At Greenwich Reform Synagogue, we take education seriously – at every stage of life – from toddlers through high school, from young adults to seniors. We believe Jewish learning has the potential to enrich, transform and deepen our lives. As the Rabbis of thousands of years ago explained, study can be a form of devotion, and serious engagement with the tradition makes us not just better Jews, but better people.To get a feel for our family-friendly community, click here to watch a two-minute video.
Our Mission is to help children become excited learners and kind, contributing citizens. We offer children a host of opportunities to innovate, create and play together within a community of learners, while encouraging self-expression, discovery and imagination. Our curriculum is driven by the Jewish (and universal) values of kindness, respect, compassion, confidence and responsibility, and we warmly welcome children of all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds.
Establishing a Love of Learning is central to the mission of The JCC-GRS Preschool at Greenwich Reform Synagogue in Cos Cob. Utilizing developmentally-appropriate educational principles and practices, our school’s professional educators provide an introduction to formal education with a child-initiated and teacher-directed approach to learning. By capturing and building on a child’s natural enthusiasm, we begin to help children build the self-esteem that is essential to giving them the confidence to excel in school and in life.
Our Philosophy: Early childhood is a magical time of cognitive, emotional and physical growth. Through exploration, creative play, questioning and a wide variety of activities, your child will begin to discover his or her place in the larger world. We are committed to enabling and empowering children to develop physically, socially and cognitively, while nurturing self awareness, self-esteem, intellectual curiosity and critical-thinking skills in our warm, safe, and caring environment.
Our Facility: Your child will find a home at our preschool. Set on the beautiful grounds of Greenwich Reform Synagogue in Cos Cob, our new facility provides an enhanced venue for our children to grow and learn in our topnotch, state-of-the-art school.
To arrange a tour or to learn more, contact our team at 203-489-3084 or email Gabriela Marcus.
Download the 2025 – 2026 application form here.
Blooming Babies (birth to 2 years)
Join us for our weekly playgroup where babies and toddlers enjoy exploration, socialization, circle time, music, puppets, story time, and more! This is also a wonderful opportunity for caregivers of young children to socialize, network, and support each other. Pre-registration is required! Email Gabriela Marcus for more info!
JCC and GRS Members FREE / Community first 2 sessions FREE, after that $10 per session
Drop off programming for children ages 15 months – 5 years:
Terrific Tots for toddlers age 15 – 22 months:
Make your toddler’s first drop off experience a success with our gentle separation program. Children will socialize, explore, and gain independence with the support of our nurturing teachers.
Preschool 2s, 3s, 4s, and Bridge Pre-K:
Our preschool classrooms for two, three, four, and five year olds are a place where independence, imagination, wonder, and a love of learning are developed through our blended Play-based/Child Centered curriculum. Children are inspired to express themselves creatively through art, movement, music, and language. We are committed to enabling and empowering children to develop socially, cognitively, and physically while nurturing self-awareness, self-esteem, intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking skills in our warm, safe, and caring classrooms.
Programming in Cos Cob is designed to be flexible in order to meet the needs of your family. Early 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. drop-off is offered every morning, with the opportunity to extend the day until 1:00, 2:00, or 3:00 p.m., in addition to optional participation in engaging enrichment opportunities.
Our Bridge/Pre-K program for five-year-olds is a vital transition that equips children with intellectual, physical, and social-emotional skills for kindergarten. Our dedicated instructors spark curiosity and confidence through STEAM activities, real-life skills, and inquiry-based learning, preparing students for academic and personal success.
Summer Preschool Program for ages 15 months – 4 years:
Your child will enjoy a summer filled with enriching indoor and outdoor activities, including water play zones, bubble and sensory water play, art, music, visits from the Nature Center’s animals, exploration walks to Pomerance Park (for ages 3 and up), and lots of movement!
We offer a flexible schedule, allowing you to choose anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks of attendance, with optional before and after care add-ons. The program runs from June 23 to August 15. Click here for more information.
Families interested in a Jewish preschool experience are encouraged to learn more about the JCC Preschool at GRS.
We are dedicated to educating our youth to be knowledgeable and participatory Jews. Our primary goal is to provide our students with a nurturing and experiential school environment that fosters an enthusiasm and love for Judaism and Jewish learning.
Our curriculum is geared toward fluency in Hebrew reading, as well as comfort and familiarity with the Siddur (prayerbook), synagogue rituals, and a basic understanding of our prayers. We help our students to understand and appreciate what it means to be an action-oriented Reform Jew in the 21st century and to become confident and ethical Jewish adults through the guidance and support of inspirational and compassionate clergy and educators. We strive to foster a positive Jewish identity in our students, as they develop an understanding and appreciation for the holidays and Shabbat, Israel, Tefillah (prayers), Jewish values, and lifecycle events.
Religious school is held on Sundays from 9:30 – 11:30 am, and new students are always welcome. Click here to view the 2024-25 calendar.
Please click Registration Letter 2024 for information on the upcoming school year.
Click here to see an overview of our Judaica curriculum.
Click here for a brief video showing how our children learn to pray — and love doing so!
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a tour, please contact Cantor Michelle Rubin, Director of Education, at (203) 629-0018 or cantorrubin@grs.org
New and returning students:
To attend the GRS Religious School, families need to be members in good standing of Greenwich Reform Synagogue.
Please click here and fill out the complete form. You may pay the fees online by clicking here, or by mailing a check to the office. Online payments are subject to a 3% surcharge to cover credit card processing fees.
All students in grades 3-7 must attend weekday Hebrew classes. Midweek Hebrew classes will take place on Tuesdays or Wednesdays depending on the availability of our students and teachers. In person and on-line private/semi-private tutoring is also available. For incoming students, weekday Hebrew is an integral part of their Jewish educational experience. If your child has difficulty coming on Wednesday, please contact Cantor Michelle Rubin, Director of Education.
Click here to see a copy of our Hebrew curriculum.
The process of becoming a bar/bat mitzvah is one of the oldest coming of age rituals in the world. To become a bar or bat mitzvah means – literally – to become a son or daughter of the mitzvot, the commandments, become a young adult in the Jewish community. At GRS, the process of becoming a bar/bat mitzvah is a multi-year process; one that prepares children to embrace their responsibilities as young adults. This means Jewish observance like fasting on Yom Kippur, an ongoing commitment to tikkun olam (social action), being a mensch (an ethical and kind person) and living a Jewish life (regular Shabbat dinners and holiday observance).
Throughout this journey, our clergy and religious school teachers guide and support students to insure that they will ascend the bimah with confidence and excitement.
Formal bar/bat mitzvah preparations begin approximately eight months prior to a child’s bar/bat mitzvah date. Students work individually with Cantor Rubin weekly; private sessions include all Torah and Haftarah preparation. Six weeks prior to the bar/bat mitzvah service, students meet with Rabbi Gerson for approximately three sessions to study the meaning of their Torah portion and write their sermons. Bar/bat mitzvah candidates are also required to attend the GRS religious school’s seventh grade class and b’nai mitzvah workshops with their parents. In addition, all b’nai mitzvah candidates must complete the tikkun olam requirement by participating in a community service project to fulfill the obligation of g’milut chasadim (acts of loving kindness).
Click here for a copy of the GRS B’nei Mitzvah Handbook.
At GRS, we don’t just read sacred texts – we discuss them, argue about them, and add our voices to them – and we learn broadly and deeply – from all our tradition has to offer. We host a regular book club (GRS Reads), and bi-weekly Torah and Talmud study. We offer special classes around Jewish holidays and current events in Israel, antisemitism, and social justice. We’re also known for great scholar-in-residence weekends, and lectures from nationally acclaimed rabbis, Jewish journalists, writers, and thinkers. We’ve hosted Ruth Messinger (former Executive Director, American Jewish World Service), Mark Oppenheimer (host of Tablet Magazine’s podcast Unorthodox), Sam Freedman (National Jewish Book Award winner and New York Times columnist), Batya Ungar Sargon (Op-Ed editor at The Forward) Rabbi Josh Weinberg (Executive Director of ARZA) and others.
We also offer an Introduction to Judaism course for lifelong Jews who want to learn more about where they come from, and for people considering conversion. Have a specific Jewish interest you want to explore? Let us know, and we’ll try to make it happen!
No prior knowledge is necessary, and everyone is welcome. For complete details and to register for classes, please contact the GRS office at (203) 629-0018. For details about upcoming events, please check the GRS calendar.