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Youth Learning & Engagement 5781

Fall Update As of August 11, 2020

As we look toward the Fall, we are optimistic about this coming year and excited to be sharing the new ways this sacred community extends far beyond the walls of our physical space. Within the guidelines from the state and local authorities and the CDC recommendations for gatherings and events, we are eager to share our reopening plans for Youth Learning and Engagement for 5781, 2020-2021. CLICK HERE for our Parent Handbook which details our health and safety measures for all of our programs and learners.

Our program year will continue to educate, engage, and meet our high expectations for excellence in teaching and learning. As always, health and safety is our priority and we are listening to the CDC and local health advisors, community educators, and psychologists. Check out our by-cohort, detailed plan (listed below in Our Programs) which meets the needs of our community, keeps our learners, teachers and families safe, and offers the flexibility to pivot between both in-person and virtual learning as our year progresses. 

Please note well, that just as is laid out in our Covid handbook supplement, all in-person learning will be done with the highest of care, including physical distancing, attention to air circulation, and mandatory masks for all students and faculty.

Kindergarten through 2nd Grades

Kgn-2nd Grades will meet on Sunday mornings with both in-person and online options available for families to choose at their comfort. In person classes will be at maximum 10 students per class. In the event your child is unable to attend in-person learning (for health or other reasons), virtual learning will be available on a weekly basis. 

Sample schedule for our Virtual Only Learners

  • 8:30-9:15 AM – Virtual Tefillah together 
  • 9:15-9:45 AM – Stretch break
  • 9:45-10:00 AM – Hebrew Through Movement
  • 10:00-10:45 AM – Virtual Class Time

Sample Schedule for our In-person Learners 

  • 8:30-9:15 AM – Virtual Tefillah together 
  • 9:15-9:45 AM – Commute/Daily Check-In time
  • 9:45-10:00 AM – Class Time
  • 10:00-10:15 AM – Hebrew Through Movement (teacher Zooms into the room, facilitated by Classroom Teacher)
  • 10:15-10:45 AM – Class Time

3rd Grade, Ma'ayan

3rd Grade will meet on Sunday mornings with both in-person and online options available for families to choose at their comfort. In person classes will be at maximum 10 students per class. In the event your child is unable to attend in-person learning (for health or other reasons), virtual learning will be available on a weekly basis.

NEW THIS YEAR: Families with children in 3rd Grade may elect an additional mid-week in person or virtual (by family preference) Hebrew pod at no additional cost. Each pod is 45 minutes long, no more than 6 children to a pod, designed to continue Aleph-Bet learning and support Hebrew Decoding.

Options for 3rd Grade Mid-Week Hebrew Pods

Tuesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

Wednesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

Thursday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

Sample schedule for our Virtual Only Learners

  • 8:45-9:15 AM – Virtual Tefillah
  • 9:15-9:45 AM – Stretch Break                                          
  • 9:45-10:45 AM – Judaics and Hebrew

Sample schedule for our In-Person Learners

  • 8:45-9:15 AM – Virtual Tefillah
  • 9:15-9:45 AM – Stretch Break                                          
  • 9:45-10:45 AM – Judaics and Hebrew

4th and 5th Grade

4th and 5th Grades will meet on Sunday mornings, virtually, from 8:45-10:45 AM, plus one 45 minute pod of Hebrew, either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in one of the time slots per day (details on midweek below).

Sample Sunday Schedule

8:45-9:15 AM – Community Tefillah

9:15-9:20 AM – Transition

9:20-9:30 AM – Community Building Exercise

9:30-10:05 AM – Judaics

10:05-10:10 AM – Transition

10:10-10:45 AM – Prayer Content 

Midweek Classes

Hebrew pods will meet midweek in person or virtually, by family preference. Pods are maximally 6 students. This will allow intense focus and personal attention to take place.

Options for 4th & 5th Grades Mid-Week Hebrew Pods

Tuesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

Wednesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

Thursday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

6th Grade

Our 6th Grade program is called Nisayon. Nisayon means experience and this year will be a year of fun, immersive Jewish experiences for your 6th grader and your entire family!

6th grade is divided into 3 core components.

Hebrew

Hebrew instruction will take place in person or virtually (by family preference) during 45 minute Hebrew pod rotations of class sizes no larger than 6 children. Hebrew instruction will continue to focus on reading and prayer skills. 

Individual prayer lessons in preparation for bar and bat mitzvah readiness will begin approximately 4-6 months prior to your child’s date, and are coordinated by our clergy’s administrative staff. These lessons are in addition to, not in lieu of, your child’s classroom learning.

Options for 6th Grade Mid-Week Hebrew Pods

Tuesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

Wednesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

Thursday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

Judaics

Our 6th Grade Judaic studies will take place online, on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45 PM.

To create one unified 6th grade community, students will learn Judaics from our 6th grade team of teachers.  

The themes of Middot (Jewish Virtues and Ethics), Shoah (Holocaust Studies), and Comparative Religion, will frame a year of edu-tainment, with an emphasis on K’lal Yisrael (Jewish people-hood and comparative Judaism) and Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel).

  • Sample Judaics Schedule
  • 6:30-6:45 PM – Community Building
  • 6:45-7:45 PM – Judaics

PLUS MONTHLY NISAYON EXPERIENCES

A schedule of monthly programs and Shabbat experiences complement the core curriculum. This creates a sacred community of learners in which our children develop their own sense of Jewish identity building a connection with Jewish ritual and practice. Some programs are for 6th grade students only and others offer a family the opportunity to learn and celebrate together. Families are expected to choose six or more of these programs that meet your family’s interests and needs, based on the content and schedule. The schedule of events will be available at the time of registration. Experiences in the fall are online, with hopes for in-person experiences as the year progresses. Our Supplementary Registration Form will offer an update of program dates/times previously presented in the spring.

7th Grade

Meets online Tuesday nights from 7:30-8:45 PM, with hopes for in-person experiences as the year progresses. The curriculum focuses on viewing the adolescent’s world through a Jewish lens – Our Jewish Stories,Our Jewish Lives, and our Jewish Values.

Students pre-b’nai mitzvah who want to keep their prayers fresh, may elect to join a Hebrew pod (available pod times below) at no additional cost.

Optional Mid-Week Hebrew Pods for pre-b’nai mitzvah students

Tuesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

Wednesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

Thursday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

8th-9th Grade

HaMakom (The Place) -Meets online Tuesday nights, 7:30-8:45 PM

Highlights of the year will be…

  • Cantor’s Cafe
  • A Modern Look at Israel
  • A Celebration of Diversity within the Jewish Community
  • A deep dive into our Community Learning Theme

    Sample Schedule
  • 7:30-7:45 PM – Community Building
  • 7:45-8:45 PM – Discussion, Programming and Inter Relational Learning  

Popping up New – Beit Panim! (an opportunity to physically gather)

This on-ramp to teen engagement is for our families who desire an in-person opportunity once a month. It will meet Sundays from 11:15 AM-12:30 PM. Classes will meet outdoors as weather permits, and involve Jewish learning and hands-on engagement with our professional staff. Registration is required in advance of each event to ensure proper health and safety measures, as well as supplies and staffing. No last minute attendance can be accommodated. There will be a total of 8 events throughout the year.  

Programs may include such things as a round-table discussion on racial prejudice in the modern age, standing up against Anti-Semitism, exploring tzedakah as teens, and other opportunities to gather in person, discuss relevant and important topics, and have hands-on experiences through the year.

Madrichim Program

Students in 8th-12th Grades apply to serve as role models and teaching assistants on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Sundays in the younger grades of our programming. Based on parent comfort, they may be madrichim either in person or virtually. Madrichim assignments will include individual student support, small group support, classroom support, technology assistant, tefillah engagement squad, office support, photography and publicity, community building, and limited teaching responsibilities for experienced madrichim.

Mitzvah Corps is on hold until circumstances change and is subject to JFS decisions. If we are able to restart Mitzvah Corps, we will do so, and charge at that point on a pro-rated basis. If you have already been billed, we will refund that charge or apply it to other Temple activities at your choice.

Optional Mid-Week Hebrew Pods for pre-b’nai mitzvah students

Tuesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

Wednesday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

Thursday

2:30-3:15 PM

3:30-4:15 PM

4:30-5:15 PM

5:30-6:15 PM

6:30-7:15 PM

10th Grade

HaMakom (The Place) – Confirmation- Meets online Tuesday nights, 7:30-8:45 PM

A close examination of the student’s Jewish identity, exploring topics of God, sexuality, justice and spirituality. Social Action projects, which continue to be a priority for our Confirmation Class as health and safety permit. 

Confirmands typically participate in the L’Taken Seminar in Washington DC. Students have the opportunity to impact our political process as they share their views on social justice topics with decision-makers on Capitol Hill. Our Confirmands will embark on our beloved L’Taken Seminar in the 2021-2022 school year so long as the RAC is running the program. Throughout the year, we will work with the RAC to create meaningful programming and relationships while building the anticipation for next year!

  • HaMakom Confirmation Sample Schedule
  • 7:30-7:45 PM – Community Building
  • 7:45-8:45 PM – Confirmation Learning

Popping up New – Beit Panim! (an opportunity to physically gather)

This on-ramp to teen engagement is for our families who desire an in-person opportunity once a month. It will meet Sundays from 11:15 AM-12:30 PM. Classes will meet outdoors as weather permits, and involve Jewish learning and hands-on engagement with our professional staff. Registration is required in advance of each event to ensure proper health and safety measures, as well as supplies and staffing. No last minute attendance can be accommodated. There will be a total of 8 events throughout the year.  

Programs may include such things as a round-table discussion on racial prejudice in the modern age, standing up against Anti-Semitism, exploring tzedakah as teens, and other opportunities to gather in person, discuss relevant and important topics, and have hands-on experiences through the year.

Madrichim Program

Students in 8th-12th Grades apply to serve as role models and teaching assistants on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Sundays in the younger grades of our programming. Based on parent comfort, they may be madrichim either in person or virtually. Madrichim assignments will include individual student support, small group support, classroom support, technology assistant, tefillah engagement squad, office support, photography and publicity, community building, and limited teaching responsibilities for experienced madrichim.

11th & 12th Grades

HaMakom (The Place) – Meets online Tuesday nights, 7:30-8:45 PM

Highlights of the year will be…

  • Standing together as Marginalized Communities (with a guest expert)
  • Taking your Judaism to College and Beyond
  • A deep dive into our Community Learning Theme

    Sample Schedule
  • 7:30-7:45 PM – Community Building
  • 7:45-8:45 PM – Discussion

Popping up New – Beit Panim! (an opportunity to physically gather)

This on-ramp to teen engagement is for our families who desire an in-person opportunity once a month. It will meet Sundays from 11:15 AM-12:30 PM. Classes will meet outdoors as weather permits, and involve Jewish learning and hands-on engagement with our professional staff. Registration is required in advance of each event to ensure proper health and safety measures, as well as supplies and staffing. No last minute attendance can be accommodated. There will be a total of 8 events throughout the year.  

Programs may include such things as a round-table discussion on racial prejudice in the modern age, standing up against Anti-Semitism, exploring tzedakah as teens, and other opportunities to gather in person, discuss relevant and important topics, and have hands-on experiences through the year.

Madrichim Program

Students in 8th-12th Grades apply to serve as role models and teaching assistants on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Sundays in the younger grades of our programming. Based on parent comfort, they may be madrichim either in person or virtually. Madrichim assignments will include individual student support, small group support, classroom support, technology assistant, tefillah engagement squad, office support, photography and publicity, community building, and limited teaching responsibilities for experienced madrichim.

Cafe Torah is on hold until circumstances change. If we are able to restart Cafe Torah, we will do so, and charge at that point on a pro-rated basis. If you have already been billed, we will refund that charge or apply it to other Temple activities at your choice.