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Religous School Parent Handbook

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School Schedule

Grades 2nd, 3rd, 6th Sunday Session I:
9:00am- 11:00am

Pre-K Session I:
10:00am-11:00am

Grades K, 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Sunday Session II:
11:15am- 1:15pm

7th grade Sunday Session:
11:15am-1:15pmon the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday in the Sanctuary.

Family Education:

  • Class Shabbat is a part of Family Education and will be held on the 3rd Friday of the month at 6:15pm in rooms 7&8.

  • Each class will be assigned one Family Education Shabbat per year. Please refer to your Religious School calendar.

(In addition to our Family Education once a month we encourage families to attend Family Shabbat service on the first of the month).

Religious School:

  • For those students attending weekday Religious School, if your child can not make it the his/her regular schedule s/he may attend on the alternative day.

  • Weekday classes meet from 5:00pm-6:45pm

  • This year the Religious school will offer two different cards for those children attending weekday Religious School. The pizza card will entitle your child to two pieces of pizza from New York Pizza and a water bottle for $3.00. The snack card will allow your child to purchase healthy snacks such as fruit, breakfast bars, pretzels, etc.

  • Please note that there are no refunds and the card is not transferrable to another student. See the snack/Pizza flyer for more details.

Attendance and Absences:

Attendance is essential for self-confidence and success in our program. It allows the student continuity in their studies and connects them to the larger Jewish community. Regular attendance is a demonstration of a student’s commitment and level of responsibility.

  • Contact the Religious School Office regarding all absences.

  • Students must maintain regular attendance of at least 70% of class time.

  • If a student is out for an extended period of time, please make arrangements with the teacher to complete all class work.

  • If a student is absent for 3 consecutive class sessions without notification, the family will be contacted so that any potential problems can be addressed.

  • The Rabbi, the Director of Education and the Education Committee may grant an exception to the rules.

Code of Conduct:

  • Students are expected to dress in Beth Shalom appropriate attire. As per the Wake County School guidelines Students are expected to adhere to standards of dress and appearance that are compatible with an effective learning environment. Presenting a bodily appearance or wearing clothing which is disruptive, provocative, revealing, profane, vulgar, offensive or obscene, or which endangers the health and safety of the student or others is prohibited.

  • Students are expected to be respectful towards classmates and teachers.

  • Students are expected to arrive prepared for class and with a positive attitude.

  • Students are expected to try their best.

  • Students must remain in the classroom unless the teacher grants permission for the student to leave.

Discipline Policy:

We at Beth Shalom view our Religious School as a partnership between teachers, parents, and students. By providing clear expectations and a warm, inspiring educational environment, we hope to build lifelong Jewish learners.

Our staff is committed to making Beth Shalom Religious School a positive and friendly experience for our families. We will seek to solve any problem caused by disruptive behavior with a variety of differentiated techniques and strategies. However, open communication with our parents is essential in preventing and addressing any issues that arise in the classroom..

Learning Disabilities and Special Needs:

Beth Shalom’s Religious School goal is to provide the best possible learning environment for each student. Please inform the Director of Education and/or Rabbi of any special needs or learning disabilities that your child may have so that we may tailor the curriculum to his or her needs. All information received will be kept strictly confidential. If your child has an IEP please let us know, so that we can provide the necessary tools to promote a positive learning experience.

Mitzvot:

As part of our school curriculum Pre-k through sixth grade participate in monthly Mitzvah projects in the classrooms. Our seventh graders, once a month, will be meeting at Beth Shalom and going into the community for a Mitzvah project. In order to fulfill their Mitzvah Ben Adam L’Havero (between person and friend), we will be collecting Tzedakah at each Sunday class session. At the end of the year each class will vote on where the Religious School Tzedakah will be going. Parents can support what we are teaching at Religious School by sending Tzedakah with your child each class session..

The Mitzvah of the Month will appear on the Religious School Weekly Bulletin.

School Supplies:

Please refer to the Wish List if you would like to assist further.

Any books and folders needed by your child will be provided. We ask that you have your child bring the following to each class session:

  1. pencil and eraser

  2. Tzedakah money

Homework:

On occasion, teachers may assign homework. Check the website to see if your child has homework that week. If it is a family project, please help your child complete his or her homework.

Reading Hebrew requires practice. To be successful, please have your child read 5-10 minutes of Hebrew each day. If you do not know Hebrew, this is a great opportunity for your child to teach you to read. A Hebrew Chart will be sent home with each child so that parents will have a cheat sheet if need be. If you feel that you or your child may need extra Hebrew assistance, please contact the Director of Education, for tutors are available.

Communication:

Communication is vital in building relationships between our school family and home. You may be contacted by the room parents or by the Director of Education with any important information. Most of our communication is done through e-mail. If you are unable to receive e-mails or your e-mail address has changed, please contact the room parents and the office. Please check the weekly Religious School Bulletin on Thursday of every week for important updated information. If you have any concerns or suggestions please feel free to contact Heidi Goldsobel at hgoldsobel [at] bethshalomnc [dot] com, Sally Zenick VP of Study, Ellen Dershowitz, Education Chair, or Jill Feldman/Elyse Perrone our Room Parent Liaisons. Everyone is welcome to attend our Education Committee meeting on the Second Thursday of every month.

Parent Involvement:

The best Religious Schools are those in which the administration, faculty, and parents work together to provide the children with the best education possible. We are asking you to become our partners in creating a wonderful Jewish experience for your child. If you show your children that Judaism and Jewish learning is important to you, these things will be important to them as well.

Open communication between parent and staff creates a harmonious environment in which your child can learn. We respect the parent-child relationship, and encourage you to communicate with the Director of Education or teachers as soon as you have any concerns or questions.

Each of you has special talents, interests, hobbies, and careers that could be shared with our students. We welcome you to share them with us. Contact the school office with your ideas and time availability.

Each class will be assigned at least one Family Education Program and multiple school wide holiday events as well as one Class Shabbat Program a year. It is a wonderful chance for you to reinforce your child’s religious education in these fun and unique learning opportunities. We are interested in topics that meet your needs suggestions are most welcome.

School Cancellation/Closing:

If you are concerned that school may be closed for any reason, please call the office at 858-7777 or check the Beth Shalom Website (www.bethshalomnc.org)

Inclement weather closings will be announced on TV: WTVD (ABC), Channel 9 on cable; WRAL (CBS), channel 3 on cable. As other stations are added, you will be notified.

Student Drop-off and Pick-up and Parking:

The drop off/carpool procedures are in effect for the safety of our children and will be strongly enforced. Parents have a choice. They may walk their child in using the upstairs front door or may drop off their child in carpool on the lower level.

Drop Off and Pick up Lower Level:

  1. You may drop your child off in the carpool line on the lower level.

  2. If you are dropping off in carpool, drive down the hill. Parents are asked not to exit their cars.

  3. Students who are part of carpool will be dismissed on the lower level only.

  4. Parents will be given a large index card at the beginning of the year. Write your child’s name on the card and display it in your window.

  5. A Teacher, Madrich, or the Director of Education will come up to each car, write down your child’s name and collect your child for you. Parents are asked not to leave their cars at any time.

  6. Once the child is in your car, you may drive up the hill and exit in the appropriate direction.

  7. Please do not get out of your car to speak to a friend or even a teacher. Stay off of your cell phone and please do not text while carpool is in use.

Walk in Pick-Up on Upper Level:

  1. If you are walking in, you must park in the Upper Level. Please make sure to walk your child into class. DO NOT LEAVE until someone is in the classroom. If you are early, teachers are still setting up and getting ready for class and will not be able to supervise your child.

  2. Students in grades K-2 will need to be picked up from their classrooms unless other arrangements have been made with the Director of Education.

  3. Park your car on the upper level and walk into the back hallway. Your child will be dismissed from the back hallway after you have signed your child out.

  4. Please do not drop off in the Upper Level parking lot. It is not Safe!!

Each area will be well supervised and ongoing evaluations will be conducted. Parents will be informed of any change. If you need to switch for the day, please call the school office as soon as possible so that your child will not be sent to the wrong waiting area.

Beth Shalom Religious School Curriculum

 

Religious School opens their doors at the age of four and continues throughout High School.

Pre-K – This class is for our 4 year olds and meets on Sunday mornings for one hour every week during the Religious school year. This first formal Jewish educational experience emphasizes a multisensory approach that starts to build a foundation for Jewish living. Students are exposed to Jewish holidays and values and display their knowledge through age-appropriate means.

Kindergarten- Kindergarteners experience holidays through stories and crafts with a focus on the Mitzvot of the holidays, and kinesthetically learn the Hebrew alef-bet (alphabet) on Sunday morning for two hours. These children celebrate their starting of Religious school by participating in Consecration and receiving a child’s Torah.

First Grade - These students continue on Sunday mornings studying the Jewish holidays. This time the learning is through their senses; especially their taste buds, and the recognition of Hebrew letters continues. The first grade participates in a Family Shabbat service.

Second Grade –In Second Grade, which is also held on Sunday mornings for two hours, students continue their holiday journey by learning about Jewish values related to the Hebrew alphabet, and actually pre-reading of the alef-bet (Hebrew alphabet) begins. The second graders participate in a Family Shabbat service.

Third Grade – This is the first year the students come to Religious school twice a week; Sunday mornings and Monday or Wednesday evenings. Formal study of Hebrew begins this year as students learn to read our special language. Students’ spirituality will deepen as they develop Jewish God concepts and contemplate their relationship with God. During this year students also review and continue their study by strengthening their understanding that Jewish people are bound together by a common history, ideals and future. “Chug” or special activity is an added bonus starting in third grade.

Fourth Grade – The students will continue their exploration of Jewish spirituality, gaining insights into the meanings of the stories of the prophets and writings. Jewish holidays will continue to be explored with experiential educational school wide programs and Jewish values and behaviors. Hebrew reading skills are polished this year. . The Hebrew program develops a fluency of reading, chanting, grammatical structures, meanings, and comprehension of theological concepts in each module. Students are able to work at their own pace and are constantly challenged.

Fifth Grade- In the fifth grade we see a clear maturation of our students. They are ready and able to explore concepts of a more intellectual and emotional nature. This course will lead us to develop a better understanding of who we are as American Jews and North Carolinian Jews. We will also continue with the Hebrew program, and start to explore our lifecycle events.

Sixth Grade – As students continue to develop intellectually and spiritually on the road to becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, they will expand their concepts of Jewish Identity by their study of European Jewry, Shoah and the development of Israel. During this year the students will search their family histories and discover how they contribute to our various traditions and history. Study of prayer and ritual Hebrew continues. During Music on Sunday morning an introduction to Haftorah chanting will be presented. Students will also start to develop an eye for Torah as we explore the Bible stories through a different lens.

Seventh Grade- As most of our seventh graders are preparing for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a significant question they are asking is,” What does it mean to be an adult Jew? What are my obligations?” The seventh graders will be studying Oral Torah (Pirkei Avot, Talmud) and will continue in a deeper level to study the Prophets of their Haftarot and various aspects of Bar/Bat Mitzvah etiquette. A new program will be introduced in which the 7th graders come to Religious School once a week on either Monday or Wednesday and twice a month on Sundays at Beth Shalom a once a month in the community participating in organized Mitzvah projects.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah requirements are defined in Beth Shalom’s Ritual Document which is available at the Beth Shalom office and on our website.

Teen Programs Grades 8-12

Recent Research has shown that involvement in a Jewish peer program during teen years is crucial to a strong Jewish identity.

Madrichim 1&2- This is our volunteer and seminar program offered for our 8th-12th graders who would like to continue to be part of our Religious school community. The Madrichim seminars will be taught 3 times a month on Sunday morning during both sessions. Once a month all Madrichim will participate in Dor Atid a leadership Program.

Please see the Madrichim brochure for more details.