Our Mission
Early Childhood Education, Rooted in Jewish Culture and Values
For more than a century, JCYS has responded to the changing needs of the Chicagoland community. Our programs have evolved along the way, but our commitment to the children and families we serve has never wavered. Guided by Jewish culture and values, JCYS provides educational and recreational programs for Chicagoland’s children and, through board service, develops the next generation of Jewish civic leaders.
Our Philosophy
Every day, families entrust us with what matters most: their children. And we know that children flourish when they are truly known, nurtured, celebrated for who they are. At our four JCYS Family Centers, families of every background are welcomed into a warm, caring community. Each day is filled with opportunities to help, share, and care. Through stories, songs, and hands-on activities, children practice tikkun olam (repairing the world), chesed (kindness), and tzedakah (justice) in ways that are joyful and just right for their age.
Your child will be encouraged to imagine, create, and discover with teachers who see the whole child and nurture their emotional, social, physical, and creative growth.
Our programs spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire a lifelong love of learning, helping children grow into compassionate and capable members of their communities.
Our Reggio-Inspired Approach to Learning
JCYS classrooms draw on the Reggio Emilia approach, a philosophy that treats children as capable, curious collaborators in their own learning. Rather than following a rigid lesson plan, our teachers follow each child’s questions and interests, using the classroom environment itself as a tool for discovery. This means children spend time exploring, experimenting, and creating, guided by teachers who observe closely and adapt lessons to what sparks a child’s curiosity.
This approach is at the heart of how we’re building our curriculum agency-wide, blending emergent, child-led learning with the Jewish culture and values that ground everything we do at JCYS.
Our Community of Families
JCYS welcomes families of every background. Our early childhood programs and summer camps are rooted in Jewish culture and values, creating a warm, inclusive environment where every child and family belongs. Whether your family celebrates Jewish traditions at home, is exploring them for the first time, or simply values being part of a community like ours, you’ll find a place here.
This approach is at the heart of how we’re building our curriculum agency-wide, blending emergent, child-led learning with the Jewish culture and values that ground everything we do at JCYS.
Our Values
01
Generation to Generation
We build connections across generations, so children, parents, grandparents, and alumni all have a place in our community.
02
Inclusive Jewish Values
Our programs are rooted in Jewish culture and tradition, and open to families of every background.
03
Safety and Belonging
Every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and celebrated. We create spaces where that’s true from day one.
04
Emergent Education
Our curriculum grows with each child, following their curiosity and meeting them where they are.
05
Legacy in Motion
For more than a century, we’ve grown alongside the families we serve. We honor that legacy by carrying it forward, staying rooted in who we are while continuing to evolve for every new generation.