JCYS Highland Park
JCYS Highland Park
The JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center in Highland Park welcomes children and families to a joyful, play-based learning environment where every child receives tailored instruction and individual care. We use an emergent curriculum, meaning that lesson plans are based on children’s interests and curiosity – no two classrooms are the same! Each child has the opportunity to explore his or her unique talents and develop an independent, exploratory approach to learning that lasts for life. We serve children by supporting the whole family – teachers and staff at JCYS Highland Park are committed to engaging parents in the life and community of the center.
Ready to learn more? Contact us for open house dates or to schedule a personalized tour!
Check out how busy one of our LUTZ friends was today getting ready for Shabbat. We have a future baker in our midst! Delicious! Shabbat Shalom everyone.
JCYS is proud to be an organization dedicated to advancing diversity, equality, and inclusion. On this Juneteenth, we will take a moment to remember and honor this historic day. We will be reminded that there is still work to do as we stand together as a community (Kehillah) dedicated to equality and justice. Through the power of teaching our children the core values of Judaism and humanity including being kind, caring, treating others with respect, and the practice of repairing the world, (Tikkun Olam) we are hopeful that we will help raise an all-inclusive generation. All of us at JCYS look forward to the day when we can celebrate the true equity that should come with independence.
We at JCYS join with people all over the world in expressing our profound sadness over the tragic death of George Floyd, the misconduct that caused his death, and the degree of racial injustice that still exists that allows for that type of violence.
JCYS creates a loving and nurturing environment for children of all backgrounds, guided by Jewish values. These values are foundational in creating the kind of future we would be proud to have our children be a part of and in raising a community of “mensches.” Key among these values are:
• Chesed - caring and being kind;
• Kavod - treating others with respect and being tolerant of differences while dealing peacefully with anger;
• Kehillah - having a sense of community and doing your share to be a good neighbor and friend while making your community a better place; and, of course,
• Tikkun Olam - repairing the world.
These values, coupled with what families teach within their homes, make up the caring, devoted, loving, and accepting community that we are proud to have within the JCYS organization.
Here are some resources you may find helpful when talking to your children about race and equality:
• Talking Race with Young Children: An NPR Podcast - www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716700866/talking-race-with-young-children
• Talking About Race - nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race
• Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism with Sesame Street and CNN - www.cnn.com/2020/06/02/us/cnn-sesame-street-standing-up-to-racism/index.html
• 30 Books to Help You Talk to Your Kids About Racism - www.todaysparent.com/family/books/kids-books-that-talk-about-racism/#gallery/books-that-talk-abou...
• Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race - www.prettygooddesign.org/blog/Blog%20Post%20Title%20One-5new4?fbclid=IwAR3jyiu8halsLwYsmU_9-IZk2P...
We look forward to resuming our programming later this summer when we can continue to prepare children to engage in the world through a lens of equality for all.
Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup — Pretty Good
www.prettygooddesign.org
Your kids aren’t too young to talk about race. Here are a few resources to get your started.George W. Lutz Family Center
800 Clavey Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 433-6001
highlandpark@jcys.org