Kings Bay Y at North Williamsburg recently appointed Ilana Friedman, M.Ed., as the new director of early childhood education. Friedman is adding new elements to boost the preschool and pre-K class programming.
With the new school year comes change, and at Kings Bay Y at North Williamsburg, change is coming in the form of Ilana Friedman, M.Ed., the new director of early childhood education. In the past, Friedman has directed CBE Park Slope’s preschool and worked at PS 321, also in Park Slope.
Kings Bay Y offers three preschool classes: a Twos class, a Threes class, and a universal pre-K class for ages 4-5. Priority for UPK is given to students in the Kings Bay Y preschool classes. Although Friedman does not teach, she works closely with the teachers of the three classes. All classes are based on emergent curriculum, Friedman says, “which means we use the interests of the children to create the curriculum.” Hands-on learning and aspects of the Reggio Emilia approach are incorporated in the curriculum, including a project using all subjects that is based on the students’ interests.
Under Friedman’s direction, students will enjoy a second music class each week, and new weekly dance classes. A library and an art studio are being constructed, and Friedman is putting together a nature center in the front lobby of the building, which she says is perfect “for kids to explore.” In addition, Friedman says she is establishing a parent committee, because “we love having families involved.”
Friedman believes Kings Bay Y is unique “because of our commitment to our families and community as a whole.” The center often hosts community events, such as Friday Shabbat and a new Super Soccer Stars parent-child program, which are open to the entire community, regardless of faith.
Main photo: Ilana Friedman, M.Ed., director of early childhood education at Kings Bay Y
