Teacher Training for Religious School
/in Featured, NewsSarah Harlan, Principal of Religious School, and Lexie Beauchamp, Administrative Assistant, kicked off the school year by leading teacher training for our staff.
Our learning community strives to create a caring atmosphere of friendship while encouraging meaningful understanding and a dedicated commitment to Jewish life – in school and at home. The wonderful teaching faculty is diligent that all classroom experiences are valuable and nurture a positive Jewish identity. In addition, our goal is for each student to participate in enjoyable experiences that are part of Temple life, be exposed to and internalize our biblical stories, and to embrace Jewish culture as well as Reform ethical beliefs and values.
The Religious School curriculum encourages the understanding of:
Shabbat, Jewish holidays, and Jewish symbols
Blessings, customs, and life cycle events
Torah stories and their relevance in our lives today
Mitzvot (commandments, values, and good deeds)
Connections between Torah, worship, and our lives
An appreciation for the people and State of Israel
The history of the Jewish people
The Holocaust and anti-Semitism
Jewish music, arts & crafts, and children’s literature
Tzedakah projects and social action
teacher training
Components of our Hebrew curriculum:
Kindergarten through 3rd grade: reading readiness, basic vocabulary and daily prayers
4th through 7th grade: prayer-based Hebrew, reading fluency and comprehension of liturgy
Meets Sunday and Wednesday (4th-7th grade) Weekly student-led services with music
Special Religious School Programming:
Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur
Simchat Torah Consecration Service
Families Love Hebrew! – Parent / Student Learning
Parent and Grandparent Open House
Hanukkah Parties
Tu B’Shvat Seder
Purim – Megillah Reading and Celebration
Passover Experience and Model Seders
Open House for new students
teacher training
Family Programming
Monthly student-led Friday evening Shabbat Services followed by an Oneg Shabbat.
Each grade leads a Shabbat or other holiday Service on a specific month to enhance the student service-leading experience.
“Judaica to the Home” project honors participating students with a Jewish gift at the end of their service. These gifts include: Jewish star necklace, mezuzah, prayer book, Shabbat candlesticks, yad, and other Judaica items.
A traditional Jewish dinner and activities are offered each month prior to the Family Service.
The Blue Jean Family Shabbat (May and August) is an informal service and dinner that includes a Tot Shabbat for our pre-school age children.
