Jewish Learning Center Family Handbook 2012/13
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Please sign & Pages return requiring signatures JJeewwiisshh LLeeaarrnniinngg CCeenntteerr FFaammiillyy HHaannddbbooookk 22001122//1133 –– 55777733 Shomrei is a Full Service Synagogue with a Community Feeling …and you shall teach them diligently unto your children…” (Deuteronomy 6:7) At Shomrei, we are committed to helping parents of toddlers and preschoolers connect to a synagogue - through our state accredited Mommy and Me, Toddler Time, Early Childhood Programs and PreSchool, we foster early friendships and form early Jewish identification. Our community helps families of Jewish preschoolers choose a “next Jewish step,” such as our congregational school, known as the Jewish Learning Center (“JLC”), or nearby Solomon Schechter. We encourage our children to continue to the next step seamlessly, from preschool to Jewish educational program in Kindergarten, where children discover the meaning of Jewish identity as they explore and engage with the values, history, language, beliefs and rituals of the Jewish people. In our JLC, we use all our opportunities to engage our students; learning occurs in the classroom, the sanctuary, the music room, on field trips and in many family-oriented activities throughout the year. Our younger children attend every Sunday morning while our older students learn Sundays and Wednesdays. STOM, our post Bnei Mitzvah/Hebrew High School/USY, meet Wednesday evenings. This year, we take pride in introducing a family service called Hinei Ma Tov, monthly (see calendar for details) and a Tot Shabbat twice a month. Experiential learning is central to our curriculum. Prayer and the study of text are woven into our curriculum. On Sundays and Wednesdays, students assemble to pray, daven, for Shaharit, the morning service, and Mincha, the afternoon service, where they learn basic synagogue skills and gain comfort in the service. In our preschool through 12th grade program, they will learn to read Hebrew, sing Israeli melodies and prayers, grapple with the philosophical questions raised by the weekly parsha, portion, and perform mitzvot, good deeds, a core tenet of our faith and our congregation. In addition, each grade has special b’yachad, together, sessions, for families to join children in projects related to a study topic. We hope, of course, that you and your children will join us for Shabbat. We also believe in instilling appreciation for community and fellowship. JLC offers after-school opportunities beginning in 2nd grade, with CHAVERIM continuing with KADIMA (middle school) and through STOM:Shomrei Teens of Montclair (our post Bnei Mitzvah program), when students gather for discussion, projects, dinner, and laughter. Throughout the range of our programs, we encourage our students to develop a love of their Jewish background through a variety of educational experiences including classroom attendance, field trips, family programming, Shabbat services, cooperative learning, individual research, artistic expression, music & crafts. They learn to become active learners and active members of our Jewish community, Kehillah Kedoshah. B’Shalom, Judith Kuper Jaffe Director of Congregational Learning, CJE, MAT Congregation Shomrei Emunah Shomrei Emunah Family Handbook 57733 Page 2 3/20/2013 67 Park Street, Montclair, New Jersey 07042 Ph. 973.746.5031 x3 [email protected] Shomrei Emunah Family Handbook 57733 Page 3 3/20/2013 The Family Handbook Table of Contents Schedule Calendar 5 Schedule 6 Hinei Ma Tov Family Service and Tot Shabbat Schedule for 2012-13 7 Snow Days 7 Adult Volunteers 7 Curriculum and More 8 -24 Hebrew 24 Family Time Opportunity 25 School Supplies 25 Chug 25 Tzedakah 25 Trips 26 B’Yachad: Family Education Workshop Participation 27 Youth Program 27 Communication: Cell Phone Number/Email Address/Progress Reports 27 Nuts and Bolts Arrivals, Absenteeism & Attendance 27 Registration 27 Dismissal /Early Dismissal 27 Jewish 28 Guests 28 Food in the Religious School 28 Special Needs, Allergies, Medical Concerns 29 Dress Code 29 Behavior: The Brit of Ethics 29 Zero Tolerance 29 Releases and Forms Available through Survey Monkey, Completed with Registration 32 Shomrei Emunah Family Handbook 57733 Page 4 3/20/2013 Jewish Education is a Partnership, Let’s Work Together!! Suggestions for Families: 1.Demonstrate to your child know that you are genuinely interested in religious school and what they’re studying. 2.Discuss the Shomrei BaBayit with your child, which will be sent to you every week via email. It contains the ‘big idea’ communicated in class, family work, and upcoming events. 3.Ask your child Questions. 4.Please make sure that you are familiar with the calendar and the family assignments (and that they are being completed). 5.Please be sure your child attends classes regularly, making sure that he or she arrives ready to learn, promptly. 6.Help your child to remember to bring his/her materials to school. 7.Encourage courteous, cooperative classroom behavior. You model enthusiasm or dissatisfaction. 8.If your student is absent, keep the JLC posted and be sure you review the Shomrei BaBayit for missed work so that it can be made up. 9.Escort your child to the various programs Shomrei and the JLC offers for the whole family, such as Hinei Ma Tov Shabbat services, B’Yachad (Family) Workshops, and festival celebrations. 10.Please be our partner! Here are some ways students can help: 1.Please attend class regularly, arriving on time, ready to learn, with books, supplies (pencils), and completed assignments. 2.Behave respectfully to teachers and classmates. Be courteous and cooperative. 3.Treat the Synagogue with respect 4.Participate in class 5.Dress appropriately 6.If you are absent, please be sure to make up assignments. B’Yachad, together, we will: 1.Develop a positive Jewish identity and initiate Jewish learning as a lifelong process. 2.Develop the skills needed to become active members of the Jewish community including Hebrew, holidays, home observances, life cycle milestones, and to participate fully in the synagogue service. 3.Connect with K'lal Yisrael by actively seeking the welfare of Jews throughout the world. 4.Identify with the Zionist ideal and with Israel as our Jewish homeland 5.Associate with the causes of justice, freedom and peace by pursuing tzedek (righteousness), mishpat (justice) and chesed (loving deeds). Shomrei Emunah Family Handbook 57733 Page 5 3/20/2013 AUGUST ‘12 SEPTEMBER ‘12 5 PS & JLC Staff Orientatiion 6 PS Staff Orientation S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S 2012-13/ 5773 7 PS Meet & Greet 9 1st JLC, Youth Kick-Off Event Judy Jaffe: [email protected] 1 2 3 4 1 12 1st Wednesday JLC, STOM. Shofar Elynn Finston 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Factory [email protected] 16 Erev Rosh Hashanna. No JLC 6.12.2012 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17-18 No PS. RH Grey squares: No JLC, holiday 18 6h & 7th Gr Yad Event 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 19 Chug 1 Bold: Special event 22 Hinei Ma Tov Service,, Tot Shabbat 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 26 Yom Kippur. No JLC 30 30 Erev Sukkot. Regular JLC classes 3 Tot Shabbat OCTOBER ‘12 NOVEMBER ‘12 rd 1-2 Sukkot. No PS 4 3 Gr Family Siddur Prog, Change 6 Tot Shabbat S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S clocks!, Youth 7-9 Columbus Day Weekend. No JLC. 7 JEA Faculty In-Service & PS. Shemini Atzeret & SImhat Torah 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 7-13 NJEA Teacher’s Convention. No 14 Staff Meeting, Youth PS & JLC, 17 Chug 2 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14 Chug 3 17 Hinei Ma Tov Service,, Tot Shabbat 20 Hinei Ma Tov Service,, Tot Shabbat 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 21 5th– Museum Of Jewish Heritage 18 Staff Meeting, Youth. Vav/Zayin Tallit 31 JewPardy! Lots of Giveaways! 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Prtogram 21 PS Yom Mishpacha. No JLC. 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 – 27 Thanksgiving weekend. No JLC DECEMBER ‘12 JANUARY ‘13 1 Tot Shabbat S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S 5 PS & JLC Faculty Dinner. No STOM. 2 Classes resume! 7 JLC Shabbat 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 Tot Shabbat 12 Chanukah Party 5:30-8 PM 13 Faculty, Youth 14 JLC Shabbat 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 Chug 5 15 Hinei Ma Tov Service,, Tot Shabbat 20-21 MLK. No JLC and PS 16 Faculty, Youth 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 23 Tu B’Shevat Seder 19 Chug 4 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22-30 Israel Map Programming 23-1 No JLC & PS 26 Hinei Ma Tov Service,, PS & Lower 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 31 School Havdallah 30 31 FEBRUARY ‘13 MARCH ‘13 1 PS & Shabbat Shabbat S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S 2 Tot Shabbat 9 Hinei Ma Tov Service,, Tot Shabbat, 10 Faculty, Youth. Change clocks, 1 2 1 2 Youth 13 Matzah Facttory 10 Faculty. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 16 Hinei Ma Tov Service,, Tot Shabbat 13 Chug 6 17 Lower School Passover Program 17-20 Presidents’ Week. No PS & JLC 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 20 Passover Program 23 Purim Megilah 21 PS Model Seder 24 Purim Carnival 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24-2 Passover Break.