At Temple Shalom, community does not begin at bar or bat mitzvah, or even in religious school. It begins much earlier – with our youngest learners and their families.
We believe lifelong learning starts in early childhood. But the reason behind the Temple Shalom Early Childhood Center is even bigger than that. This is not just another preschool opening in the Dallas area. It is a program shaped by the unique resources, values, and natural beauty of the Temple Shalom campus.
Opening in August 2026, the Temple Shalom Early Childhood Center will be a place where children grow, families connect, and community begins.
Why Early Childhood Matters
Early childhood is a time of wonder, discovery, and deep relationship-building. It is when children begin to understand who they are, how they relate to others, and what it means to belong.
At Temple Shalom, Jewish values are not taught only through lessons. They are lived every day through relationships, routines, and experiences. Kindness, gratitude, curiosity, responsibility, and care for others are woven naturally into the rhythm of each day.
By investing in early childhood education, we are investing in families, Jewish continuity, and the future of our community.
Our Educational Approach
The Temple Shalom Early Childhood Center is intentionally designed to support the way young children learn best.
Our program is:
- Play-based and child-centered, honoring children’s natural curiosity and love of exploration
- Relationship-driven, with small class sizes that allow educators to truly know each child
- Rooted in Jewish values, expressed through joyful and meaningful everyday experiences
- Connected to nature, using our 14-acre campus as an extension of the classroom
Children will learn by exploring, asking questions, creating, and engaging with the world around them. Jewish holidays, traditions, and values will be introduced in ways that feel natural, joyful, and meaningful for young learners.
Small by Design, Intentional by Nature
We are opening with intentionally small enrollment – just 40 children in our first year.
Starting small allows us to create a calm, nurturing environment from the very beginning and to build strong relationships with every child and family.
Our founding families will play an important role in shaping the culture of the school as it grows. This approach allows us to build community together and create a strong foundation for the future.
Teachers will also stay with their students for more than one year whenever possible, allowing children to build deeper relationships and move through early childhood with a sense of familiarity, confidence, and continuity.
As the ECC grows, it will do so thoughtfully, always preserving the warmth and intentionality that define our approach.
Leadership You Can Trust
The Early Childhood Center will be led by Emmaline Rosenthal, an experienced early childhood professional who has spent years building meaningful programs for young children and families in the Temple Shalom community.
Emmaline previously directed JNurture, the JCC of Dallas’ early childhood family programming initiative, and served as director of Camp Simchah, where she created engaging experiences that brought Jewish learning, play, and community together for young families. She has also worked closely with early childhood educators at the Goldberg Early Childhood Center on curriculum, programming, and staff development as a member of the pedagogical and administrative team.
Her work reflects a deep respect for childhood, a strong educational vision, and a commitment to partnering with families during the most formative years of their children’s lives.
Under her leadership, the ECC will be a place where children feel seen, supported, and celebrated, and where parents feel informed, confident, and connected.
Opening Fall 2026
The Temple Shalom Early Childhood Center will open in August 2026, and registration is now open.
We are excited to begin welcoming our founding families, who will help shape this new chapter in Temple Shalom’s story.
If you are looking for an early childhood experience that combines educational excellence, Jewish values, nature-based learning, and a strong sense of community, we invite you to explore the Temple Shalom ECC.
Learn more, register, and feel free to share with families who may be looking for a place like this.
