RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL NEWS & RESOURCES
Quick Links:
Cafe Beth Israel Open during Religious School on Sundays
Yachad Fifth Grade Program
Family Shabbat Dinners and Student-Led Services 2nd Fri. of Most School Months
Family Education Programs various dates
When Your Child Says "May I Ask You a Question?" By Dr. Harvey Raben
Baruch Ha-Bah - Welcome Back: By Dr. Harvey Raben, Director of Education
7th Grade URJ Program to Begin
New CBI Librarian
Chai Club: Making Tzedakah a Regular Habit
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Yachad - 5th Grade Congregational Students Learn about Israel Together
In honor of Israel's 60th birthday, the Agency for Jewish Education, in collaboration with 9 congregational schools, organized a program for all of their 5th grade students. This program, entitled Yachad (together in Hebrew) enabled the 150 students to learn about Israel, play Israel jeopardy, cook hummus, do crafts, and more. Teen volunteers from Young Judaea helped assist in the trust activity component of the program.
Students participated from the following congregational
schools: Congregation Beth Am, Congregation Beth El, Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Dor Hadash, Ohr Shalom Synagogue, Temple Adat Shalom, Temple Emanu-el, Temple Solel, Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Yachad was held at Ohr Shalom Synagogue.
The Agency for Jewish Education and the schools plan to make Yachad an annual program.
Family Shabbat Dinners at 6:00 p.m. and
Student-Led
Family Services at 7:00 p.m.
2nd Friday of Most School Months
Religious School families join together for a dinner followed by a family Erev Shabbat service which Religious School students help to lead. All Religious School families are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to
at 858-535-1144, ext. 3121.
This years' schedule of student-led services is as follows:
Fri., Jan. 11 led by 6th grade
Fri., Feb. 8 led by 2nd grade
Fri., Mar. 14 led by 5th grade
Fri. May 9 led by 3rd grade at 7:30 p.m. (No dinner)
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Family Education Programs
These programs on various topics was entertaining and enlightnening for Religious School students and their families. This years' schedule of Family Education Programs was as follows:
Sun., Jan. 13
4th Grade program from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Meet other 4th grade families. Learn with your child and create a cookie map of Israel.
Sun., Feb. 24
6th grade program at 9:00 a.m.
Sun., Mar. 9
5th grade program at 9:00 a.m.
Sun., April 13
1st and 2nd grade Passover workshop at 11:30 a.m.
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When Your Child Says "May I Ask You a Question?"
By Dr. Harvey Raben, Director of Education
Principals and teachers
in religious schools are
sensitive to the busy
lives of families. At CBI
we have made modest
demands in our Hebrew
curriculum, asking only
that students practice for short periods
between class sessions and not giving
regular assignments in Jewish studies
classes.
This year we do have a small home
assignment for families. We are
beginning a program called May I Ask
You a Question? in which students pose
questions to adult family members. Your
1st grader, for instance, might come
home with the question "How did you
feel the first time you were in a
synagogue?" Your 4th grader might
inquire "What is the first thing you think
about when you hear the word
'Jerusalem'?" These questions will begin
an ongoing conversation between you,
your children and the Religious School.
We hope you'll anticipate and enjoy the
dialogue that ensues when your child
says "May I ask you a question?"
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Baruch Ha-Bah – Welcome Back
By Dr. Harvey Raben, Director of Education
The new school term
promises to be very
exciting, stimulating
and fun. There are
familiar experiences
planned and some new
initiatives in our
programs as well.
I hope that all of us had an
opportunity to relax and recharge this
summer. I enjoyed the opportunity to
recharge my professional batteries at the
Conference on Alternatives in Jewish
Education in St. Louis. Several sessions
offered excellent new ideas and
approaches, some of which I will be
sharing with you in the coming months.
We begin our new term on Sunday,
September 9, a few days before Rosh
Hashanah. I encourage all of us to make
the season of teshuvah, repentance, a
reality in our lives by taking the opportunity
to renew and improve ourselves, our
relationship to others and to the Divine.
What's New, What's Familiar.
We recently offered an end-of-summer
Hebrew reading review that we hope
was useful to all our participants.
As we begin our new term, our
teachers and staff are committed to
providing a worthwhile experience for
one and all. This effort will include some
new features. This year we will expand
our family education programs to include
every grade level K-6. Research informs
us that only with parent involvement and
support can we hope for success in
Jewish education so we encourage you
to attend when these family programs
are offered.
We are also piloting the URJ Chai
Curriculum in grades 2 and 3. This
program is designed to facilitate lifelong
Jewish learning and lead our students to
a deeper understanding of the concepts
we wish them to learn. The program is
well designed to allow for more than
"what is in the book." In October we will
be talking to parents in these grades
about the content for the year.
There will be some regular features
this year as well. Special holiday rotations
will enhance the school calendar. The
state of Israel will take center stage as
we mark its 60th year of statehood.
There are some new aspects to the 7th
grade curriculum design, as well as
special Confirmation and Madrichim
retreats scheduled for 2007 and 2008.
The staff and I are excited to welcome
one and all to a new school term. Let's,
together, make it a great one. Wishing
one and all a shanah tovah u'metukah.
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7th Grade URJ Program to Begin
This year we began an important
7th grade URJ program called "Sacred
Choices." The program focuses on
helping young people find guidance from
Jewish tradition in making ethical
decisions related to sexuality. Parents
also had a part in this program.
New CBI Librarian
Elizabeth Cooper Schultz has assumed the position of CBI Librarian. Elizabeth moved to CBI from the Chicago area and has
experience in library work. She will be available to our school on Sundays and to the Congregation on Mondays.
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Chai Club: Making Tzedakah a Regular Habit
Beginning in January, students making 18 tzedakah contributions at religious school will become members of
the Chai Club (12 for the K-2 students) and will be honored at year-end. The amount is unimportant, the
regular gift is. Recipients will be a variety of CBI, local and international groups.
Congregation Beth Israel participates in several fund-raising programs that would appreciate your help.
Box Tops for Education – simply clip "Box Tops" coupons from hundreds of participating products and bring them to CBI. We have a special drop box in the school office. Our school earns 10 cents for each Box Top redeemed.
Cartridges for Kids – recycle your empty inkjet/laser cartridges, used cell phones, laptops, PDS/Palm Pilots, and iPods. The school collects these items and turns them in for cash!
eScrip – Register your Vons Club card and personal credit cards on-line and
a percentage of your purchases will automatically be credited to our account.
Go to www.escrip.com, click
on "sign-up" and enter our Group ID# 137629034.
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