TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
PARENT HANDBOOK

2017-2018 / 5778

Alice Talmud, Principal

Temple Drive

Port Washington, N.Y. 11050

Phone: 767-1708

E-mail:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. CALENDAR, CLASS SCHEDULE, SERVICE REQUIREMENTS / PAGE NUMBER
Religious School Calendar / 3
Religious School Class Schedule / 4
Students’ Services/Attendance Requirement / 5
Service Attendance Policy / 5
2. PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM
Electives / 6
Library / 6
Class Events / 7
Children, Youth and Family Programs / 8
Mitzvah Projects by Grade / 9
Enrichment Opportunities / 9
Curriculum Guide by Grade / 10 - 17
Project Etgar / 18
TBI High, J-Ted / 19
Youth Group / 19
3. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Behavior Expectations / 20
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Requirement / 21
New Student Requirement / 21
Books and Supplies / 21
Religious School Faculty / 22
Parents, and Others as Partners / 22-23
Education Committee / 23
Homework / 24
Contact Information / 24
Attendance / 24
Camp Ramah / 24
Dress Code / 24-25
Allergies / 25
Kashrut / 25
Tzedakah/Gemilut Hasadim / 25
Absences and Early Dismissals / 25
Guests in the Classroom / 25
4. MISSION AND GOALS
Religious School Mission Statement / 26-27
Religious School Goals / 27-29
Family Education Goals / 29

2017-2018 / 5778 School Calendar

Yellow = Holiday, Strikethrough = No school

School Meets Tues. 4-6pm (Grades 2–5), 6:10-8:10 (Grades 6-7, TBI HIGH), and Sun. 9am-12 pm (Grades K – 6), 10 am-12 pm (Grade 7)
5 Opening Faculty Mtng-
4 pm
10 Opening Day/Open House Religious School
Welcome Back Barbeque 4-6 pm
12 Opening Day, TBI High
Youth Groups / SEPTEMBER '17
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
/ OCTOBER '17
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28
29 / 30 / 31
/ 3 Youth Groups
Ed.Comm. Mtng. 8:15 pm
8 No Religious School-
Columbus Day Wknd.
10 Sukkah Visits
22 Rabbi Mishkin – Shorashim Family Prog. 9 am
Pet Parade/Blessing
29 Faculty Meeting #2
4 Clock falls back
5 Rabbi Mishkin – Kitah Vav Family Program, 9 am
7 Election day, no Religious School
Teachers – CPC Yom Iyun
14 Youth Groups
Ed. Comm. Mtng. 8:15 pm
26 Thanksgiving Wknd, No Religious School / NOVEMBER '17
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18
19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25
26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
/ DECEMBER '17
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
31
/ 3 Rabbi Mishkin – Kitah Zayin Family Program, 10 am
Faculy Meeting #3
5 Youth Groups
10 Rabbi Mishkin – Kitah Alef Family Program, 9 am
17 Trivia Day
19 School Wide Hanukkah Celebration
24-31 Winter Recess
7 Rabbi Mishkin-Kitah Bet Family Program, 9 am
14 No school, MLK weekend
16 Youth Groups
Ed. Comm. Mtng. 8:15 pm
26 Kitah Vav Service/Dinner
6:30 pm
28 Faculty Mtng. #4
Rabbi Mishkin-Kitah Dalet
Family Prog. 9 am
30 No TBI High (Finals Week) / JANUARY '18
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27
28 / 29 / 30 / 31
/ FEBRUARY '18
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2 / 3
4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17
18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24
25 / 26 / 27 / 28
/ 4 World Wide Wrap
9 Kitah Bet/Gimel Service/Dinner 6:30 pm
Friday Night Live
13 Youth Groups
18 -25 No Religious School, Presidents’ Week
4 Siddur Cover Workshop for Kitah Bet Parents 9 am
Purim Carnival
6 Youth Groups
Ed. Comm. Mtng. 8:15 pm
10 Clock springs forward
Kitah Gimel Havdallah 6:45 pm
11 Rabbi Mishkin – Kitah Vav
Fmly. Prog. (Yads) 9 am
Faculty Mtng. #5
18 Rabbi Mishkin – Kitah Hei Fmly. Prog. 9 am
25 Passover Program / MARCH '18
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2 / 3
4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17
18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24
25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
/ APRIL '18
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28
29 / 30
/ 1-8 Pesah, no Religious School
10 Youth Groups
Ed. Comm. Mtng. 8:15 pm
13 Kitah Dalet Service/Dinner
6:30 pm
15 Rabbi Mishkin – Kitah
Gimel Family Prog. 9 am
27 Kitah Hei Service/Dinner
6:30 pm
29 Kitah Bet Siddur Ceremony
10:30 am
Faculty Mtng. #6
13 Mother’s Day-No Religious School
15 Moving Up Ceremony
20 Confirmation
22 Youth Groups
Ed. Comm Mtng 8:15 pm / MAY '18
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19
20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26
27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
/ JUNE '18
S / M / T / W / Th / F / S
1 / 2
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CLASS SCHEDULE

Class Teacher/Madrichim** Room______Hours_

Shorashim Marlene Barnett Room # 9 Sun. 9-12N

Madricha: Mollie Tashlik

Alef -1 Amy Hagler Room # 8

Madricha: Maya Konoff

Alef -2 Meira Maynard Room #6

Madricha: Zoe Tashlik

Bet Shahla Moadel Room # 3 Sun 9-12N &

Madricha: Hannah Siskin Tues. 4-6 PM

Gimel Levana Lichter Room # 1

Madrich: Dylan Schor

Dalet Ronit Barr Room # 2

Madrich: Aidan Seiden

Hei - 1 Renee Maynard Room # 4

Madricha: Chelsea Mishan

Hei – 2 Janet Jeddah Room # 5

Madrich: Samwell Nachimson

Vav Melissa Adler Room # 7 Sun. 9-12N,

Madrich: Aaron Cotumaccio Tues. 6:10-8:10 PM

Zayin Janet Jeddah Room #2 (Tues.) Sun. 10-12N,

Jay Dickler Library (Sun.) Tues. 6:10-8:10 PM

Music Rochelle Potak Conf. Room (Main Floor)

Chief Madrich at Large: Jared Wofse

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CLASS SCHEDULE

SUNDAY TUESDAY THURSDAY*

9 AM - 12 Noon 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Shorashim-Kitah Vav Kitah Bet - Kitah Hei See Below

6:10 PM - 8:10 PM

10 AM-12 Noon Kitah Vav - Kitah Zayin

Kitah Zayin TBI High

*On Thursdays, there will be no regularly scheduled classes. We will offer extra-help in small group sessions.

**Our Madrichim program is one of the ways our older children can stay connected to the community by assisting teachers on Sunday mornings.

SERVICE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT:

CLASS/GRADE NUMBER REQUIRED

SHORASHIM / KITAH ALEF (K – 1) 6

KITAH BET / KITAH GIMEL (2 – 3) 8

KITAH DALET / KITAH HEI (4 – 5) 10

KITAH VAV / KITAH ZAYIN (6 – 7) 13

Our Tot Shabbat and Jr. Congregation Services are great ways for our students to celebrate Shabbat, learn more about the Shabbat services, and fulfill the Service Requirements.

As our children approach and then prepare for their B’nai Mitzvah, it is particularly valuable for them to participate in our Shabbat services to gain a greater familiarity and comfort with our services in general and the prayers in particular.

TRACKING SERVICE ATTENDANCE: Children will track their service attendance whenever they attend a Friday evening or Shabbat morning service at TBI. Two sets of index card file boxes (one for Friday evening and one for Shabbat morning) are located in both the Library and the Sanctuary. Each file box contains alphabetized index cards for every TBI student. At the conclusion of the service attended, the student will ask that their card be placed in the front of the card box for the appropriate day. On Sunday morning, all of the boxes will be collected and the attendance will be noted.

In addition, whenever children attend services in other Conservative Synagogues, their parents are asked to please send an email to the Religious School office and we will happily add those dates to our files.

Finally, each class will have an incentive chart to which children will be encouraged to attach stars for each service attended.

PROGRAMS & CURRICULUM

ELECTIVES:

We are excited to continue our elective program and expand upon it. On Sunday mornings, our Kitah Bet and Kitah Gimel students will choose from special elective topics, which will be led by their teachers and various other resources. In addition, our Kitah Dalet, Kitah Hei and Kitah Vav students will again participate in their chosen electives. We plan to have one set of electives offered in the Fall semester and a second one in the Spring semester.

SHINSHINIM:

Our students will have the amazing experience of working, playing and learning with our own young Israeli representatives. Tomer (on Tuesdays) and Eden (on Sundays) will spend time visiting our classes, creating exciting programming and helping to forge a strong bond between our youth and Israel.

LIBRARY:

During the course of the school year, our students will have several opportunities to visit TBI’s library to borrow from our growing collection of books.

CLASS EVENTS:

Each year our classes are highlighted during special Synagogue Services. These services are followed by a celebratory meal offering a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to know each other and for our children to socialize. Please see the TBI Calendar for specific dates.

Shorashim and Kitah Alef

Shorashim and Kitah Alef will join together with their families for a special Shabbat Morning Service and Lunch.

Kitah Bet

Kitah Bet will celebrate their accomplishments as they receive their own Siddurim. This Siddur Ceremony is held in the Sanctuary on a Sunday morning. In preparation for this event, parents decorate beautiful cloth Siddur covers at a parent workshop. The ceremony is followed by brunch. Kitah Bet students will also join together with Kitah Gimel students and their families for a special Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Dinner.

Kitah Gimel

Kitah Gimel students culminate their study of the Havdallah service with a special Saturday evening event. Our families gather at the conclusion of Shabbat with a joyful Havdallah Service. This program is followed by a dessert buffet. Kitah Gimel students will also join together with Kitah Bet students and their families for a special Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Dinner.

Kitah Dalet, Kitah Hei and Kitah Vav

Kitah Dalet, Kitah Hei and Kitah Vav each lead one Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat service. These services are completely family friendly as the children lead the prayers that they have learned in class. These services are followed by a Class / Family Shabbat Dinner.

Children, Youth and Family Programs:

Religious

Event / Description
Tot Shabbat / Activities, Singing, Dancing, Story-time and Mini-Bagel Kiddush! Perfect for children birth-1st grade, Tot Shabbat is a wonderful way for preschool and early elementary school-age children and their families to celebrate Shabbat and get that Shabbat feeling!
Jr. Congregation / Fun and Interactive service including singing, games, praying, Torah Discussions and Holiday themed activities. Prefect for children 2nd grade-6th grade.
Friday Night Live / Monthly musical Shabbat service that will engage the entire family.

Social and Cultural

Event / Description
Youth Group / Activities for children 3rd grade and up.
Maccabees (grades 3-5), Kadima (grades 6-8)
USY (Beth Rock grades 9-12)
PJ Library Programs / Intended for families with children birth-8 years old, these
Programs offer activities, snacks, and a PJ Library story!
Library Stay N Play / When there is no children’s service scheduled, the library is open for children with their parents to play, read, and socialize.

Class Mitzvah Projects:

During the course of the Religious School year, with the help of the class liaisons, parents and teachers, students will engage in a Mitzvah Project on the following themes.

Shorashim - Tzar Ba'alei hayyim (Compassion for Animals)

Kitah Alef - Shamor v'Zachor et Yom ha-Shabbat (Celebrating Shabbat)

Kitah Bet - Hachnasat Orchim (Welcoming Guests)

Kitah Gimel - Bal Taschit (Do not waste)

Kitah Dalet - Bikur Cholim (Visiting the sick)

Kitah Hei - Keybood Z'kaynim (Honoring the elderly)

Kitah Vav - Sh'mirat Ha'Lashon (Guarding your tongue)

Kitah Zayin - Lo Ta'amod al Dahm Reyechah (Do not stand by when someone else is in danger)

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CURRICULUM

SHORASHIM (Kindergarten) three hours per week

Our focus in the Shorashim class is on a positive introduction to the study of Judaism. Through song, dance, art and stories the children begin to identify with the joy of being Jewish and learning about our heritage.

Objectives:

1)  Holidays: An understanding of our holidays and traditions with a particular emphasis on Shabbat.