Simcha Preschool

Our play-based program runs year-round and we'll be moving much of our days to our beautiful outside play yards, gardens, redwood grove, and natural nooks and crannies on our tucked away campus.

We'll be re-opening on August 17. Schedules to choose from will be: four full-days, three full-days, and four half-days. We accept CalWorks childcare subsidies and Voucher Project subsidies. There are limited openings in our Preschool (3's) class and our new TK/K class. Our Pre-K (4's) is just about full.

Reach out to Director Lisa Mendez at lmendez@tbeaptos.org or (831) 479-3449 to schedule a phone appointment to learn more.

We will be re-opening in August and we're reaching out to request your generous donations of cloth and paper masks, as well as filters, to support the health and wellness of our staff. Donations will be accepted Tuesday through Friday at the main entrance of TBE. Please mark your donation "Simcha Masks" so that we know how to direct them.

Thanks so much, Lisa Mendez, Director

The name of our preschool is a beautiful Hebrew word meaning “joy,” aptly describing our exemplary Jewish early childhood program, located at Temple Beth El. Simcha is distinguished as one of the only preschools in Santa Cruz County to have continually maintained the prestigious national accreditation granted by The National Association for the Education Of Young Children (NAEYC) since 1995. For the past three years we have been voted the number one childcare in Santa Cruz County by the Good Times Weekly.

Founded in 1980, Simcha has a rich history of sharing our Jewish heritage in a nurturing, developmentally appropriate environment for young children. Children often begin to form lifelong friendships here. We are also seeing Simcha alums returning as parents of the next generation, a rich testament to an enduring program.

Our year-round program serves up to 35 children per day, ranging in age from two through five years of age, in three classrooms. Families have the opportunity to choose from a variety of scheduling options including two, three or five half- or full-day schedules. Class sizes are small and the adult-to-child ratios are excellent, ranging from 1:3 to 1:8 for the older group of children.

The attractive classrooms are staffed by a team of professional, highly trained teachers, with degrees in Early Childhood Education. They all share a deep commitment to a play-based emergent curriculum that also draws from the latest best practices in early childhood education and a strong partnership with families. Another component of our program is required monthly parent participation, offering parents a variety of opportunities to contribute to their child’s education. During the year we offer a number of parent education events to address family needs and concerns. We also enjoy a strong abiding connection with the Temple, including the weekly celebration of Shabbat, with one of the Rabbis who take turns coming to sing with the children.

Visit the Simcha Preschool website

Contact us at (831) 479-3449 or lmendez@tbeaptos.org.