Beth Shalom Religious School is a place of learning and love. Our primary goal is to create as many positive Jewish learning experiences for our students as possible. It is our hope that through their experiences here, students will understand the importance of continuing their Jewish education after their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

We incorporate a formal setting for classroom instruction and prayer, as well as a variety of informal learning opportunities. Computers, sports, crafts, music, special programs and field trips are as important to us as traditional frontal teaching time. Through this combination of approaches, we strive to reach each student in his/her own arena, and to connect issues with skills, complimenting abilities, interests and concerns.

By taking an active part in Tzedaka and Gemilut Hasadim projects, students will experience learning through doing. They will understand their connection to our local Jewish community as well as to Am Yisrael. It is our intention that this relationship will grow into a lifetime of community involvement and give students an understanding of who they are as Jews and how they fit into our rich and colorful heritage, as well as who they are as citizens of the world. We want our students to have a strong commitment to Jewish values. We expect that they will build a wide repertoire of Jewish skills and ideas, which will become the foundation of a full Jewish life, both physical and spiritual, incorporating their family and community.

We hope our children will experience:

• Teachers: Rabbis, advisors and other Jewish professionals who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their Jewishness and who present a variety of role models with whom our children can identify.
• A curriculum which exposes our children to the depth and beauty of Jewish knowledge while teaching how the ancient traditions can be relevant to their daily lives.
• An atmosphere of creative learning which encourages the child to identify with Jewish educators, the Jewish ancestors, the Jewish people and to generations yet to come.
• A total education and youth program which will foster a commitment to lifelong Jewish learning.

Our ideal graduate will:

• Have a strong sense of personal morality and social justice.
• Feel a commitment to the Jewish people and K'lal Yisrael.
• Be motivated to continue Jewish learning as a lifetime pursuit.
• Feel a strong commitment to Eretz Yisrael and a loyalty to the state of Israel.
• Feel comfortable in the synagogue as a part of a community of worshippers.
• Feel comfortable with and knowledgeable about the principals and goals of Conservative Judaism.
• Feel a commitment to the celebration of Shabbat and holidays.
• Feel an obligation to transmit the Jewish tradition to the next generation.
• Be fluent in Hebrew reading and writing as well as having mastered a basic knowledge in all areas of the curriculum.
• Have an understanding of the “why” of Jewish custom and tradition and not just the “how to.”
• Have an understanding of the potential impact of Judaism on the community at large and a commitment to the concept of “Tikkun Olam.” *

Beth Shalom Religious School - “A Framework for Excellence” School

A “Framework” school meets the educational standards of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and articulates the aims of Conservative Jewish Education for K through high school including instruction in mitzvot (between persons & between Jews and God), Torah, Hebrew, Prayer, Conservative Judaism and identity with and concern for K’lal Yisrael (the Jewish People). In addition it has the following elements which form a framework for excellence in synagogue school education. They are:

• An education program made up of a strong cognitive component, elements of skill mastery, and an affective component
• educators who are leaders, not just administrators · rabbinic interest, support, and presence on matters of synagogue schooling · congregational investment in teacher training, retention, and development
• collaboration with and support of lay leaders, including good committees and a mission of the synagogue that places education front and center
• commitment to and investment in teenagers, including high school classes, youth activities, summer camp, and Israel experiences
• family education that helps parents fulfill their roles as the primary Jewish educators of their children.

School Days and Hours

Day of Week		Class
Sunday		Religious School Grades K-1
Tuesday and Sunday		Religious School Grade 2
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday		Religious School Grades 3-7
Monday		Advanced Study*
Thursday		Optional Enrichment classes for students in K, 1st and 2nd Grade
*Students are only admitted to this class under direction of school administration.
Time
Sunday		Classes begin at 9:00 am and dismiss at 12:00 pm.
Tuesday & Thursday		Classes begin at 4:15 pm and dismiss at 6:05 pm.
Early Arrival: 3:15 pm to 4:10 pm		For those students who come to Religious School early, there are snacks for sale and supervised gym time in the Rice Auditorium and the Jeanette B. & Samuel T. Shear Youth Center.
		Supervised computer time will also be available before school in the Language Lab on the 3rd floor.