Sylvia F. Lodish Religious School Parent Handbook 2017-2018 / 5778 1001 Remington Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096 610-896-8507 www.tbhbe.org
Table of Content Page 2 Table of Contents; Administrative Details Page 3 Vision Statement; Guiding Principals; Statement of Diversity Page 4 Statement of Inclusion; Integrated Classrooms/Differentiated Education; Tikvah Classroom; Audrey Perlman, Coordinator for Student Success Page 5 Schedule; Shabbat School; Adult Education on Shabbat Page 6 Communications; Policies Page 7 Policies (continued); Parent Involvement Page 8 Special Programs Page 9 Special programs (continued) Page 10 Bar / Bat Mitzvah Page 11 LMAHH; Confirmation Page 12 Youth Groups Page 13 School Supplies; Homework; Hebrew; Tzedakah; Theme of the Year Page 14 Code of Conduct Page 15 Religious School Staff Page 16-18 Staff Bios and Pictures Pages 19/20 Religious School Calendar 5778 Education Office Hours Sunday 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Monday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Rabbi Israel s Day Off) Administrative Details Arrival/ Dismissal: Michele Billing Questions: Michele Who Should I Ask When I Need Tuesday 8:45 AM - 6:00 PM Curriculum: Teacher / Rabbi Israel Wednesday 8:45 AM - 6:30 PM Schedule / Program: Michele / Rabbi Israel Thursday 8:45 AM - 6:00 PM Discipline/Behavior Issues: Teacher/ Audrey Perlman/ Rabbi Israel Friday 8:45 AM - 3:30 PM Scholarship Information: Ken Krivitzky / Rabbi Israel School Phone Number 610-896-8507 www.tbhbe.org Rabbi Marc Israel, Associate Rabbi Ext. 128 misrael@tbhbe.org Michele Stulman, Communication and School Coordinator Ext. 103 Audrey Perlman, Coordinator for Student Success mstulman@tbhbe.org aperlman@tbhbe.org * Please make an appointment if you need to see any of the school administrators to be sure they are available. Email is our primary use of communication; please email us with any questions or concerns. 2
Vision Statement Our Religious School aims to develop a community of children and families who have the skills, knowledge and inspiration to be active members of the Jewish community. Guiding Principals Our outstanding faculty consists of experienced teachers who have the education and passion to help Judaism come alive for their students, making our ancient tradition relevant for the lives of our 21st century American Jewish children. Our program is guided by the following values: Ahavat Torah - Inspiring a love of learning and a positive Jewish identity. Ahavat Yisrael/Ahavat Hab riot - Instilling a sense of responsibility for the Jewish people and for all humanity. Beit Haknessest - Developing the skills and comfort to participate in synagogue life. Emunah - Nurturing a sense of awe and wonder, connected to belief in God. Eretz Yisrael Fostering a love of and commitment to the Land and People of Israel. Kehillah Creating a sense of belonging within our synagogue and the broader community at large, where each person is valued for who s/he is. Talmud Torah/Shmirat Mitzvot - Cultivating knowledge and observance of Jewish practice at home and in our student s lives. Tikkun Olam - Acting on our Jewish responsibility to improve the world around us. Statement of Diversity At Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El, we strive to create an atmosphere where all families are welcome. Our Board of Directors works to ensure that our constitution, by-laws and policies reflect this attitude, by including non-jewish spouses as members; providing opportunities for non-jewish members to participate in life-cycle celebrations during services in meaningful and appropriate ways; and, most recently, recognizing same-sex marriages. In our schools, we work to ensure that our faculty, administrators, staff, parents and students are sensitive in their language and their deeds to ensure that everyone is respected for who they are. The TBH-BE community includes interfaith families as well as families with non-jewish grandparents or other relatives. We work to ensure that the language in our schools is respectful towards the traditions of non-jewish relatives, while clearly teaching about the distinctive aspects of Jewish traditions and celebrations. 3
Statement of Inclusion We believe that providing a Jewish education to students of diverse needs is a mitzvah (a sacred responsibility). We welcome all Jewish children into our school, and work with families to try to meet the needs of children with a wide range of cognitive, behavioral, social and physical challenges. We work with our families to make a meaningful Jewish education possible for each child. Our religious school hires outstanding teachers who have the experience, knowledge, and skills to connect with our children and help them grow into active members of our Jewish Community. We also provide additional training for our teachers on a regular basis. School enrichment includes school-wide celebrations, Shabbat services, family education programs, music, Israeli dancing, trope lessons, chuggim (electives), and much more. Integrated Classrooms/Differentiated Education With a little extra support many students are able to succeed in our classrooms. In addition to Audrey Perlman and our teachers, we hire several teen madrichim (aides) who are trained through the Jewish Learning Venture s TAP program. This program prepares teens to be aides for children with disabilities. All of our students are taught Hebrew reading in differentiated levels, allowing each child to progress at his/her own rate. While most work is done in small groups, we also provide one-on-one assistance, when appropriate. We welcome students who have state funded assistants to bring them to our classrooms. Tikvah Classroom Our Tikvah program is designed for children whose needs are best met with a higher level of tailored attention in a separate classroom. The teacher to student ratio in this class is 1:2. Our Tikvah class joins with other classes for music, dance and prayer. The curriculum is designed to be engaging and interactive, and the space is warm and inviting. We currently serve students in grades K 2 and look forward to expanding as enrollment increases. Audrey Perlman, Coordinator for Student Success We developed this position to ensure that each of our children has the tools to succeed. The coordinator uses our resources to achieve our statement of inclusion. In the fall of 2016, Audrey Perlman was hired to be our first Coordinator for Student Success. She works with students who have identified differences as well as children who may simply be having a tough day. She also assists our faculty in determining the best strategies to help all of our children reach their full potential. Audrey is often the first point of contact with parents. 4
Schedule Kindergarten -1st Grade: Sun. 9:00am -12:20pm 2nd 7th Grades: Sun. 9:00am-12:20pm Wed. 4:10pm -6:20pm Shabbat School (monthly): Sat. 9:15am -12:10pm Tikvah: Sun. 9:00am -10:30am Sat. 9:15-10:45am Don t Drop Off Drop In! Adult Education on Shabbat 8:45 AM Mishneh Torah Study Group with Rabbi Cooper 9:15 AM Coffee & Snacks 9:15 AM Babysitting 9:25 AM Torah/ Discussion with Rabbi Israel; no experience necessary 9:30 AM Services led by Rabbi Cooper or Rabbi Israel and Hazzan Rosner, Main Sanctuary 9:30 AM Lay-Led Service, Holocaust Memorial Chapel (most weeks) 11:00 AM Tot Shabbat for parents with children 2-5 yrs. old. We welcome you to join your child at Youth Services, Junior Congregation or Family Services when held. Your child is welcome to join you in the Main Sanctuary or Lay-Led Service. Please be sure that your child remains with you in the pews or chairs, is following along in the siddur and does not take extended breaks in the halls. Shabbat (Saturday) School Once a month, all students come on Shabbat (Saturday) morning instead of Sunday. During Shabbat School, students study the weekly Torah portion, participate in Shabbat services and take part in other Shabbat-related activities. Parents are strongly encouraged to stay and take part in one of our adult education offerings or our Shabbat morning service. We hope your dugma ishit (personal example) will teach your children the importance you place on Jewish study and prayer. Families find that attending Friday night and Shabbat morning services regularly helps to: Deepen their own celebration of Shabbat Connect to the Temple Beth Hillel - Beth El community Create more meaningful moments at their own family celebrations (baby namings, bar/ bat mitzvahs, etc.) Dates for Shabbat School 2017 2018 5778 September 9th December 16th March 17th October 21st January 13th April 14th November 11th February 10th May 12th Dress Code is Shabbat Casual Girls - dresses, skirt or slacks and top Boys - slacks with a solid top, button down or sweater * Please Do Not Wear: jeans, sweatpants, shirts with logos or writing. Shabbat School Schedule The following is our typical Shabbat schedule; check the weekly email for changes. 9:15 AM Each grade meets in assigned classrooms Kitah Gan / Aleph (K-1) 10:05 AM Torah processional - Sanctuary 10:20 AM Youth Shabbat Service in Library 11:15 AM Classrooms Kitah Bet / Gimel (2-3) 10:30 AM Youth Services, Coslov Auditorium 11:15 AM Torah recessional, Sanctuary 11:30 AM Classroom Kitah Dalet / Hey ( 4-5) 10:45 AM Youth Service, YAC 11:45 AM End of Services, Sanctuary Kitah Vav / Zayin (6-7) Students will attend services in the Sanctuary at various times to learn all parts of the Shabbat morning service. Pick Up 12:10 PM in the Coslov Auditorium Please use our carpool lane or park in the lot and enter the building through the Coslov Auditorium. Parents who attend services must pick up their child(ren) in the Coslov Auditorium before going to Kiddush. 5
Communications Email is our primary use of communication. Please be sure that all parents/ guardians who want to receive information about our programs have an updated email address in your shul cloud account as well as an updated phone number in case of emergency. Emails Home Once a week you will receive an email with specific information about Religious School. At least twice a month you will receive an email from your child s teacher with information specific to your child s class. Once a week you will receive the synagogue E-Highlights with updates about events in the synagogue and our youth programs. Once a month you will also receive the synagogue newsletter, The Pharisee, with articles about schools and youth programs. Download our TBH-BE app from the Apple or Android App Store; this has the synagogue directory, access to the calendar and easy event sign-up. In November your child s teacher will call to discuss their progress and to answer any question or concerns. Report Cards will be sent home after the Fall semester (late January) and after the Spring semester (mid June). Inclement Weather Policies We will use email, our website, our voicemail and KYW to communicate any cancellations due to snow or other weather related events. Closing will be determined by 7:30 AM on Sundays, 1:00 PM on weekdays, 3:00 PM on Friday for Shabbat School. Our snow number on KYW is 273 in Montgomery County. At all times, the safety of our students and our families is our foremost concern. If school is open and you do not feel you can arrive safely, please use your best judgement. Security Your child s safety and security are our foremost concerns. We work to ensure that access is limited to the classroom areas at all times when school is in session. Kippot All boys are required to wear a kippah at all times when in the synagogue. Girls are strongly encouraged to wear kippot or other appropriate head-covering. Cell Phones and Electronics Cell phones and electronic devices are not permitted to be used during Religious School class time, except when a teacher has indicated that they are needed for educational purposes. Students who carry cell phones must keep them off and put away. Parents who need to contact their child(ren) must do so by calling the school office. Students who do not adhere to this policy will have their phones confiscated until the end of the school day. 6
Policies (continued) Food, Kashrut and Food Allergies All food at Religious School must have acceptable Kashrut certification. Food must be packaged and have a kosher symbol on it. Baked items may be purchased from a local kosher bakery. Due to food allergies, we will no longer serve any food to a class unless we have 48 hours advanced notice with a picture of the ingredients. Kosher Bakeries: Wynnewood Giant, Narberth Acme, Bestcake, Buy The Dozen, The Dairy Café, New York Bagels, Viking, Entemanns and Tastycake Attendance Regular and prompt attendance is required. Please use the religious school calendar to plan outside activities. If your child will be absent or leaving school early, please contact our office via email. We do not dismiss in the last 15 minutes of class. Parents who are more than 5 minutes late for dismissal will be charged a $25.00 late fee. Drop Off is in the Main Lobby. Pick Up is in the Coslov Auditorium. Parents can drive through the circle or park in the lot and walk up to the stairs closest to the classroom building There is NO Parking, texting or use of hand - held devices in the circle / carpool lane. Visitors or Friends are only permitted to join for the day with prior permission from Rabbi Israel K U Home Religious School Association (HRSA) and Room Parents Our HRSA helps facilitate parent involvement in our school programs. We ask for 1-2 Room Parents in each class to work with our co-chairs to plan programs and arrange for parent volunteers at school wide holiday events. The HRSA and Room Parents assist in the annual class Shabbat dinner and program. Andy Gavrin andygavrin@gmail.com Amy Botel amybotel@gmail.com Erika Bauml erika.bauml@gmail.com Religious School Committee Religious School Committee helps to oversee curriculum, programming and school related issues. Interested in becoming a member of the Religious School committees? Parent Involvement Please contact: Aimee Prange abprange@gmail.com Parent Visitation Parents are always welcome to visit their child s Religious School class, but we ask that you arrange such visits with Rabbi Israel in advance. Upon arrival parents must check in at the school office to get a visitor tag. From there, they will be escorted to their child s class. Scholarships and Subsidies Families who have a hardship paying Religious School Tuition and or Youth Group dues should contact Rabbi Israel or Ken Krivitzky. Please know that the synagogue is committed to your child s Jewish education and identity and will work with you to ensure that finances never prevent a child from attending. 7
Chugim (Clubs) Twice this year students will be given a choice of activities designed to engage students. We ask students to indicate their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices. Students who do not will get their top choice in the Fall will have top priority in the Spring. This year, our chugim will focus on out theme of Israel 70. Many chugim will perform or have the opportunity to share their accomplishments with their parents and/ or others in the community, on our final day of school, June 3. Chugim will take place on Sundays form 11:35-12:20 PM. Fall session begins Oct. 29 and Spring begins Jan. 21. Special Programs Israeli Dancing We now have an Israeli dance chug with Rok Don. In addition, several times a year we enjoy to learn about Israeli culture, reinforce our Hebrew skills and building community through Israeli dance. Please ensure your child(ren) understand that this is a regular part of our program and their full participation is expected. Field Trips Our 5th, 6th, and 7th grades have several field trips each year. Kindergarten to 4th grades may have an occasional field trip. Parents will be notified in advance of any field trips/ plans. If your child is not participating please let us know ahead of time. Please make sure to arrive on time; we can not hold up the bus. Times for pick up may differ from our regular dismissal time. Parent chaperones are often welcome to attend. Please let your child s teacher know if you plan to join. Music / Choir Each class will have music class once a week. Like Israeli dance we expect all students to participate. Our music class helps reinforce the prayers we learn in class and prepare us for upcoming holidays. Our youth choir is thriving and welcomes new members, please make sure she/ he understands that this is a serious commitment. Specific parts are assigned to each child for scheduled performances. Requirements Each child must attend choir practice regularly Each child must follow behavior rules Each child must inform the director if they will miss a performance. Rehearsals are generally 6:00-6:20 PM on Wednesdays. Please contact Shirley Cohen for more information. Shabbat Class Dinners Each class, Gan - Vav will have a Shabbat service and dinner during the year. Students help lead prayers in the Friday evening service and join with family and friends for dinner and a program afterwards. The grade dinners also include students from our synagogue who attend Perelman Jewish Day School and Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy. We will request for volunteers to help coordinate these events. Dates: Kindergarten Gift of Torah Friday, Ocotber 27 1st Grade Dinner Friday, November 17 2nd Grade Dinner Friday, March 16 3rd Grade Dinner Friday, May 11 4th Grade Havdalah Saturday, January 20 5th Grade Dinner Friday, January 26 6th Grade Dinner Friday, April 13 8
Etgar Yesodi: New Kitah Dalet and Hey (4 th and 5 th Grade) Curriculum With new faculty beginning, this year was an ideal time to adopt a curriculum that has been created over the past 5 years. Called Etgar Yesodi, this curriculum was created under the auspices of the Melton Research Center for Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. The curriculum emphasizes learning through Personal Reflection, Experiential Learning, and Project Based Learning, with an emphasis on activities based on Multiple Intelligences: Art, Music, Drama, Reading, Writing, Kinesthetic Activities. It also encourages a strong Home/Family Connection. In Kitah Dalet (4 th Grade) we will have units on: My Roots, My Memories My Beginning, My Name My Blessings In Kitah Hey (5 th Grade), we will have units on: Special Programs (continued) Developing Our Classroom Community Creating Our Sacred Spaces Living Our Values Together Connecting Our Communities Through Poetry and Song Improving My Friendships Sharing My Talents with Others Developing My Relationship with God A Modern Look at Our Ancient Home Our Responsibility Toward Others Our Dinner Party Across Time This curriculum is the prequel to the Project Etgar curriculum that we utilize in Kitah Vav and Zayin (6 th and 7 th grade) and therefore prepares our students well for the upcoming years. Havayah: A Jewish Community Experience in Philadelphia (5 th and 6 th Graders) This curriculum, designed especially for 5 th graders (with a continuation into 6 th grade), is a program designed by Gratz College and Jewish Learning Ventures, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. It provides our students with the opportunity to make new friends and experience Jewish learning in a whole new way. Here s what you can expect for Kitah Hey (5 th Grade): Havayah Learning Time: We will be utilizing the Havayah curriculum in our classrooms. Havayah Gathering Days: Four Sundays of the year, our 5 th graders will meet with the other Philadelphia congregations participating in the program for camp-like experiences, where they will put their projects to work and participate in teams to help them meet kids from other local congregations. Busses will be provided for all events outside of the Main Line. These Mifgashim programs will take place this Sunday, September 17 th, December 10 th, March 11 th and May 6 th. Sacred Space and Time: The theme of the Havayah will be Sacred Space and Sacred Time. We will help the students explore what sacredness means and how to create sacred moments in their own lives. This theme fits perfectly with our Etgar Yesodi curriculum, which will allow us to adapt the best resources from both to create a meaningful experience for our 5 th Graders. The 6 th grade curriculum builds off of the student s experience from last year and will include one Mifgash (city-wide gathering) on January 21 st. 9
Requirements Bar / Bat Mitzvah Your child must be currently enrolled in our Religious School and fulfill its requirements satisfactorily or attend Jewish Day School. Families who join Temple Beth Hillel - Beth El after their child(ren) are past the age of Bet (2nd grade) or have other special considerations must speak with Rabbi Israel to ensure that the child meets our educational requirements. All children should attend Shabbat morning services regularly, in keeping with our school attendance expectations. The more comfortable the child and family are with the service, the more meaningful a bar/ bat mitzvah will be. By Fall of seventh grade, all boys are expected, and all girls are encouraged, to own their own tefillin. Students must complete a minimum of 13 hours on their mitzvah project. Families must be in good financial standing with the congregation prior to the Bar / Bat Mitzvah date. Process The Bar/ Bat Mitzvah Committee holds a meeting in the winter each year to explain the Bar/ Bat Mitzvah process to parents prior to the assignment of dates. Dates are assigned approximately three years in advance, so this meeting is for parents of fourth graders. The Bar/ Bat Mitzvah Handbook is distributed at this time. Through a program called Journey to Bar and Bat Mitzvah and Beyond programs are held for parents and B nai Mitzvah. These programs are designed to prepare both the student and their parents for this important milestone. It is a time to help our children understand the greater context of what becoming a Bar/ Bat Mitzvah truly means. Mitzvah Project Orientation This meeting is held in the spring of fifth grade. Students and their parents are introduced to the concept of becoming B nai Mitzvah and the implications of being commanded. Mitzvah Project requirements are reviewed. Tefillin Workshop In the winter of the sixth grade, we begin to introduce the mitzvah of tefillin to our Religious School students in conjunction with the Men s Club World Wide Wrap program. Students will have an opportunity to practice putting on tefillin, learn the meaning of tefillin and how they are made. D var Torah Workshop In February of the sixth grade, one of the rabbis leads a session with parents and students about preparing the D var Torah - the lesson (sometimes referred to as a speech ) that each child will give as a part of his/ her service. Individual instruction Approximately a year in advance of the Bar / Bat Mitzvah, Hazzan Rosner will reach out to you to establish expectations for the particular Torah, Haftorah and other prayers your child will lead. Together you will set a schedule for individual instruction which occurs weekly for 30 minutes each. Please adhere to the set schedule and call Hazzan Rosner with any changes. 10
LMAHH Schedule Sunday 9:45 AM - 12:45 PM Tuesday 6:30-8:30 PM Experiential Jewish Opportunities Leadership Teacher Training Text Study History Social Studies Community Programs The Lower Merion Area Hebrew High (LMAHH) was created to provide a weekly Jewish learning experience for students in grades 8-12, bringing teens from many synagogues (or no synagogue) together under one consolidated program. Joining together to create a positive social atmosphere for all students involved, we are also able to provide our students with a diversity of viewpoints from educators and rabbis across the Main Line and beyond. This program has been developed by the four Conservative synagogues in the area - Adath Israel, Congregation Beth Am Israel, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El and Har Zion Temple and is open to other interested congregations, as well as teens who are not currently members of a synagogue. Confirmation While Bar/ Bat Mitzvah marks a personal status in Judaism with an emphasis on the individual, Confirmation marks the completion of a course of study as a class, with a group celebration. Confirmation is celebrated each year on or near Shavuot with participation in a service led by the class and followed by a celebratory kiddush. Students are assigned parts in the service, deliver a brief teaching, and confirm their commitment to the Jewish People. Requirements Students must complete grade 9 at TBH-BE, or complete grade 9 in a Jewish Day School Confirmation Class meets weekly during the spring semester of 10th grade. Students who attend Gratz or Barrack must attend 2-3 separate classes with the Rabbis and Hazzan. The Confirmation Class takes a trip to Israel in December. Class Photo & Class Gift The Class will have a formal photograph taken and families may want to present the Congregation with a gift. Any gift should be coordinated with Ken Krivitzky, Executive Director. 11
Youth Groups The Youth Department at Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El includes overall programming, as well as activities for four age-specific groups. Activities are planned by our Youth Director, under the supervision of our Associate Rabbi, and are overseen by our Youth Committee. Bonim (Grades 1-4) This group offers one joint activity per month for our grade school children to become involved in synagogue activities. Activities may include lunch and a program or a trip on a Sunday afternoon or a holiday celebration. Past activities have included pottery painting, outings to movies, shows, and museums, and a shabbaton - a Shabbat sleepover in the synagogue! Kadima Collaborative (Grades 5-7) Run jointly with Adath Israel and Har Zion The theme of our middle-school group is building friendships. This is the age when developmentally children begin to rely more on their peers for support and approval. We encourage healthy peer relationships and socialization within a Jewish context. Many Kadima activities support the Religious School and Perelman Jewish Day School curriculums. USY (Grades 8-12) USY is a great way for our teens to connect socially with others in the congregation and at other synagogues. Each month there is a chapter program, a regional program, and a board meeting. Being a member of the USY board is a great way to develop leadership skills. Help build our chapter and encourage your teen to be active in USY. Affiliations Our Kadima and USY chapters are affiliated with HaGesher Delaware Valley Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. This is a network of over 20 Conservative synagogue youth programs that allow our middle and high school children to meet hundreds of Jewish youth through regional programming. Membership Membership in all of our youth groups is open to any Jewish child. For Kadima and USY, only members may attend regional activities and summer programs. Not every child will be able to participate in every activity of his/her age-appropriate youth group. However, registering for youth groups is a great way to help us engage your child in the synagogue programs. Dues Bonim (Grades 1-4):$18.00 Kadima (Grades 5-7): $24.00 USY (Grades 8* -12): $40.00 (includes regional and international dues) TBH-BE 8th Graders receive USY membership as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah gift from the Sisterhood. 12
Notebook School Supplies Text books / workbooks per class Pens / Pencils Please note that most textbooks and workbooks will be kept at school for convenience; however at times books may be sent home to complete an assignment. When books are sent home please make sure that the books are returned at the next class. Homework Homework assignments are designed to reinforce Hebrew reading and prayer fluency. Teachers will assign prayer goals and other exercises designed to complement the classroom curriculum. Prayer Tech will be used at home to complete assignments. You will receive a user name and password in the Fall. Hebrew Hebrew plays a prominent role in our school. In addition to our historic ties to our lashon hakodesh (special language), the ability to read and follow along in a service is a key tool to for our children as they grow into adulthood and to feel comfortable in the Jewish community. We focus on the ability to accurately pronounce words, help students develop a basic prayer vocabulary and to better understand our prayers. Music and other active learning techniques are used to reinforce Hebrew learning and to provide an element of Modern Hebrew. Our teachers are expected to call each child by their Hebrew name. Please make sure that your child knows his/ her Hebrew name. If your child does not have a Hebrew name please contact Rabbi Israel or Rabbi Cooper to choose one. Tzedakah We ask children to bring small change to give tzedakah each day (except on Shabbat). At the beginning of the year each class will select an organization to allocate their funds. In addition, at various times of the year we may designate tzedakah funds to go to a special cause. Israel 70 Theme for the Year This year our theme celebrates the 70th anniversary of our State of Israel. There will be activities and events throughout the year to emphasize our Israel 70 theme, with cultural activities and learning events about Israel s history and current state. The synagogue will be holding a variety of Israel 70 themed activities which can be found on our website calendar. 13
Code of Conduct Behavior in the synagogue and Religious School should reflect the Jewish values we are teaching and imparting to our youngsters. We place high value on building a קהילה קדושה kehillah k doshah - a holy community), in which each individual is treated with kavodכבוד - honor and respect). To מידות achieve this, we expect all members of the community to act according to the following middot - Jewish values): Middot for Being a Mensch B tzelem Elokim - Created in God s Image: We recognize that our Creator has made each one of בצלם אלקים us with our own unique talents and challenges. We show respect towards every person with whom we interact, including other students in the school, our teachers, the synagogue staff and other people in the building. We do not permit bullying or other forms of exclusionary behavior. Kavod HaMakom - Respecting the Building: We recognize that the synagogue is a special place כבוד המקום where we do our best to live up to our ideal values. Therefore, we are especially careful with how we treat the building, its hallways and our classrooms. We recognize that we share our space with others and treat others property with due respect. Talmud Torah - Study: We create an atmosphere in which learning is valued. Therefore, we תלמוד תורה participate actively in classroom activities and discussions, complete all assignments to the best of our ability and encourage our classmates to achieve their best. K doshahקדושה - Sanctity: We instill awareness of God s presence and show appreciation for beauty and wonder in the world. We are careful to show respect when we are engaged in t fillah (prayer) and studying Torah, and when we enter the chapel or sanctuary. Emet -Truthfulness: We always tell the truth, recognizing that mistakes we might make will be easily אמת forgiven, but lying betrays our relationship with one another. Tzedek - Righteousness: We strive towards justice in every situation. This includes working to make our world צדק a better place, listening carefully to all sides of a story when conflict arises, and giving each person the benefit of the doubt. Sh mirat HaLashon - Watching our Words: We are careful with the words we use recognizing that שמירת הלשון our language is a reflection of who we are. Therefore, we do not call others by derogatory names, we never use curse words or inappropriate language, and our classroom debates are always held in a respectful manner. Sh mirat HaGuf - Care for the Physical Body: We keep our hands and feet to ourselves to ensure שמירת הגוף that we never injure another person by hitting, kicking, or any other means. If a student s behavior is not in line with the middot, the child will meet with Audrey Perlman, Coordinator for Student Success, to develop strategies to be able to behave within our community. If a child is still having difficulty, we will create and implement an individual plan for that child. 14
Religious School Staff 5778 School Phone Number 610-896-8507 Rabbi Marc Israel, Associate Rabbi Ext. 128 misrael@tbhbe.org Cell: 484-278-1690 Michele Stulman, Communication and School Coordinator Ext. 103 mstulman@tbhbe.org Hannah Rothchild Teacher Gan K hrothschild2@gmail.com Alex Waserstein Teacher Aleph 1 awaserstein@gmail.com Amy Zipkin Assistant Teacher Gan- Aleph K-1 Debbie Zauderer Teacher Bet 2 bz.coaltech@verizon.net Barb Bookman Teacher Gimmel 3 bookfwe@aol.com Bonnie Bailis Teacher Gimmel 3 seymbon@aol.com Michelle Neiberg Teacher Dalet 4 michellen@verizon.net Sarah Pogolowitz Assistant Teacher Hey 5 Audrey Perlman, Coordinator for Student Success Faculty aperlman@tbhbe.org Ari Schwartz Teacher Hey 5 asch94@aol.com Becky Wolnek Teacher Vav 6 biraw@verizon.net Rabbi Michael Yondorf Teacher Zayin 7 rebwhy@gmail.com Stephanie Hosansky Teacher Tikvah K-2 hosansky.1@gmail.com Dani Levin Assistant Teacher Tikvah K-2 Hebrew Reading Resource Marc Bluestein Coordinator Gimel - Zayin 3-7 marcbluestein12345@gmail.com Shoshana Golan Hebrew Reading Resource Teacher Gimel - Zayin 3-7 shoshanagolan@gmail.com Shirley Cohen Music Specialist Gan - Zayin K-7 brozafan@aol.com 15
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