The Child Development Center (CDC) at The J and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah announced that its programming will expand to include full-time infant care.
The targeted launch date for opening two classrooms that can support up to 18 infants full-time, Monday through Friday, is Monday, Jan. 2.
Currently, four part-time classrooms are open at the B’nai Jehudah CDC, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that accommodate children ages 1 to 5. The program was recently expanded to a five-day format this August, after previously being Monday/Wednesday/Friday. It is housed in the synagogue.
The expansion is an answer to the Jewish childcare need in the Overland Park, Kansas, area.
“Being able to offer our community the opportunity to start their child as an infant in a Jewish preschool program is invaluable,” said Machaela Whelan, director of the Child Development Center at The J. “We are looking forward to this brand-new adventure that will support families in need of full-time care.”
B’nai Jehudah Senior Rabbi Stephanie Kramer echoed the need for infant care in the area and said, “We are so excited to be able to add infant care which is critically needed in Overland Park. We are overjoyed to be able to welcome our youngest learners into the B’nai Jehudah family.”
In addition to an expanded program, the B’nai Jehudah CDC also announced the hiring of a new site director. Shikisha Smith, who has been teaching at the CDC program at The J for five years, stepped into the role in August.
“Shikisha has already made an impact at B’nai Jehudah CDC in the last three months,” Whelan said. “She made a natural transition from being a pre-K teacher to leading the B’nai Jehudah CDC program.”
Smith’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in child development and a master’s degree in education. Smith came to Kansas in 2017.
The partnership between The J and B’nai Jehudah began in August 2017 with the shared objective of providing outstanding early learning opportunities for children through pre-kindergarten.
Those interested in joining the waitlist for full-time infant care at B’nai Jehudah can contact Machaela Whelan directly at or (913) 327-8051. More information about both the CDC at The J and B’nai Jehudah CDC can be found online at thejkc.org.