Central to our school’s mission is teaching about Jewish life and practice. Our students learn about the Jewish holidays throughout the year and have weekly Shabbat preparations, including Shabbat songs and learning about the week’s Parsha.
Tefillah (Prayer) is a part of each and every day. Older students gather together in the Beit Midrash for morning prayer, which includes the opportunity to develop prayer-leading skills and to read Torah. Younger students pray in their classrooms with their teachers. In all settings, students become familiar with the structure of the service as they explore the meanings of the prayers and develop fluency.
All lower school students participate in physical education classes three times per week. Middle school students participate two times per week. The curriculum focuses on student development in the physical and mental aspects of sports, fitness, and activities. All units emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, and communication, as well as building self-esteem, relieving stress, and developing a sense of belonging. Students are challenged with self-assessment, goal setting, and resiliency.
Classes in nutrition, health, and wellness are included in the curriculum.
Students in grades 5-8 have the opportunity to participate in seasonal sports as part of The Friendship League. We offer soccer (fall), basketball (winter), volleyball (winter), and track and field (spring). Interscholastic sports offer students a way to learn important lessons and skills in teamwork and sportsmanship. It allows students to stay active and healthy while having fun. Student-athletes also build excellent time management skills that contribute to academic success.
Our school is committed to the principle of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Current and past community service opportunities include:
Ruth’s Garden is an outdoor garden and learning space whose purpose is to create the opportunity for project-based and interdisciplinary learning that supports our curriculum in both general and Judaic Studies. The Garden was established in 2016 in loving memory of Dr. Ruth Rich, a science teacher and administrator in our school community for many years. Dr. Rich exemplified a passion for learning and for the integration of the Judaic and the scientific. We are continuing her work and legacy with this outdoor learning space. Our students will have opportunities to work in the garden as part of their classroom activities. Our Parparim students have been leading our composting efforts to ready the garden for spring planting.
Our school nurtures in our students a love of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. Israeli culture is a part of the Hebrew and Judaic program on all grade levels. We maintain a strong connection with Eshkol, our partner region in Israel; our middle school students are in frequent contact with our partner class there. We have welcomed Eshkol students when they have visited our community, and our eighth grade students and recent graduates participate in community sponsored trips to Israel. Our eighth grade students also engage in a series of classes designed to equip them with a knowledge of modern Israeli history and with the tools they need to assert Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
Our annual science fair is a place for deep learning that engages students, teachers, parents, and community members. Younger cohorts present group projects. Students in our Dolphinim and middle school cohorts present individual projects on topics of personal interest. Local scientists engage students in conversations about their projects, offer words of encouragement, and suggestions for next steps.