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Programs
Families with children in Grades 3-6 may choose either our traditional Religious School or our alternative Family Learning Circle-Hebrew Connection program.
Religious School
Students attend classes twice a week, Tuesdays 4:15 – 6:15 p.m. and Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Each session includes integrated Jewish Studies and Hebrew Studies.
Jewish Studies: Our Jewish Studies sessions allow students to engage in deep learning in a fun and creative setting. We stretch our classroom walls, often moving lessons to our outside rotunda or lawn. We use art, drama, music, creative writing, and movement to bring Jewish texts, traditions, and ideas to life. We strive to make Jewish learning relevant and engaging.
Hebrew Studies: At TBS, we teach students Hebrew through the Union of Reform Judaism’s self-paced Hebrew curriculum, Mitkadem. Our teachers serve as facilitators and work with each individual student to help him/her learn Hebrew. We work not only to teach our students prayers, but also to ignite within them a connection to prayer and an articulation of spirituality. Along with basic prayer vocabulary and Hebrew reading skills, we help our students understand the heart of the prayers they are learning.
Family Learning Circle-Hebrew Connection
Students in our Family Learning Circle (FLC) program attend Jewish Studies classes on Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and are tutored in Hebrew once a week at a time and place of their convenience. Each year, FLC parents participate in two Adult Education classes (approximately nine hours) and FLC families participate in a Family Activity Track (approximately ten hours).
Jewish Studies: Our Jewish Studies sessions allow students to engage in deep learning in a fun and creative setting. We stretch our classroom walls, often moving lessons to our outside rotunda or lawn. We use art, drama, music, creative writing, and movement to bring Jewish texts, traditions, and ideas to life. We strive to make Jewish learning relevant and engaging. In addition to the students’ Sunday classes, Family Learning Circle parents participate in an adult learning program and Family Learning Circle families participate in special family programming.
Hebrew Studies: Students in Grades 3-6 who enroll in our Family Learning Circle program also enroll in our nationally recognized Hebrew Connection program. Students in our Hebrew Connection program are matched with a TBS Hebrew tutor, who works one-on-one with that student during weekly individual Hebrew tutoring sessions. A private tutor meets with each student, either at the student’s home or at the Temple. We have found that individualized Hebrew instruction accelerates the Hebrew learning process and allows students to have deeper conversations about the prayers they are studying. One key element of the Hebrew Connection program is Pizza and Game Fun Time, which is held 3 times throughout the year. These programs take place directly after Sunday school and last one hour. These programs, which are social in nature, expand Hebrew skills by giving students the opportunity to use Hebrew in interaction with other students.
Adult Education: As part of the Family Learning Circle program, FLC parents are expected to engage in adult learning at TBS. Most of our adult education classes are offered during school on Sunday mornings, from 10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. At least one parent per family (but more are welcome) must register for two adult education classes (each class has three sessions, and each session is an hour and a half). Parents are invited to choose from a variety of courses taught by skilled educators, including members of our senior staff.
Family Activity: As part of the Family Learning Circle program, FLC families are expected to register for a Family Activity Track. Each Activity Track consists of four to five events (each event is approximately two hours). Families are invited to choose from a variety of Activity Tracks, which meet either on Sunday afternoons or on Shabbat.
