GENERAL INFORMATION Principal: Jen Jaffe Curriculum: Evaluation: Assistant Principal: Karen Brodt A brief outline of the curriculum is Evaluations of your child’s 7190 Oak St. Van, BC V6P 3Z9 given in this manual. progress are available upon Tel: 604.266.7190 You can find the school curriculum request. Email correspondence on the Temple Sholom website: between parents and teachers is Hours: www.templesholom.ca also encouraged. Please don’t Sunday : 9:30am - 12:00pm All hesitate to email with the school Midweek Hebrew: Grade 4 to 6 Books: with any questions or concerns. Please bring the students a few Your book fee will provide any minutes early so that we can start necessary texts and Hebrew Problems or Concerns: on time. Also, please wait until workbooks. Lost books must be Any concerns that you have 12:00 noon before picking up replaced at cost. Students are about your child’s instruction your child. The last few minutes encouraged to sign out books should first be discussed with of each class are important. from our classroom collections. his/her teacher, or the Principal, Music: before consulting the Rabbi or a Stay Connected: member of the School Commit- We have a wonderful music A weekly email newsletter will be tee. We believe that directness specialist on staff! Alex Konyves sent to each family with a brief is the best way to resolve any will be leading the Ruach Rally, summary of what each Grade is issues that arise. teaching our students Jewish learning as well as important information for the upcoming songs and Hebrew through music, and leading Minyan for our Absences: session. Please take a few Teachers appreciate knowing minutes to read these emails, and younger grades. ahead of time if a child will be let the school know if you are not Tzedakah: away. Please email: receiving them. [email protected] The concept of Tzedaka (righteous giving) is an important Messages may also be left on Theme: the answering machine at the Our school theme for the year is component of the curriculum in every grade. We encourage the Synagogue. Absences hinder Tikkun Olam (repairing the progress and disrupt the class- world). Throughout the year we Tzedakah habit by asking students to bring a coin (suggested $1) to room community, so please will be engaging in hands-on make every effort to attend Mitzvah projects followed by put into the Tzedakah box every regularly. potluck lunches by grade. Watch session. Please encourage your your email for details. child to earn extra Tzedakah or to give part of his/her allowance. Religious School Fees: Minyan: • Preschool-Grade 3: $500 Parents are invited to join us for Recess Snacks: • Grades 4-7: $650 Minyan (worship services) after The school will provide options of • Grades 8-12: $150 the Ruach Rally at 9:30am: nut-free snacks during recess. • Book & Snack fee: $50 • Adults, Grades 2 to 7: Students are welcome to bring a Sanctuary water bottle to have with them in • Preschool to Grade 1: class. Please make sure the Chapel school is aware of any food allergies. Discipline Policy & The Four Israeli dance festival in May, and share through teaching an elec- Promises again at our end of year tive, please be in touch with the Students are required to adhere assembly. school . to the four promises that are Rehearsals take place after posted in each classroom. classes on Sundays beginning in Snow days: We will be asking each student October. This fun activity pro- An email will be sent and a and their parents to sign a con- vides another avenue for involve- message will be recorded by 8:30 tract agreeing to follow these ment in the Jewish community. am on the Synagogue answering Watch for details! machine advising of any school four promises: 1. Respect people and property Electives (Grades 4-7) closure. 2. Be where I am supposed to be Students in Grades 4-7 have the 3. Use appropriate language opportunity to participate in Traffic Safety: 4. Work hard at learning chugim (electives). Various Please drive carefully when pick- Having these expectations allows courses include: Cooking, Dance, ing up and dropping off children. for positive learning in a safe iMovie, Art, Drama, Hebrew, and The security guard will be on place. Please read and discuss Photography. hand to help direct traffic on Sun- these with your children. Extra These electives allow students to day mornings. copies will be available at the learn in many different ways. It’s registration desk. The underground parking area an inclusive, inviting way for our Festival HaRikkud (Israeli children to explore important will be closed from 11:30am - 12:00pm. Please park on Oak St., Dance Festival): Jewish topics while engaging all of their senses. 57th or 54th Avenue and walk to Students are invited to be part of If any parents or grandparents the Synagogue. our school dance team, which have skills that they are willing to performs at the community wide Midweek Hebrew Clubs Students in Grades 4-6 have the opportunity to meet in small groups throughout the city to learn Hebrew together. Each club sets a time and place that works best for everyone. Under the direction of an instructor, they use texts, games, activities and on-line resources to gain understanding and appreciation for the Hebrew language and the prayers in our services. The clubs also provide a wonderful opportunity for children and their families to build connections with each other. TEMPLE SHOLOM SCHOOL PARENT COMMITTEE The goal of the Parent Committee is to children’s lives. The group also aids in make connections and build community the planning of special events for their amongst our school families. By increasing grades and provides volunteers at engagement, families can ensure that the school programs. students are not only provided with a wonderful learning environment, but also a To become part of the team, sense of community that is integral to email the school at : incorporating Jewish education into their [email protected] - Page 2 - TEMPLE SHOLOM SCHOOL CURRICULUM: Hebrew instruction begins with In Grade 2, we begin more formal program, Mitkadem. We use an our youngest students who learn Hebrew with a lesson each week integrated print and on-line pro- through play. In class they learn using Z’man Licro - Time to read, gram which teaches vocabulary, vocabulary through music with our which reintroduces the letters in key concepts and the meaning of song leader, they are introduced combination with vowel sounds, the prayers. Structure and gram- to holiday vocabulary, and even through key words and phrases. mar of the Hebrew language is use “Hebrew Yoga” to shape the Students learn to decode Hebrew woven into the lessons as well. In letters. words while also learning vocabu- addition, the students learn strate- lary. The goal is for students to gies to promote fluent reading. In Grade 1, students begin to learn complete Volume 2 in the series by the letters of the alefbet, along the end of Grade 3. Grade 7 focuses on B’nai Mitzvah with key words, with a great pro- preparation as well as reading and gram that uses art and food to In our midweek Hebrew clubs, our understanding Hebrew texts in a help students remember the letter Grade 4-6 students continue on to variety of lessons throughout the sounds. the URJ prayer-based Hebrew year. We are proud users of We are all part of K’lal Yisrael (the omy. Jewish values related to the “CHAI” curriculum community of Israel) and have a G’milut Chasadim. from the Union of responsibility to actively support Grade 5: The book of Leviticus Reform Judaism. and sustain the Jewish communi- and living a Holy life. The Jewish Accordingly, our goal is ty through acts of g’milut Community. to teach toward the following chasadim. enduring understandings in the Grade 6: A brief overview of the Holocaust leading into a study of thematic areas of Torah, Avodah Major subject areas are: and G’milut Chasadim: Preschool: A sensory exploration Israel. of Jewish holidays and ritual Sessions on Torah and Haftarah Torah is an ongoing dialogue troupe. The Jewish life cycle. between the text and its students. objects. Students also participate in an Torah is relevant to our daily lives. Kindergarten: A focus on Torah, introduction to becoming Bar/Bat Developing the skills to study the stories of Genesis and Mitzvah in a family program Torah is essential to integrating Exodus. Holiday celebrations entitled “Derech L’Torah”. Fami- Torah into our lives. through the Jewish year. lies meet together to study the Avodah (prayer) is the work we Grade 1: How we celebrate the subjects of Torah, Gemilut do to find sacred connections to Jewish festivals. An introduction Chasadim (good deeds) and God, community, and self. to living life as a mensch. Avodah (prayer). Engaging in the work of Avodah Grade 2: Jewish values from the can bring order, beauty, meaning, Grade 7: A focus on “Torah and Book of Genesis Concepts about and insight to our lives and our Today” led by Rabbi Dan, God and holiness. community. sessions on Comparative Judaism Grade 3: Stories from the book of with leaders from our local We have a responsibility to Exodus. Concepts about commu- Jewish Community, and learning perform acts of g’milut chasadim nity. about being a Jewish teenager in (loving kindness) in order to make High School with staff from King the world a better, holier place. Grade 4: Numbers and Deuteron- David High School. - Page 3 - We are committed to supporting You’ll come away with a set of ly to students in Kindergarten to families in the task of raising tools and strategies for raising Grade 3.