Our committed and energetic parents give of their time and talents to make our events a success each year. If you don’t think you have time to offer, think about your skills and expertise. Over the course of the year, we reach out to our parents looking for expertise in a wide variety of areas, including: web design, graphic design, landscaping, carpentry, and marketing, to name a few. (Yes, the BTPPA does engage in projects that utilize all of this skill sets!)

Scroll down for a list of 2009-10 committees. Click here to download our volunteer preferences form.  To learn more about upcoming events, visit the News & Events section of the Barnert Temple Preschool website.

• CARING COMMUNITY
  Chair(s): Julie Johnson & Jill Orlich
  Supports preschool families during joyous and difficult times with meals, gifts and other forms of assistance
   
• CHALLAH & CHALLAH DOUGH
  Chair(s): Amy Miller
  Distributes weekly challah and monthly challah dough orders to preschool families
   
• PRESCHOOL CHANUKAH PARTY
  Chair(s): Nicole Breen & Felice Yeshion
  Organizes and runs the preschool Chanukah party held during school hours
   
• LADIES NIGHT OUT
  Chair(s): Jackie Fine, Sheryl Moskovitz & Amy Shafron
  Organizes and runs social events for preschool parents to enjoy time together and raise funds for the BTPPA
   
• ME & MY SPECIAL GUY
  Chair(s): Jill & Derek Smith & Talie & Jeffrey Birnberg
  Organizes and runs a special event for preschoolers and their “special guys” (i.e., father, uncle, etc.); typically involves food, crafts, and music
   
• SALLY FOSTER GIFT WRAP
  Chair(s): Michelle Wickwire & Audrey Lidsky
  Promotes the fundraiser; processes and distributes Sally Foster orders
   
• PRESCHOOL SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
  Chair(s): Lori Gurtman
  Plans a variety of activities for preschool children and their families to promote social awareness and instill the notion of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)
   
• SUKKOT APPLE PICKING
  Chair(s): Jackie Fine, Amy Miller & Amy Shafron
  Organizes and publicizes a special outdoor fall event for preschool families to participate in when school is closed
   
• SPECIAL GUEST SHABBAT
  Chair(s): Kim Block, Michelle Wickwire & Felice Yeshion
  Organizes and runs an activity for preschoolers and their “special guests” (grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.) to celebrate Shabbat during school hours
   
• TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY LUNCHEON
  Chair(s): Sara Beinstein, Julie Epstein & Randi Grunstein
  Organize and run a special luncheon for preschool teachers to honor Teacher Appreciation Day

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Tzedakah (justice/charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world) are core beliefs in Judaism. Our commitment to helping others is reflected in our everyday actions at Barnert Temple Preschool. Our teachers and staff make every attempt to make the concepts of tzedakah and tikkun olam concrete and tangible for our children. Our hope is to make it easy to give and help others and to transform tzedakah and tikkun olam from a special event to simply something we do as members of our community.

To learn more about upcoming social action activities at our preschool, visit the News & Events section of the Barnert Temple Preschool website. Scroll down to learn more about some of the social action projects supported by the BTPPA.

• PENNIES FOR PEACE
  (Benefits the Central Asia Institute)
  Our children collected a variety of non-perishable food items to help replenish the Center for Food Action pantry, a local agency that distributes nutritious food to those in need in Bergen County. Each family was asked to bring in 7 cans over seven days. The children collected over 500 cans and filled the teepee TWICE!
   
• BIG SHOTS PUMPKIN PIE SALE
  (Benefits Heifer International)
  The Big Shots (3s & 4s class) baked pumpkin pies and sold them at their own Pumpkin Pie Store. Parents came and purchased pies from the children. The proceeds were used to purchase animals (selected by the children) through Heifer International, an organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty by providing animals to communities to help develop sustainable resources and self-reliance.
   
• KINDERGARTEN CHANUKAH GELT SALE
  Our kindergarten children donned their chef hats and filled cellophane bags Chanukah gelt (chocolate coins) during the Chanukah holiday. The funds raised were used to purchase approximately 100 pairs of gloves/mittens for our Keeping Kids Warm Winter Clothing Drive.
   
• SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN OF KATRINA
  (Benefited 6 Schools in New Orleans Affected by Hurricane Katrina)
  Families donated approximately 14,000 school supplies, from markers and pencils to bulletin boards and dictionaries, to help six New Orleans school that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Supporters of Jewish Helping Hands traveled to New Orleans in December to help with the rebuilding process and deliver the supplies.
   
• KEEPING KIDS WARM WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE
  (Benefited the Center for Food Action, Mahwah, NJ)
  Families donated new articles of winter clothing for children, including gloves/mittens, scarves, hats, socks, PJs, and jackets to help children who would otherwise go cold during the winter months. We collected over 200 articles of winter clothing that were distributed to area families by the Center for Food Action in Mahwah, NJ.
   
• CHILDREN'S CLOTHING COLLECTION FOR YAD LEAH
  (Benefited Yad Leah)
  Preschool families donated gently-used children’s clothing to benefit families in Israel. Yad Leah is an organization addressing the effects of poverty in Israel by providing excellent quality, new and lightly-used clothing to low-income communities in Israel. Approximately 75 bags of clothing were collected during the drive.

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The Preschool Caring Community is a committee whose purpose is to enact the mitzvah of g’milut chasadim – acts of loving kindness. We try to make our school community an intimate place by reaching out to preschool families and staff during times of joy and times of sadness to let them know we care. How do we do this? Typically, the committee sends meals or gifts to families during times of need (i.e., illness or loss of a loved one) and during times of joy (i.e., birth of a baby). The goal is to not only make a "nice gesture” but to also provide “real” support and help to families during difficult times.

How Can You Help?
The Caring Community committee serves as a central point of contact to coordinate meals, gifts or other forms of support. You can help us support our families by doing the following:

• Be Our Eyes and Ears: Let Us Know if a Family Could Use Our Help or Congratulations
  The committee can’t help if it doesn’t know there is a need. If you think a family could benefit from a phone call, meal, gift or some other form of support, contact Monica Pollack, Karen Resnick or Nancy Schwartz.
   
• Make a Contribution to the Caring Community Fund
  Download the Caring Community Contribution Form
  The next time you have a special event to celebrate (i.e., birthday, new baby, get well) or a memory to honor, please consider a $5 (or more) donation to our Preschool Caring Community. The recipient does not have to be a member of the Barnert community. When you make a contribution, a card will be sent to your intended recipient. Simply place a contribution form (located in the Caring Community mailbox) and your payment (payable to BTPPA) in the Caring Community mailbox outside of the preschool office.

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	Challah & Challah Dough Weekly Challah Order Form Families can order weekly challah or monthly challah dough from Zadies of Fair Lawn, NJ. Regular (egg), raisin and whole wheat challah loaves can be purchased as well as regular (egg) or whole-wheat challah dough. The dough can be frozen and then used at your convenience. The cost for weekly challah delivery for the 2009-10 school year is $108 ($4/week). Loaves are placed in your child’s mailbox at school on Friday morning. The challah is available in regular (egg), raisin or whole-wheat. The cost for monthly challah dough for the 2009-10 school year is $72 ($8/month). The dough is available in regular (egg) or whole-wheat. It can be used to make cinnamon-sugar challah, babkas, and a variety of other treats in addition to standard challah. The ready-to-bake (or ready-to-freeze) dough is delivered on the first Friday of each month and contains enough dough for 4 small challah loaves. If you have questions about challah orders, contact Amy Miller.
	Sally Foster Gift Wrap and Gifts Sally Foster Fundraiser Flyer Sally Foster offers a wonderful selection of gift wrap, home décor items and gourmet edibles. All items can be purchased online and shipped directly to you. Orders can be placed at any time throughout the year. 50% of all sales benefit the Barnert Temple Preschool. To order items, visit www.sallyfoster.com. Be sure to enter the code 68178 in the Group/Account number field when checking out so our preschool can receive credit for your order.
	“It’s All Challah to Me!” Children’s CD Artist: Sheldon Low (The New Face of Jewish Music!) The kids asked for it, and Sheldon delivered! Now, a CD with music especially for them! Sheldon Low's extraordinary new kids album captures an exciting day in Sheldon's life, from waking up and heading off to school to getting tucked in at night. With songs, skits, and a wide variety of musical styles, It's All Challah to Me includes wonderful Jewish lessons about Shabbat, tikkun olam (repairing the world), blessings, self-confidence, love of community and family, and world peace. To listen to sample tracks, visit www.sheldonlow.com/music.htm. CDs are $15/each. To order a copy contact Rebecca Rund. Payments can be accepted via credit card or PayPal and we can ship CDs directly to you!
	Barnert Temple Preschool T-Shirts These collegiate-style shirts can be worn by preschoolers and religious school students alike, as the logo reads: Product of Barnert Temple Preschool Est. 1989 Shirts are white with a dark blue logo (shown left). A baseball style shirt with navy blue 3/4 sleeves and a white body is also available. Shirts are $15/each. Remaining sizes include 3T, XS and S. To order, contact the preschool office.

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