to sustain the work of JECEI and ensure that all parts of the ECC community are involved with this important initiative.

Judaic Laison

The Judaic Liaison Committee coordinates with the Director and acts as a liaison between the ECC and the Clergy to incorporate and coordinate their presence at various ECC functions. In addition, the Committee organizes a few ECC Family Shabbat dinners (including a Havdalah celebration) and also sponsors panel discussions relating to the theme of “Big Jewish Questions that Little Jews Ask”.

Social Action

Teaching our children the meaning of tzedakah is an important part of their education at the ECC. The Social Action Committee organizes a variety of events in which our children directly assist those in need. The Committee also coordinates activities and events with the Social Action Committee of the Synagogue. In recent years, we have run events such as the Penny Harvest, Holiday Toy Drive, and Mitzvah Day.

Purim Carnival

Each year, the Synagogue holds a Purim Carnival, which is a festive party with games and food for the children. The ECC sponsors a few Purim Carnival booths, which involve the children and ECC teachers. The Purim Carnival Committee assists in coordinating the ECC’s sponsored activities.

Teacher Recognition

This very important day honors the wonderful job our teachers do each year. The Committee creates a special room filled with baked goods and beverages for the teachers to enjoy throughout the day. In the morning, parents and children present handmade class gifts to the teachers. The event will be held in March. Additionally, the Committee plans a “Teachers-Only” night out. This past year, the teachers enjoyed a Broadway show.

Plates and Bowls

In the spring, all of our children will have the opportunity to create their original artwork for production into a melamine plate and bowl set. As part of our ECC Parents Association Dues, each family has already paid for one set.

Kids Art

Each year, the ECC has a Kids Art Fundraiser. Each child will design his or her very own note card. The students' note cards are professionally printed and offered to parents, typically around Mother’s Day.

New Family Buddies

As a way to welcome new families to the Early Childhood Center, we have a “buddy system”. The buddy acts an ambassador for the ECC, introducing new parents to our community. Responsibilities will include periodic meetings and phone calls throughout the year, relaying important information about school and informing your buddy of the various opportunities for parent involvement.

Moving On

At the end of each school year, the ECC holds a very special “Moving On” ceremony for the students graduating from Stephen Wise. Traditionally, parents of the younger students help to organize a celebration luncheon for the graduates and their families. This year, we are forming a new committee to continue the Moving On tradition.

Book Fair

The Book Committee runs three events throughout the year, each focusing on a different beneficiary of ECC children’s favorite books. The first event involves families donating books that the ECC teachers have requested for their classrooms. The second event is a three-day book drive that coincides with Dreidel Day and allows parents and children to purchase books for the holiday season. The third event entails collecting books from the ECC community for charity.

Wrapping Paper

The Wrapping Paper fundraiser is beginning! Innisbrook Wraps offers a wide variety of high-quality wrapping paper, school supplies, and other items, and the ECC earns a full 50% of sales. Place your order online at www.innisbrook.com and enter our school # 116181. Orders must be placed by October 17th. Thank you for supporting the ECC!

©2010 Stephen Wise Free Synagogue