Early. Learning. Kehillah.
Early Learning Kehillah is our family school partnership that supports teachers, strengthens connections between families, and helps build a culture of belonging throughout the Early Learning School. Inspired by the Hebrew word kehillah, meaning community.
How does ELK work?
Being a part of our Early Learning Kehilah, you would work directly with our Admin team to help guide our Family Engagement. There are Two Roles we need help filling: Room Parents and a Treasurer.
Each Role has different levels of involvement and ways to support, and together we aim to not only make sure the teachers in our school feel appreciated, but to streamline communication and involvement within our parent community. Being a part of ELK you will also help guide Admin to help with Parent Support opportunities and outreach programming that YOU want to see.
Family engagement is one of the strongest contributors to a child’s success and sense of belonging within a school community. Research consistently shows that when families, educators, and schools work together in partnership, children experience stronger social, emotional, and academic outcomes.
Early Learning Kehillah (ELK) exists to strengthen those partnerships.
Interested in being a part of ELK?
Classroom Liaison
Serve as the critical (magical) liaison between the teacher and other class parents.
Becomming a Room Liaison you would help our school stay connected with families. Similar to a room parent from previous years you would be in charge of helping make sure Teachers in the school recieve gifts and appreciation, make sure families have the communications they need, and help us with certain programs.
This role is a Bi-Monthly commitment to a Zoom/Inperson meeting and we will be meeting about School Events, Community Opportunities, and what needs to be communicated.
Driver
Serve as a Leader in the ELK Program.
Becoming an ELK Driver you would help our Family Engagement program run and succeed. You would coordinate communication across the school by working closely with administration and Room Liaisons. Drivers will help set annual goals, document meeting notes, and regularly check in with classrooms to ensure needs are met and information is shared effectively.
This role is a once Monthly commitment to a Zoom/Inperson meeting and we will be meeting about all things Family Engagement and Teacher appreciation
Treasurer
Serve as the Treasurer and oversee the ELK budget and tracks funds for events and classrooms.
Becoming a Treasurer you would manage teacher appreciation funds by collecting donations, tracking balances, coordinating gift budgets, and ensuring appreciation efforts happen on time. Works with the ELK team to establish suggested contribution amounts and equitable spending guidelines so all teachers, floats, and staff are recognized fairly throughout the year.
This role is a Bi-Monthly commitment to a Zoom/Inperson meeting and we will be checking in on what funds we have available and when we need to collect any funds
We are looking for Parents to fill a couple different roles. Each role has varying responsibilities and levels of involvement.
ELK Drivers ( 1 monthly meeting)
- Coordinate with administration
- Set annual goals/communicate with other roles
- Keep initiatives moving forward
- Heavy involvement
- The communicator.
- Meeting notes
- Recap Emails/ Communication
- check in with classrooms
Treasurer (1 monthly meeting) – When do we give, how much do we give.
- In charge of appreciation funds.
- Collect donations
- Track funds
- Coordinate gift budgets
- Ensure appreciation efforts happen on time
- (suggested amounts how can we make this equal and guided)
Community Leaders/ Room Liason (bimonthly meetings/communication)
- Classroom WhatsApps communication
- Family meetups
- volunteer at events
- Event promotion
- Welcoming new families
Welcome! When adults come together to support children, profound changes can happen.
Family engagement is one of the strongest contributors to a child’s success and sense of belonging within a school community. Research consistently shows that when families, educators, and schools work together in partnership, children experience stronger social, emotional, and academic outcomes.
Early Learning Kehillah (ELK) exists to strengthen those partnerships. ELK is a family-led community initiative that supports teachers, connects families, and helps build a culture of appreciation, belonging, and shared responsibility throughout the Early Learning School.
Through ELK, families can:
Support and celebrate the educators who care for and nurture our children every day.
Build meaningful relationships with other families across the school community.
Strengthen communication and connections between home and school.
Encourage participation in school events, traditions, and volunteer opportunities.
Create a welcoming environment where every family feels connected and valued.
At its heart, ELK recognizes that a thriving school is built on relationships. By working together, families and educators help create the caring, connected community that allows children, families, and teachers to flourish.
What is Family Engagement?
Effective community engagement is rooted in partnership, respect, and shared responsibility. ELK recognizes that every family brings unique experiences, skills, perspectives, and strengths that enrich our school. By creating opportunities for leadership, volunteering, communication, appreciation, and connection, ELK helps families actively contribute to the life of the school in ways that are meaningful to them.
ELK is guided by several core beliefs:
- Every family has something valuable to contribute to our community.
- Strong relationships between families and educators benefit children.
- Teachers deserve consistent appreciation, support, and recognition.
- A connected school community creates a greater sense of belonging for everyone.
- Communication should be welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative.
- Opportunities for involvement should be accessible to families with diverse backgrounds, schedules, and abilities.
Through collective care, shared leadership, and community participation, ELK helps create an environment where children, families, and educators can thrive together.
Leadership Structure
ELK Drivers (2) (monthly)
- Coordinate with administration
- Set annual goals/communicate with other roles
- Keep initiatives moving forward
- Heavy involvement
- The communicator.
- Meeting notes
- Recap Emails/ Communication
- check in with classrooms
Treasurer (monthly)
- In charge of appreciation funds.
- Collect donations
- Track funds
- Coordinate gift budgets
- Ensure appreciation efforts happen on time
Community Leaders/ Liason (bimonthly)
- Classroom WhatsApps
- Family meetups
- volunteer at events
- Event promotion
- Welcoming new families ?
End of the year goals:
- Teachers Feel Supported
- Birthday gifts coordinated
- Holiday appreciation organized
- Conference day snacks provided
- End-of-year gifts planned
- Support staff recognized alongside lead teachers
- Families Feel Connected
- Every classroom has a communication channel
- Family meetups occur throughout the year
- New families are welcomed quickly
- Families know people beyond their own classroom
- School Events Are promoted and attended
- Volunteer participation
- Greater awareness of fundraising efforts
- More family ownership of school traditions
- Admin Has Partners
- Family engagement becomes community-driven
- Leadership is shared
- Communication pathways are clearer
- Appreciation efforts become proactive rather than reactive