We Are Up And Running!

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:

  • We are still encouraging families to drop off and pick up along the curb in front of the temple doors. Teachers or madrichim will be outside to welcome students from their cars and to help connect students and families at the end of the morning. There is a little concern with sending students through the parking lot to meet their families so please wait along the curb in your car or park your car and walk to the curb to pick up your student. We are still trying to limit the number of people in the temple at any given time.  If possible, please wait until just a few minutes before class begins to have your student enter the building.
  • As you know, our building is meeting high standards for COVID safety with Merv13 air filters, air purifiers in every classroom, available hand sanitizer, mandatory masks, vaccinated staff and madrichim, cleaning procedures in place before, during and after classes and some social distancing. An added measure of precaution is the opportunity to open the doors of the building to allow for even more healthy air circulation. We can only do this if we have security lined up. Please consider volunteering for an hour or two throughout the year to be the “Driveway Monitor” during a period of class time on Sundays and Wednesdays. Please reach out to me for more information. If we do not have volunteers, we will not be able to open the doors.
  • In an effort to try to eliminate a deluge of emails during the course of the week, we will not be sending out the remote links each week. Please bookmark the links to access them for each class.
  • As per temple policy, there is no eating or drinking allowed in the temple. We are making a plan for the Preschoolers to be able to take a break and have a snack outside, but we are encouraging all other students to come to classes on Sundays after having had a healthy breakfast and to Wednesday Hebrew having had an afterschool snack to sustain them until class is over. If this is an issue for anyone, please reach out to me.
  • A lot of school communication will continue through emails so please take some time to read the information being shared with you by teachers and administration. Strong communication helps create a successful school.
  • This is another transition year for the school as we try to return to more in-person learning, longer class times and opportunities to reconnect as a class and as a community. Teachers will be spending time on the curriculum for each grade but class periods will also focus on the well-being of our students and the reconnecting to form important community bonds.

Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with any questions, comments or concerns in the coming year.

I am really looking forward to the year ahead for all of us.

Deborah

 

Schedule for October 

October 1 – Consecration/Simchat Torah – 7:00pm Shabbat Service/6:30pm – “pre-oneg” for K-2 families (outside)

October 2 – “Into the Ark” Celebration/Blessing of the Animals – 10:00am – temple parking lot

Sunday, October 3 –Religious School

  • Kindergarten through 4th grade – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Kitah Aleph (3rd grade Hebrew School) – 10:30am-11:30am
  • 5th grade through 7th grade – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Wednesday, October 5 – Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple

Sunday, October 10 – NO SCHOOL due to holiday weekend

Wednesday, October 13 –

  • Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
  • Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple
  • Chai School – first night
    • Pizza dinner 6pm-6:30pm
    • Classes 6:30pm-8:00pm

Sunday, October 17 –Religious School

  • Preschool in session – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Kindergarten through 4th grade – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Shacharit Service – 10:00am – 10:45am – more information coming soon
  • Kitah Aleph (3rd grade Hebrew School) – 10:30am-11:30am
  • 5th grade through 7th grade – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Wednesday, October 20 –

  • Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
  • Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple
  • Chai School – first night
    • Pizza dinner 6pm-6:30pm
    • Classes 6:30pm-8:00pm
  • Post Confirmation
    • Pizza dinner 6pm-6:30pm
    • Class 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Sunday, October 24 –Religious School

  • Kindergarten through 4th grade – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Kitah Aleph (3rd grade Hebrew School) – 10:30am-11:30am
  • 5th grade through 7th grade – 10:30am – 12:30pm
  • 7th grade Mikvah visit (more information is coming as to whether it will be in-person or online)

Wednesday, October 27 –

  • Hebrew School – remote and in-person according to schedule
  • Kitah Hey – 4:15pm-6pm in temple
  • Chai School
  • Pizza dinner 6pm-6:30pm
  • Classes 6:30pm-8:00pm

Sunday, October 31 –Religious School

  • Preschool in session – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Kindergarten through 4th grade – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Kitah Aleph (3rd grade Hebrew School) – 10:30am-11:30am
  • 5th grade through 7th grade – 10:30am – 12:30pm

(Friday, November 5, 2021 – 3rd Grade Class Shabbat at 7pm)