Shalom and Welcome to the Valley Beth Shalom Early Childhood Center
We are delighted that you are interested in learning more about our community. Whether you are considering enrolling in our preschool (for children 18 months - Transitional Kindergarten), attending one of our Baby & Me classes (for toddlers and caregivers), or joining us for one of our monthly Tot Shabbat services open to all, I extend you a warm welcome and an invitation to get to know us better.
We are a tight-knit community of families preparing to face the challenges of a new generation collaboratively, and creatively, rooted in strong Jewish values, compassion, and Tikkun Olam. Our hope is that our schools and synagogue become your family’s first educational and communal setting outside your home. We work hard to nurture a deep love for learning, a connection to our Jewish tradition and Israel, and lasting bonds that create lifelong friendships and memories.
For more information, click here to complete an inquiry request. But even better, we’d love to connect with you in person. For opportunities to tour, chat, or get connected by phone, please contact Aimee Sesar, our Admissions Manager, check out our Tot Shabbat schedule, or reach out to Molly Mills, School Director, Infant Toddler & Family Center and Family Engagement, for our latest Baby & Me class schedule.
Growing a young family is important, meaningful, and hard work. We’d love to be by your side as you navigate this journey.
We look forward to meeting you soon.
Best,
Abby Andiman Mars
Head of School, VBS ECC
Welcome to the VBS ECC
We're so glad you're here!
About Us
The Valley Beth Shalom Early Childhood Center welcomes children from birth through transitional kindergarten.
The ECC embraces a child’s natural way of learning and provides an environment that nurtures social, emotional and intellectual development. Our mission is to love and encourage each child. Through Jewish tradition, wisdom, and values, and with respect and enthusiasm, we nurture and guide each child as an individual. We foster self-esteem, confidence and independence while encouraging inquiry, collaboration, and creativity and cultivating a love for learning. We partner with families to provide a safe and supportive community. This is all to create a more just, enlightened and peaceful world.
At the VBS ECC, children learn to face the challenges of their generation collaboratively and creatively through Jewish values.
We do this by providing curriculum that addresses the needs of the whole child, including strong thinking skills, compassion and Tikkun Olam (healing the world). We cultivate a passion for learning by engaging children in authentic and meaningful experiences. We embrace each child's unique and natural way of learning, value social responsibility as highly as personal responsibility, and prepare children with the foundational skills to be successful in school and in life.
Our ECC Administrators and Educators have extensive experience supporting children and families.
Our roots are deep. Our expert teachers (2-3 per classroom) provide essential guidance, helping children discover passion and intrinsic motivation. We are inspired by a child-centered, play-based curriculum and create rich opportunities for inquiry-based learning. Children are encouraged and supported at their own pace by classroom teachers, specialists and administrators. Collaborative, long-term investigation and responsive curriculum is co-created by educators and children. As a result, learning is deeply personal and becomes imprinted into children's hearts and minds. We have a full-time Outdoor Classroom Specialist and Art Studio Specialist who expand children's knowledge about the greater world through all five senses. Other school enrichment experiences include music, body movement, library and cooking!
The VBS ECC preschool is a warm, nurturing Jewish Environment where children feel safe and secure.
Our teachers are gifted, highly trained educators of young children and early Jewish education. We work closely with families and value parents as an integral part of the education process. The ECC is dedicated to encouraging your children to:
- Develop self-esteem, to know that they are loved and have a special place in the world.
- Respect all people and embrace our differences.
- Create a strong identification with Judaism and the Jewish community at VBS.
Enrollment Information
Enrollment is full for 2025-26
Check back with us soon for 2026-27
or
Call us at (818) 530-4051
Baby & Me Classes at the
Meet Our Staff
ECC Parent Association
Meet our ECC Parent Association Co-Chairs
Welcome to VBS ECC!
We are excited to make this an incredible year at VBS' ECC. Your involvement and support are key to our success and help strengthen our community. By participating in events, sharing ideas, or simply being a supportive presence, you greatly enhance our children's ECC experience. This year, we're asking you to contribute a little more than ever before.
Be on the lookout for upcoming meetings and events where we can collaborate to make this year the most memorable yet. Feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions, our email is vbseccpa@gmail.com.
Thank you for being an essential part of the ECC community. Let's make this year unforgettable!
With Gratitude,
Jennifer Davine and Sabrina Horowitz
ECC Parent Association Co-Chairs
VBC ECC Students Give Tzedakah to JFSLA
“An integral part of our school philosophy rests on our belief that young children have the capacity to wrestle with big and complicated ideas...”
– Abby Andiman Mars, Head of School, VBS ECC
Gear Up!
Sun, July 6 2025
10 Tammuz 5785
The VBS Community thanks the Rodan Family Foundation for generous financial support of special ECC programming, which strengthens and expands our capacity to serve ECC families and connect them to a Jewish future.
