Torah School Registration Information: 2011-12/5771-72

May 1, 2011

Dear Current and Prospective Torah School Families,

The current Adat Shalom Torah School year is winding down, and it is time to register for the 5772 school year beginning in September. Over the past two years your Torah School Board, with the support of the Adat Shalom Synagogue Board, has worked hard to provide the best possible experiences for our children and teens. Our program includes: age-appropriate Minyanim led by Sue Marx and Ellie Schuchman, experienced professional teachers, an innovative, interactive “hands on” Jewish Studies and Hebrew Curriculum, a Hebrew resource specialist, special needs support, a music teacher, and an art specialist. Our program also includes a variety of field trips and special programs designed to make Jewish learning experiential and meaningful.

TORAH SCHOOL – The Shabbat Morning Program

[Grades preK – 6th]

We encourage our students to begin their Torah School education in our monthly program for pre-K students called Gan Katan which is an innovative fun parent/child monthly learning program. Students who begin in Gan (kindergarten) benefit from a language-rich, Jewish experiential environment that will set them up for the greatest success in Aleph (first grade). Our B’nai Mitzvah Guidelines require that all children who wish to be eligible for a bar or bat mitzvah at Adat Shalom be enrolled in a Jewish Education program beginning no later than the 3^rd grade and continuing through the 8^th grade. Torah School is offered on Saturday mornings for our Gan Katan (3 and 4 year-olds) through Vav (6^th Grade) students. The Torah School curriculum includes Jewish Holidays, Life Cycle Celebrations and Customs, Ancient and Modern Jewish history, ethics, Israel Studies, and a BRAND NEW grade specific Tikkun Olam curriculum.

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM– Sunday Evening Programs

[Grades 7 – 12]

Our 7^th grade program meets weekly, and our Atid Shalom program meets twice a month, on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30 pm. Please refer to appropriate registration materials for additional information including fees and schedules.

HEBREW LEARNING FOR ADAT SHALOM STUDENTS – grade 3 - 6

Option 1 on site hebrew

A more comprehensive Hebrew Education program begins at the 3^rd grade level. You will see from the attached registration materials, that our students are provided three options for the Hebrew Education component of their education. We strongly encourage you to enroll your child in one of our mid-week classes at either Adat Shalom or at our Silver Spring satellite location held at the Sligo Creek Elementary School; the experience of learning with other Jewish children and developing those friendships is an important component of the Hebrew learning experience. However, we know that it is not always possible to attend a mid-week class and, accordingly, have re-designed our Off Site Hebrew (OSH) program.

Option 2 - Off-Site Hebrew – 1 For Students in grades 3 – 6

The 5772 OSH-1 program will have a parallel curriculum to our in-house Hebrew programs. OSH-1 includes 25 weekly lessons (30 minutes each) with a Torah School Hebrew Teacher under the supervision of the Torah School Director. These lessons will be done via Skype and will use the same materials our students use in Hebrew Classes. Weekly progress reports will be sent to OSH parents, and monthly conference calls will be scheduled for parents and students. This is a new dynamic interactive approach to off-site Hebrew learning. Incoming 3^rd graders who elect to learn Hebrew in an off site program must enroll in this program.

Option 3 Off-Site Hebrew – 2 Limited Enrollment for students in grades 4 – 6

If your child has ALREADY had a successful experience with Chaverim B’Telephone or with a private tutor, a limited option, OSH-2 will be offered this year to 4^th graders and older students. Only those families who have previously enrolled in one of our off-site programs and who work directly with the Education Director will have the chance to use this option which comes with an adjusted tuition. OSH-2 will be tailored to your child’s accomplishments to date and all possible effort will be made to allow your child to continue with his or her current tutor. For more information on enrolling in this program, please contact the Education Director at your earliest convenience.

Please note the following dates and times for informational meetings:

The best option for insuring your child’s success at Torah School and in Hebrew School is for you to get involved with the school! Please make it a top priority to attend informational sessions, participate in family learning activities, volunteer in your child’s classroom, and attend Shabbat morning services on Saturdays while your child is at Torah School. How you live your life Jewishly is the best educational tool available to your child.

As always, please call or email tsinfo@adatshalom.net with any specific questions. We look forward to seeing you next year!