In Nursery Bet, children continue to build upon the strong foundation established in our Early Childhood Center through a rich Pre-K experience that nurtures both academic growth and personal development. As our four-year-olds strengthen early literacy, math, language, and critical thinking skills, they also grow in independence, creativity, and Jewish identity — developing the skills and curiosity to enter Kindergarten as capable, confident learners.
Nursery Bet
Our 2026-2027 Nursery Bet class welcomes children born in 2022
Supporting the Whole Child
As children prepare for Kindergarten, they develop the resources and compassion needed to thrive in a classroom community. Through our Social Emotional Learning curriculum, our four-year-olds strengthen self-regulation, collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership skills while learning to communicate thoughtfully, take responsibility, and approach new challenges with resilience.
Pre-Reading Skills
Nursery Bet prepares students for future reading and writing using the Fundations curriculum, which teaches phonological awareness, letter and sound recognition, handwriting, vocabulary, listening comprehension, and early reading behaviors.
Early STEM Learning
Students expand their mathematical thinking through counting, number sense, patterns, measurement, graphing, and early problem solving with our Math Through Literacy curriculum. During classes with our elementary school science teacher and sessions with our Director of Technology, they explore scientific concepts through observation, experimentation, and inquiry.
Growing Jewish Knowledge
As capability and understanding grows, students deepen their engagement with Torah stories and lessons, prayer, holidays, and Jewish values. They begin to say brachot (blessings) and perform mitzvot with intention, and learn to recognize the letters of the Aleph Bet as they prepare to learn to read Hebrew in Kindergarten.
Exploration Through Play
Play doesn’t stop in Nursery Bet! Arts and crafts, free discovery, building, movement, dance, and music are all integral to our Pre-K program, organically woven into the flow of the day and into each learning experience. Creative work becomes opportunities to communicate, collaborate, and think in new ways - and have plenty of fun.
“Mercaz feels like home.”
The Mercaz faculty as a whole is an incredible team. The small group instruction, fun and creative lessons, tailoring to individual students, close parent communication, but most importantly - doing it all with a smile on your face and making it feel like home.
Mercaz parent
Kindergarten Readiness
By the end of Nursery Bet, students will have all the tools they need for Kindergarten:
Academic Skills
Recognize letters & sounds
Develop number sense
Build early reading & writing skills
Thinking
Aptitude
Ask thoughtful questions
Solve problems creatively
Make observations and predictions
School
Readiness
Follow class-room routines
Strengthen fine motor skills
Work independently & collaboratively
Whole
Child
Form deep friendships
Grow in Jewish identity
Practice kindness & empathy
“An unparalleled commitment to inclusivity and kindness.”
Your school, grounded in our shared Jewish values, has shown an unparalleled commitment to inclusivity and kindness. The empathy and understanding exhibited by your devoted educators have brought warmth to our hearts and have allowed my grandchild to thrive in ways we could only have dreamt of.
Mercaz grandparent
Program Hours
Core Program
9am - 2pm (Monday - Friday)
Extra-Care Hours
Early Drop Off: 7:30am-8am
(Monday - Friday)
Early School Care: 8am-9am
(Monday - Friday)
Enrichment: 2pm - 4pm
(Monday - Thursday)
After-School Care: 4pm - 5pm
(Monday - Thursday)
Late After-School Pickup: 5pm - 5:30pm
(Monday - Thursday)
Pre-Shabbat Care: 2pm - 3pm/2:45pm winter
(Friday)
Come see for yourself!
Come see for yourself!
Questions about our program or our school? Reach out directly to our Director of Admissions Abra Kaplan:
admissions@mercazacademy.org
1.516.696.4200 ext. 527