The Jennifer Barnum Luria Early Childhood Center
Mission Statement
At The Jennie, it is our mission to provide the highest quality care to children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, and their families. The Jennie is built on a foundation of inclusion – we are intentionally creating a diverse Kehillah, the Hebrew word for community, that celebrates all our children and their families. The Jennie provides an enriching environment interwoven with Jewish values, promoting a nurturing space for children to develop, and creating a work community where staff feel supported holistically. We value creativity, togetherness, and kindness towards our peers and the environment. We believe that children know themselves best and are ready to take in all the learning we can offer, and teachers act as guides along a child’s developmental journey. The Jennie staff understand that a child’s success is rooted in the success of their caregivers, and we invite families to be active participants in our community. This happens through volunteering in the classroom, parent education nights to learn about our educational approach and their child’s development, and through events that bring families and staff together.
Enrollment at The Jennie
We are accepting registration for all age groups. Our waitlist will prioritize families who are members of Congregation Beth Israel, as well as those who already have a sibling enrolled at The Jennie.
Contact Us
The Jennie is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Address: 428 NW 20th Ave. Portland OR, 97209
Phone: 503-447-2457
Philosophy
At The Jennie we are guided by a child-led, and play-based, philosophy. We utilize child observation and teacher reflection in order to shape curriculum that serves our children as individuals and the class as a whole. Teachers foster secure attachments through responsive caregiving, understanding that optimal learning and growth comes only when children feel safe and secure.
Children build foundational academic and life skills through play and interacting with their environment. Art and creativity is a daily practice and the children have opportunities to create their own art, and explore external creations. We strive to bring together the best practices in many developmental and educational philosophies, including the teachings of Maria Montessori, the principles of RIE – developed by Magda Gerber, and the warm nurturing environments found in Waldorf and Reggio Emilia programs.
Judaism has a longstanding commitment to excellent education and to providing an environment where children’s natural desire to learn is fostered. The Jennie empowers children from the youngest ages to ask questions, explore their curiosities, and be advocates for their learning desires. We strive for beauty and peace through respect, art, kindness, and Kehillah, the Hebrew word for community. This collaboration allows children to feel nurtured, and engage with their inner curiosity and inspiration to learn, providing a foundation for a lifelong love of learning to grow.
Tuition and Pricing
Monthly Tuition
Through June 2026
|
Age |
Monthly Tuition |
Classrooms |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
6 weeks to 12 months |
$2,215 |
Trillium and Lupine |
|
|
12 months to 24 months |
$2,215 |
Gooseberry and Snowberry |
|
|
Two Year Olds |
$1,957 |
Azalea and Honeysuckle |
|
|
Three Year Olds |
$1,725 |
Dogwood and Elderberry |
|
|
Four and Five Year Olds |
$1,725 |
Maple and Cedar |
Please note that we are only able to offer part time care on a highly limited, case by case basis. To see if such is available, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Bailey Brandt.
For example, if your child is starting on May 1, May’s tuition is due by May 1 and June’s tuition is due by June 1. You may pay tuition in full on this date, or you may make installments the month prior leading up to the 1st of the month.
You will be sent an invoice in advance of tuition being due for your records and budgeting purposes.
A sibling discount of 10% of the eldest child’s tuition is available.
Bailey Brandt (she/her), Early Childhood Education Director
Bailey Brandt joins us from Chicago, where she worked as a Developmental Therapist, providing play-based interventions for children aged zero to three, tackling developmental delays. Prior to that, she worked as the Director of Early Childhood Education at a Montessori-based infant and toddler school.
She has a Masters of Science in Child Development with a concentration in Infancy and Administration from Erikson Institute, and has been working with children and families for seventeen years, both as a direct caregiver and as parent support. Bailey is beyond excited to join The Jennie and CBI, and to join CBI staff in building an incredible school for our community.
Born in the Bay Area, Bailey moved to Portland as an adolescent, where she graduated from Metropolitan Learning Center (a few blocks away from CBI!) and obtained her undergraduate degree from Portland State University. After nine years exploring Chicago (and picking up her Master’s degree!) she decided it was time to come home and be near family again.
Bailey has spent her career practicing and building on the skill set of inclusive and anti-oppression early childhood care, and feels deeply that raising children with responsive and quality caregiving is the best way to create a peaceful and joyful future for all. She uses a relationship and community building approach, believing that our communities and interpersonal connections as adults, fuels and supports positive childcare experiences for children.
Our Schedule
The Jennie operates from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Jennie is closed for 5786 High Holidays Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Classes will also break for one week in the Summer and one week in the Winter.
Click here for our 2025 Calendar
We follow Portland Public Schools for dold weather-related closures or late starts,
- The Jennie Early Release Dates (2025)
Wednesday, January 15
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, February 19
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, March 19
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, April 16
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, May 21
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, June 18
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, July 16
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, September 17
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningMonday, September 22
12:00 PM closure for Erev Rosh HashanahWednesday, October 1
12:00 PM Closure for Kol NidreWednesday, October 15
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, November 19
3:00 PM closure for Teacher PlanningWednesday, December 17
3:00 PM closure for Teacher Planning- The Jennie Full Day Closures (2025)
Wednesday, January 1
Closed for New Year’s DayMonday, January 20
Closed for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, J. DayFriday, February 28
Closed for Teacher Professional DevelopmentFriday, May 23
Closed for Teacher Professional DevelopmentMonday, May 26
Closed for Memorial DayFriday, June 6
Closed for Parent-Teacher ConferencesMonday, June 30 – Friday, July 4
Summer BreakWednesday, August 20
Closed for Professional DevelopmentMonday, September 1
Closed for Labor DayTuesday, September 23
Closed for Rosh HashanahThursday, October 2
Closed for Yom Kippur
Thursday, November 27–Friday, November 28
Closed for ThanksgivingFriday, December 5
Closed for Parent-Teacher ConferencesThursday, December 25 – Friday, January 2, 2026
Winter Break
History
The Jennie was established thanks to the leadership of Robert Barnum, Susan Barnum, and Gil Luria, in the loving memory of their daughter and wife Jennifer Barnum Luria, and with major support from Bob and Rita Philip. It builds upon the CBI preschool foundation that was established by Abe and Sally Vidgoff and grew under the leadership of Sanny Snell and commitment of Jill Slansky.
As our program expands, we welcome your support.
If you would like more in-depth details, or to hear about the associated naming opportunities, please reach out to Congregation Beth Israel’s Executive Director, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to be a member of Congregation Beth Israel to enroll my child in The Jennie?
You do not need to be a CBI member to enroll in The Jennie–all are welcome.
However, we do waive our $200 enrollment fee for CBI members, and member families will receive waitlist priority.
If you have questions about becoming a CBI member, please reach out to us!
- Can my non-Jewish child enroll in The Jennie?
Absolutely! Everyone is welcome–and celebrated–at The Jennie!
While Jewish values are at the heart of our programming, education and full participation at The Jennie is comfortable and accessible for our non-Jewish families.
- Are scholarships or sibling discounts available?<
A sibling discount of 10% of the eldest child’s tuition is available.
The Jennie does not currently have a scholarship program.
The Jennie does not currently offer ERDC tuition options.
- Food programming
The Jennie provides a morning and afternoon snack for children, as well as water during all mealtimes. Parents provide a lunch, as well as any milk or milk alternative they may want their child to have. Parents provide infant formula and/or human milk as well.
The Jennie is a pork, shellfish, and nut-free campus; depending on the dietary needs and/or allergies of specific students, certain classrooms may have additional restrictions in place.
- What supplies should I provide?
Parents are responsible for providing bottles, diapers, training pull ups, wipes, diaper cream, a reusable drink container, and extra clothes that are weather appropriate.
Families will receive a complete class supply list upon confirmed enrollment.- What type of programming does The Jennie offer?
The Jennie is a child-led and art-based program. Children are given opportunities to engage with art, nature, and academic topics that lead to holistic development every day. Because the curriculum is child -led, teachers build their class routines around the children currently enrolled in their class. Jewish holidays, rituals, and rhythms are incorporated into the child’s day through music, activities, and art.
- What kind of outdoor space is there?
Outdoor activities primarily take place on the lawn of CBI’s Plaza, where we have our own licensed and fenced playspace.
Children go outside no matter what the weather, save for extreme weather conditions, in which case we have a licensed indoor gross motor room. Other gross motor activities take place in CBI’s Blumauer Auditorium.
Questions About The Jennie? Get In Touch With Us
