CSI Nursery School
Enrollment for 2023-2024 is open!
If you are brand new to CSI, click here to begin.
Making connections...one child at a time!
View our 2023-2024 Nursery School Calendar
Please contact our Nursery School Director, Naomi Elyachar, with any questions.
School Philosophy
CSI Nursery School is a nurturing and supportive environment where young children can learn, play, and thrive. Our school focuses on the development of the whole child and meets the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs of each individual student. We recognize the uniqueness of each child and provide a variety of activities and experiences to engage all of our students. CSI Nursery School is a Jewish values forward program. We focus on teaching Jewish values that are universal and meaningful to all of our families as we learn about Jewish holidays throughout the year in a joyful, inclusive way. We partner together with families to foster a sense of community and create meaningful home-school connections.
Program Information
CSI Nursery School is a structured, play-based school program. Part of the day is spent together as a whole group, part of the day is small group work with a teacher, and the majority of the children's time at school is engaging in social and independent play.
Our school offers a natural progression for each of our classes. Our 2's class focuses on separating gently from parents and caregivers, learning that they have a special place of their own outside of their home, and becoming comfortable with school routines and the classroom environment. In our 3's class, children gain more independence. They have more structure to their day and more choices as well. By the time the children are in our 4's class, they are preparing for kindergarten while also spending much of their day engaging in concentrated, child directed play. In each class, children are learning to navigate social situations as they engage with peers and learn and play alongside them.
Our highly experienced teachers create a balance of structured activities and open-ended creative play time while providing the scaffolding our students need to grow and succeed. Children engage in a variety of experiences that promote growth in each early childhood development area—fine motor (small muscle, pre-writing skills), gross motor (large muscle, active play), creativity, imaginative play, literacy, science, and early math skills.
Classes spend time playing outside every day—on our playground, at our on-site farm, or in our outdoor dramatic play area. Our school program runs from 9:00-11:55 a.m.
Jewish Curriculum
Our classes learn about Jewish holidays through explorative curriculum, stories, art, and music. We gather together as a school community every Friday morning to celebrate Shabbat. Singing, dancing, and being together is always a favorite part of the week!
Teaching Jewish values happens every day at school. We focus on values that are universal and meaningful to all—kindness, helping those in need, inclusion and diversity, and gratitude. These values are woven into everyday experiences and also taught overtly in our classes. We teach our children about the value of giving to others, tzedakah, and create meaningful hands-on experiences for our children to give back.
Nursery School Director
Naomi Elyachar joined CSI as the Nursery School Director in 2020. She began her teaching career as an early childhood educator at private schools in Manhattan and developed and ran summer enrichment programs. Most recently, Naomi served as the Assistant Director at Sprout Westchester Day Camp. She combines her passions of educating young children, fostering community, and creating experiences to instill and teach Jewish values and traditions in her current role as the Nursery School Director. Naomi received her B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis and M. Ed. in Early Childhood General and Special Education from Touro College. Naomi is a member of many Jewish organizations in the area, including the Jewish Education Project and is a founding board member of the UJA-Federation Roots network. Naomi lives in Briarcliff Manor with her husband Justin and their three beautiful children, Reese, Kylie, and Jordy.
Email Naomi Elyachar | CSI OFFICE: (914) 762 - 2700
Parent Testimonials
“What a tremendous job CSI has done in moving everything outside [in response to COVID-19] and just being so all around thoughtful, flexible, and caring...This is an amazing experience for my kids!”—Rita
“We feel very fortunate to have found such an amazing preschool and community at CSI. When we moved to Briarcliff several years ago, we enrolled my then 3 year old in the 3’s program and immediately felt like a part of the CSI family. His experience at CSI set him up for success both academically and socially and he is currently excelling in elementary school. My younger son started CSI in the almost 2’s and is now in the 4’s. I cannot imagine sending my kids anywhere else. The director (Naomi) is approachable, responsible, and truly cares for the well-being of every child at the school. All of the teachers are fantastic and it is obvious that they are all doing what they love to do. The staff and teachers together have been incredible in fostering a positive, safe and fun learning environment for the children while also involving the parents through frequent communication and activities. Even as our children graduate CSI nursery school, we will continue to foster the friendships that our entire family has made through the years.”—Jessica and Evan Harris
“Every day when we pick Caliana up [from school] the first thing she says is, ‘I had so much fun!’ When we drop her off [at school], she ‘plays’ all morning with [her teachers] and her friends all the while picking up new skills and knowledge. In her eyes, she is just ‘having so much fun’ but really you guys are teaching her invaluable skills and tools that she will keep forever."—Jenn
Project SEED Partnership
CSI Nursery School is a Project SEED (Supporting Early Emotional Development) partner school. Project SEED is a collaboration between Westchester Jewish Community Services and the Jewish Education Project and is designed to help early childhood educators support young children's emotional development. SEED early childhood consultants faciliate workshops for parents and are available to meet with parents individually as needed. Consultants also facilitate staff development training and work with teachers to build excellence in classroom environments. Through Project SEED, early childhood consultants become integral to the school community in their support to directors, teachers, and parents in building stronger learning environments for children.
CSI Nursery Schools wins prestigious 2020 METNY award!
CSI Nursery School is proud to be the recipient of the 2020 METNY Solomon Schechter Gold award in the Early Childhood category for our unique, creative, and dynamic school program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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