Inspiring our children with a love of Jewish life and learning.

Creating a positive, fun, and meaningful Jewish educational experience.

We strive to foster the formation of a positive Jewish identity for students of every age through engaging, hands-on and thoughtful programs. The overall goals of our curriculum are to:

• Create an awareness of Jewish history, holidays and lifecycle events

• Develop familiarity with the prayers, blessings and music of a Reform service

• Instill the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam (healing the world), Kavod (respect) and Tzedakah (charitable giving/social responsibility)

• Form community through multigrade classes, family involvement and special programming

• Offer varied opportunities to connect to Judaism and spirituality, while being part of an inclusive community

Children can begin religious school with our Preschool at age 3 and continue their Jewish education right through 12th grade. Included in their journey are the life cycle events of Consecration (1st grade), B'Mitzvah (7th grade), and Confirmation (10th grade). 

Preschool/Kindergarten – ages 3-5

Preschool and Kindergarten are offered weekly on Sunday mornings throughout the school year. Through stories, songs, games, and crafts students learn about Jewish life, bible stories, holidays and values.

Looking for ways to connect with other young families?

Learn about the opportunities we offer families with young children to build community while engaging in Jewish life.

Grades 1-7

Religious School is offered Sunday mornings throughout the school year. While working towards the overall goals of our curriculum, students engage in hands-on and interactive activities, bringing Judaism to life in meaningful and accessible ways. The teachers meet each student where they are at to accommodate their individual learning and social needs. Over the course of several years, the students in these grades explore holidays, values, Israel, the Synagogue, Bible Stories, Immigration and Life Cycles. The atmosphere in the temple on a Sunday morning is filled with joyful learning, laughing, social connections, and a wonderful feeling of pride in being Jewish.

Hebrew in grades 3-7

Hebrew for 3rd graders is offered on Sunday mornings during the school year. Our special program, Hebrew Through Movement, introduces students to Hebrew in playful and meaningful ways, helping to create positive and happy memories of beginning to learn Hebrew. Students in this beginning Hebrew class learn the AlephBet and how to decode Hebrew words. At the end of the year, families and students join together in a celebration, Siyyum HaSefer, of having completed the first year of Hebrew.

For 4th - 7th graders, Hebrew is offered on Wednesday afternoons. Many students in this age group attend Religious School on Sunday mornings and Hebrew School on Wednesday. During this time, students begin to learn prayer and blessings through music, games and differentiated teaching as needed for each person. Hebrew School allows students to work one on one, in small groups and with the whole class. This Hebrew School program is active, engaging and filled with pride and pleasure in learning new prayers and blessings.

Grades 8-12

Chai School

Following their B’Mitzvah year, students in 8^th, 9^th and 10^th grade enroll in our Chai School, which meets on Wednesday evenings. The night begins with a pizza dinner, and is followed by fun and exciting opportunities to explore new topics and ideas while spending time with their friends and classmates. The course offerings vary each year. Examples of past classes include playing the ukulele through Jewish music, learning about the Holocaust, creating Stop Motion videos with Jewish values, learning about what it is like to live in Israel, and so much more. Classes meet for three six-week sessions through the year. 

Confirmation and Kesher

In grade 10, our students engage in a more in-depth exploration of God, personal theology and Jewish identity. This program culminates in the ceremony of Confirmation. For teens in grades 11-12 we offer a monthly program which we call Kesher, which means bridge in Hebrew. Our goal is to help our students develop a bridge towards their future independence. Together we explore the relationship between current events and the Jewish idea of Tikkun Olam or Social Justice. Conversations give each student a chance to share their personal feelings and insights into issues that are important to them. We also talk about their future paths and other issues that are important to young people.

Looking for other ways for teens to connect?

Learn more about our Shalom Teen Community where you can come together with your peers to explore all aspects of Jewish life, while building strong connections with each other and the greater temple community.

School Tzedakah Project – for all ages

Our school leads a tzedakah project each year for both the school and the larger Congregation Shalom community.  While teaching about the importance of living generously and fulfilling the commandment to help to repair the world  (Tikkun Olam), the school works all year to both collect money to be donated to a certain organization and to teach and explore ideas and information about that year's cause. Recently, we have learned about the plight of girls in Guatemala and have donated to Mayan Hands, while keeping track of money collected through a beautiful weaving project. We have also contributed to Guide Dogs in Israel, while learning about the needs of different people. There is a wonderful feeling in the temple all year as the community comes together and watches the tzedakah collection grow towards our goal.