Etz Chayim Family and Youth Education

Etz Chayim’s family and youth education program provides a positive and engaging learning journey for our students and their families, which embraces our congregation’s commitment to an egalitarian, warm, inclusive community and life-long Jewish learning. Our program:

Provides a dynamic, fun educational experience to fortify Jewish identity through the study of Hebrew, culture, history, traditions, and tikkun olam.
Enables every child to become a confident service leader and participant.
Strengthens the parent community by providing adult learning opportunities to enable parents to become Jewish teachers at home for their children.

You can explore the schedule, themes, and costs of the Etz Chayim family and youth programs for 20121-2013 by expanding the sections below.

Begin your exploration of our programs here

Click on the map icon below to see a map that represents a child's journey through our eductional programs. You can also click on the class name below and get more details including the class schedule and cost. If you still have questions after looking at this information, contact the office or our Education Director, Melissa Rogoway.

Z’ra’im – “Seeds” (preschool)

Themes:

Family Program

Being a Mensch

Jewish holidays

Community

Our preschool family class explores Jewish holidays through hands-on activities including puppertry, cooking, music, games, and more. The class includes a parent learning discussion led by our Education Director. For children ages 2.5-5 and their parents. Meets one Sunday a month from 10 am to noon.

Tuition: $225 plus $50 non-member supplement if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

MiDor l’ Dor – “From Generation to Generaton” (K/1)Themes:

Family Program

More holidays

Hebrew Songs

Jewish ethics

For families with children in kindergartern or first grade, this experiential learning-based program focuses on Jewish holidays and home rituals. Hebrew vocabulary is taught through songs and blessings. This year we will be including the brand new Shalom Sesame (Sesame Street) curriculum as a part of our studies. During each session a parent discussion is led by one of the group.

The class meets on Sunday mornings twice a month from 10 a.m. to noon and also includes additonal Shabbat dinner and Havdalah dinner experiences.

Tuition: $800 plus $150 non-member supplement if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

Shorashim – “Roots” (2nd grade)Themes:

The synagogue

Shabbat

G0d

Hebrew letters

Second grade begins the core of a child's religious school education. Students learn about Jewish identity, Shabbat, and synagogue life. We also introduce Hebrew letters and vocabulary through interactive games and study. Parents are asked to attend the last half hour of school on Sundays, 11:30-noon, for t'fillah (prayer service.)

Second grade meets every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. noon.

Tuition: $795 plus $4975 non-member supplement if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

Shorashim – “Roots” (3rd, 4th, 5th grade)Themes:

Bible Stories: Genesis & Exodus (grade 3)

Beginning blessings (grade 3)

Prophets and Heros (grade 4)

Life cycle events (grade 5)

Hebrew reading

Grades 3, 4, and 5 have one hour of Hebrew instruction and one hour of Jewish Studies instruction each meeting. Our Hebrew program centers on core competencies in Hebrew reading, service leading, and comprehension. All classes participate in leading a Friday night service.

Jewish Studies instruction offers varied learning experiences, topics based on grade: grade 3, Torah studies and lessons, grade 4, Prophets and Jewish Heroes, grade 5, Jewish life cycle.

Teachers utlize a variety of modes of instruction, from hands-on project to text study.

Grade 3-5 meet every Sunday from 9:30-noon and Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m.

Parents in grades 3-5 are asked to attend the last half hour of school on Sunday, 11:30-noon for t'fillah (prayer service).

Tuition for Third-Fifth grades $1095 if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

Shorashim – “Roots” (6th grade)Themes:

Israel

American Jewish community

Saturday morning service

Torah Trope

Grade 6 meets every Sunday from 9:30-noon and Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. The Wednesday class includes one hour of Hebrew instruction and one hour of Jewish Studies. In this grade we include a module to teach the skill of chanting Torah (trope). Students participate in leading a Saturday morning service and chant their first verse of Torah at the service.

Sixth grade parents are asked to attend the last half hour of school on Sundays, 11:30-noon for t'fillah (prayer service).

Tuition: $1250 if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

Tichon- “Readiness” (7th grade)Themes:

World Jewish communities

Holocaust

Saturday AM service (part 2)

Table blessings

In Middle School, we move to meeting on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30. This gives the older students a sense of community and a chance to have the building to themselves. Dinner is part of these programs, arranged by the parents on a rotating basis. It is usually pizza, salad, and fruit

We know that attending the Bar/t Mitzvah family class, required Shabbat services, and meeting with tutors and the Rabbi can be time consuming. We only meet once a week in order to accomodate the demands of Bar/t Mitzvah preparation.

In Hebrew, the students complete their study of the Shabbat morning service, learn Birkat ha-mazon (grace after meals), and parts of Hallel (the service of praise for festivals). In Jewish studies they have two units - world Jewish communities, and the Holcaust.

Tuition: $875 if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

Bar/t Mitzvah programThemes:

Family Program

Chant Torah

Study Text with Rabbi

Service Project

"Bar/t" Mitzvah is how we at Etz Chayim refer to a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah; literally a "Son" or "Daughter" of the Commandments. The Bar/t Mitzvah family class meets nine Sunday afternoons in the fall. For more information visit the Bar/t Mitzvah overview page.

Tichon – “Readiness” (8th grade)Themes:

Modern Jewish Ethics

Teen issues

Being a community

Grade 8 has an entirely different format than the younger grades. Group discussion and debates are used to explore topics of interest to the teens. The topics are chosen by the group each year. Examples from the past are: Teen suicide, abortion, vegetarianism, body piercing, and homophobia. Grade 8 meets Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Tuition: $875 if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

Immun – “I believe” (9th, 10 grade)Themes:

9th Grade:

G0d
Personal “Belief"
Jewish art and music
Faith (or not)

10th Grade:

Other faiths
Kinds of Judaism
More on belief
Confirmation Service

Grades 9 an 10 meet once a month on Sunday afternoon, 12:15-2:15 pm for lunch and schmoozing. The class continues with a facilitated discussion about what teens believe about Jewish topics such as good vs. evil, the existence of G0d, and the meaning of prayer. Field trips and speakers are also a part of the program. This year JIMENA will be sending a speaker about Middle Eastern jewish communities.

$250 if you register by 5/10/12, $50 extra after 5/10/12

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Mazel Tov Baby - A free program for families with babies under 1 year. Open to both members and non-members of Etz, this social group meets once a month on Sunday afternoons

Shalom in the Shul - A free, monthly Shabbat program for Jewish preschoolers and their families. It is a casual, spirited family play experience rather than a service, featuring Shalom Dubi (Shalom the Teddy Bear), and is open to both members and non-members of Etz.

Rosh Chodesh: It’s a Girl Thing—A values based, experiential, inclusive Jewish program for pre-teen girls in grades 6 and 7 that strengthens self-esteem and Jewish identity.

The Brotherhood - New starting in the fall of 2012, a program to help our boys to grow into good Jewish men. Offered for 8th graders.

REGISTRATION

Registration is open for the 2012-13 Religious School year. Please print out the registration form, fill it in, and return it with your $100 deposit to the Etz Chayim office. We are always happy to answer your questions about our programs. Please contact Melissa Rogoway at EducationDirector@etzchayim.org.

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

The Religious School program seeks to include as many kinds of Jewish families as possible within the community. We successfully serve familes with children who have mild to moderate special learning or physical needs. Contact our Education Director, Melissa Rogoway, for an initial assessment meeting to determine if this program is right for your child and to identify best learning modes and strategies for success. The Education Director will work with your family to craft a specific plan of education for your child.

NON-MEMBER POLICY

Non-member families can enroll in school programs for one year for an additional fee (Z’ra’im-grade 2 only). Students in grades 3 and up must be members of Etz Chayim families.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

We do not want money to stand in the way of your child’s Jewish education. If you need a fee reduction, we do have funds available. Please contact Ellen Bob, our Executive Director, to make arrangements.

Congregation Etz Chayim

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