The Merry Month of May (and more)!
Keeping Connected May 2025
April turned out to be a quiet month for the school with time off for Passover and school vacation week. It was just the rest we needed as we head into the merry month of May and all that it brings for our school.
Friday, May 2 – There will be a Shabbat dinner offered at 6pm, followed by TEACHER/MADRICHIM APPRECIATION SHABBAT at 7pm, highlighting the 1st-3rd graders, with music from both Kol Kolot and Ari. In addition, we will be honoring a 12th Grade Chai Schooler. It is really a Shabbat you won’t want to miss. Please mark your calendar and come to services to thank the teachers and madrichim for all their hard work and dedication all year, enjoy the music of Kol Kolot, find out about mitzvot that the 1st-3rd graders do each week with their own mitzvah dog and celebrate the journey of our 12th grader.
Sunday, May 4 – Religious School will be back in session after a three-week break. Our 6th graders will head off-site to spend the day together for their 6th Grade Kallah. This is an all-day event in which the 6th graders (soon to be 7th graders) spend the day together engaging in teamwork, strengthening community, problem solving, learning more about each other, facing personal challenges and cultivating awareness. This is all in preparation as they begin their final year on the journey to become a B’Mitzvah.
Hebrew School will continue to meet in May on Wednesdays (7th, 14th and 21st) as the students wrap up a successful year learning and practicing Hebrew.
Friday, May 16 – This will be Confirmation Shabbat at 7:00pm as four of our 10th grade students lead us in a service. Confirmation, as defined at reformjudaism.com is an individual and group affirmation of commitment to the Jewish people. At Congregation Shalom, the confirmands work with Rabbi Perry to create a meaningful and personal service, reflecting on their own journeys to this point in their lives. It is a very special and moving Shabbat. I encourage you all to attend, especially if you want to be uplifted and feel Congregation Shalom pride!
Sunday, May 18 (Last Day of Religious School) – We will wrap up Religious School for one final coming together with students and parents, and our entire temple community, gathering together for what will be a wonderful morning. We will celebrate the tradition of the passing of the Torah from our 7th graders down to our 6th graders. We will kvell in the successful school year that we have had and we will join together with the larger community to work with artist Tova Specter in creating a special piece of art for the Memorial Garden, as we focus on community, the Tree of Life and the idea that it is our job to continue doing work to help repair the world. We will be showing a video made from responses from everyone in our school community as they reflect on the connection of community (k’hillah) and Congregation Shalom. It will be another warm and wonderful time.
Looking ahead to next year – We have already started planning for next year. Be on the lookout for School Registration Forms for the 2025/2026 school year. You can plan on Religious School continuing to meet on Sundays from 9am – 11am. Hebrew School for students in grades 5-7 will continue to meet on Wednesdays and Chai School will meet Wednesday evenings. Our newest Hebrew School students in grades 3 and 4 next year, will begin to learn Hebrew on Sunday mornings, following Religious School until 12:30pm. Lots more information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Thank you to everyone in our school community and the larger Congregation Shalom temple community for helping to create a wonderful and successful school environment.
With gratitude,
Deborah
Schedule for May 2025
- Friday, May 2 – Shabbat Dinner at 6pm, Family Shabbat Service at 7pm (highlighting the 1st-3rd graders, Teacher Appreciation, Kol Kolot and a Chai School Graduate)
- Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Religious School is in session; 6th Grade Kallah all day, off site
- Wednesday, May 7 – Hebrew School, 4:15pm-6:00pm; Last day of Chai School and Confirmation Class, 6:15pm-8:15pm
- Friday, May 9 – Tot Shabbat at 6pm
- Sunday, May 11 – NO Religious (Mother’s Day!)
- Tuesday, May 13 – Post Confirmation, 7pm-8:30pm at Rabbi Perry’s home
- Wednesday, May 14 – Hebrew School, 4:15pm-6:00pm
- Friday, May 16 – Confirmation Shabbat at 7pm – join us to honor and celebrate our 10th grade students in a special Shabbat
- Sunday, May 18 – Last day of Religious School – students and parents attend together (9am-11am) – Wrap Up, Torah Passing and Community Art Project
- Wednesday, May 21 – Last Day of Hebrew School