Temple Sholom of West Essex Religious School Parent Handbook /

Transcription

1 Temple Sholom of West Essex Religious School Parent Handbook / Temple Sholom of West Essex 760 Pompton Avenue Cedar Grove, NJ T:(973) F:(973)

2 Temple Sholom of West Essex Religious School Parents Handbook 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS What We Wish for All of our Children..3 Educational Mission Statement Religious School hours...4 School Calendar. 5 Educational Goals..6 Meet the staff and leadership Curriculum overview...9 Hebrew program.. 13 Family Education...14 Family Program calendar...19 Our Jewish Youth Journey..20 Post-B nai Mitzvah programming...21 Online Learning & Weekly B nai Mitzvah Meetings/Tzedakah...25 Shabbat attendance/pasta dinners...26 Progress reports/school closings/texts &supplies Appendix A-Attendance Policy...28 Appendix B-Discipline Policy.29 Reading list for Raising a Jewish Child... 31

3 3 WHAT WE WISH FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN I wish for you to be A person of character Strong but not tough, Gentle but not weak. I wish for you to be Righteous but not self righteous, Honest but not unforgiving. Whenever you speak May your words be Words of wisdom and friendship. May your hands build And your heart preserve What is good and beautiful in our world. May the voices of the generations of our people Move through you And may the God of our ancestors Be your God as well. May you know that there is a people, A rich heritage to which you belong And from that sacred place You are connected to all who dwell on the earth. May the stories of our people Be upon your heart And the grace of the Torah rhythm Dance in your soul. Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

4 Place you r m essag e h ere. Fo r m axim um i mpact, use two or t hre e se ntenc es / Our Educational Mission Statement At Temple Sholom, we are committed to educate our children so that they will: Have pride in observing our traditions and the teachings of Torah (Torah) Feel joy in celebrating our holidays (Avodah) Be responsible and care for others (Gemilut Chasadim) Our vision of education seeks to embrace: The whole child through interactive multi-sensory learning The entire family in our family programming The larger community through mitzvah activities K to 3rd Grade..Tuesday, 4 to 5:45 PM 4th to 6th Grade Monday*, Wednesday 4 to 6 PM 7th Grade..TBD 8th & 9th Grades.TBD *Tutorial/enrichment day Religious School Hours All of us at TSWE recognize the many time demands on our families, and we strive to pursue innovative strategies to respond to these challenges.

5 Religious School Calendar (Revised 2/27/15) SEPTEMBER 5(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 9 (Tues) First Day of Religious School K -3 10(Wed) First Day of Religious School (Wed)6:00 pm Pasta Dinner- Meet the Teachers (Revised) 24(Wed) No Religious School-Erev Rosh HaShanah 25(Thur) Rosh HaShanah 26(Fri) Rosh HaShanah 26(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 5 OCTOBER 3(Fri) Kol Nidre 4(Sat) Yom Kippur 9(Thur) Sukkot 10(Fri)6:30 pm Shabbat family service 14(Tues) 5:45 pm- Pasta Dinner-Meet the Teachers(Revised) 16(Thur) Shemini Atzeret 17(Fri) 6:30 pm-simchat Torah/Shabbat service & Consecration of new students 19(Sun) 10:00 am 6th grade Mitzvot (1) program NOVEMBER 7(Fri)5:30 pm 5 th grade Shabbat dinner 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 9(Sun) 11:00 am Yad workshop 16(Sun) 8:30 am-4 th grade trip to Tenement Museum 26 (Wed) No Religious School Thanksgiving DECEMBER 3(Wed) 6:00 pm 5 th grade Mitzvah Munch(1) 5(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 7(Sun) 10:00 am-6 th grade Torah study(1) 19(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat Hanukah family service No Religious School Winter Vacation (Revised) JANUARY 2(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 4 (Sun) 10:00 am- Mezuzah workshop 5(Mon) School Resumes 11(Sun) 4 th grade trip to the Jewish Museum 19 (Mon) No Religious School- MLK day 25(Sun)10:00 am 5 th grade Torah study(1) FEBRUARY 1(Sun) 10:00 am Tallit workshop 6(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 8(Sun) 10:00 am 5 th grade Torah study(2) (Mon-Tues) - No Religious School-Presidents Day 22(Sun) 6 th grade Life Cycle program (1) with Rabbi Groffman 27(Fri) 5 th grade Shabbat dinner MARCH 1 (Sun) Purim Carnival 4(Wed) Megillah reading 6(Fri) 6:30pm Shabbat family service 18(Wed) 6:00 pm- 5 th grade Mitzvah Munch(2) (Revised) 20(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat service & 3 rd grade naming ceremony 22(Sun)10:00 am-6 th grade Torah study 289Sat) 4:00 pm-challah workshop (Revised) 29(Sun) 4 th grade trip to Tenement Museum APRIL 3(Fri) First Seder 10(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 12(Sun) 10:00 am 6 th grade Life Cycle program (2)with Rabbi Groffman MAY 1(Fri) 6:30 pm Shabbat family service 3(Sun) 10:00 am 6 th grade Mitzvot workshop 12(Tues) Last day of Religious School K to 3 13(Wed) Last day of Religious School 4-6

6 Educational Goals for our Students 6 JEWISH IDENTITY To feel pride in your heritage To integrate Judaism into your daily life To become engaged with the practice and peoplehood of Judaism throughout your life GOD To form a personal understanding of God that reflects Jewish teachings To appreciate the relationship of God to the Jewish people TORAH To understand that the Torah is the key narrative of the Jewish people To identify central themes and messages and integrate them into your life To identify the structure of the Torah To appreciate that Torah commentary and dialogue are central to Jewish learning KLAL YISRAEL( the Jewish community) To feel connected to the land of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people To participate in activities that promote the unity of the Jewish people worldwide.

7 Educational Goals for our Students (continued) 7 HOLIDAYS To understand and appreciate the Jewish calendar through the study of Shabbat and key Jewish holidays To become familiar with the rituals and customs of Jewish holidays To learn the meaning of ritual symbols and objects To participate in Shabbat and holiday observances both at home and in the sanctuary as part of this community JEWISH VALUES To understand the important values and mitzvot that have guided our people in the past and to learn to make choices based upon that value system To understand the unique Jewish view that mitzvot are the commandments that help us repair the world (Tikkun Olam). FAMILY To participate in congregational activities and become a vital part of our community To be active partners with the school in encouraging Jewish learning at home HEBREW and PRAYER To achieve competence in prayer reading To become familiar with the structure of the Shabbat service To attend and participate in Shabbat services To learn to value and practice prayer (t fillah) To try to find ways to feel personally connected to the Shabbat service

8 Meet,h the Religious School Staff Rachel Sesser..Director of Education Sharon Jaffe.Kindergarten/First Grade Lynda Brown...Second Grade / Fourth Grade Jewish Studies Jacki Routhenstein...Third Grade /Fifth Grade Jewish Studies Anat Niv.. Fourth Grade Hebrew Diane Gilmore..Fifth Grade Hebrew Meryle Handler Sixth Grade Jewish Studies Randi Elkin.. Sixth Grade Hebrew Limor Guttman.Seventh Grade/Eighth Grade Paula Touger.Administrative Assistant Please call the school if you have any questions regarding your child s education (973) The Religious School Committee Mark Friedlander Vice President of Education Deborah Snow..Chairperson, Religious School Committee The Religious School Committee Supports & assists with the various activities & events taking place throughout the year. Serves as a sounding board for the school director as she develops school policy. Encourages parent involvement in the school. Parents and teachers are partners in your child s Jewish education. We value your feedback.

9 Curriculum ` Kindergarten and First Grade : me and my Jewish world 9 Our delightful Kindergarten and First Grade curriculum is based on books selected by the PJ Library, a collection of outstanding children s Jewish literature. Through these engaging stories children explore Jewish holidays and values in a warm, informal setting. We explore four main relationships that are explored from a Jewish perspective: the relationship between children and nature the relationship between children and God the relationship between children and other people the relationship between children and animals Students discover the big ideas from these themes as they act out the stories, play games, and engage in arts and crafts activities. In addition, students will start to learn the Shabbat blessings over the candles and challah, the Shema, the Hanukah candle blessings and the first question of the Four Questions. (The materials are : Let s Discover the Holidays, Let s Discover Shabbat)

10 Curriculum Second Grade: Israel 10 Through food, music, crafts and stories students spend a year as visitors to our homeland. They learn about the various cities and regions, the culture, language and customs. Holidays continue to be an important part of their studies as they occur throughout the year. Students experience holiday observances with food, art and music. Children learn the Shabbat blessings over the wine, candles and challah, the Hanukkah blessing over the candles and are introduced to the Four Questions. (The text book is Great Israel Scavenger Hunt.). Third Grade: Torah Jewish Studies Students become familiar with key Bible stories and the people in those stories Students learn the significance of these stories through projects and various art forms Students learn about decisions these individuals made and how they influenced the Jewish ethical system Hebrew Students learn the letters and vowels through an interactive whole body program. By the end of the year the students should be able to recognize all of the letters and vowels and decode Hebrew words with fluency. (The text book is Aleph Bet Quest)

11 Curriculum 11 Fourth Grade: Mitzvot (commandments) Jewish Studies: Students examine five to six critical mitzvot in discrete units through project-based learning. Each mitzvah is introduced through biblical and other Jewish texts. Students brainstorm about what the big issues are for them surrounding each mitzvah Students prepare questions and meet with an expert in an area related to each mitzvah. Students design and develop a mitzvah project for the class or the school at the conclusion of the unit Hebrew In fourth grade the students learn to read and chant selected Tefillot (prayers), including the Shema, the prayers for Before and After the Torah reading, the Tefillah (prayer) recited before the Avot V Imahot, and part of the Avot itself. They will also learn to read and chant the Four Questions for the Passover Seder. (The textbook is Kol Yisrael, Prayers of Our People, Volumes 2 and 3.)

12 Curriculum (continued) 12 Fifth Grade: Torah and its wisdom Jewish Studies: Students explore various Jewish values (middot) and how they are reflected in holiday observance and Jewish texts, including prayers. The textbooks are Our Shared World, Be a Good Friend, and People of the Book. Hebrew: At the end of the year students will recite the prayer that is read before prayer/ Torah study, read and chant the prayer Before the Torah reading, read the Avot V Imahot and read and chant the V Ahavata. (The textbook is Kol Yisrael: The Prayers of our People, Volumes 2 and 3) Sixth Grade: preparing to be a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and becoming a responsible Jew. Jewish studies: Students learn the elements of the Torah service, its customs and rituals Students learn the communal importance of the Torah service Students learn about significant Jewish heroes and understand how their lives demonstrate important Jewish teachings and values. The textbooks are Jewish History and Heritage, Be a Good Friend and Our Shared World. Hebrew: Students at the end of the Sixth Grade will be able to chant fluently all of the prayers that are part of the Bat/ Bat Mitzvah service as outlined in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah handbook. (The textbook is KolYisrael: The Prayers of our People Volumes 2 and 3).

13 Learning Hebrew 13 Hebrew is the sacred language of the Jewish People. The goal of our educational program is to enable each child to engage in prayer with confidence and understanding. Kindergarten to Third Grade Hebrew is introduced through prayer and key vocabulary words. Through blessings, students learn that Hebrew is the language Jews have communicated with God from the beginning of our peoplehood. This is the primary focus in kindergarten and first grade. In second grade, students are taught contemporary key vocabulary words in the context of learning about the land of Israel. In third grade children learn the Hebrew alphabet and begin to read some words, using a multi-sensory Hebrew curriculum. Fourth to Sixth Grade Beginning in fourth grade we offer a variety of ways to help your child master Hebrew prayer, according to his/her individual learning style. Hebrew is taught on Wednesdays for one hour. Because learning a language is a cumulative skill it is critical that your child attend class on a regular and consistent basis. While we understand that at times conflicts may arise please try to have your child remain in class through 6:00pm. If you do have a conflict please notify Rachel Sesser in advance so that the work can be made up. On Mondays one on one tutoring is offered by appointment for students who need additional help. These sessions are between 4:00pm and 6:00pm and usually are 15 minutes long. You may request this help or a teacher may recommend it. A student will typically come for one or two sessions. This extra tutorial help is provided at no cost to the family. On Wednesdays we also offer a resource room for students who need additional help and may benefit from one on one learning. Three months before a student begins bar/bat mitzvah preparation with Cantor Epstein, students will meet on a Wednesday evening with our Hebrew specialist who will assess whether your child needs any additional help prior to beginning formal B nai Mitzvah preparation. Students needing additional help will come on Wednesday evenings. This tutoring is provided at no cost to the family. However, if a family declines this assistance and the cantor determines that a student does need remedial help the family will need to hire a private tutor. A Learning Tip: We firmly believe that the best way to acquire Hebrew skills is to attend class on a regular basis and to practice Hebrew at home. This should be done three times a week: twice during the week for ten minutes each and once each weekend for twenty minutes.

14 Family Education Programs Gesher : the B nai Mitzvah Bridge B nai Mitzvah is not an event, it is you! Putting Bar/Bat Mitzvah ritual within the context of Jewish practice and wisdom. 14 Beginning in the 4th grade, the Family Education program is designed to help you and your children build a Jewish tool kit so that your family has the core skills and knowledge to be competent and comfortable leading Jewish lives. All of the following activities described are for parents and students to attend together. OVERVIEW The family programs are structured by grade. Fourth grade families participate in two off-site activities. Fifth and sixth grade families have four offerings, each of which falls into one of the following categories: What we do How we celebrate and mark life s milestones What we learn How we connect Each program will be presented two times during the year so that your family can choose which time is best for you. Additionally, you will select one or more of the hands-on programs that we offer. These programs will take place at the temple. Participation in Gesher is an important part of the school curriculum and also a vital component of the bar/bat mitzvah process. DETAILS BY GRADE LEVEL Fourth Grade Setting the Stage Your Jewish Past In fourth grade you and your family participate in trips during the year. Past offerings have included the Jewish Museum and the Tenement Museum in New York, with topics such as stories of Jewish immigrants at the end of the 19th century or archeology and ancient civilizations. Other venues may be included as well. At least three trips will be offered and your family can choose to go on two or more of them.

15 Family Education Programs (continued) 15 Fifth and Sixth Grades B nai Mitzvah the bridge (Gesher) from the past to the future Fifth and sixth grade families will attend each of the three programs designated for that grade. Each program will be offered twice during the year. Additionally, you will select one or more of our hands-on programs. Each grade will also have a social activity. Fifth Grade What we learn Torah: Why is the Torah so central to our people and how did it become the focus of the bar/ bat mitzvah? You and your children will learn the names and descriptions of core Jewish texts and how they have formed the basis for scholarly work. Your family will be introduced to the Chumash (Pentateuch) and learn the significance of rabbinic commentary, Midrash and responsa. The focus of the presentation will be on the five books of the Torah, the division into parashyiot (portions) and the relation of the Haftarah (prophetic readings) to the weekly parsha. The goal of this program is to give you and your children an appreciation for the wealth of Jewish writings and the ongoing dynamic nature of scholarly dialogue that typifies Jewish study. Take Home Materials: Your family will be given a listing of terms used and sample pages of materials referenced including Torah and commentary Torah Related Hands-On Activities: Create a personal Yad (Torah pointer): You and your children will design a yad to use that reflects either the theme of your child s Torah portion or something that is Jewishly meaningful to your child. In addition your family will have the opportunity to learn about why a yad is used and learn about and see examples of this form of hiddur mitzvah (enhancing the commandments). Create a Tallit (prayer shawl): This more challenging workshop will give you and your children an opportunity to create an heirloom tallit. The course takes about 3 to 4 hours and utilizes silk material. Through the use of sophisticated stencils your family can create a magnificent tallit that can be used for your child s bar/bat mitzvah. What we do Mitzvot - Understanding Core Jewish Values of Behavior The Mitzvah Munch- a presentation of the Mitzvah Pathways, the guide to choosing a mitzvah activity for your child s bar/bat mitzvah. Additionally, you and your children will be provided with a description of the scope of mitzvot to better understand what options exist. Take Home Materials- your family will receive the mitzvah pathways materials, a description of the scope of mitzvot and examples of what other students have done.

16 Family Education Programs (continued) 16 Mitzvot-related Hands-On Activities Be the Change. Your family will make a tzedakah box (to collect spare change for charitable giving). The session will focus on the issue of poverty in America and reference data from the organization Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger (an organization that provides grants to food pantries, soup kitchens, etc.). You and the other families will discuss where you want to donate the money collected and decorate the box to reflect your family s tzedakah focus. At the conclusion of the session families will be given materials from Mazon. Volunteer at Interfaith Hospitality Network (a partnership of congregations within our local community helping families who are facing homelessness) and/or Toni s Kitchen (a soup kitchen in Montclair). Families will be given the opportunity to volunteer at either of these locations. You and your children will be asked to fill out a short form reflecting upon your experience. How we celebrate and mark life s milestones Jewish Life Observance and Shabbat The Fifth Grade will have a Shabbat dinner prior to the Friday Erev Shabbat service. Your family will participate in reciting the traditional Shabbat blessings. There will be a discussion about why this observance has been so central to Jewish practice and how it affords families the chance to spend time together. Take Home Materials A guide to Shabbat blessings Observance Related Hand-On Activities L dor v Dor v Door : Your family will make a decorative mezuzah (doorpost prayer case) for your home. During this activity your family will learn why Jewish homes display mezuzot (plural) and what is inside them. You will be given the blessing and directions for hanging the mezuzah in your home. Make a Challah (ritual bread): You and your children will have the chance to braid a challah and learn about the various traditions associated with it around the world and how it relates to different holidays. How We Connect Community The Fifth Grade will participate in a group activity with our Youth Advisor. This activity will have both social and social action components.

17 Family Education Programs (continued) 17 Sixth Grade What we learn Torah- What is a d var Torah? You and your children will analyze a Torah portion using the text as well as other commentary. Your family will work in small groups with other families, using guiding questions. We will then come together as a group and discuss our various perspectives on the portion. Together we will learn how to examine the structure of the parsha. Does it contain multiple stories? If so, are they related? Who are the main actors? What is the critical issue in the parsha? Is there a resolution? Prior to coming your family will be encouraged to look at a G-dcast episode ( to see how it treats a Torah portion. Take Home Materials- families will take home a copy of the portion they reviewed with samples of commentary and additional references to writing a d var Torah. Torah-related Hands-On Activities: Create a personal Yad (Torah pointer): Each child will design a yad to use that reflects either the theme of their Torah portion or something that is Jewishly meaningful to the child. In addition your family will have the opportunity to learn about why a yad is used and learn about and see examples of this form of hiddur mitzvah (enhancing the commandments). Create a Tallit (prayer shawl): This more challenging workshop will give you and your children an opportunity to create an heirloom tallit. The course takes about 3 to 4 hours and utilizes silk material. Through the use of sophisticated stencils your family can create a magnificent tallit that can be used for your child s bar/bat mitzvah. What we do Mitzvot Getting on Maimonides Ladder What does this ethical scheme tell us about Jewish values? You and your children, in groups with other families, will discuss what the responsibilities of Jewish adults are based upon questions raised by the workbook, Repairing my World, the Responsibilities of a Jewish Adult". Take Home Materials- Families will be given selected materials from Repairing My World.

18 Family Education Programs (continued) 18 Mitzvot Related Hands-On Activities Be the Change. Your family will make a tzedakah box (to collect spare change for charitable giving). The session will focus on the issue of poverty in America and reference data from the organization Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger (an organization that provides grants to food pantries, soup kitchens, etc.). You and the other families will discuss where you want to donate the money collected and decorate the box to reflect your family s tzedakah focus. At the conclusion of the session families will be given materials from Mazon. Volunteer at Interfaith Hospitality Network (a partnership of congregations within our local community helping families who are facing homelessness) and/or Toni s Kitchen (a soup kitchen in Montclair). Families will be given the opportunity to volunteer at either of these locations. You and your children will be asked to fill out a short form reflecting upon the experience. How we celebrate and mark life s milestones Jewish Life and Observance Celebrating and Remembering This session will focus on key life cycle rituals birth, weddings and funerals. How is Judaism distinctive in the way it acknowledges these events? What are the special rituals that are traditional and how do they reflect important psychological needs? Observance-related Hands-On Activities How we connect Community L dor v Dor v Door : Your family will make a decorative mezuzah (doorpost prayer case) for your home. During this activity your family will learn why Jewish homes display mezuzot (plural) and what is inside them. You will be given the blessing and directions for hanging the mezuzah in your home. Make a Challah (ritual bread): You and your children will have the chance to braid a challah and learn about the various traditions associated with it around the world and how it relates to different holidays. The Sixth Grade will participate in a group activity with our Youth Advisor. This activity will have both social and social action components.

19 Calendar of Family Education Programs (revised-2/27/15) Month by month (see calendar by grade below) OCTOBER 19(Sun) 10:00 am 6 th grade Mitzvot program (1/2) NOVEMBER 7(Fri)5:30 pm 5 th grade Shabbat dinner(1/2) 9(Sun) 11:00 am Yad workshop 16(Sun) 8:30 am-4 th grade trip to Tenement Museum DECEMBER 3(Wed) 6:00 pm 5 th grade Mitzvah Munch(1/2) 7(Sun) 10:00 am-6 th grade Torah study(1/2) JANUARY 4 (Sun) 10:00 am- Mezuzah workshop 11(Sun) 4 th grade trip to the Jewish Museum 25(Sun)10:00 am 5 th grade Torah study(1/2) FEBRUARY 1(Sun) 10:00 am Tallit workshop 8(Sun) 10:00 am 5 th grade Torah study(2/2) 22(Sun) 6 th grade program Life Cycle program (1/2) 27(Fri) 5 th grade Shabbat dinner(2/2) MARCH 18(Wed) 6:00 pm- 5 th grade Mitzvah Munch (2/2) (Revised) 22(Sun)10:00 am-6 th grade Torah Study(2/2) 28(Sat) 4:00 pm-challah workshop (Revised) 29(Sun) 4 th grade trip to the Tenement Museum APRIL 12(Sun) 10:00 am 6 th grade Life Cycle Program (2/2) MAY 3(Sun) 10:00 am 6 th grade Mitzvot program(2/2) SUMMARY OF PROGRAMS BY GRADE 4 th Grade (please choose at least any two) 11/16(Sun) 8:30 am-4 th grade trip to the Tenement Museum 1/11(Sun) 4 th grade trip to the Jewish Museum 3/29(Sun) 4 th grade trip to the Tenement Museum Note: each of the Tenement Museum trips will have different content 5 th Grade (please choose one of each-shabbat dinner, Mitzvah Munch, Torah Study) 11/7(Fri)5:30 pm 5 th grade Shabbat dinner(1/2) 12/3(Wed) 6:00 pm 5 th grade Mitzvah Munch(1/2) 1/25(Sun)10:00 am 5 th grade Torah study(1/2) 2/8(Sun) 10:00 am 5 th grade Torah study(2/2) 2/27(Fri) 5 th grade Shabbat dinner(2/2) 3/18(Wed) 6:00 pm- 5 th grade Mitzvah Munch(2/2) (Revised) 6 th Grade (please choose one of each-life Cycle, Torah Study, Mitzvot) 10/19(Sun) 10:00 am Sixth grade Mitzvot program(1/1) 12/7(Sun) 10:00 am-6 th grade Torah study(1/1) 2/22(Sun) 6 th grade Life Cycle program(1/1) 3/22(Sun)10:00 am-6 th grade Torah study(2/2) 4/12(Sun) 10:00 am 6 th grade Life Cycle program(2/2) 5/3(Sun) 10:00 am 6 th grade Mitzvot program(2/2) 5 th -6 th Grade-Hands-on sessions (please choose at least one) 11/9(Sun) 11:00 am Yad workshop 1/4 (Sun) 10:00 am- Mezuzah workshop 2/1(Sun) 10:00 am Tallit workshop 3/28(Sat) 4:00 pm- Challah workshop (Revised)

20 Our Jewish Youth Journey at TSWE 20

21 Our Post B nai Mitzvah Youth Community 21 7th and 8th Grade Program Highlights Become a Leader: What does it take to be a leader? Discover your leadership style and how to make it work for you. Explore the great leaders in the Jewish world. Who do you strive to be like? Serve your Temple Sholom Community: Be a madrich (teacher s assistant) in the school Engage the children at Tot Traditions Usher at family and Tot Shabbat Services Assist the Youth Program Director with children s programs Help start a basketball night Volunteer in the building Be a part of the Purim Carnival Team The above are just some of the ways you can apply your leadership skills with your classmates. Pay It Forward Beyond the Temple Doors: Tikkun Olam: As Jews we are commanded throughout our lives to repair the world. Learn from the Jewish Teen Funders Network to: Discover what it takes to work as a successful team. Choose a project to fund. Learn how to develop and present a proposal with a budget. Make that project happen! Each grade meets twice a month with the Youth Programs Director. Dinner included. Junior Youth Group: 7th-8th graders are also invited to connect with their Jewish peers by attending social events run by the Youth Programs Director.

22 Our Post B nai Mitzvah Youth Community (cont.) 22 TaSTY Youth Group 9th - 12th Grade The best aspect of TaSTY is its leadership the TEENS! TaSTY trips, scavenger hunts, holiday celebrations and more are planned by its officers and members. Through TaSTY, youth groupers have the opportunity to participate in more programs with NFTY-GER, the regional Reform movement. The TaSTY Youth Group will also serve the Temple and the local community and thus act on Tikkun Olam: Repair the World. They will develop an understanding of how their actions reflect Jewish teachings and will continue to build their leaderships skills developed during 7th- 8th grades. All 9th-12th graders are invited to participate in TaSTY programs for part of a year, the whole year, and even if they ve missed a year. It s never too late to: Develop team building skills. Sharpen your decision-making abilities. Act on the causes you believe in. Make friends and/or deepen friendships. TaSTY Officers and members communicate on-line and come together as needed to pursue their objectives under the supervision of the Youth Programs Director Confirmation 10th-12th Grade Confirmation Class, 10th grade Want a more advanced study of the core concepts of Judaism and how they relate to your life? Be Confirmed! Participate with Rabbi and Naomi Patz on a possible class trip to Prague and Amsterdam over President s week to explore the Jewish people in the Shoah (Holocaust) and throughout history. (TBD annually) Under Rabbi Groffman s guidance, you will meet twice a month to: Study the Holocaust. Explore issues relating to the formation of your identity. Discuss the weekly Torah portion each session, using G-d cast, engaging short animated videos. Create, as a class, your own Confirmation service. Participate with Rabbi Emeritus Norman and Naomi Patz on a possible class trip to Prague and Amsterdam over President s week to explore the Jewish people in the Shoah (Holocaust) and throughout history. (TBD annually)

23 Our Post B nai Mitzvah Youth Community (cont.) 23 Post Confirmation, Grades 11 & 12 Rabbi Groffman will lead several sessions over these two years on Preparing For College Jewish Style. The goal of these sessions is to help parents and students think about how their Jewish identity can play a part in selecting a college and how being Jewish can impact their time at college. Some of the sessions will be for students only, while some will involve parents as well. Madrichim/Teaching Assistants, Grades 9th 12th Top Reasons for Becoming a Classroom Aide: 1. Little kids think you are very cool. 2. You have responsibility allowing for LOTS of fun projects 3. You get lots of hugs. 4. The teachers think you are very cool. 5. Sometimes you get to play with crayons and clay. 6. It looks great on a college transcript. 7. YOU GET PAID!!!!

24 Online Hebrew Homework 24 Our Hebrew curriculum for grades 3-4 uses the Behrman House Online Learning Center ( as a resource for homework and practice. This website allows students to access their homework assignments directly from the site and to practice the classroom material wherever they have internet access (regardless of where they left their book). Our teachers will be able to track students progress automatically through the OLC. Students and teachers can communicate through posts on the site. Each child will need a dedicated address to register on the Behrman House site (siblings cannot use the same address to register). Once registered, your child will receive an invitation to join the virtual class or classes that are appropriate to their grade. From there they will have unlimited access to a world of Hebrew letters, vowels, and prayers!!! Students in grades 5-6 will practice with various online sources. Students preparing for Bar/Bat Mitzvah can download recordings of the prayers for practice. These prayers can be accessed through links in our weekly (see below) or on the Temple Sholom website. ( ) Weekly (and why you should read it) The Religious School sends out a weekly to keep families informed and increase the communication between school and home. The weekly includes upcoming events such as Family Programs, pasta dinners, and early Shabbat services. In addition, the features current Jewish community events and interesting links.

25 25 B nai Mitzvah Meetings CLASS OF 2016 STAY TUNED FOR MEETING DATES FOR SPRING OF 2015 The Saturday morning programs begin at 9:15 am. Cantor Epstein will distribute a copy of the B nai Mitzvah service and review how the service runs. Families then move into the sanctuary to attend that day s Bar/Bat Mitzvah service, which brings to life everything just studied with the Cantor. Following the service, families will meet with Rabbi Groffman and Rachel Sesser to further understand the meaning of Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Mitzvah Pathways. Please remember you will be attending a service and therefore should be properly attired. The program should conclude by 12:30. A reminder: these programs are a required part of the B nai Mitzvah preparation. Parents and students are expected to attend together. If you cannot come to the same session please make sure that you come to another session separately. The Shabbat morning meetings are in addition to the technical meetings that take place 1) upon receiving your child s Bar/Bat Mitzvah date and 2) months in advance of that date. Tzedakah (collecting charitable funds) Hillel used to say: The more tzedakah, the more shalom. Please help your child practice the mitzvah of tzedakah. Each week in class we collect tzedakah.

26 Shabbat Attendance 26 SHABBAT SERVICE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS All students in grades 1-6 are required to attend Shabbat services in order to experience Shabbat with the TSWE community and become familiar with our service. Each child s requirement is equal to their grade level. For example, 1st graders are required to attend 1 Shabbat service per year, 2nd graders 2 services, etc. The first Friday of each month is our Family Service. The service has a 6:30pm start time and is more student friendly but is not a tot Shabbat (see the temple website for those programs). Of course, all families are welcome at our 8:00 pm service during the rest of the month. High Holiday services are not considered toward completion of the requirement. Even more than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews. Brotherhood/ Religious School Dinners TSWE Brotherhood regularly sponsors a free pasta dinner following Religious School classes. This is a fun way to socialize with other families and you don t have to cook dinner!! You have the option of sponsoring a dinner for a special occasion, such as your child s birthday, etc. MEET YOUR CHILD S TEACHERS AT THE FIRST PASTA DINNERS OF THE YEAR! (see calendar) Check our weekly for the dates!

27 Progress Reports Students will be formally evaluated two times during the year. Parents of all Religious School students will receive written progress reports by mail twice a year. In addition parents of students in grades 4, 5, and 6 will receive ongoing updates regarding their child s Hebrew progress. Teachers in all grades will send a weekly update of class activities. Do not hesitate to contact the teacher or the Educational Director if any questions arise. 27 School Closings Whenever inclement weather forces the cancellation or early dismissal of classes in the Cedar Grove and/or West Essex Regional Schools, the Religious School will also be closed. In these cases an will be sent to all families. You may also verify with the Temple office after 1 PM at (973) Closings will additionally be posted to Texts and Supplies Your child will be given text books at the beginning of the year. If your child needs to bring them home for homework please be sure to send them back to class the next time. If a textbook is lost, a fee will be charged. Students should come to school ready to work this means that they should come with a pen, pencil, a notebook, if necessary, and any other materials the teacher has requested.

28 Appendix A Attendance Policy 28 Because Religious School meets only two hours a week, punctuality and regular attendance are critical to a meaningful Jewish education. Children are expected to attend school and all required activities on a regular basis to ensure that they complete the grade s work. Only illness and lifecycle events in the family are considered excused absences. All other absences are considered unexcused absences. It is the responsibility of the Parent or Guardian to insure that the student regularly attends the religious school sessions. Students may have a maximum of three unexcused absences a year. Leaving early or Excessive absences may result in your child s Bar/ Bat Mitzvah being delayed to a future date. If a child is going to be absent from a religious school session, it is the parent s obligation to contact the temple office. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the information above, please feel free to discuss them with Rachel Sesser.

29 29 Appendix B- Discipline Policy Philosophy We believe that each individual should have the following rights: 1. The right to learn without interference from others. 2. The right to work with students and teachers in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. 3. The right to have one s personal property respected by others. 4. The right to be protected from physical harm. Expectations of Behavior - Do not unto another that which is hateful to yourself, taught Rabbi Hillel as noted in the Talmud, Shabbat 31a. As this is the basis of our discipline policy, we ask all of our parents, students and teachers to work together to support these expectations: 1. Students will be ready to participate in class activities. 2. Students will not disrupt any other student s participation in class activities. 3. Students will not touch other students in a manner that could be considered offensive or disruptive or use language that could be considered offensive or disruptive. 4. Students will not abuse the property of Temple Sholom or the facility, itself. 5. Students will behave in accordance with the spirituality of our sanctuary at all times. The sanctuary is not to be used as a passageway to other rooms of our facility. Such items as skateboard, in-line skates, or sport cleats will not be permitted in that room at any time for any reason. 6. Students will remain on campus at all times, from the time they are dropped off until the time they are picked up. This means they cannot leave the school grounds at any time. If a student is discovered leaving the campus, parents will be notified immediately.

30 Appendix B- Discipline Policy (continued) To ensure these expectations are achieved, the following regulations will be enforced: Classroom standards will be established by the Education Director and the teacher in conjunction with students on the first day of school. 30 The following are prohibited: rudeness, stealing, vandalism, dishonesty, profanity and vulgarity, and fighting. Discipline Procedure In a situation where a particular student is unable to comply with the stated policies, the teacher and Education Director may enact the following procedures: 1. If there are consistent violations of the berit hakitah (classroom standards), the teacher will confer with the student and a written notice of the infraction will be mailed home. 2. If infractions continue, the Education Director will confer with the teacher and the student and parents will be informed in writing. 3. If there are further problems, parents will be called for a conference with the teacher, the Education Director, and/or the Rabbi to determine further action which may include any or all of the following: Parents may be required to be on premises during school hours; The student may be removed from the classroom for a specified period of time; The student may be suspended for a period of time until homework study assignments are completed satisfactorily or until behavior improves; Parents, school representatives, and the student may confer to determine appropriate arrangements. In the case of suspension from the Religious School: The Religious School Committee will monitor actions of all suspended students to determine if readmission is possible after a prescribed time. In extreme or unusual circumstances, the preceding sequence may be suspended and other action may be taken at the discretion of the Education Director, the Rabbi, and/or the Religious School Committee.

31 Reading List for Raising Jewish Children 31