Judaism has to be taught as an alive and active force. Our Religious School aims to instill pride and value in being a Jew. We have teachers who create excitement in the classroom and assist our children in identifying as Jews in today's society.

Our School program begins at Kindergarten and continues through Grade Twelve.

Grades K-2 and 8-12 are open to non Temple members.

We are also proud to offer one of the only Special Education classes in the vicinity.

We use the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) CHAI Curriculum for Grades 2-7 which focuses classroom learning on Torah, Avodah (prayer) and G'milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness) and expands beyond these topics in other educational programs. CHAI lessons are based on the "Understanding By Design" curriculum development model, which is widely used in the field of general education. (http://urj.org/chai/)

THE GOALS OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE:

• Impart knowledge of Jewish history and traditions
• Build Hebrew language skills that will enable our children to comprehend and participate in worship services
• Develop an understanding of Torah
• Teach the application of Jewish ethics, values and social justice
• Create an interest in Jewish current affairs in Israel and the worldwide Jewish community
• Develop a positive identification and commitment to Judaism within our children

OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE:

• Celebration of holidays, services and rituals
• Purim Carnival
• Participation in Friday night services by different grades
• Jewish music and art
• Tzedakah projects
• Family Education programs

To be eligible for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, students must have successfully completed consecutive study in 3^rd through 7^th grade at Temple Emanu-El or be otherwise qualified.

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

K-3^rd grade                Tuesday                                 4:10-6:00

4^{th –} 7^thgrade             Monday/Wednesday                 4:10-6:00

8^th-12^th grade            Tuesday evenings                    7:00-8:30

Confirmation              Tuesday evenings                    7:00-8:30

Special Education        Wednesday                            4:10-6:00

2011-2012 Religious School Calendar

As of 1/03/2012

**All Classes are in session unless otherwise noted**

September

10^th- Saturday- Bar Mitzvah of Matthew Westreich 10am

17^th- Saturday- Bat Mitzvah of Michelle Sapolnick 10am

18^th- Sunday- Religious School Open House featuring Shira Kline 10am-12pm

19^th- Monday- First Day of Monday Religious School 4^th-7^th grade

20^th-Tuesday- First Day of Tuesday Religious School K-3^rd grade

21^st- Wednesday- 4^th-6^th Grade Back to School/Meet the Teachers Program 5:30-6:45pm

28^th- Wednesday- No School Erev Rosh Hashanah service 7:30pm

29^th- Thursday- Rosh Hashanah

October

7^th- Friday- Kol Nidre service 7:30pm

8^th- Saturday- Yom Kippur

10^th- Monday- 7^th Grade Back to School/Meet the Teachers Program 5:30-7:00pm

12^th- Wednesday- No Religious School; Erev Sukkot                                                           

12^th- Wednesday- Pizza in the Hut

15^th- Saturday- Bat Mitzvah of Isabella Stern 10am

18^th- Tuesday- First Night Chai School (8^th-12^th grade) and Meet the Teachers Program 7pm

19^th- Wednesday- No Religious School- Erev Simchat Torah

* Simchat Torah Dinner 6pm                                                                     

            * Consecration/Simchat Torah Service 7pm

23^rd- Sunday- Religious School Sponsored trip to Camp Harlam

25^th- Tuesday- K-3^rd Grade back to School/Meet the Teachers Program 5:30-6:45pm

29^th- Saturday- Bar Mitzvah of Bennet Pincus 10am

31^st- No Religious School

November

7^th-9^th- No Religious School

22^nd-Tuesday- K-3^rd Grade No Religious School

22^nd- Tuesday-Chai School in session; out of building at Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

23^rd- Wednesday-No Religious School

December

10^th- Saturday- Bar Mitzvah of Jack Padrusch 10am

11^th- Sunday- Mitzvah Day

20^th- Tuesday- First Night of Chanukah; K-2^nd Grades in session; School candle lighting at 5:45pm

23^rd-Friday- Family Shabbat Service 7pm and Chanukah dinner 6pm

26^th-28^th- No Religious School

January

3^rd - Tuesday- School Resumes

Viewing the Bar/Bat Mitzvah as the beginning of a lifetime of Jewish learning, all post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are encouraged to enroll in the Hebrew High program. In our Chai School (8-12th grades) older students act as peer leaders for younger students. Curriculum for Grades 8 and 9 includes such subjects as “Comparative Judaism/Comparative Religions”, “Israel”, “Me, Myself, and My Community” which involves discussion and activities on improving the world as Jewish individuals and “Life Issues from the Jewish Perspective” which explores important teenage issues as well as social problems. Students learn how to make healthy and helpful choices through discussions, speakers, and movies. Modern Hebrew is also taught. 11th and 12th grade students participate in the peer leadership program in which they act as mentors and teachers for the 8th and 9th graders by leading discussion groups.  The program makes use of opportunities for socializing, structured learning and group activities.  Through these the students learn how Jewish values can play an important role in their lives.

Students spend the Confirmation year in class with the Rabbi. The curriculum covers Jewish texts, Torah and God. The class will have three components: seminars, independent study and service to the community and the Temple.  Successful completion of 8th –10th grade is required to participate in Confirmation in which the 10th grade students lead the Shavuot service.  Our students round out their studies with a trip to Israel.