School Registration, Summer Hebrew Practice and More
Keeping Connected June 2025
School Registration, Summer Hebrew Practice and More
Summer is (almost) here. Time to enjoy a little rest, relaxation and family time. It is well deserved for all!
As you know, we had a very successful school year with lots of highlights, though too many to list, including the reforming of Kol Kolot, Yoga sessions for our 4th-7th graders, a super fun Brownie challenge, an amazing Hanukkah party and Purim Spiel and Carnival, our tzedakah collection (see below), Shabbat dinners and family services (see below) all ending with a wonderful community gathering in which we worked together to make some art pieces that will form our own tree in the Memorial Garden. In addition to all this, students learned, engaged, laughed and enjoyed Religious and Hebrew School, Chai School and Post Confirmation. Whew – no wonder we all need a break!
TZEDAKAH PROJECT
Our tzedakah project this year was meaningful and engaging. It was awesome to see the students’ (and families’) participation all year. It was great to watch the jar of dog biscuits grow as we collected money for the Israel Guide Dog program. It was fun to talk to the students about Tasha the dog and hear about different ways that they were earning money to donate. In addition, we got to watch Tasha grow over the year. We had made a goal of working to collect $500 for the year and I am happy to share that we have surpassed that goal! We will continue collecting through the end of June. Thank you to everyone for your participation and support.
SHABBAT DINNER
We have been fortunate to be able to provide a free Shabbat dinner each month. These gatherings are other place of community togetherness, filled with spirit, happiness and pretty good food! We have one more Shabbat Dinner, followed by a Family Service on June 6, 2025. This will be a pizza dinner at 6pm and all school families and friends are invited to join us. Please rsvp to eddirector@congregationshalom.org to let me know how many people in your family will be joining us for the pizza dinner. The Family Service following the dinner is sure to be filled with great music and joy.
SUMMER HEBREW PRACTICE
It is really important to have your students practice Hebrew a little bit this summer. Research shows that children’s reading ability will decline during the summer months without continued practice. I am available during the summer to meet with your students at times that work for you and me to practice Hebrew together, in person or on Zoom. Reach out to me and we can arrange some time. I really enjoy working one on one with the students!
Click here to access a fun Summer Hebrew Bingo Board. The activities suggested on the board should take no more than 10 minutes each. Encourage your student to complete the entire Bingo board and bring it back to temple for a little prize.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Thank you to all the families who submitted their registrations! We truly appreciate your promptness.
As we move into summer, we are beginning to make plans for the next school year. We are buying books and supplies, creating class lists and figuring out what the school will look like this coming year. It is important that we have an accurate count of how many students we will have. Please submit your forms as soon as possible, before June 15. You can access the registration forms from the Learning tab https://congregationshalom.org/learning-2/ on the temple’s website. Forms are due by June 15. After that you will be fined a late fee and have to endure many emails asking you to please fill out and return the forms! Reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The temple’s School Committee is a group of people who work together to provide for the educational needs of the school. We meet monthly (sometimes with snacks!) and work to help the school to be strong and successful. We are open to new thoughts and ideas. Anyone can be part of the School Committee. If you are interested in joining the committee or finding out more information, please reach out to me.
SUGGESTIONS
We are always thinking about the temple school and ways to make it better. Please take some time to share with me some of your thoughts about the school, ideas or suggestions you might have for next year and any other information that you think would be helpful going into another year. Your thoughts and opinions are valuable and appreciated.
Thank you again for all your continued support and enthusiasm and thank for working together to have created a successful year.
Enjoy the summer,
Deborah