January 2022   Keeping Connected

This year, due to covid restrictions, we are not having a lot of people in our temple building while school is in session. We all miss the hubbub of families dropping off and picking up, milling about in the lobby and peeking into classes to see what is going on each morning. Since you can’t be in the building, this month’s article will bring the action and excitement to you!

Our morning begins with students being dropped off along the curb for school. Many students stop and add money to the tzedakah collection before heading into the building.  I hear parents shouting “Have a good morning,” “I love you,” and “See you soon.” I heard one parent ask their child, through the car window, if they had their snack and the student responded “I ate it on the way to school!” (We hooked her up with another snack to eat outside during class time.) Students eagerly enter the building, meet up with their classmates and begin a morning of learning, laughter and energy.

Our preschool class meets several times a month. The class of our youngest students is fast paced and full of activity. There is always book reading, song singing, crafting and often a creative food component (sometimes made and always eaten outside!)   On one particular day recently, the children were gathered around Morah Lauren and her madricha on the rug all looking at and listening to a story of Jonah and the Whale.  One child noticed a very big boat and a connection to Noah’s Ark was made. The class had a fun time making Jonah and the Whale out of graham crackers, blue frosting and goldfish. You had to look at them quickly before they were gobbled up, just like Jonah!More

December 2021   Keeping Connected

A person was walking through New York City and stop another person in the street to ask “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?”

The second person responded with “Practice, practice, practice.”

The theory of learning a second language runs on a similar theory. Practice helps you get better. Practice leads to comfort. Practice leads to more fluency. You probably try really hard to get your children to sports practices. You probably encourage them to practice a musical instrument at home. Similar to these scenarios, language learning needs practice.  Revisiting what is taught in Hebrew School reinforces their long-term learning and leads to better retention and maximizes their learning potential. Just attending Hebrew class each week is not enough to allow your children to progress with their Hebrew. The good news is that practicing Hebrew at home only needs 10-15 minutes a day, a few days a week.

As your children grow and develop, they access prior learning and foundations to move forward with their continued learning. They use what they have already been exposed to and build on it each week. When your children begin the formal work of preparing for their actual Bar/Bat Mitzvah, they are required to practice several times a week in order to be ready to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. If they are already in the habit of practicing regularly at home, it makes this requirement go a lot more smoothly. The journey to the bima should be paved with Hebrew practice starting in the younger grades!

How can you help your student practice Hebrew at home?

1. Do not make it a chore. Try to refrain from telling your children how much you dreaded learning Hebrew. Do not use it as a punishment. Try to make Hebrew practice fun and light hearted.
2. Give your student an audience. Encourage them to practice so that you can listen. Have them read for ten minutes out loud while you are driving, folding laundry, or preparing dinner. The more the students read out loud, the more comfort they will develop.
3. Do not worry if they are making mistakes. The teachers/madrichim will help with correcting mistakes.
4. You do not need to know how to read Hebrew to support your student. Support them in their efforts. Encourage them with their work. If you would like the transliterations of any of the Hebrew prayers and blessings, please ask me and I will help you access them.
5. If you do want to follow along, there are many prayers in the Prayer Books that have transliterations. Have your child read Hebrew and you can follow along with the transliterations.
6. Help your child keep their Hebrew books and folders neat and organized and accessible, with easy access to the different resource sheets that might be helpful while practicing.
7. Make Hebrew reading fun. Have your student read to a pet. Have them read to grandma or grandpa over the phone or on Zoom. Have them reach out to a classmate for a little one on one Hebrew practice before playing together.
8. Attend Shabbat services on Friday nights (in person or live streamed) to allow them to find meaning in the the prayers in a service.
9. Access the chanting of the prayers on the temple’s website to allow your student to become more familiar with the tunes and melodies. Many times I have suggested to students to play the chanting clips while making their bed or brushing their teeth. Familiarity with the prayers and blessings will add more comfort. (It is just like listening to the same song over and over again.)
10. Prioritize your students Hebrew class time and their time working with their Hebrew madrich/madrichim.
11. Some families find that having a Homework Chart works well. Help your student keep track of the days spent practicing at home. Share the chart with me or your Hebrew teacher for kudos and maybe even a little prize.
12. Feel free to talk to me about ways to help your student at home.

We are so fortunate at Congregation Shalom to have such an enthusiastic group of teachers and Hebrew madrichim to help with your students Hebrew learning. The continued support of Hebrew practice at home will help to create a well-rounded language learning experience and will help to develop strong and eager Hebrew readers! Thank you in advance for your support in helping your student to practice their Hebrew at home.

Wishing you all a Happy Hanukkah and a joyful season,

Deborah

Schedule for December

Wednesday, December 1 – Hebrew School

• Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
• Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple
• 6:30pm – BIG Menorah Lighting outside the temple

Thursday, December 2

• 6:30pm – BIG Menorah Lighting outside the temple

Friday, December 3

• Family Shabbat at 7:00pm (led by the 7^th graders,) all are invited
• 6:30pm – BIG Menorah Lighting outside the temple

Saturday, December 4 – 10:30am

• 6:30pm – BIG Menorah Lighting outside the temple

Sunday, December 5

• Hanukkah Party in the Parking Lot
• Family Event for all to join in the celebration – 10am-12pm
• This is class for the day
• Bring a gift card (Walmart, Amazon, Target, Market Basket) to donate to the refugee settling in our area from Afghanistan
• 6:30pm – BIG Menorah Lighting outside the temple

Wednesday, December 8

• Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
• Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple

Friday, December 10

• Shalomites Creative Service – this is always a fun service with lots of music, come join and support the Shalomites as they lead the congregation at 6pm

Sunday, December 12 – Religious School

• K-4^th – 8:30m-10:15am
• 5^th – 7^th – 10:30am – 12:30pm
• 6^th grade family ed – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Wednesday, December 15

• Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
• Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple
• Post Confirmation – 6:30pm – 8:00pm (Pizza at 6pm)

Sunday, December 19 – Religious School – Shacharit Service

SCHEDULE IS DIFFERENT DUE TO SERVICE TODAY

• PreSchool – 8:30am – 10:15am
• K – 2 – 8:30am-10:15am
• 3^rd grade – 8:30am-11:30am
• 4^th grade- 8:30am – 10:45am
• 5^th – 7^th – 10:15am – 12:30pm

Wednesday, December 22

• Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
• Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple

Sunday, December 26 – NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Wednesday, December 29 – NO HEBREW SCHOOL

Sunday, January 2, 2022 – NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Wednesday, January 5 – BACK IN SESSION with Hebrew School

November 2021   Keeping Connected

Have you seen the awesome Tzedakah Chart that sits outside the temple at drop off and pick up?  Due to continued restrictions of Covid19, we have moved the weekly tzedakah collection outside each week!

This year’s goal is to fill up the truck with various items needed for Afghan refugees to settle into our community. As you may know, through amazing efforts from the International Institute of New England (IINE), many families from Afghanistan are resettling in our surrounding communities. Working with the IINE, we are collecting money this year that will help purchase various items needed to resettle into a new community. This topic has been discussed with many of the students and we will continue exploring ideas around being refugees and resettling throughout the year. Some of the students have shared some of their own thoughts and ideas and have begun to create a list of items that people would need to resettle into a community when they come from a different place without anything. I have been blown away by the student’s empathy and understanding of this situation. They have given it serious thought when creating the list of items. The items that they have thought up will be the basis for our collection this year and will help us fill up the truck. Images of the different items will be added to our tzedakah chart and when enough money is donated, the item will be moved into the truck. For example, once we collect $25, we will be able to put a bag of groceries in the truck. Our goal is to collect $1000 this year and to fill the truck up with many different necessities. This year, we are collecting both money and gift cards that will help the refugees settle into their new homes.More

October 2021   Keeping Connected

Whew! What a whirlwind it has been getting the school up and running this year. Thank you to everyone for your patience and flexibility as we continue to iron out somethings and make changes as they arise.

It has been a really wonderful start to the new school year at Congregation Shalom.It was lovely to see everyone for the parking lot meet and greet in September and then to welcome everyone back into the building on Sundays and remotely or in-person for Hebrew School on Wednesdays. There is an energetic tone in the air and a lot of joyous laughter and spirit as we all reconnect this year. I know that the teachers are thrilled to be back this year and are enjoying getting to know their new classes.

A little bit of housekeeping reminders:More

September 2021   Keeping Connected

The beginning of September has us looking forward to the new school year. I am excited for the year ahead as we approach another unique year for our temple school. The summer months have allowed me to meet some new families that will be joining our school. I invite you to reach out to people you may not know in the coming months and share a friendly hello and welcome.  In addition, I am thrilled to welcome Kristin Morris to our teaching team. Morah Kristin is an involved member of Congregation Shalom. She will be teaching our 5^th grade class this year.  Morah Kristin will be joined by the familiar faces of Morah Lauren (preschool and 6^th grade,) Moreh Rob (4th grade, Hebrew and Chai,) Moreh Rich (3^rd grade and Kitah Aleph,) Morah Amy (Hebrew and Chai School,) Morah Tymon (Hebrew) and myself (K-2) to create a dynamic and awesome teaching staff!More

JULY  2021    KEEPING CONNECTED

Summer is here and I hope you are all enjoying a little rest, relaxation and family time. It is well deserved for all!

Summer Hebrew Practice

It is really importance 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.

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. After July 1, the late fee increases to $50. (If you have difficulties paying the deposit or late fees, please contact me at eddirector@congregationshalom.org to discuss your options.)

Cover Letter

Form A

Form B

Form C

Form D

Form E

Form F

Finally, please be on the lookout for a School Survey that will be coming out soon. We are interested in gathering information from you to help us make plans for the coming school year. Your participation in the survey will be important in helping us move forward in developing these plans. Thank you.

Enjoy the summer,

Deborah