PHOTO: Students at The Gan-Portland Jewish preschool enjoy the large outside play area in Southwest Portland. It is one of six area preschools profiled below.

Portland has six Jewish preschools

The Greater Portland area now has four preschools on the west side, one on the east side and one in Vancouver, Wash. Three of the preschools are associated with a Jewish day school, and one is located in a congregation. First-time families at all six preschools are eligible for Right Start financial assistance.
The Foundation School was founded 60 years ago at Congregation Neveh Shalom but is open to all preschoolers. The preschool is based on the ideals and traditions of the Jewish faith and is dedicated to providing exceptional early childhood education.
The Early Childhood Program at Portland Jewish Academy shares a campus with the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. “Our early childhood programs provide welcoming and inclusive settings that recognize children’s diverse abilities, interests, needs and learning styles,” says Erika Saiers, Director of Early Childhood Education.  
Maayan Torah Day School moved to Lake Oswego in the fall of 2018. The preschool shares the dedicated school building on the 1.2-acre campus.
Last fall, Maimonides Jewish Day School moved to a new campus on Portland’s east side. This fall, Maimonides Jewish Preschool will open on the same campus, giving families on the east side a preschool option where children can develop in a loving, nurturing, Jewish and stimulating setting.
With Maimonides Jewish Day School moving to Portland’s east side, The Gan-Portland Jewish Preschool now has more room on the Chabad campus in the heart of Southwest Portland. The preschool now includes an indoor gross motor skills area and newly remodeled preschool classrooms, where it offers a creative, progressive, joyful Jewish environment.
“As we put Covid behind us, The Gan’s signature community programming, Mommy and Me, and other enrichment programs are back,” says Center Director Chaya Citron. 
North in Vancouver, The Gan Garrett Preschool unites children, teachers, family and community in a positive and constructive early childhood experience. 

THE GAN PRESCHOOL
Chaya Citron, Center Director
503-977-7850 | Office@PortlandJewishPreschool.com | PortlandJewishPreschool.com
6612 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97239
REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR FALL: Open enrollment as space allows
ACCREDITATION: Member CECE Preschool Network
COST: Based on schedule. Posted on the school website. Financial aid is available.
AGES: 12 months-4 years old
HOURS: Base hours are 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Extended care is available beginning at 8 am and until 5:30 pm.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY: Children develop in a loving, nurturing and stimulating setting. We offer a creative, progressive, Jewish environment inspired by the Reggio and Montessori philosophies. We believe that children learn best through teacher-supported play and creative open-ended activities. Children are encouraged to explore their world in a thoughtfully planned setting and in a natural and aesthetically pleasing environment. Children practice skills of collaboration, communication and cooperation. Children are exposed to Hebrew language, music, ballet and yoga.

THE GAN GARRETT JEWISH PRESCHOOL
Tzivie Greenberg, Executive Director
360-256-0859 | info@thegan.org | TheGan.org
9604 NE 126th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98682
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: n/a
COST: Available upon request. Financial aid is available.
AGES: 2.5-5 years
HOURS: 9 am-3 pm
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY: Our Jewish values drive the curriculum, environment and school culture. We model and encourage kindness, compassion, confidence and curiosity. 
The children are viewed as competent, unique and creative and are encouraged to be our collaborators. We promote an environment where children can develop not only their thinking and problem-solving skills, but also their emotional awareness and regulation. 

MAAYAN TORAH DAY SCHOOL
Angela Singrey, ECE Director
971-335-4914 | asingrey@maayanpdx.org | maayanpdx.org
2 Touchstone Dr., Lake Oswego, OR 97035
REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR FALL: June 1, 2023
A licensed child-care facility
COST: $1,300-1,600 a month varying by age. Financial aid is available only for the day school’s elementary program.
AGES: 12 months-5 years
HOURS: 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Extended care options available.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY: Maayan's Early Childhood 
Program offers a nurturing and stimulating environment where students learn through explorative play, social experiences and hands-on learning, providing students with a comprehensive and joyful Jewish experience. Every child deserves a warm and nurturing atmosphere that fosters curiosity, social/emotional well-being and a love for learning. Children are natural scientists eager to learn about the world and experiment. Every child can succeed when given ample opportunities to explore and learn.

MAIMONIDES JEWISH PRESCHOOL
Mushka Wilhelm, Director
971-302-9395 | mwilhelm@portlandjewishschool.com | portlandjewishschool.com
4635 NE 9th Ave., Portland, OR 97211
COST: $1,310 per month. Financial aid is available.
AGES: 18 months-5 years
HOURS: 8:30 am-3:40 pm. Extended care upon request.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY: Maimonides Jewish Preschool is a warm and joyful space where children develop in a warm, loving, nurturing and Jewish environment. We are a mix of Reggio/Montessori infused with Judaism. We provide experiential and intentional learning that encourages the children to explore and express themselves through art, music, movement, drawing, natural materials and play. Our staff are warm and nurturing.

NEVEH SHALOM FOUNDATION SCHOOL
Cory Willson, Director 
503-293-7302 | foundationschoolpdx.org 
2900 SW Peaceful Lane, Portland, OR 97239
Registration for new families opens Feb. 1, 2023
COST: Please inquire; financial aid is available.
AGES: 12 months to 5 years
HOURS: 8 am-5 pm. Preschool opens at 9 am and our early care is from 8 to 9 am.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY: We value play as a child’s natural way of learning and view each child as a competent, unique learner. Our qualified and experienced staff encourages the growth of the whole child – intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual. We encourage the development of each child’s creativity, curiosity and character through respectful and age-appropriate practices alongside an emergent curriculum that is inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy. We pride ourselves on building a strong and connected community.

PORTLAND JEWISH ACADEMY
Erika Saiers, Director of Early Childhood Education  
503-535-3536 | esaiers@pjaproud.org | pjaproud.org
6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Open enrollment year round
ACCREDITATION: NWAIS
COST: $1,050-2,130 per month. Financial aid is available.
AGES: 6 weeks-6 years
HOURS: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY: We believe that children learn best through meaningful play, exploration and an inquiry-
based approach to learning. Our child-centered program integrates social and emotional development, cognitive skills, language and literacy, mathematical and scientific exploration, Hebrew language and Jewish life, art and music, and fine and gross motor development. Children are viewed as thinkers, reflecting on their world, and as empathetic individuals who care for and engage with their peers and contribute to the community.